Belize (/bəˈliːz/) is a country situated in Central America. Previously knows as British Honduras and former British colony, Belize obtained its independence in 1981 and joined in that same year the Commonwealth. Belize is the only Central American country with English as its official language. Its type of government is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Geographically the country is bordered by Mexico in the north and Guatemala in the west and in the south.


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General Information
Official Name: 
Belize
Capitol: 
Belmopan
Population: 
355,000
Languages: 
English (official)
Geographic Region: 
Americas
Central America
Geographic Size (km sq): 
22,966
Year of UN Membership: 
1981
Year of Present State Formation: 
1825
Current UN Representative: 
Lois Michele Young
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Belize
BBC Country Profile: Belize
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Belize
U.S. Library of Congress Country Profile: Belize
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Belize
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Belize
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Belize
National Geographic Country Profile: Belize
Lonely Planet Country Profile:
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$1.653 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$8,915 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
2.50 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.73
Unemployment: 
8.20%
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Small Island Developing State
History
BBC Belize Timeline
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Latin America Group
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ACP: African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States
AOSIS: Alliance of Small Island States
Commonwealth of Nations (British)
CariCom: Caribbean Community
CD: Community of Democracies
CDB: Caribbean Development Bank
CELAC: Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
IADB: Inter-American Development Bank
ICC: International Chamber of Commerce
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
LAES/SELA: Latin American and Caribbean Economic System
OAS: Organization of American States
OPANAL: Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
Petrocaribe
SICA: Central American Integration System
WCO: World Customs Organization
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
IDA: International Development Association
IFAD: International Fund for Agricultural Development
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Belize Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Belize Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Belize Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs (unavailable): China-Belize Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Belize Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Belize Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Belize Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Belize Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Belize Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Belize Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Belize Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Belize Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Belize Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Belize Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Belize Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Belize Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Belize Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Belize Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Belize Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Belize Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Belize Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Belize Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Belize Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Belize Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
UN Data: Belize
UN AIDS: Belize
UNDG: Belize Coordination Profile
UNESCO Document Archive: Belize
UNCTAD: Belize Fact Sheet
FAO: Belize General Information
UN Office of the High Representative for small island developing states (UN-OHRLLS) country profiles: Belize
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Belize
The Guardian World News Stories: Belize
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Belize
The Economist Topics Index: Belize
World News Report: Belize
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Belize
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Belize
Government Sources
The Embassy of Belize: Washington D.C.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belize
Belize Election Data
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of Belize to the United Nations
675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911
New York, NY 10017
(212) 986-1240
(212) 593-0932
blzun@belizemission.com
Nearest Transit Stop: 
Grand Central 42nd Street

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