Belize
Belize Bileez (Belizean Creole) | ||
---|---|---|
Motto: Sub umbra floreo (
Prime Minister Johnny Briceño | | |
Legislature | National Assembly | |
Senate | ||
House of Representatives | ||
Independence from the United Kingdom | ||
January 1964 | ||
• Independence | 21 September 1981 | |
Area | ||
• Total | 22,966 km2 (8,867 sq mi)[5][6] (147th) | |
• Water (%) | 0.8 | |
Population | ||
• 2022 census | 410,990[7] | |
• Density | 17.31/km2 (44.8/sq mi) | |
GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate | |
• Total | $5.032 billion[8] (180th) | |
• Per capita | $11,166[8] (123rd) | |
GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate | |
• Total | $3.218 billion[8] (179th) | |
• Per capita | $7,141[8] (98th) | |
Gini (2013) | 53.1[9] high | |
HDI (2022) | 0.700[citation needed] high (118th) | |
Currency | Belize dollar (BZD) | |
Time zone | UTC-6 (CST (GMT-6)[10]) | |
Driving side | right | |
ISO 3166 code | BZ | |
Internet TLD | .bz |
Belize (
The
Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine plants and animals and its diversity of ecosystems, including extensive coral reefs, give it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.[16] It is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to both the American and Caribbean regions.[17]
It has an area of 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi) and a population of 410,990 (2022).
Name
The earliest known record of the name "Belize" appears in the journal of the Dominican priest Fray José Delgado, dating to 1677.[21] Delgado recorded the names of three major rivers that he crossed while travelling north along the Caribbean coast: Rio Soyte, Rio Kibum, and Rio Balis. The names of these waterways, which correspond to the Sittee River, Sibun River, and Belize River, were provided to Delgado by his translator.[21] It has been proposed that Delgado's "Balis" was actually the Mayan word belix (or beliz), meaning "muddy water",[21] although no such Mayan word actually exists.[22][b] More recently, it has been proposed that the name comes from the Mayan phrase "bel Itza", meaning "the way to Itza".[22]
In the 1820s, the Creole elite of Belize invented the legend that the toponym Belize derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the name of a Scottish buccaneer, Peter Wallace, who established a settlement at the mouth of the Belize River in 1638.[25] There is no proof that buccaneers settled in this area and the very existence of Wallace is considered a myth.[21][22] Writers and historians have suggested several other possible etymologies, including postulated French and African origins.[21]
History
Early history
The Maya civilization emerged at least three millennia ago in the lowland area of the Yucatán Peninsula and the highlands to the south, in the area of present-day southeastern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and western Honduras. Many aspects of this culture persist in the area, despite nearly 500 years of European domination. Prior to about 2500 BC, some hunting and foraging bands settled in small farming villages; they domesticated crops such as corn, beans, squash, and chili peppers.
A profusion of languages and subcultures developed within the Maya core culture. Between about 2500 BC and 250 AD, the basic institutions of Maya civilization emerged.[11]
Maya civilization
The Maya civilization spread across the territory of present-day Belize around 1500 BC, and flourished until about 900 AD. The recorded history of the middle and southern regions focuses on Caracol, an urban political centre that may have supported over 140,000 people.[26][27] North of the Maya Mountains, the most important political centre was Lamanai.[28] In the late Classic Era of Maya Civilization (600–1000 AD), an estimated 400,000 to 1,000,000 people inhabited the area of present-day Belize.[11][29]
When Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century, the area of present-day Belize included at least three distinct Maya territories:[30]
- Chetumal province, which encompassed the area around Corozal Bay
- Dzuluinicob province, which encompassed the area between the lower New River and the Sibun River, west to Tipu[31][32]
- a southern territory controlled by the Manche Ch'ol Maya, encompassing the area between the Monkey River and the Sarstoon River.
Early colonial period (1506–1862)
Spanish conquistadors explored the land and declared it part of the Spanish Empire, but they failed to settle the territory because of its lack of resources and the tribes of the Yucatán defending their land.
English pirates sporadically visited the coast of what is now Belize, seeking a sheltered region from which they could attack Spanish ships (see
The British first appointed a superintendent over the Belize area in 1786. Before then the British government had not recognized the settlement as a colony for fear of provoking a Spanish attack. The delay in government oversight allowed the settlers to establish their own laws and forms of government. During this period, a few successful settlers gained control of the local legislature, known as the Public Meeting, as well as of most of the settlement's land and timber.
Throughout the 18th century, the Spanish attacked Belize every time war broke out with Britain. The
As part of the British Empire (1862–1981)
In the early 19th century, the British sought to reform the settlers, threatening to suspend the Public Meeting unless it observed the government's instructions to eliminate slavery outright. After a generation of wrangling, slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833.[36] As a result of their enslaved Africans' abilities in the work of mahogany extraction, owners in British Honduras were compensated at £53.69 per enslaved African on average, the highest amount paid in any British territory. This was a form of reparation that was not given to the enslaved Africans at the time, nor since.[33]
The end of slavery did little to change the formerly enslaved Africans' working conditions if they stayed at their trade. A series of institutions restricted the ability of emancipated African individuals to buy land, in a debt-peonage system. Former "extra special" mahogany or logwood cutters undergirded the early ascription of the capacities (and consequently the limitations) of people of African descent in the colony. Because a small elite controlled the settlement's land and commerce, formerly enslaved Africans had little choice but to continue to work in timber cutting.[33]
In 1836, after the
As a colony, Belize began to attract British investors. Among the British firms that dominated the colony in the late 19th century was the Belize Estate and Produce Company, which eventually acquired half of all privately held land and eventually eliminated
The
Following the war, the colony's economy stagnated. Britain's decision to
Progress toward independence was hampered by a Guatemalan claim to sovereignty over Belizean territory. In 1964 Britain granted British Honduras self-government under a new constitution. On 1 June 1973, British Honduras was officially renamed Belize.[39]
Independent Belize (since 1981)
Belize was granted independence on 21 September 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation because of its longstanding territorial dispute, claiming that Belize belonged to Guatemala. After independence about 1,500 British troops remained in Belize to deter any possible Guatemalan incursions.[40]
With
The UDP regained power in the
In 1996, the
The PUP won a landslide victory in the 1998 national elections, and PUP leader Said Musa was sworn in as prime minister. In the 2003 elections the PUP maintained its majority, and Musa continued as prime minister. He pledged to improve conditions in the underdeveloped and largely inaccessible southern part of Belize.
In 2005, Belize was the site of
On 11 November 2020, the People's United Party (PUP), led by Johnny Briceño, defeated the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the first time since 2003, having won 26 seats out of 31 to form the new government of Belize. Briceño took office as Prime Minister on 12 November.[41]
In 2023, Belize became the second Central American country to be awarded certification for the elimination of malaria by the WHO.
Government and politics
Belize is a
The bicameral
Members of the independent judiciary are appointed. The judicial system includes local magistrates grouped under the Magistrates' Court, which hears less serious cases. The Supreme Court (chief justice) hears murder and similarly serious cases, and the Court of Appeal hears appeals from convicted individuals seeking to have their sentences overturned. Defendants may, under certain circumstances, appeal their cases to the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Political culture
In 1935, elections were reinstated, but only 1.8 percent of the population was eligible to vote. In 1954, women won the right to vote.[38]
Since 1974, the party system in Belize has been dominated by the centre-left People's United Party and the centre-right United Democratic Party, although other small parties took part in all levels of elections in the past. Though none of these small political parties has ever won any significant number of seats or offices, their challenge has been growing over the years.
Foreign relations
Belize is a full participating member of the United Nations; the Commonwealth of Nations; the Organization of American States (OAS); the Central American Integration System (SICA); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); the Association of Caribbean States (ACS); and the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which currently serves as a final court of appeal for only Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Saint Lucia. In 2001 the Caribbean Community heads of government voted on a measure declaring that the region should work towards replacing the UK's Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as final court of appeal with the Caribbean Court of Justice. It is still in the process of acceding to CARICOM treaties including the trade and single market treaties.
Belize is an original member (1995) of the
The British Army Garrison in Belize is used primarily for jungle warfare training, with access to over 13,000 square kilometres (5,000 sq mi) of jungle terrain.[43]
Belize is a party to the
Armed forces
The Belize Defence Force (BDF) serves as the country's military. The BDF, with the Belize National Coast Guard and the Immigration Department, is a department of the Ministry of Defence and Immigration. In 1997 the regular army numbered over 900, the reserve army 381, the air wing 45 and the maritime wing 36, amounting to an overall strength of approximately 1,400.[45] In 2005, the maritime wing became part of the Belizean Coast Guard.[46] In 2012, the Belizean government spent about $17 million on the military, constituting 1.08% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).[47] After Belize achieved independence in 1981 the United Kingdom maintained a deterrent force (British Forces Belize) in the country to protect it from invasion by
Administrative divisions
Belize is divided into six districts.
District | Capital | Area[6] | Population (2019)[48] |
Population (2010)[6] |
Change | Population density (2019) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belize | Belize City | 4,310 km2 (1,663 sq mi) | 124,096 | 95,292 | +30.2% | 28.8/km2 (74.6/sq mi) |
Cayo | San Ignacio | 5,200 km2 (2,006 sq mi) | 99,118 | 75,046 | +32.1% | 19.1/km2 (49.4/sq mi) |
Corozal | Corozal Town | 1,860 km2 (718 sq mi) | 49,446 | 41,061 | +20.4% | 26.6/km2 (68.9/sq mi) |
Orange Walk | Orange Walk Town | 4,600 km2 (1,790 sq mi) | 52,550 | 45,946 | +14.4% | 11.3/km2 (29.4/sq mi) |
Stann Creek | Dangriga | 2,550 km2 (986 sq mi) | 44,720 | 34,324 | +30.3% | 17.5/km2 (45.4/sq mi) |
Toledo | Punta Gorda | 4,410 km2 (1,704 sq mi) | 38,557 | 30,785 | +25.2% | 8.7/km2 (22.6/sq mi) |
These districts are further divided into
Guatemalan territorial dispute
Throughout Belize's history, Guatemala has claimed sovereignty over all or part of Belizean territory. This claim is occasionally reflected in maps drawn by Guatemala's government, showing Belize as Guatemala's twenty-third department.[50][c]
The Guatemalan territorial claim involves approximately 53% of Belize's mainland, which includes significant portions of four districts: Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo.[52] Roughly 43% of the country's population (≈154,949 Belizeans) reside in this region.[53]
As of 2020[update], the border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved and contentious.
Both countries submitted requests to the ICJ (in 2018 and 2019, respectively) and the ICJ ordered Guatemala's initial brief be submitted by December 2020 and Belize's response by 2022.[60] On June 7, 2023, the stage of written submissions ended, with the next step being oral arguments from each country's legal teams. [61]
Indigenous land claims
Belize backed the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, which established legal land rights to indigenous groups.[62] Other court cases have affirmed these rights like the Supreme Court of Belize's 2013 decision to uphold its ruling in 2010 that acknowledges customary land titles as communal land for indigenous peoples.[63] Another such case is the Caribbean Court of Justice's (CCJ) 2015 order on the Belizean government, which stipulated that the country develop a land registry to classify and exercise traditional governance over Mayan lands. Despite these rulings, Belize has made little progress to support the land rights of indigenous communities; for instance, in the two years after the CCJ's decision, Belize's government failed to launch the Mayan land registry, prompting the group to take action into its own hands.[64][65]
The exact ramifications of these cases need to be examined. As of 2017[update], Belize still struggles to recognize indigenous populations and their respective rights. According to the 50-page voluntary national report Belize created on its progress toward the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, indigenous groups are not factored into the country's indicators whatsoever.[66] Belize's Maya population is only mentioned once in the entirety of the report.[67]
Geography
Belize is on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It shares a border on the north with the Mexican state of
Belize is shaped roughly like a rhombus that extends about 280 kilometres (174 mi) north-south and about 100 kilometres (62 mi) east-west, with a total land boundary length of 516 kilometres (321 mi). The undulating courses of two rivers, the
The north of Belize consists mostly of flat, swampy coastal plains, in places heavily forested. The
Belize's rugged geography has also made the country's coastline and jungle attractive to drug smugglers, who use the country as a gateway into Mexico.[70] In 2011, the United States added Belize to the list of nations considered major drug producers or transit countries for narcotics.[71]
Environment preservation and biodiversity
Belize has a rich variety of wildlife because of its position between North and South America and a wide range of climates and habitats for plant and animal life.[72] Belize's low human population and approximately 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi) of undistributed land make for an ideal home for the more than 5,000 species of plants and hundreds of species of animals, including armadillos, snakes, and monkeys.[73]
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature reserve in south-central Belize established to protect the forests, fauna, and watersheds of an approximately 400 km2 (150 sq mi) area of the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. The reserve was founded in 1990 as the first wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar and is regarded by one author as the premier site for jaguar preservation in the world.[74]
Vegetation and flora
While over 60% of Belize's land surface is covered by lush forest,.
Belize is also a leader in protecting biodiversity and natural resources. According to the World Database on Protected Areas, 37% of Belize's land territory falls under some form of official protection, giving Belize one of the most extensive systems of terrestrial protected areas in the Americas.[81] By contrast, Costa Rica only has 27% of its land territory protected.[82]
Around 13.6% of Belize's territorial waters, which contain the Belize Barrier Reef, are also protected.[83] The Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site and is the second-largest barrier reef in the world, behind Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
A
As a country with a relatively high forest cover and a low
Natural resources and energy
Belize is known to have a number of economically important minerals, but none in quantities large enough to warrant mining. These minerals include
In 2006, the cultivation of newly discovered
Access to biocapacity in Belize is much higher than world average. In 2016, Belize had 3.8 global hectares[87] of biocapacity per person within its territory, much more than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person.[88] In 2016 Belize used 5.4 global hectares of biocapacity per person – their ecological footprint of consumption. This means they use more biocapacity than Belize contains. As a result, Belize is running a biocapacity deficit.[87]
Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly 300 metres (980 ft) offshore in the north and 40 kilometres (25 mi) in the south within the country limits. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300-kilometre-long (190 mi) section of the 900-kilometre-long (560 mi) Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is continuous from Cancún on the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula through the Riviera Maya up to Honduras making it one of the largest coral reef systems in the world.
It is the top tourist destination in Belize, popular for
The Belize Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996 due to its vulnerability and the fact that it contains important natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biodiversity.[90]
Species
The Belize Barrier Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals, and is one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world:
- 70 hard coral species
- 36 soft coral species
- 500 species of fish
- hundreds of invertebrate species
With ~90% of the reef still yet to be researched, some estimate that only 10% of all species have been discovered.[91]
Conservation
Belize became the first country in the world to completely ban bottom trawling in December 2010.[92][93] In December 2015, Belize banned offshore oil drilling within 1 km (0.6 mi) of the Barrier Reef and all of its seven World Heritage Sites.[94]
Despite these protective measures, the reef remains under threat from oceanic pollution as well as uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Other threats include hurricanes, along with global warming and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures,[95] which causes coral bleaching. It is claimed by scientists that over 40% of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998.[89]
Climate
Belize has a
Average rainfall varies considerably, from 1,350 millimetres (53 in) in the north and west to over 4,500 millimetres (180 in) in the extreme south. Seasonal differences in rainfall are greatest in the northern and central regions of the country where, between January and April or May, less than 100 millimetres (3.9 in) of rainfall per month. The dry season is shorter in the south, normally only lasting from February to April. A shorter, less rainy period, known locally as the "little dry", usually occurs in late July or August, after the onset of the rainy season.
In 1978,
In 2010, Belize was directly affected by the Category 2 Hurricane Richard, which made landfall approximately 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-southeast of Belize City at around 00:45 UTC on 25 October 2010.[96] The storm moved inland towards Belmopan, causing estimated damage of BZ$33.8 million ($17.4 million 2010 USD), primarily from damage to crops and housing.[97] The most recent hurricane to make landfall in Belize was Hurricane Lisa in 2022.
Economy
Belize has a small, mostly private enterprise economy that is based primarily on agriculture, agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction recently assuming greater importance.
The government of Belize faces important challenges to economic stability. Rapid action to improve
Belize has four commercial bank groups, of which the largest and oldest is Belize Bank. The other three banks are Heritage Bank, Atlantic Bank, and Scotiabank (Belize). A robust complex of credit unions began in the 1940s under the leadership of Marion M. Ganey, S.J.[102]
Because of its location on the coast of Central America, Belize is a popular destination for vacationers and for many North American drug traffickers. The Belize currency is pegged to the U.S. dollar and banks in Belize offer non-residents the ability to establish accounts, so drug traffickers and money launderers are attracted to banks in Belize. As a result, the United States Department of State has, since 2014, named Belize as one of the world's "major money laundering countries".[103]
Industrial infrastructure
This section needs to be updated.(January 2014) |
The largest integrated electric utility and the principal distributor in Belize is
On 14 June 2011, the government of Belize nationalized the ownership interest of Fortis Inc. in Belize Electricity Ltd. The utility encountered serious financial problems after the country's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in 2008 "disallowed the recovery of previously incurred fuel and purchased power costs in customer rates and set customer rates at a level that does not allow BEL to earn a fair and reasonable return", Fortis said in a June 2011 statement.[104] BEL appealed this judgement to the Court of Appeal, with a hearing expected in 2012. In May 2011, the Supreme Court of Belize granted BEL's application to prevent the PUC from taking any enforcement actions pending the appeal. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement saying the government had acted in haste and expressed concern over the message it sent to investors.
In August 2009, the government of Belize nationalized Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL), which now competes directly with Speednet. As a result of the nationalization process, the interconnection agreements are again subject to negotiations. Both BTL and Speednet sell basic telephone services, national and international calls, prepaid services, cellular services via GSM 1900 megahertz (MHz) and 4G LTE respectively, international cellular roaming, fixed wireless, fibre-to-the-home internet service, and national and international data networks.[105]
Tourism
A combination of natural factors – climate, the
Development costs are high, but the government of Belize has made tourism its second development priority after agriculture. In 2012, tourist arrivals totalled 917,869 (with about 584,683 from the United States) and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion.[106]
After COVID-19 struck tourism, Belize became the first country in the Caribbean to allow vaccinated travellers to visit without a COVID-19 test.[107]
Demographics
According to the 2022 census, Belize's population is 410,990.[7] Belize's total fertility rate in 2023 was 2.010 children per woman.[108] Its birth rate was 17.8 births/1,000 population (2022), and the death rate was 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2022). [109] A substantial ethnic-demographic shift has been occurring since 1980 when the Creole/ Hispanic ratio shifted from 58/38 to 26/53 in (census,1991), due to many Creoles moving to the US and a rising Mestizo birth rate and migration from Latin America.[110]
Ethnic groups
Belize, despite its small population, is a melting pot of cultures. Although the colonial government encouraged the idea and passive application of racial segregation to keep the population divided, it never did have a strong impact on the small, diverse, and largely interconnected population [citation needed]. Like many other post-colonial countries, there are traces of racism, but it has been minimal: most Belizeans do not tolerate or justify it. Belize has a dozen or more active cultures and the different ethnic groups have all contributed in the making of the Belizean identity through food, music, loaned words, folklores, fashion and arts. They have blended together, creating the Belizean unity captured by the country's motto, "Sub umbra floreo," which means, "Under the shade I flourish."
The Maya
The Maya are thought to have been in Belize and the
Belizean Creoles
Belizean Creoles are primarily
The Belizean Creole along with Africans and Garifuna make up the Afro-Belizean population which is about 30% of the population. The Creoles have had a great impact in Belizean History and politics. They were active and part of the Battle of St George's Caye, Part of the British West Indies Battalion on world war one and world war two, the Negro movement for equal rights. They were one of the first group of people to advocate for and get a higher education in Jamaica and the Uk in which after returning to Belize the educated scholars rallied and started the movement for adult suffrage, self-government and independence. All of the important historical events started in Belize city and most of the first people involved were of creole descent which were the upper and middle class of Belize at the time. Well known Creole Belizeans were Samuel Haynes, Philip Goldson, Dean Barrow, Dame Minita Gordon, Cleopatra White, Cordel Hyde and Patrick Faber among others.
The Creole were the biggest ethnic group in Belize until the 1980's due to mass migration of Afro Belizeans to the United States, United Kingdom and West Indies from the 1960's to 1970's and the mass immigration of Central American refugees to Belize because of the central American War and political instability changed the country's demographics forever.
Belizean Creole Language
For all intents and purposes, Creole is an ethnic and linguistic denomination. Some natives, even with blonde hair and blue eyes, may call themselves Creoles.[115]
Garinagu
The
Throughout history they have been incorrectly labelled as
Because Roatán was too small and infertile to support their population, the Garinagu petitioned the Spanish authorities of Honduras to be allowed to settle on the mainland coast. The Spanish employed them as soldiers, and they spread along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The Garinagu settled in Seine Bight, Punta Gorda and Punta Negra, Belize, by way of Honduras as early as 1802. In Belize, 19 November 1832 is the date officially recognized as "Garifuna Settlement Day" in Dangriga.[119]
According to one genetic study, their ancestry is on average 76%
Belizean Hispanics
The Hispanic population in Belize makes up about half of the population and consists of two main groups, the Yucatec Mestizos, better known as Mestizos, and the Central American Refugees and migrants.
The Mestizo are people of mixed Spanish and Yucatec Maya descent. They were the first to bring the Catholicism and the Spanish language to Belize after various failed attempts over the century by Spanish conquistadores. They originally came to Belize in 1847, to escape the Caste War, which occurred when thousands of Mayas rose against the state in Yucatán and massacred over one-third of the population. The surviving others fled across the borders into British territory. The Mestizos are found everywhere in Belize but most make their homes in the northern districts of Corozal and Orange Walk. Some other Hispanics came from Latin and Central America like El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The Mestizos along with Latin Americans are the largest ethnic group in Belize, the Hispanics. The typical Mestizo towns centre on a main square, and social life focuses on the Hispanic and Catholic Church traditions and customs. Spanish is the main language of most Mestizos and Hispanic descendants, but many speak English and Belizean Creole fluently.[120] Due to the influences of Belizean Creole and English, many Mestizos speak what is known as "Kitchen Spanish".[121] The mixture of Yucatec Mestizo and Yucatec[122] Maya foods like tamales, escabeche, chirmole, relleno, and empanadas came from their Mexican side and corn tortillas were handed down by their Mayan side. Music comes mainly from the marimba, but they also play and sing with the guitar. Dances performed at village fiestas include the Hog-Head, Zapateados, the Mestizada, Paso Doble and many more.
The Yucatec Mestizo culture is unique and very different form the culture of those migrants and refugees coming form Latin American and Central American countries. In sum, the Belizean Mestizo population is about 37% and the Latin Americans make up about 14% [123] of the population. Together they make up the Hispanic group which is half or 51% of the total country's population.
White Belizeans
Whites or Caucasians in Belize are around 4.8% of the population, being people and descendants from Ireland and the United Kingdom, expats from the United States and Canada, Lebanese, Mennonites and many others brought to assist the country's development. Irish settlers and migrants and veterans from Louisiana and other Southern states established Confederate settlements in British Honduras and introduced commercial sugar cane production to the colony, establishing 11 settlements in the interior. The biggest Caucasian group are the Mennonites: they divide themselves into traditional and conservative or orthodox Mennonites and modern or reformed Mennonites.
Over 12,000
The majority of the
East Indians
Indo-Belizeans, also known as East Indian Belizeans, are citizens of Belize of
East Indians began arriving in Belize after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, with the first ship with Indians arriving in 1858 as part of the Indian indenture system set up by the British government after slavery was abolished.[126] Initially coming in as indentured, many of them stayed on to work the sugar plantations and were joined by other Indian immigrants. Indians have spread out over many villages and towns primarily in the Corozal and Toledo districts and live in reasonably compact rural communities. While there are few descendants of the original Indian indentured immigrants of full Indian descent, many of their descendants intermarried with other ethnic groups in Belize, notably the Creoles and Mestizos. However, they are still identifiable through their physiognomy and are known as 'Hindus' or 'East Indians'.[127] This set of Indians were almost entirely composed of people from the Bhojpur region, Awadh region, and other places in the Hindustani Belt in North India. A minority of indentured labourers were from South India and other regions throughout South Asia. Most Indians in urban areas are entrepreneurs and are invested in the import and retail industry.
East Asian and Arabs
The 20th century saw the arrival of more Asian settlers from
The importation of Chinese workers to British Honduras was a response to economic shifts in the mid-19th century. As
From the 1990's and presently, Belize has been a safe haven and many have integrated to Belizean society. Belize's
The East Asians and Arabs are an overwhelmingly urban population, with five-sixths living in cities, the highest proportion out of all tabulated ethnic groups. This is a slightly higher proportion than Garifuna people and Creoles, but contrasted sharply with East Indians, of whom roughly half live in rural areas. East Asians are big on the retail industry and fast food restaurant chains in Belize so are Arabs. Belizean Arabs are mostly found at Belize City and the towns in the islands and cayes. Belizean Arabs although a minority have contributed to politics and education throughout the history of Belize. Some influential Arab families are the Musas, Espat, Shoman, Chebat among others. Their influence on the People's United Party has made Belize an advocate to Palestine's right to self-determination.
Emigration, immigration, and demographic shifts
Creoles and other ethnic groups are emigrating mostly to the United States, but also to the United Kingdom and other developed nations for better opportunities. Based on the latest
Because of conflicts in neighbouring Central American nations, Hispanics or Latin American refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have fled to Belize in significant numbers during the 1980s, and have been significantly adding to Belize's Hispanic population. These two events have been changing the demographics of the nation for the last 30 years.[133]
Languages
English is the official language of Belize. This stems from the country being a former British colony. Belize is the only country in Central America with English as the official language. Also, English is the primary language of public education, government and most media outlets. Although English is widely used, Belizean Creole is spoken in several situations whether informal, formal, social or interethnic dialogue, even in meetings of the House of Representatives.
When a creole language exists alongside its lexifier language, as is the case in Belize, a continuum forms between the creole and the lexifier language. It is therefore difficult to substantiate or differentiate the number of Belize Creole speakers compared to English speakers. Creole might best be described as the lingua franca of the nation.[134]
Approximately 52.9% of Belizeans self-identify as
Over half the population is
Belize is also home to three
Approximately 16,100 people speak theLargest cities
Rank | Name
|
District | Municipal pop. | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belize City San Ignacio |
1 | Belize City | Belize District | 57,169 | Belmopan Orange Walk Town | ||||
2 | San Ignacio | Cayo District | 17,878 | ||||||
3 | Belmopan | Cayo District | 13,939 | ||||||
4 | Orange Walk Town | Orange Walk District | 13,708 | ||||||
5 | San Pedro Town | Belize District | 11,767 | ||||||
6 | Corozal Town | Corozal District | 10,287 | ||||||
7 | Dangriga | Stann Creek District | 9,593 | ||||||
8 | Benque Viejo del Carmen | Cayo District | 6,140 | ||||||
9 | Ladyville | Belize District | 5,458 | ||||||
10 | Punta Gorda | Toledo District | 5,351 |
Religion
According to the 2010 census,
According to PROLADES, Belize was 64.6% Roman Catholic, 27.8% Protestant, 7.6% Other in 1971.
In addition to Catholics, there has always been
The
The
Health
Belize has a high prevalence of communicable diseases such as respiratory diseases and intestinal illnesses.[152]
Education
A number of kindergartens, secondary, and tertiary schools in Belize provide education for students—mostly funded by the government. Belize has about a dozen tertiary level institutions, the most prominent of which is the University of Belize, which evolved out of the University College of Belize founded in 1986. Before that St. John's College, founded in 1877, dominated the tertiary education field. The Open Campus of the University of the West Indies has a site in Belize.[153] It also has campuses in Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica. The government of Belize contributes financially to the UWI.
Education in Belize is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14 years. As of 2010[update], the literacy rate in Belize was estimated at 79.7%,[116] one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.
The educational policy is currently following the "Education Sector Strategy 2011–2016", which sets three objectives for the years to come: Improving access, quality, and governance of the education system by providing technical and vocational education and training.[154]
Crime
Belize has moderate rates of violent crime.[155] The majority of violence in Belize stems from gang activity, which includes trafficking of drugs and persons, protecting drug smuggling routes, and securing territory for drug dealing.[156]
In 2023, 87 murders were recorded in Belize, giving the country a homicide rate of 19.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants,[157] lower than the neighbouring countries of Mexico and Honduras, but higher than Guatemala and El Salvador.[158] Belize District (containing Belize City) had the most murders by far compared to all the other districts. In 2023, 66% of the murders occurred in the Belize District.[157] The violence in Belize City (especially the southern part of the city) is largely due to gang warfare.[155]
In 2023, there were 34 reported cases of rape, 170 robberies, 628 burglaries, and 118 cases of theft.[157]
Social structure
Belize's social structure is marked by enduring differences in the distribution of wealth, power, and prestige. Because of the small size of Belize's population and the intimate scale of social relations, the social distance between the rich and the poor, while significant, is nowhere as vast as in other Caribbean and Central American societies, such as Jamaica and El Salvador. Belize lacks the violent class and racial conflict that has figured so prominently in the social life of its Central American neighbours.[159]
Political and economic power remain vested in the hands of the local elite. The sizeable middle group is composed of peoples of different ethnic backgrounds. This middle group does not constitute a unified
Women
In 2021, the World Economic Forum ranked Belize 90th out of 156 countries in its Global Gender Gap Report. Of all the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Belize ranked fourth from last. It ranked higher in the categories of "economic participation and opportunity" and "health and survival", but very low in "political empowerment".[160] In 2019, the UN gave Belize a Gender Inequality Index score of 0.415, ranking it 97th out of 162 countries.[161]
As of 2019[update], 49.9% of women in Belize participate in the workforce, compared to 80.6% of men.[161] 11.1% of the seats in Belize's National Assembly are filled by women.[161]
Culture
In Belizean folklore, there are the legends of
.Most of the
Cuisine
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2020) |
Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of all ethnicities in the nation, and their respectively wide variety of foods. It might best be described as both similar to Mexican/Central American cuisine and Jamaican/Anglo-Caribbean cuisine but very different from these areas as well, with Belizean touches and innovation which have been handed down by generations. All immigrant communities add to the diversity of Belizean food, including the Indian and Chinese communities.
The Belizean diet can be both very modern and traditional. There are no rules. Breakfast typically consists of bread, flour
In rural areas, meals are typically simpler than in cities. The Maya use maize, beans, or squash for most meals, and the Garifuna are fond of seafood, cassava (particularly made into cassava bread or ereba), and vegetables. The nation abounds with restaurants and fast food establishments that are fairly affordable. Local fruits are quite common, but raw vegetables from the markets less so. Mealtime is a communion for families and schools and some businesses close at midday for lunch, reopening later in the afternoon.
Media
Music
In recent years, Latin music, including reggaeton and banda, has experienced a surge in popularity in Belize, alongside the traditional genres of punta and brukdown. This growing trend reflects the influence of neighbouring Latin American countries and the cultural connections that exist within the region. The rise in popularity of Latin music in Belize demonstrates the vibrant and diverse musical landscape of the country, showcasing the ability of music to transcend borders and bring people together.
Sports
The major sports in Belize are football, basketball, volleyball and cycling, with smaller followings of boat racing, athletics, softball, cricket and rugby. Fishing is also popular in coastal areas of Belize.
The
Another major annual sporting event in Belize is the
On Easter day, citizens of Dangriga participate in a yearly fishing tournament. First, second, and third prize are awarded based on a scoring combination of size, species, and number. The tournament is broadcast over local radio stations, and prize money is awarded to the winners.
The
The team has failed to duplicate this success, most recently finishing with a 2–4 record in the 2006 COCABA championship. The team finished second in the 2009 COCABA tournament in Cancun, Mexico where it went 3–0 in group play. Belize won its opening match in the Centrobasquet Tournament, 2010, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, but lost badly to Mexico in a rematch of the COCABA final. A tough win over Cuba set Belize in position to advance, but they fell to Puerto Rico in their final match and failed to qualify.
Simone Biles, the winner of four gold medals in the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics is a dual citizen of the United States and of Belize,[165] which she considers her second home.[166] Biles is of Belizean-American descent.[167]
National symbols
The national flower of Belize is the black orchid (
See also
- Index of Belize-related articles
- Outline of Belize
Explanatory notes
- ^ Percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin.
- ^ "Mud" is rendered as lukʼ in the Yucatecan languages, while "water" is rendered as jaʼ, ja, or ha.[22][23][24]
- ^ In April 2019, a media outlet showed video of Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales showing students how to draw Guatemala's map to include all of Belize, reflecting his country's claim.[51]
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External links
- Official website – Government of Belize. Archived 10 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
- Official webpage of Queen Elizabeth II (as former Queen of Belize)
- Wikimedia Atlas of Belize
- Profile at U.S. Department of State
- Belize National Emergency Management Organization – Official governmental site
- Belize Wildlife Conservation Network – Belize Wildlife Conservation Network (archived 4 February 2013)
- CATHALAC – Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (archived 5 February 2012)
- LANIC Belize page
- Belize. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
- Belize at UCB Libraries GovPubs (archived 11 May 2013)
- Belize at Curlie
- Belize from the BBC News
- Key Development Forecasts for Belize from International Futures
- Hydromet.gov.bz – Official website of the Belize National Meteorological Service
- Bileez Kriol Wiki – A wiki in Belizean Creole about Belize