Belize's Geographical Conundrum: A Central American Country With Caribbean Charm

Belize is a country in Central America, on the northeastern coast, with a population of around 400,000 people. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. Belize is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, with a diverse society made up of many different cultures and languages. The country has a rich history, having been influenced by the Maya civilisation, European colonisation, and waves of immigration from Africa, India, China, and the Middle East.

Belize's location and borders

Belize is located on the northeastern coast of Central America, on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. Belize also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.

Belize is the only Central American country with no Pacific coastline. It is bordered by the Mexican state of Quintana Roo to the north, the Guatemalan department of Petén to the west, and the Guatemalan department of Izabal to the south. The land border crossing with Mexico is at Chetumal City.

The coastline of Belize stretches 174 miles (280 km) and the country covers an area of 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi). The country's capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is Belize City.

Belize is divided into six districts, each with its own unique blend of cultures and natural environments. The Belize District contains both Belize City and Ambergris Caye, while Cayo is home to rich rainforests and Maya archaeological sites. Corozal and Orange Walk in the north have sweeping sugar cane fields, and Stann Creek and Toledo Districts in the south have larger Maya and Garifuna populations and dense jungles.

Belize's rugged geography, including its coastline and jungle, has made it attractive to drug smugglers seeking to enter Mexico. Despite its small size, Belize has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages.

Belize's population and demographics

Belize is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, with an estimated population of 410,990 as of 2022. The country has a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages, and is a melting pot of cultures. Belize is the only Central American country where English is the official language, while Belizean Creole is the most widely spoken dialect.

Belize's population is made up of a variety of ethnic groups, with approximately 52.9% of the population self-identifying as Mestizo, Latino, or Hispanic. The country also has significant populations of Creoles (25.2%), Maya (9.8%), Garifuna (4%), and East Indians (1.5%). Other ethnic groups present in Belize include Mennonites, whites or Caucasians, Arabs, and people of Chinese descent.

Belize has a high prevalence of communicable diseases such as respiratory illnesses and intestinal infections. The literacy rate in Belize was estimated at 79.7% in 2010, one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere. The country's fertility rate in 2023 was 2.010 children per woman, with a birth rate of 17.8 births per 1,000 people and a death rate of 6.3 deaths per 1,000 people.

Belize's history

Belize is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America, with a history similar to that of English-speaking Caribbean nations. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast. Belize is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, with a population of around 400,000 people and an area of 22,970 square kilometres (8,867 sq mi). Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is Belize City.

Mayan Civilisation

The history of Belize dates back thousands of years, with the Maya civilisation spreading into the area between 1500 BC and 1200 BC. The Maya flourished until about 1000 AD, and their advanced civilisation is evident through several ruin sites, including Cahal Pech, Caracol, Lamanai, and Altun Ha. The Maya domesticated crops such as corn, beans, squash, and chilli peppers, and developed a complex mathematical and calendrical system.

European Contact and Colonialism

European contact began in the early 16th century when Christopher Columbus sailed along the Gulf of Honduras. Spanish conquistadors and missionaries arrived in the region, attempting to convert the Maya to Christianity. In 1638, English settlers began European exploration, and Spain and Britain both laid claim to the land. The Spanish never settled in the region, and Britain gained control after defeating the Spanish in the Battle of St. George's Caye in 1798.

British Honduras

In 1862, Belize became a British colony, known as British Honduras, and in 1871, it became a crown colony. The colony was ruled by a governor subordinate to the governor of Jamaica. The British settlers, known as Baymen, imported enslaved Africans to cut logwood and mahogany. The system was cruel and oppressive, leading to several revolts. In 1838, slavery was abolished in British colonies, but formerly enslaved people remained tied to the logging operations through debt and dependency.

Independence

Belize gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1981, becoming a Commonwealth realm with King Charles III as its monarch and head of state. However, Guatemala refused to recognise Belize's independence due to a longstanding territorial dispute. It was only in 1992 that Guatemala formally recognised Belize as an independent state. Today, Belize is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a diverse society composed of many cultures and languages. English is the official language, but Belizean Creole, Spanish, Mayan, German, and Garifuna are also widely spoken.

Belize's economy

Belize is a country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It is the only Central American country where English is the official language.

Belize has a small, developing, free-market economy. It has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.5 billion and a per capita GDP of $6049. The economy is primarily based on agriculture, tourism, and services.

Agriculture

Belize has about 8,090 km2 of arable land, with only a small fraction under cultivation. The country's primary exports are citrus fruits, sugar, and bananas. Other agricultural products include papayas, honey, corn, beans, rice, and cattle.

Tourism

Tourism is the most important source of foreign exchange in Belize, with the country's many Mayan ruins, diverse ecosystems, and the Belize Barrier Reef (the second-largest in the world) attracting visitors. In 2012, tourist arrivals totalled 917,869, and tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion.

Services

The service sector has accounted for the largest share of Belize's gross national product (GNP) since the early 1980s. Services, including tourism, sustain nearly half of the labour force and the GNP.

Trade and Manufacturing

Belize has a substantial trade deficit in goods. Its chief trading partners include the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Mexico, Curaçao, Panama, and members of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM). The country's main exports are seafood, sugar, citrus products, bananas, and clothing, while its chief imports include machinery, transport equipment, food, fuels, lubricants, and chemicals. Manufacturing, mainly food products, fertilisers, and textiles, accounts for about one-eighth of the GNP.

Energy and Natural Resources

Belize has a unique cultural and ecological heritage, with extensive natural capital along its coast, including the largest coral reef in the Americas and an extensive mangrove ecosystem. The country has a number of economically important minerals, but none in quantities large enough to warrant mining. These include dolomite, barite, bauxite, cassiterite, and gold. In 2006, newly discovered oil in the town of Spanish Lookout presented new prospects and problems for the country.

Belize's climate

Belize has a tropical climate with a distinct dry season and a wet season. The dry season lasts from late February to May, and the wet season occurs from June to November, with a brief dry period in August and September. The mean annual temperature ranges from 23–27 °C (74–84 °F), with the coast generally experiencing hotter temperatures than the interior. The trade winds blow onshore for most of the year, while northerly winds bring cooler and drier air from September to December.

The amount of rainfall varies across Belize, with the northern town of Corozal receiving around 50 inches (1,270 mm) of rain annually, while Punta Gorda in the south receives approximately 175 inches (4,445 mm). Belize City, in the central region, receives roughly 75 inches (1,900 mm) of rainfall per year. The wet season typically sees higher precipitation, with the south of the country receiving a mean monthly rainfall of 150–400 mm, while the rest of the country gets less than 100 mm of rainfall per month.

Belize is prone to hurricanes as it lies in the path of most Atlantic storms. The hurricane season coincides with the wet season, lasting from July to November. In 2000, a hurricane caused severe damage to the country's infrastructure and displaced tens of thousands of Belizeans.

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) heavily influences Belize's climate. El Niño events generally produce warmer conditions from June to August, while La Niña events bring wetter conditions and are associated with tropical cyclones.

Overall, Belize's climate is comfortable and mild, with coastal sea breezes and large tracts of jungle and rainforests providing cooling relief during the hottest months. Even in winter, temperatures rarely dip below 60 °F (16 °C). The humidity remains fairly consistent throughout the year, averaging around 85%.

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