The Youthful Population Of Belize: Understanding The Country's Age Dynamics

The average age in Belize is 26 years, with a total population of 416,964 as of 22 July 2024. The population is estimated to be 410,825 at mid-year in 2023. The population has been increasing since at least 2010, and the country's population is aging, with the number of inhabitants aged 65 and above continuously increasing over the last decade. Belize has a relatively young population, with 27.7% of the population aged 0 to 14 years and 66.7% aged 15 to 64 years. The median age of 26 reflects the country's youthful demographic structure.

Median age of 26 years

Belize's population is currently ageing, with the number of inhabitants aged 65 and above increasing over the last decade. The median age in Belize is 26 years, with a total fertility rate of 2.1. This means that, on average, there are 2.1 children per woman. A rate below 2.1 will cause the native population to decline.

In 2022, approximately 272,240 inhabitants were aged between 15 and 64. The population of Belize was estimated at 405,271 in 2022 and 410,825 in 2023. As of July 22, 2024, the population is 416,964.

In 2022, 27.7% of Belize's population were aged 0-14 years, 66.7% were aged 15-64 years, and 5.5% were aged 65 years and over. The median age of the population was 26.8 years.

Belize has a relatively high youth dependency ratio of 42.3 and a low elderly dependency ratio of 7.4. This means that there is a high proportion of young people in Belize compared to other age groups.

Belize has a high total population growth rate of 17.7 births per 1,000 people, which is steadily falling due to a decline in fertility. The country also has a high life expectancy of 74.3 years, which is increasing. As a result of these factors, the population of Belize is ageing.

Population pyramid

A population pyramid is a graphical representation of the age and sex of a population. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males on the left and females on the right. The population is broken down into 5-year age groups, represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest at the bottom and the oldest at the top.

The population pyramid of Belize in 2020 can be described as expansive. This means it has a wide base, indicating a larger percentage of people in younger age groups, which suggests high birth rates and fertility rates. The pyramid narrows towards the top, indicating a high death rate and lower life expectancy.

In 2020, 32.57% of Belize's population was aged between 0 and 14 years, with a slightly higher number of males (66,454) than females (63,700). 19% were aged between 15 and 24, with more males (39,238) than females (36,683). The majority of the population, 37.72%, were aged between 25 and 54, with more females (77,300) than males (73,440). 6.18% were aged between 55 and 64, with a similar number of males (12,235) and females (12,444). Finally, 4.53% were aged 65 and over, with slightly more females (9,323) than males (8,781).

The median age in Belize in 2023 was 26 years, and the population has been increasing since at least 2010. The number of inhabitants aged 65 and over has also been increasing over the last decade, except for the last recorded year.

Population density

Belize has a population density of 18 people per square kilometre (47 people per square mile), based on a total land area of 22,810 square kilometres (8,807 square miles). This equates to about 45.4 people per square mile, the lowest density in Latin America and one of the lowest in the world.

Belize's population is estimated to be 416,799 as of 2024, with 47.8% living in urban areas (196,317 people). The population is growing at a rate of 2.5% a year and is projected to reach 390,000 by 2020 and 700,000 by 2100. The median age in Belize is 26 years, with 27.74% of the population aged 0-14 years and 272,240 people aged 15-64.

The largest city in Belize is Belize City, with a population of 57,000, while the capital, Belmopan, has a population of 16,500. The country's demographics have been influenced by colonisation, slavery, and immigration, resulting in a diverse mix of ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. Mestizos make up 50% of the population, while Belizean Creoles or Kriols account for 21% but represent almost 75% of the diaspora.

Life expectancy

The current life expectancy in Belize is 75.24 years, a 0.2% increase from 2023. This has been steadily increasing over the years, with the life expectancy in 2023 calculated to be 75.09 years, a 0.19% increase from 2022. In 2022, the life expectancy was 74.95 years, a 0.19% increase from 2021. The year before, in 2021, the life expectancy was 74.80 years.

Belize has a median age of 26 years (as of 2023). This is reflected in the country's population pyramid, which is expansive—a larger percentage of the population are in younger age groups, indicating high birth rates and fertility rates. In 2022, about 27.74% of Belize's population were aged 0 to 14 years, and approximately 272,240 inhabitants were aged between 15 and 64.

Belize is an upper-middle-income country, and its population has been increasing since at least 2010. The country has a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1, which represents the Replacement-Level Fertility—the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without needing international immigration.

Fertility rate

The fertility rate in Belize refers to the average number of children that a woman of childbearing age (15-44 years) can expect throughout her reproductive life. In 2021, the total fertility rate in Belize was 2.01 children per woman, a slight increase from previous years. In 2022, the fertility rate was 2.219 births per woman, followed by a rate of 2.194 in 2023. As of 2024, the fertility rate in Belize is 2.172 births per woman, a 1% decline from the previous year.

Belize's population has been increasing since at least 2010, and demographic data shows that the population is aging. In 2022, approximately 272,240 inhabitants were aged between 15 and 64. The number of people over 65 has also been increasing over the last decade. In 2022, about 27.74% of Belize's population was aged 0-14 years.

A Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 2.1 is considered the replacement-level fertility rate, which is the average number of children per woman needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without requiring international immigration. A value below 2.1 will lead to a decline in the native population.

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