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Belize
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline
at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish
disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally
became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes
between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize
until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until
1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment,
growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban
crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.
Capital City: Belmopan (-6 GMT)
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA
Currency: Belizean dollar
Main Cities: Belize City, Corozal, Orange Walk
Major Languages: English, Spanish
Calling Code: 501
Voltage: 110/220V
Primary Religions: Roman Catholic
Main Airports
Philip S W Goldson International Airport (BZE)
U.S. Embassy
City of Belmopan on Floral Park Street
tel: 822-4011 locally
Internet: http://belize.usembassy.gov/
Statistics
- GDP: purchasing power parity:
- $1.778 billion (2004 est.)
- GDP - real growth rate:
- 3.8% (2005 est.)
- GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity:
- 6,800 (2005 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices):
- 3% (2005 est.)
- Labor force:
- 90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of
technical personnel (2001 est.)
- Exports:
- $349.9 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
- Exports - partners:
- US 30.7%, UK 25.1%, France 4.8% (2005)
- Imports:
- $622.4 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
- Imports - partners:
- US 31.5%, Mexico 10%, Russia 9%, Cuba 6.1%, Guatemala 5.7%,
China 4.7%, Spain 4.4% (2005)
- Population:
- 287,730 (July 2006 est.)
- Population growth rate:
- 2.31% (2006 est.)
- Population Below Poverty Line:
- 33% (1999 est.)
- Major Industries:
- garment production, food processing, tourism, construction,
oil
- Employing Workers: 14*
- Registering Property: 117*
- Enforcing Contracts: 150*
- Closing a Business: 24*
- *2006 World Bank rank out of 175 countries
- Starting a Business
The table below shows the number of steps and the amount of
time needed to start a business, on average
| Indicator |
Belize |
Region |
| Procedures (number) |
9 |
10.2 |
| Time (days) |
45 |
73.3 |
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Product
Categories
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