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.
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
Online Profiles
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
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
United Nations Data
Government Sources
UN Mission
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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