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Introduction |
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Background: |
Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence
of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala
refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has
become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued
by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American
drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
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Geography |
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Location: |
Central America,
bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
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Geographic
coordinates: |
17 15 N, 88 45 W
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Map references: |
Central America and
the Caribbean
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Area: |
total:
22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km
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Area -
comparative: |
slightly smaller
than Massachusetts
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Land boundaries: |
total: 516
km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
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Coastline: |
386 km
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea:
12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of
the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is
3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the
purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for
negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences
with Guatemala
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate: |
tropical; very hot
and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February
to May)
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Terrain: |
flat, swampy
coastal plain; low mountains in south
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Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m
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Natural
resources: |
arable land
potential, timber, fish, hydropower
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Land use: |
arable land:
2.85%
permanent crops: 1.71%
other: 95.44% (2001)
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Irrigated land: |
30 sq km (1998
est.)
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Natural hazards: |
frequent,
devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding
(especially in south)
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Environment -
current issues: |
deforestation;
water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural
runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
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Environment -
international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography -
note: |
only country in
Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
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People |
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Population: |
279,457 (July 2005
est.)
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Age structure: |
0-14 years:
40.1% (male 57,114/female 54,877)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 79,694/female 77,881)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,768/female 5,123) (2005
est.)
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Median age: |
total: 19.35
years
male: 19.21 years
female: 19.49 years (2005 est.)
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Population
growth rate: |
2.33% (2005 est.)
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Birth rate: |
29.34 births/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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Death rate: |
6.04 deaths/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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Net migration
rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2005 est.)
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Sex ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality
rate: |
total: 25.69
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy
at birth: |
total
population: 67.49 years
male: 65.02 years
female: 70.08 years (2005 est.)
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Total fertility
rate: |
3.68 children
born/woman (2005 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult
prevalence rate: |
2.4% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS: |
3,600 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS -
deaths: |
less than 200 (2003
est.)
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Nationality: |
noun:
Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean
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Ethnic groups: |
mestizo 48.7%,
Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%
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Religions: |
Roman Catholic
49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)
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Languages: |
English (official),
Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole
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Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
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Government |
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Country name: |
conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras
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Government type: |
parliamentary
democracy
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Capital: |
Belmopan
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Administrative
divisions: |
6 districts;
Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
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Independence: |
21 September 1981
(from UK)
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National
holiday: |
Independence Day,
21 September (1981)
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Constitution: |
21 September 1981
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Legal system: |
English law
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal
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Executive
branch: |
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by
Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November
1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA
(since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO
(since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor
general appointed by the monarch; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime
minister
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Legislative
branch: |
bicameral National
Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the
governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister,
three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one
each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and
Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and
the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering
Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the
House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by
direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March
2003 (next to be held March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats
by party - PUP 21, UDP 8
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (the
chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister)
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Political
parties and leaders: |
People's United
Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean
BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]
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Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Society for the
Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]
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International
organization participation: |
ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA,
NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Flag
description: |
blue with a narrow
red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a
large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms
features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany
tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the
Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green
garland
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Economy |
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Economy -
overview: |
In this small,
essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is
the number one foreign exchange earner followed by marine
products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The
government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies,
initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging
nearly 6% in 1999-2004. Major concerns continue to be the
sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term
objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of
international donors.
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GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $1.778 billion (2004 est.)
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GDP - real
growth rate: |
3.5% (2004 est.)
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GDP - per
capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)
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GDP -
composition by sector: |
agriculture:
17.7%
industry: 15%
services: 67.3% (2003 est.)
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Labor force: |
90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of
technical personnel (2001 est.)
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Labor force - by
occupation: |
agriculture 27%,
industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)
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Unemployment
rate: |
12.9% (2003)
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Population below
poverty line: |
33% (1999 est.)
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Household income
or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%: NA
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Inflation rate
(consumer prices): |
2.9% (2004 est.)
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Investment
(gross fixed): |
33.6% of GDP (2004
est.)
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Budget: |
revenues:
$244.5 million
expenditures: $300 million, including capital
expenditures of $70 million (2004 est.)
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Agriculture -
products: |
bananas, coca,
citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments
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Industries: |
garment production,
food processing, tourism, construction
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Industrial
production growth rate: |
4.6% (1999)
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Electricity -
production: |
117 million kWh
(2002)
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Electricity -
production by source: |
fossil fuel:
59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity -
consumption: |
108.8 million kWh
(2002)
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Electricity -
exports: |
0 kWh (2002)
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Electricity -
imports: |
0 kWh (2002)
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Oil -
production: |
0 bbl/day (2001
est.)
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Oil -
consumption: |
5,000 bbl/day (2001
est.)
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Oil - exports: |
NA
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Oil - imports: |
NA
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Current account
balance: |
$-115 million (2004
est.)
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Exports: |
$401.4 million
f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Exports -
commodities: |
sugar, bananas,
citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood
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Exports -
partners: |
US 36.8%, UK 28.5%,
Thailand 3.6% (2004)
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Imports: |
$579.9 million
f.o.b. (2004 est.)
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Imports -
commodities: |
machinery and
transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco
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Imports -
partners: |
US 32.7%, Mexico
14.4%, Cuba 6.5%, Japan 4.7% (2004)
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Reserves of
foreign exchange and gold: |
$111.1 million
(2004 est.)
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Debt - external: |
$1.362 billion
(June 2004 est.)
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Currency (code): |
Belizean dollar (BZD)
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Currency code: |
BZD
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Exchange rates: |
Belizean dollars
per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000)
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Fiscal year: |
1 April - 31 March
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Communications |
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Telephones -
main lines in use: |
33,300 (2003)
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Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
60,400 (2003)
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Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave
radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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Radio broadcast
stations: |
AM 1, FM 12,
shortwave 0 (1998)
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Radios: |
133,000 (1997)
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Television
broadcast stations: |
2 (1997)
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Televisions: |
41,000 (1997)
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Internet country
code: |
.bz
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Internet hosts: |
2,613 (2003)
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Internet Service
Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000)
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Internet users: |
30,000 (2002)
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Transportation |
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Highways: |
total: 2,872
km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)
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Waterways: |
825 km (navigable
only by small craft) (2004)
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Ports and
harbors: |
Belize City
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Merchant marine: |
total: 295
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 207, chemical tanker 9,
container 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20,
refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 142 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, China 50,
Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 9, Germany 4, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia
3, Italy 2, Japan 5, Latvia 4, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Pakistan
1, Poland 2, Russia 23, Singapore 5, South Korea 6, Spain 3,
Switzerland 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 3, United States 2)
(2005)
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Airports: |
43 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with
paved runways: |
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
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Airports - with
unpaved runways: |
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
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Military |
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Military
branches: |
Belize Defense
Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard
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Military
manpower - military age and obligation: |
18 years of age for
voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if
volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been
implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions
by 3:1 (2001)
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Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 18-49:
60,750 (2005 est.)
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Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 18-49:
41,368 (2005 est.)
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Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 3,209
(2005 est.)
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Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$18 million (2003)
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Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
2% (2003)
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Transnational Issues |
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Disputes -
international: |
Guatemalan
squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain
forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revive
the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to
land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean,
joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and
substantial US-UK financial package
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Illicit drugs: |
major transshipment
point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for
the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related
to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector
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