Belize

by Macarena Rose

Macarena Rose - Belize

http://www.rainforestrealty.net/

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is the only official English-speaking country in Central America. Belize was a British colony for more than a century and was known as British Honduras until 1973. It became an independent nation within The Commonwealth in 1981.

Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Sistema de Integración Centroamericana (SICA) and considers itself to be culturally both Caribbean and Central American.

Belize lies along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The first British settlement came in 1638, and the United Kingdom relinquished its last colony on the mainland of the Americas in 1981. English is the official language, but Spanish is widely spoken. Peace and plentiful land attract refugees from troubled neighboring countries. Tourists flock to see Maya ruins like Altun Ha; wildlife such as jaguars, howler monkeys, and toucans; and the Western Hemisphere’s longest coral reef.

ECONOMY

Macarena Rose

Industry: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction.
Agriculture: bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish; lumber.
Exports: sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products.

Text source: National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition, 2004

With 8,867 square miles (22,960 km²) of territory and only 294,385 people (Belize CSO, 2007 mid year est.), the population density is the lowest in the Central American region and one of the lowest in the world. However, the country’s growth rate is 3.5% (2006 est.).