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Belizean（https://belizean.com/）

Last updated on August 23rd, 2026 at 02:31 pm

Belize Country Profile

Physical Map of Belize showing its coast with the Caribbean Sea, the Belize Barrier Reef, cayes (islands), atolls and borders with Mexico to the north and and Guatemala to the west and south. Belize (/bəˈliːz/ is a Caribbean and Central American country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a sea boundary with Honduras to the southeast. It has an area of 8,867 sq mi (22,970 square kilometres) and a population of 441,471 (2022 estimate). Its mainland is 180 miles long (290 km) and 68 mi wide (110 km). It is the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America. Its population growth rate of 1.89% per year (2019 estimate) is the second-highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Its capital is Belmopan, and its largest city is Belize City. Belize is often thought of as a Caribbean country in Central America because it has a history similar to that of English-speaking Caribbean nations. Belize’s institutions and official language reflect its history as a British colony.

Belize Facts

Capital: Belmopan Area: 22,966 sq km Population: 441,471 Language: English, Belizean Creole, plus Spanish, Mayan, German, Garifuna, Chinese Life expectancy: 71 years (men) 77 years (women)

Currency

The currency of Belize is the dollar (ISO code BZD), divided into 100 cents.

The Belizean dollar — sometimes written as “BZ$” or just as a dollar sign: “$” — has been fixed to the US dollar (USD) at a 2:1 ratio since 1978 (i.e. BZ$2 = US$1).

Because of this consistent exchange rate, US dollars are widely accepted, but you should be careful to clarify which “dollars” you’re talking about when negotiating prices. It’s often better to assume Belize dollars because many merchants will jump on your uncertainty and attempt to double their price by saying, “No, in US dollars”. Change can also be given in US dollars or a combination of US and Belizean dollar bills and coins. Belize dollars come in denominations of BZ$2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. B$1 and smaller amounts are coins. The 25-cent coin is often called a “shilling.”

Entry requirements

All visitors are required to have sufficient funds, US$75 per day, and documents required for their next destination.

If entering by land from Mexico, you will be charged a fee of M$533 (Mexican pesos) (as of May 2018) by Mexican immigration unless you can show proof that you paid the immigration fee when you entered Mexico. Your FMM tourist card is not enough. If you crossed at a land border, you’ll need the actual receipt from when you paid the fee. If you reached Mexico via a commercial flight, you’ve may have already paid the fee with your airfare, but the border guards here do not care. You might be able to convince them if you have a print-out of an itemized receipt from the airline showing that this specific fee was included.

Leaders The Prime Minister of Belize John Antonio Briceño Head of state: King Charles III is the head of state, represented by a governor general

Prime minister: Juan (Johnny) Antonio Briceño

On 11 November 2020, the People’s United Party (PUP), led by Johnny Briceño, defeated the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the first time since 2003, having won 26 seats out of 31 to form a government.

In 2008, Guatemala and Belize held referendums in which voters in both countries decided to submit the issue of their historic border dispute to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). As of June 2022, both countries confirmed that they had submitted their initial briefs to ICJ for consideration.

Government: Type: Parliamentary democracy. Independence: 21 September 1981 from the UK. Constitution: 21 September 1981. Geography: Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico. Terrain: plain coastline covered with mangrove swamps, low mountains in interior, highest point Doyle’s Delight (1124 m).

Climate Of Belize

Belize’s climate is subtropical and characterized by a dry season that lasts from late February to May, and a wet season that occurs from June to November. The wet season is interrupted by a dry period in August to September. The mean temperature in Belize City is 74°F (23°C) in December and 84°F (29°C) in July. The amount of rainfall varies across the country, with Corozal receiving around 50 inches (1,270 mm) of rain annually, Punta Gorda in the south receiving 175 inches (4,445 mm), and Belize City receiving approximately 75 inches (1,900 mm) of rain per year. There are, however, significant variations in rainfall from year to year throughout the country. The trade winds blow onshore for most of the year, while northerly winds bring cooler and drier air from September to December. From July to November, hurricanes (tropical cyclones) pose a threat. A hurricane in 2000 caused severe damage to Belize’s infrastructure and displaced tens of thousands of Belizeans.

Land

Belize is located to the south of the Yucatán Peninsula, and it is a country of mountains, swamps, and tropical jungle. It shares borders with Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The coastline of Belize stretches 174 miles (280 km).

In Belize, the southern portion of the country is primarily characterized by the Maya Mountains, which are rugged and dominate the landscape. The Maya Mountains are a plateau made of igneous rock that has been eroded over time, creating hills and valleys that run in a southwesterly to northeasterly direction.