Central America, Caribbean coast.

GMT - 6.

22,965 sq km (8867 sq miles).

282,600 (2004).

31.9 per sq km.

Belmopan City. Population: 12,300 (2004). Belize City (the former capital) has a population of 59,400.

Belize is situated at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula in Central America and borders Mexico and Guatemala, with the Caribbean Sea to the east. The country’s area includes numerous small islands (Cayes) off the coast. The coastal strip is low and swampy, particularly in the north, with mangroves, many salt and freshwater lagoons and some sandy beaches crossed by a number of rivers. To the south and west rises the heavily forested Maya mountain range, with the Cockscomb range to the east and the Mountain Pine Ridge in the west. More than 65 per cent of the area of the country is forested. The land to the west along the borders with Guatemala is open and relatively scenic compared to much of the interior. The shallow offshore Cayes straddle a coral reef second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Belize is formally a constitutional monarchy in which the British Monarch is Head of State, represented in Belize by a Governor General. The bicameral National Assembly is the legislature and consists of a nine-member Senate (appointed by the Governor General for a five-year term) and a 29-member House of Representatives (directly elected for a maximum five-year term). Executive power is in the hands of the Governor General, advised by the cabinet.

Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1981. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II represented locally by Governor-General Sir Colville Young since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Said Musa since 1998. Recent history: The bicameral National Assembly is the legislature and consists of a nine-member Senate (appointed by the Governor General for a five-year term) and a 29-member House of Representatives (directly elected for a maximum five-year term). Executive power is in the hands of the Governor General, advised by the Cabinet. Said Musa was re-elected in 2003 with his People's United Party (PUP) winning 22 Assembly seats. Following a difficult start to their second term, with allegations of corruption and poor macro-economic management continuing against the government, Said Musa carried out a Cabinet reshuffle in January 2004. In August 2004, seven Ministers resigned expressing their disquiet over the Government's macro-economic performance - especially the growth of external debt and the use of government funds to support private sector ventures. A change to portfolios led to the return of the Ministers but three of them were then removed from the Cabinet in December 2004. Since January 2005, civil disturbances have taken place culminating in a riot in Belize City in April. Today, the Government's financial problems continue, the budget deficit has not been bridged and the country's credit ratings have decreased.

English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken to some extent by over half the population. Garifuna (Carib), Maya and Creole are also spoken as well as a German dialect (by the Mennonites).

The people of Belize are mainly Roman Catholic (approximately 60 per cent of the population). Other small groups practice Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Bahai, as well as other Christian denominations.

British influence can still be seen in many social situations. Flowers or confectionary are acceptable gifts to give to hosts if invited to their home for a meal. Dress is casual, although beachwear should not be worn in towns. It may be inadvisable to discuss politics, particularly if of a partisan nature.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs.