Official Name: Belize

Area: Central America

Size: 22,966 km²

Coastline: 386 km

Independence: from the UK September 21, 1981

Form of Govt.: Constitutional monarchy

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister

Capital: Belmopan

Largest City: Beliz City

Demographics (2005): 291,500,   12 /km² 

44% Mestizo, 39.8% Creole, 11% Mayan

GDP per Capita (2005): $7,832

Languages: English & Spanish

Geography: Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in South. Only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean. The Caribbean coast is lined with a coral reef and some 450 islets and islands known locally as cayes. Belize is home to the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere.

Climate: tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May). Frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)