Belize

In brief

Belize is a country in Central America. Its capital is Belmopan. With 422,924 inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 170th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 22,966 km². It shares land borders with Guatemala and Mexico.

GDP per capita stands at $7,865 (2025), 95th in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 73.7 years (2024). 42% of the population lives in cities.

History of Belize

Belize lies at the heart of the Maya world, as sites such as Caracol and Lamanai show. British settlers arrived in the 17th century to cut timber; the colony of British Honduras was created in 1862. Renamed Belize in 1973, the country became independent on 21 September 1981. Guatemala claims part of its territory, a dispute brought before the International Court of Justice. It is the only Central American country with English as its official language.

Geography of Belize

On the Caribbean Sea, Belize is fringed by the second-largest barrier reef in the world, home to the Great Blue Hole. The interior is covered in rainforest and the Maya Mountains. It is the least densely populated country in Central America.

Map of Belize

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Flag of Belize

The flag of Belize is red, white and blue. Its official proportions are 3:5 (height to width).

• Blue65%
• Red20%
• White9%
• Green3%
• Orange2%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Royal blue edged in red, with the coat of arms in the centre: two woodcutters in front of a mahogany tree, and the Latin motto “Sub umbra floreo”, “I flourish in the shade”. It is one of the few national flags to show human beings.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Belize” and “Flag of Belize”.

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Fact file

Economy and society