Belize

World Factbook as of November 2014: "Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy, followed by exports of marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments... Oil discoveries in 2006 bolstered this growth. Exploration efforts have continued and production has increased a small amount... Although Belize has the second highest per capita income in Central America, the average income figure masks a huge income disparity between rich and poor. The sizable trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns."

Economic growth rate
2011: 2.5%
2010: 2.7%

Labor force in agricutlure
2007: 10.2%

Unemployment rate
2009: 13.1%.

Public debt
2011: 83.6%

Exports - commodities:

Export commodities
Sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood, crude oil

Export partners
2010: US 30.3%, UK 20.8%, Costa Rica 12.7%, Cote dIvoire 4.6%, Nigeria 4.6%

Export/import ratio
2011: exports $511.7 million, imports $706.1 million

Health expenditures
2009: 3.3% of GDP

People

Living in an urban area
2008: 52%

Ethnic groups
2000 census: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Religions
2000: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 25.5% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%), Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%, other 14%, none 9.4%

Net migration rate
2012: zero

Density measured in 2005: 12.6 persons per square kilometer.

Geography

East of Guatemala and just south of Mexico.

Government

Chief of state: Elizabeth II (queen, House of Windsor) since 6 February 1952. Member of Commonwealth. A parliamentary democracy. Bicameral legislature. Capital: Belmopan.

Recent History

Independence from Britain in 1981.

SOURCES:
The World Factbook