>Belize
People
Belize is the most sparsely populated nation in Central America; it is larger than El Salvador and compares in size to the state of Massachusetts. Slightly more than half of the people live in rural areas. About one-fourth live in Belize City, the principal port, commercial center, and former capital. Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. About 44.1% of the population is of mixed Mayan and European descent (mestizo); 31% are of African and Afro-European (Creole) ancestry; about 9.2% are Mayan; and about 6.2% are Afro-Amerindian (Garifuna). The remainder, about 9.2%, includes European, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and North American groups.
English, the official language, is spoken by virtually all except the most recently arrived refugees.
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2016 | |
| Population, total (millions) | 0.19 | 0.25 | 0.32 | 0.37 |
| Population growth (annual %) | 2.2 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| Population density (people per sq. km of land area) | 8.2 | 10.8 | 14.1 | 16.1 |
| Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Poverty headcount ratio at $1.90 a day (2011 PPP) (% of population) | 10.1 | 13.9 | .. | .. |
| Income share held by lowest 20% | 3 | 3.2 | .. | .. |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 71 | 68 | 70 | 70 |
| Fertility rate, total (births per woman) | 4.5 | 3.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) | 126 | 97 | 72 | 65 |
| Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) | 47 | 56 | 55 | 51 |
| Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) | 77 | 100 | 94 | 97 |
| Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) | 39 | 24 | 19 | 15 |
| Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) | 5.4 | .. | 6.2 | 4.6 |
| Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) | 86 | 96 | 98 | 95 |
| Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) | 94 | 100 | 101 | 106 |
| School enrollment, primary (% gross) | 112.7 | 115.9 | 112.5 | 114.7 |
| School enrollment, secondary (% gross) | 61 | 68 | 75 | 87 |
| School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Environment | ||||
| Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) | 16.2 | 14.6 | 13.9 | 13.7 |
| Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) | .. | .. | .. | 20.6 |
| Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) | 0.1 | 0.7 | .. | .. |
| Urban population growth (annual %) | 1.8 | 3.4 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) | 566 | .. | 597 | .. |
| CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) | 1.66 | 1.6 | 1.68 | 1.41 |
| Electric power consumption (kWh per capita) | .. | .. | .. | .. |
| Net migration (thousands) | -9 | 6 | 8 | 7 |