Quick Facts - Belize
First inhabited by the Mayan civilization and later by Europeans 1502, Belize was formally termed the Colony of British Honduras from 1840. It became a Crown colony in 1862 and was known as British Honduras until 1973. It became an independent nation in 1981.
Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America and has a population of approximately 270,000.
| Language: |
English |
| Government: |
Independence from UK on 21 September 1981 |
| Capital: | Belmopan |
| Size: | 8,867 sq mi |
| Location: | Central America - 17 15 N, 88 45W |
| Sovereign: | Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) |
| Governor: | His Excellency Sir Colville Young (1993) |
| Head of Government: | Prime Minister Dean Barrow (since 8 February 2008) |
| Climate: | 75 - 84°F |
| Rainfall: | 45 inches per year |
| Electricity: | 110 Volts AC |
| Currency: | Belize Dollar (US currency widely accepted); US$1.00 = BZD$2.00 (this rate is indicative) |
| Driving: | On right, license required |
| Rentals: | Car, jeeps, boats |
| Airports/Seaports: | Phillip S W Goldson International Airport |
| Entry: | Passport and return or onward ticket required. |
| Online Newspaper(s): | Amandala ?The Belize Times ?The Reporter ?The San Pedro Sun |
