With strong economic and social linkages to the Caribbean, Belize is a middle-class nation in Central America. In 2022, 400,000 people lived in Belize, with a GDP per capita of $6049 and a GDP of $2.5 billion.
Belize’s historical similarities to other English-speaking Caribbean countries make it a popular choice for classification as a Caribbean nation in Central America. Belize’s historical status as a British colony is reflected in its official language and institutions. But its culture is more like that of other nations in Central America.
Belize Climate
Belize has a subtropical climate, with two distinct seasons: a rainy season from June to November that is broken up by another dry season from August to September, and a well-defined dry season from late February to May. In December, Belize City’s average temperature is approximately 74 °F (23 °C), whereas in July it is 84 °F (29 °C).
About three-fifths of Belize is forested. There are at least 50 different forest tree species, including mahogany, Santa Maria (Calophyllum brasiliense), cedar, and ironwood. Whereas The rich fauna of Belize encompasses many creatures like manatees, tapirs, deer, jaguars, pumas (referred to as “red tigers”), American crocodiles, and several species of fish, birds, turtles, tortoises, and reptiles.
Many people in Belize have mixed heritage, with the majority being immigrants’ descendants. Creoles, who speak English and are primarily of African and British descent, make up more than 25% of the population and are concentrated in the central coastal districts.
Language
English is the official language of Belize, but most of the population also speaks creole and many Belizeans are multilingual.
Religion
Early in the 19th century, Anglicans founded Belize’s first church, and Baptist and Methodist missionaries quickly followed. In Belize, the Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1851, and roughly two-fifths of the people follow that faith. Approximately one-third of the population is Protestant, with the major denominations being Mennonite, Anglican, Pentecostal, Methodist, and Seventh-day Adventist. Since the 1990s, Christian fundamentalist and evangelical congregations have been expanding quickly.
Economy
Belize has a developing free-market economy. Services are now Belize’s main economic activity, as in many other contemporary economies. A significant portion of foreign revenue comes from tourism, in part because of an increase in cruise ship landings.
Belize is home to a large, albeit illegal, marijuana farming community. During the 1980s and 1990s, several remote airstrips in Belize served as a transhipment or refuelling hubs for cocaine smuggling. Marijuana was mostly used locally during the beginning of the twenty-first century, but money laundering associated with drug trafficking was common.
Healthcare and Welfare
Most Belizeans have access to government clinics, hospitals, and facilities for mothers, children, and dentistry. Better waste disposal systems, illness prevention and immunisation campaigns, and water supply improvements have all contributed to lower infant mortality rates. But malaria is still an issue. Local training is provided for nurses, but there is still a dearth of physicians and dentists, particularly in remote areas (note this if you are looking to relocate to a greener location).
Education
The literacy percentage among people 14 years of age and older is over nine tenths. Between the ages of five and twelve, primary education is required. The majority of schools are parochial, primarily Roman Catholic, government-subsidized institutions. Without intervention from the government, the Mennonite community operates its own schools. Just a small elite continue their education beyond primary school, with half of primary school graduates going on to secondary school. The sole accredited institution in the nation is the institution of Belize (2000) in Belmopan. Adult education is offered in a Belize City location of the 1949 University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies. In addition, there is an independent university in the west of the nation called Galen University, as well as a community college and an arts and sciences school.
Just so you know , Whether you are an adventure traveller, visiting the country with your family, or taking a leisurely beach holiday, the people and culture of Belize make you feel as welcome and at ease as if you have never been anywhere.
Aside from money and fame, you will be interested to know that Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, and Francis Ford Coppola have all decided to put money into Belizean real estate, joining a growing number of celebrities in making this decision.
