Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a water boundary with Honduras to the southeast.
The head of state is King Charles III of United Kingdom (UK) and is represented in Belize by the Governor General.Belize is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The structure of government is based on the British parliamentary system, and the legal system is modelled on the common law of England.
The Executive Authority is exercised by the cabinet, which advises the Governor General and is led by the Prime Minister, who is head of government. Cabinet ministers are members of the majority political party in parliament and usually hold elected seats with their cabinet positions.
Belize is a full participating member of the United Nations; the Commonwealth of Nations; the Organization of American States (OAS); the Central American Integration System (SICA); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Since 1995, Belize is also an original member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Belize is divided into six districts.
District | Capital | Area | Population(2019) | Population Density |
4,310 km2 (1,663 sq mi) | 124,096 | 28.8/km2 (74.6/sq mi) | ||
5,200 km2 (2,006 sq mi) | 99,118 | 19.1/km2 (49.4/sq mi) | ||
1,860 km2 (718 sq mi) | 49,446 | 26.6/km2 (68.9/sq mi) | ||
4,600 km2 (1,790 sq mi) | 52,550 | 11.3/km2 (29.4/sq mi) | ||
2,550 km2 (986 sq mi) | 44,720 | 17.5/km2 (45.4/sq mi) | ||
4,410 km2 (1,704 sq mi) | 38,557 | 8.7/km2 (22.6/sq mi) |
These districts are further divided into 31 constituencies. Local government in Belize comprises four types of local authorities: City Councils, Town, Village Councils and Community Councils. The two city councils (Belize City and Belmopan) and seven town councils cover the urban population of the country, while village and community councils cover the rural population.
Economy of Belize
Belize has a developing free-market economy. Commercial logging and the export of timber were for years the basis of the Belizean economy, but by 1960 the combined value of sugar and citrus exports had exceeded that of timber. Belize has opened up its economy to nontraditional agricultural products and manufacturing activities by the end of the 20th century. Since the 1990s the Belizean government has attempted to expand the economy. As is the case with many modern economies, services have become Belize’s dominant economic activity.
The United States of America and United Kingdom are the major export destinations of Belize products.
Tourism in Belize
A combination of natural factors – climate, the Belize Barrier Reef, over 450 offshore Cays (islands), excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving, snorkeling and freediving, numerous rivers for rafting and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora, for hiking, birdwatching, and helicopter touring, as well as many Maya sites – support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry.
The government of Belize has made tourism its development priority. In total more than 50% of tourist arrivals arefrom United States and Canada.
Tourism is now a major source of foreign income, partly as a result of an increase in Cruise Ships arrivals.
Corozal Town, Belize
It is located about 84 miles north of Belize City, and 9 miles from the border with Mexico. The population of Corozal Town is around 50,000.
Economy of Corozal
While Corozal District depended for many years on the sugar industry, at one time having its own sugar factory in Libertad Village, today the economy is more diversified. Sugar production and other agricultural crops such as papaya are still central to the way of life of many rural Corozalenos, but occupations in the tourism industry are slowly becoming more prominent. Now almost 65% of Corozalenos depend on the Commercial Free Zone for employment. The Zone is located on the border of Belize and Mexico.
Languages:
English is the most spoken language in Corozal, followed by Spanish. 80% speak English very well and 60% speak Spanish very well.
