Belize
Americas Β· Capital: Belmopan
How it is run: Belize is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Belize is home to 422,924 people in Central America, where people speak Belizean Creole, English, Spanish.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
422,924 people
That is about 52 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
22,966 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 18 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
28th most people in Americas
26th largest by land in Americas.
π£οΈ Official languages
Belizean Creole, English, Spanish
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Belize dollar ($)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
73.7 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$7,865
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
41.6% of people
Many people still live in villages and farming towns.
π Kids under 15
26.3% of the population
A fairly balanced mix of young and old.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+501
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.bz
π§ People here are called
Belizean
π·οΈ Name at home
Belize Β· Belice
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Latin American and Caribbean Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Belize touches 2 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Belice
French
Belize
Arabic
Ψ¨ΩΩΨ²
Chinese
δΌ―ε©ε Ή
Japanese
γγͺγΌγΊ
Russian
ΠΠ΅Π»ΠΈΠ·
Portuguese
Belize
German
Belize
Put it in perspective π
- United States β the most populated country in Americas β has about 808.1Γ as many people as Belize.
- Belize covers roughly 219 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Belize lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 211 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Belize is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
π·οΈ Official name
Belize
ποΈ Capital
Belmopan
π Region
Americas Β· Central America
π€ Country code
BZ
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Belize π
π§ Where on the map
17.3Β° N, 88.8Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-6 β when it is noon in London it is about 06:00 in Belmopan.
- Belize lies in the tropics, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun gets very high overhead.
- π§πΏ is the flag of Belize. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is BZ.
- Belize is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- Belize shares its part of the world with Nicaragua. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- The capital of Belize is Belmopan β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Belize has 3 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Belize can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Belize spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Belize?
Belmopan
Which money do people spend in Belize?
Belize dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Belize?
2 β Guatemala, Mexico.
Roughly how many people live in Belize?
422,924 people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.