Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America, bordering Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Its capital is Belmopan, although the most populated and well-known city is Belize City.
Other important cities include San Ignacio, Orange Walk, and Dangriga. Belize has a tropical climate, with a dry season from February to May and a rainy season from June to November, influenced by hurricanes and tropical storms in the region. The country is notable for its cultural diversity, with Maya, Creole, Mestizo, Garifuna, Mennonite, and immigrant influences, making it a multicultural and multilingual society.
Size: The total area of Belize is approximately 22,966 km², making it the smallest country on the Central American mainland. Its territory includes cays, atolls, and part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world.
Population: In 2025, the estimated population of Belize is around 441,000 people. Unlike other countries in the Caribbean and Central America, Belize has maintained moderate population growth, driven by a relatively high birth rate and immigration from neighboring countries.
Currency: The official currency of Belize is the Belize dollar (BZD). Since 1978, the BZD has been pegged to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of 1 USD = 2 BZD, which has provided a degree of economic stability.
Official language: The official language of Belize is English, making it the only country in Central America with this characteristic. However, the population is largely bilingual or multilingual, widely using Belizean Creole (Kriol), Spanish, as well as Maya languages (such as Q’eqchi’, Mopan, and Yucatec) and Garifuna in specific communities.