Demographics of Belize

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Belize, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Demographics of Belize, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands.

Belize is the most sparsely populated nation in Central America. It is larger than El Salvador. Slightly more than half of the people live in rural areas. About one-fourth live in Belize City, the principal port, commercial centre, and former capital.

Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. About 34% of the population is of mixed Maya and European descent (Mestizo), 25% are Kriols, 15% are Spanish, about 10.6% are Mayan, and about 6.1% are Afro-Amerindian (Garifuna).^[1] The remaining population includes European, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and North American groups. In the case of Europeans, most are descendants of Spanish and British colonial settlers, whether pure-blooded or mixed with each other. Most Spanish left the nation just after it was taken by the British colonists who, in the same way, left after independence. Dutch and German Mennonites settled Belize, most in the isolated areas.

Because Belize's original Maya peoples were decimated by disease and wars, many of the country's Maya today are descended from other groups. The current Maya population consists of several different tribes. The Yucatecs fled to Belize in the late 1840s to escape the Caste War in Yucatán, Mexico. They live in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts, which border on Mexico. In the 1870s-1880s, the Kekchi ran from Verapaz, Guatemala, where their lands were being stolen for coffee plantations, which then enslaved them. They settled villages in the Toledo district. Living near rivers and streams, their lifestyle is self-reliant. The Mopans originated in Belize, but most were driven out to Guatemala after the British assumed control from the Spanish in the late 18th century. They returned to Belize in 1886, running from enslavement and taxation in Petén. The Cayo district and San Antonio in the Toledo district are their homes now. Some of the Kekchi and Mopan have mixed together. About 80% of the population is Christian.

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

Population pyramid

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population

307,899 (July 2009 est.)^[2]
country comparison to the world: 178

Belize's Largest Cities & Towns by Population

1. Belize City, BZ - 70,800
2. Orange Walk Town, OW - 18,000
3. San Ignacio, CY - 17,000
4. Belmopan, CY - 16,400
5. Dangriga, SC - 12,000
6. Corozal Town, CZ - 9,000
7. San Pedro, BZ - 8,500
8. Benque Viejo del Carmen, CY - 7,200
9. Punta Gorda, TO - 6,400
10. Trial Farm, OW - 4,500
11. Ladyville, BZ - 4,400

- Based on 2005 estimate.

Age structure

• 0–14 years: 37.9% (male 59,462/female 57,117)
• 15–64 years: 58.6% (male 91,298/female 89,170)
• 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,185/female 5,667) (2009 est.)

Median age

• total: 20.4 years
• male: 20.3 years
• female: 20.6 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate

• 2.154% (2009 est.)
• country comparison to the world: 47

Birth rate

• 27.33 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
• country comparison to the world: 59

Death rate

• 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
• country comparison to the world: 169

Net migration rate

• N/A (2009)

Urbanization

• urban population: 52% of total population
• rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2005-2010 est.)

Sex ratio

• at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
• under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
• 15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
• 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
• total population: 1.0025 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Infant mortality rate

• total: 23.07 deaths/1,000 live births
• country comparison to the world: 94
• male: 26 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 19.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

• total population: 68.2 years
• country comparison to the world: 151
• male: 66.44 years
• female: 70.05 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

• 3.28 children born/woman (2010 est.)

country comparison to world: 52

• 3.36 children born/woman (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

HIV/AIDS

• Adult prevalence rate: 2.1% (2007 est.)
• country comparison to the world: 30

People living with HIV/AIDS: 3,600 (2007 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 129

Deaths: fewer than 200 (2007 est.)

• country comparison to the world: 108

Nationality

• Noun: Belizean(s)
• Adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups

• Mestizo 34%, Kriol 25%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 6%, Spanish 15%, Mennonite 3.6%, Indian 3%, other 3%^[1]

Birth Rate by Ethnic Groups (2000 Census)^[3]

Ethnic Group	Population (2000)	Birth Rate (1999)	Births
African	582	17.18	10
British	1,758	9.10	16
Chinese	1,716	19.23	33
Creole	57,859	28.88	1,671
East Indian	6,868	27.66	190
Garifuna	14,061	27.17	382
Keq'chi	12,366	44.88	555
Mopan	8,980	35.30	317
Yucatec	3,155	19.33	61
Mennonite	8,276	42.53	352
Meztizo	78,537	29.73	2,335
Spanish	34,508	32.22	1,112
Other	2,610	21.84	57
Not Available	835	45.51	38
Total	232,111	30.71	7,128

Religions

Main article: Religion in Belize

• Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 29% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Baptist 3.5%), other 11.4%, none 10% (2000).^[4]

Languages

English is the only official language of Belize due to being a former British colony. It is the main language used in government and education.^[5] Although only 5.6% of the population speaks it as the main language at home, 54% can speak it very well, and another 26% can speak some English. 37% of Belizeans consider their primary language to be Kriol, an English-based creole of words and syntax from various African languages (namely Akan, Igbo, and Twi),^[6] and other languages (Miskito, Caliche). It is also a second or third language for another 40% of the multilingual country. Kriol shares similarities with many Caribbean English Creoles as far as phonology and pronunciations are concerned. Also, many of its words and structures are both lexically and phonologically similar to English, its superstrate language. Because it is English-based, all Kriol speakers can understand English. A number of linguists classify Belizean Kriol as a separate language, while others consider it to be a dialect of English.

Spanish is the mother tongue of Mestizo and Central American refugees and is commonly spoken at home by 43% of the population. Maya dialects such as Kekchi, Mopan and Yucatec are spoken. Garifuna (which is Arawakan/Maipurean based, with elements of the Carib language, French, and Spanish) and the Plautdietsch dialect of the Mennonites are spoke as well. Literacy currently stands at nearly 80%. In 2001, UNESCO declared the Garifuna language, dance, and music a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". English is the primary language of public education, with Spanish taught in primary and secondary school as well. Bilingualism is highly encouraged, and therefore, very common.

English & Spanish Language Proficiency[1]
Language	Speaks Very Well	Speaks Some	Total
English	54%	26%	80%
Spanish	52%	11%	63%

Languages in Belize according to 2000 census^[1]

Language	Mother tongue speakers	Percentage	First language speakers	Percentage
Chinese	1,607	0.8%	1,529	0.7%
Creole	67,527	32.9%	75,822	37.0%
English	7,946	3.9%	11,551	5.6%
Garifuna	6,929	3.4%	4,071	2.0%
German	6,783	3.3%	6,624	3.2%
Hindi	280	0.1%	193	0.1%
Maya Ketchi	10,142	4.9%	9,314	4.5%
Maya Mopan	6,909	3.4%	6,093	3.0%
Maya Yucateco	1,176	0.6%	613	0.3%
Spanish	94,422	46.0%	88,121	43.0%
Others / no answer	1,402	0.7%	1,192	0.6%

Literacy

• definition: age 15 and over can read and write
• total population: 76.9%
• male: 76.7%
• female: 77.1% (2000 census)

Education expenditures

• 5.3% of total GDP
• country comparison to the world: 55

See also

• Kriols
• Garifuna people
• Maya peoples
• Indians
• Languages of Belize
• Roman Catholicism in Belize
• Ethnic groups in Central America

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Belize 2000 Housing and Population Census". Belize Central Statistical Office. 2000. http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl. Retrieved 2008-09-09. 
2. ^ "Belize: People". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bh.html#People. Retrieved 2008-09-09. 
3. ^ http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl
4. ^ International Religious Freedom Report 2008: Belize
5. ^ "Belize: Language and Religion". MSN Encarta Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257013002284907. Retrieved 2008-09-09. 
6. ^ http://www.kriol.org.bz/

External links

• Kekchi and Mopan history - Maya history by Native Planet