- Belize used to be known as British Hondoras until 1981 when they gained their independence from Britian. English is still the official language of Belize (that was a surprising fact to me).
- Belize is just slightly smaller in size than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The population density is only about 12 people per sq km (total population 266,440). The country is only a two-hour plane ride from Houston or Miami.
- The motto on the flag is "I flourish in the shade" but if they don't get the crime problem under control - the motto may be changed to "We rob tourists on vacation". Reading the official US Government about travel to Belize would make me think twice about spending my dollars there.
- The median age is 19 years and the life expectacy at birth is just 67 years.
- Like Canada - the official head of state for Belize is the Queen of England. And just like Canada - the Queen's official representative is a Governor General. Also similar to Canada - Belize's government is a bicameral parliament with a Senate and a House of Representatives. The House members are directly elected while the Senate members are appointed.
- Tourism is the number one industry in Belize and the Belize dollar exchange rate is basically set at 1 US dollar = 2 Belizean dollars.
- The per capita GDP is just $4,900 (which helps explain the crime rate)
- There are 42 airports in Belize but only 4 have paved runways *cough*drugs*cough*
- Belize has had an ongoing border dispute with Guatemala along the southern portion of the country.
- I'm including a map of Belize because if you asked me to find Belize on a map three days ago - it would have been a fifty/fifty proposition.
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