Punta Gorda Town Municipal Profile

General

Punta Gorda Town is the southern-most municipality in the country, located 107 miles along the Southern highway south of Dangriga Town. It lies on the coast near Belize’s southern border with Guatemala and has regular ferry service to Guatemala and Honduras. Punta Gorda Town is the only municipality in the Punta Gorda District, a district which is predominantly rural with nearly 83% of its population residing in rural communities. It is the administrative and commercial center of the district.

Population

Between 2000 and 2010, Punta Gorda Town experienced average annual population growth of 2.1%, below the 3% annual urban population growth for the intercensal period. At the 2010 population census count, the population was estimated to be around 5,300 persons. It remains the least-populated municipality in Belize. The average household size also declined in the intercensal period from 4.2 persons per household in 2000 to 3.9 persons per household in 2010.

Demographics

Punta Gorda Town is predominantly a mix of Garifuna and indigenous Maya. Garifuna and Maya account for 24% and 22% of the population respectively in 2010. Creole is the most spoken language, with 64% of the population speaking Creole.

The male-to-female ratio declined from 95 males per 100 females in 2000 to 89 males per 100 females in 2010. Since the population census figures are based on a de-facto count of the non-institutional population, this may be as a result of a portion of male population temporarily residing in other areas of the country in pursuit of employment or higher education, or residing in institutions such as military camps.

The Age-Dependency ratio also declined significantly from 91 dependents per 100 adults in 2000 to 73 dependents per 100 adults in 2010. This is mainly as a result of the higher growth rate among the adult population which outpaced the growth among the children and senior populations between the intercensal period.

The foreign-born population remained fairly constant around 12% of the population between 2000 and 2010. The foreign-born population in Punta Gorda Town has traditionally been from Guatemala and Honduras; however within the intercensal period, there has been increased immigration from China.

Access to Public Utilities (Water, Sanitation, Electricity)

The major source of drinking water for households in Punta Gorda Town has shifted from piped water in 2000 to bottled water in 2010. Piped water was the main source of drinking water for 75% of households in 2000, but declined to 38% of households by 2010. Bottled water has become the main source of drinking water for nearly 47% of households in 2010.

Flush toilet piped to septic tank is the main type of toilet facility for most households in Punta Gorda Town. The proportion of households with flush toilets increased from nearly 52% in 2000 to 73% in 2010. Meanwhile, households using traditional pit latrines have declined from nearly 46% in 2000 to 25% in 2010. Punta Gorda Town is among the six municipalities in the country without an established sewer system for waste water disposal and treatment.

The vast majority of households in Punta Gorda Town use electricity as the main power source for lighting. The proportion of households with electricity has increased from over 90% in 2000 to 95% in 2010.

Education

Currently there are 4 Primary schools, 1 High school, and 1 Sixth Form established in Punta Gorda Town. The Net Enrolment rate in primary school increased from 99% in 2004 to 110% in 2010. This increase may be largely due to children from adjacent rural communities attending primary schools in Punta Gorda Town. The ratio of boys to girls enrolled in Primary school decreased from 109 boys per 100 girls in 2000 to 106 boys per 100 girls by 2010, indicating that more boys than girls continued to be enrolled in Primary school.

The Gross Enrolment rate in secondary school increased significantly for both boys and girls during the intercensal period, from 59% in 2000 to 75% in 2010 for boys, and from 65% in 2000 to 83% in 2010 for girls. The ratio of boys to girls enrolled in secondary school decreased from 128 boys to every 100 girls in 2000 to 112 boys to every 100 girls by 2010, indicating that more boys than girls continue to be enrolled in secondary school.

The Literacy rate for male youths (15 to 24 years) increased from 91% in 2000 to 95% in 2010, while the literacy rate for female youths increased from 88% in 2000 to 95% in 2010.

Technical and Vocational training also experienced a significant growth as the number of trainees increased by 72% between 2000 and 2010.

Employment

Results from the annual Belize Labour Force Survey show that there were 1,867 employed persons, and 224 unemployed persons, comprising a total labour force of 2,091 persons in Punta Gorda Town in April 2014. The total unemployment rate declined from 14.3% in April 2013 to 10.7% in April 2014. In April 2014, the male unemployment rate was 9.8%, while the female unemployment rate was 11.9%. Youth unemployment in April 2014 was 20.0% among males and 16.7% among females. Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts A. POPULATION

Population by Age groups 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (All persons) 4,407 5,351 944 21.4% Population by Age groups 2010 2000 Infants (under 5 yrs) 621 647 26 4.2% Children (5 - 14 yrs) 1,192 1,359 167 14.0% Seniors (65 yrs+) Adolescents (15 - 24 yrs) 818 1,042 224 27.4% Adults (25 - 64 yrs) 1,416 2,056 640 45.2% Seniors (65 yrs+) 219 247 28 12.9% Adults (25 - 64 yrs)

Adolescents (15 - 24 yrs) Source: Census data, SIB.

Children (5 - 14 yrs)

Infants (under 5 yrs)

- 500 1,000 1,500 2,000

Other Population data 2000 2010 Change %Change Total Population 4,407 5,351 944 21.4% Males 2,148 2,519 371 17.3% Other Population data Females 2,259 2,832 573 25.4% 6,000 2000 Households 1,040 1,358 318 30.6% 2010 avg. Persons per household 4.2 3.9 -0.3 -7.0% 5,000 Age Dependency ratio 0.91 0.73 -0.18 -20.1% Male to Female ratio 0.95 0.89 -0.06 -6.5% 4,000 Urban density* (persons/acre) 11.4 3,000

Source: Census data, SIB. 2,000 *Punta Gorda Municipal Development Plan, draft Nov. 2013 Age dependency ratio is the number of persons less than 15 years plus 1,000 persons over 64 years divided by the number of persons 15 to 64 years. Male of Female ratio is the number of males divided by the number of - females. Total Males Females Households Population Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

B. DEMOGRAPHICS

Population by Ethnic groups 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (All persons) 4,266 5,352 Population by Ethnic groups 2010 2000 CREOLE 629 564 (65) -10.3% EAST INDIAN 370 444 74 20.0% OTHER GARIFUNA 1,315 1,296 (19) -1.4% MAYA 1,042 1,200 158 15.2% ASIAN/CHINESE MESTIZO/HISPANIC 812 920 108 13.3% CAUCASIAN/WHITE CAUCASIAN/WHITE 47 76 29 61.7% ASIAN/CHINESE 5 49 44 880.0% MESTIZO/HISPANIC OTHER 45 802 757 1682.2% NOT STATED 1 1 MAYA

GARIFUNA Source: Census data, SIB. EAST INDIAN

CREOLE

- 300 600 900 1,200 1,500

Main Language spoken at home* 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Persons 4 years or older) 3,748 5,351 Main Language spoken 2010 2000 CHINESE 3 51 48 1600.0% CREOLE 2,266 3,424 1,158 51.1% OTHER ENGLISH 313 2,700 2,387 762.6% GARIFUNA 263 614 351 133.5% SPANISH HINDI 6 6 - MAYA 540 1,066 526 97.4% MAYA SPANISH 340 1,241 901 265.0% OTHER 17 31 14 82.4% HINDI NOT STATED 6 *-multiple languages reported (Census 2010) GARIFUNA

Source: Census data, SIB. ENGLISH *ln Census 2010, this question was worded as which language(s) do you speak well enough to conduct a conversation; multiple languages reported CREOLE in Census 2010. Total for Census 2010 includes all persons (not persons 4 years or older) CHINESE

- 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

Country of Birth 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (All persons) 4,266 5,352 Country of Birth BELIZE 3,758 4,700 942 25.1% ABROAD ABROAD 506 644 138 27.3% 2010 NOT STATED 2 8 2000

Source: Census data, SIB. BELIZE

- 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000

C. ACCESS TO PUBLIC UTILITIES

Main source of Drinking water 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,368 Main source of drinking water PIPED INTO DWELLING OR YARD 748 527 (221) -29.5% OTHER 2010 PRIVATE CATCHMENTS, NOT PIPED 137 181 44 32.1% 2000 BOTTLED/PURIFIED WATER 89 639 550 618.0% OTHER 22 20 (2) -9.1% BOTTLED/PURIFIED WATER NOT STATED 1 1

PRIVATE CATCHMENTS, NOT Source: Census data, SIB. PIPED Piped into dwelling or yard includes water piped from public and private sources. Other includes water from dug well, publi c standpipe, and PIPED INTO DWELLING OR rivers/streams/creeks. YARD

- 200 400 600 800

Type of Toilet facilities 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,357 Type of Toilet facility W.C. LINKED TO SEPTIC TANK 515 992 477 92.6% NONE 2010 PIT LATRINE 456 345 (111) -24.3% 2000 OTHER 6 1 (5) NONE 19 16 (3) -15.8% OTHER NOT STATED 3

Source: Census data, SIB. PIT LATRINE

W.C. LINKED TO SEPTIC TANK

- 200 400 600 800 1,000 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

Main Source of Lighting 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,358 Main source of Lighting 2010 2000 GAS/KEROSENE LAMP 76 24 (52) -68.4% ELECTRICITY FROM PUBLIC SOURCE 901 1,290 389 43.2% NONE ELECTRICITY FROM A PRIVATE SOURCE 1 4 3 300.0% OTHER 17 33 16 94.1% OTHER NONE 6 6 NOT STATED 1 1 ELECTRICITY FROM A PRIVATE SOURCE

Source: Census data, SIB. ELECTRICITY FROM PUBLIC SOURCE

GAS/KEROSENE LAMP

- 300 600 900 1,200

Fuel used most for Cooking 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,327 Fuel used most for Cooking 2010 2000 WOOD/CHARCOAL 75 92 17 22.7% BUTANE OR BIOGAS 878 1,202 324 36.9% OTHER 37 32 (5) -13.5% OTHER NOT STATED 6 1

BUTANE OR BIOGAS Source: Census data, SIB.

WOOD/CHARCOAL

- 300 600 900 1,200

Disposal of Garbage 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,358 Disposal of Garbage 2010 TAKE TO DUMPSITE 190 7 (183) -96.3% OTHER BURN 20 53 33 165.0% 2000 MUNICIPAL COLLECTION 763 1,284 521 68.3% MUNICIPAL OTHER 23 12 (11) -47.8% COLLECTION NOT STATED 2

BURN Source: Census data, SIB.

TAKE TO DUMPSITE

- 300 600 900 1,200 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

D. EDUCATION

Gross Enrolment Rate, Primary 2000 2010 Change Male 112% 109% -3% Gross Enrolmnent rates 2000 2010 Female 114% 107% -7% 120% Gross Enrolment Rate, Secondary Male 59% 75% 16% 100% Female 65% 83% 18% 80% Primary

60% Source: Census data, SIB. Secondary Gross Enrolment Rate (Primary) is the ratio of persons enrolled in primary 40% school to all persons in the official primary shool age (5 to 12 years). Gross Enrolment Rate (Secondary) is the ratio of persons enrolled in 20% secondary school to all persons in the official secondary shool age (13 to 16 years). 0% Male Female Male Female

Attend Formal School 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Persons 2 years or older) 3,996 5,096 Attend Formal school YES, Full-time 1,408 1,877 469 33% YES, Part-time 25 103 78 312% NO 2,560 3,098 538 21% NO NOT STATED 3 18 2010 YES, Part-time 2000 Source: Census data, SIB. Includes all school levels. YES, Full-time

- 1,000 2,000 3,000

Received any Technical/ Vocational training* 2000 2010 Change %Change Technical/Vocational Training Total (Persons 14 years or older) 2,554 3,449 YES 522 898 376 72% NO 2,018 2,517 499 25% NOT STATED 14 34 NO *- includes any formal job training (Census 2010) 2010 2000 Source: Census data, SIB.

YES

- 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

E. EMPLOYMENT

Main Labour Force Indicators April April Source: Belize Labour Force survey, SIB [April 2013,April 2014] (Persons 14 years or older) 2013 2014 Change %Change Main Labour Force indicators (April 2013) not available for Working Age Population 3,721 - - Punta Gorda Town. Labour Force 2,091 - - Working Age Population includes all persons 14 years or older. Employed Labour Force 1,867 - - Unemployed Labour Force 224 - - Not In The Labour Force 1,630 - - Underemployed Labour Force 352 - -

April April 25.0% Unemployment rates Unemployment Rates 2013 2014 Change 2013 Total (14 years or older) 14.3% 10.7% -3.6% 20.0% 2014 Males 9.8% - Females 11.9% - 15.0% Youth (14 to 24 years) 18.6% - Youth - Males 20.0% - 10.0% Youth - Females 16.7% - 5.0% Source: Belize Labour Force survey, SIB [April 2013,April 2014] Male and Female unemployment rates , Youth unemployment rates (April 0.0% 2013) not available for Punta Gorda Town. Total (14 years Youth (14 to Youth - Males Youth - or older) 24 years) Females

F. APPENDIX OF CENSUS TABLES (2000, 2010)

HOUSING & PROPERTY Occupancy of Dwelling 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,358 Own 615 846 231 37.6% Rent/Lease 252 397 145 57.5% Other 128 113 -15 -11.7% Not Stated 1 2

Occupancy of Land 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 612 845 Freehold 268 611 343 128.0% Leasehold 312 225 -87 -27.9% Other 31 6 -25 -80.6% Not Stated 1 3

Main material of Dwelling 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,358 Wood 379 379 0 0.0% Concrete/Brick 532 923 391 73.5% Wood and Concrete 53 35 -18 -34.0% Plywood/Palmetto/Stucco 21 8 -13 -61.9% Other 11 13 2 18.2% Not Stated Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

Main material of roofing 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,357 Sheet metal 843 1,149 306 36.3% Concrete 86 182 96 111.6% Thatch 27 17 -10 -37.0% Other 40 8 -32 -80.0% Not Stated 1

Main material of flooring 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,358 WOOD 240 223 -17 -7.1% CEMENT/CONCRETE 732 1,117 385 52.6% DIRT 13 7 -6 -46.2% OTHER 9 10 1 11.1% Not Stated 2 1

DEMOGRAPHICS Population by Religious affiliation 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (All persons) 4,266 5,352 ANGLICAN 20 45 25 125.0% BAPTIST 82 113 31 37.8% JEHOVAH WITNESS 74 98 24 32.4% METHODIST 220 245 25 11.4% NAZARENE 202 289 87 43.1% PENTECOSTAL 209 123 (86) -41.1% ROMAN CATHOLIC 2,992 3,163 171 5.7% SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST 80 225 145 181.3% OTHER 282 451 169 59.9% NONE 101 574 473 468.3% NOT STATED 4 26

Current Union Status 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Persons 14 years and older) 2,554 3,344 MARRIED 747 947 200 26.8% COMMON-LAW-UNION 537 785 248 46.2% VISITING PARTNER 103 224 121 117.5% SEPARATED (NOT IN A UNION) 74 162 88 118.9% WIDOWED (NOT IN A UNION) 109 149 40 36.7% DIVORCED (NOT IN UNION) 15 60 45 300.0% OTHER (NOT IN UNION) 963 1,011 48 5.0% NOT STATED 6 6 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town I. Tables and Charts

MISCELLANEOUS Have Fixed Telephone Service 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,358 YES 505 360 -145 -28.7% NO 490 998 508 103.7% NOT STATED 1

Ownership of Private Motor vehicle 2000 2010 Change %Change Total (Households) 996 1,357 YES 226 476 250 110.6% NO 769 881 112 14.6% NOT STATED 1 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town II. Scorecard of selected MDG Indicators MDG Actual Actual Target Indicator Description 2000 2010 2015 CHARTS NOTES

Source: Census data, SIB. 1.5 Employment to Working Age Population ratio 0.53 0.48 MDG 1.5 Employment includes all persons 14 years or older who worked for at least 1 hour for pay, profit or 0.53 family gain, or who were temporarily absent from his/her job, during the Census reference week. Working Age Population includes all persons 14 0.48 years or older regardless of their economic activity status.

2000 2010

Proportion of own-account and contributing Source: Census data, SIB. MDG 1.7 1.7 Family workers to Total Employment 28% 21% Own-account workers are self-employed (without paid help) persons 14 years or older. 28% Contributing Family workers are unpaid family workers 14 years or older. 21% Total Employment includes all persons 14 years or older who worked for at least 1 hour for pay, profit or family gain, or who were temporarily absent from his/her job, during the Census reference 2000 2010 week.

2.1 Net Enrolment Rate in Primary education 99.5% 110.4% Sources: Policy and Planning Unit, MOE; Census MDG 2.1 data, SIB. MOE enrolment data are reported for by schools within each municipality, 110.4% not by the place of residence of the students. As a result, the urban Net Net Primary Enrolment rate is the proportion of all Enrolment Rates (NER)based on MOE data may overstate the actual NER as children 5 to 12 years enrolled in Primary School. the enrolment reported may include students from rural communities who 99.5% This rate can be above 100% as the enrolment are enrolled in urban shools. This may be more acute at the Secondary and data may include children from adjacent rural Tertiary levels as the schools at these levels are concentrated in the urban communities enrolled in urban primary schools. areas within each district. 2004 2010

2.3 Youth Literacy rate (15-24 years) 101% Source: Census data, SIB. Males 93% 97% 100% MDG 2.3 100% Literacy is the ability of a person to read and Females 94% 97% 100% 99% 98% write . In absence of a functional literacy test, 97% literacy is estimated by a proxy measure such as 96% the number of completed years of formal 95% schooling. Youth Literacy rate is the propor-tion 94% 93% of all persons 15 to 24 years who can read and 92% write. For MDG 2.3, the proportion of all persons 2000 2010 15 to 24 years who completed at least standard 5 of Primary school is used to estimate youth Males Females Target literacy.

Ratio of boys to girls enrolled in Primary, 1.4 Sources: Policy and Planning Unit, MOE; Registrar, 3.1 Secondary, and Tertiary education 2004 2010 2015 MDG 3.1 Primary 1.09 1.06 1.00 1.2 University of Belize; Registrar, Galen University; SIB. Secondary 1.28 1.12 1.00 1 Tertiary enrolment includes data from all Sixth Tertiary* 0.29 0.65 1.00 0.8 Forms, Galen, and UB. A ratio equal to 1 indicates an equal number of *- Tertiary gender ratios are reported for years 2000 and 2010. 0.6 boys and girls are enroled at that school level. 0.4 A ratio less than 1 indicates more girls than boys 0.2 are enroled at that school level. 2004 2010 A ratio greater than 1 indicates more boys than Primary Secondary Tertiary* girls are enroled at that school level.

Proportion of women in wage employment in the 3.2 non-Agricultural sectors 24% 31% MDG 3.2 Source: Census data, SIB. MDG 3.2 represents the number of women 14 years or older, employed as paid workers in all industry, except agriculture, as a proportion of all 31% persons 14 years or older, employed in the non- 24% Agricultural sectors.

2000 2010 Municipality Profile, Punta Gorda Town II. Scorecard of selected MDG Indicators MDG Actual Actual Target Indicator Description 2000 2010 2015 CHARTS NOTES

Proportion of population using an improved Source: Census data, SIB. 7.8 drinking water source 91% 56% 100% MDG 7.8 MDG 7.8 represents the household population with access to improved drinking water as a The definition of an improved drinking water source is based on the 91% classification developed by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring proportion of the total population. Improved Programme for Water and Sanitation. The data indicates a remarkable drinking water sources include water piped into decline in the level of this indicator between 2000 and 2010. This is 56% dwelling or yard, public tap or standpipe, mainly as a result of the huge increase in bottled water as a main source protected dug well/tubewell/borehole, protected of drinking water for most urban households. spring, and rainwater collection. It excludes water from carts or tanker trucks, bottled water, and unprotected surface water. 2000 2010

Proportion of population using an improved 7.9 sanitation facility 59% 89% 100% MDG 7.9 Source: Census data, SIB. 89% MDG 7.9 represents the household population with access to an improved toilet facility as a The definition of an improved sanitation facility is based on the proportion of the total population. classification developed by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring 59% An improved toilet facility includes Flush and Programme for Water and Sanitation. Pour-flush toilets piped into sewer, septic tanks,

or pit latrines, Ventilated and Improved Pit (VIP) latrines, Pit latrines with Slab, and Composting toilets, not shared with another household. 2000 2010

8.14 Fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 11.8 6.7 MDG 8.14 Source: Census data, SIB. MDG 8.14 represents the total number of fixed 11.8 telephone lines per 100 persons. Data from the telecom providers is required for this indicator. 6.7 Household information on fixed telephone service (residential) was used from the census to approximate this measure. The census data represents the proportion of households with fixed telephone service to the total population. It assumes 1 fixed telephone line per household. 2000 2010

8.16 Internet users per 100 inhabitants - 31.8 Source: Census data, SIB. Internet users are persons 5 years or older who reported using the internet within the past 3 months of the Census reference date. This information is not available from the 2000 Census.