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Belize Country Monograph BELIZE COUNTRY MONOGRAPH A Publication of Live and Invest Overseas BELIZE COUNTRY MONOGRAPH By: Roxana Lupu Published by Live and Invest Overseas Altos del Golf, Loma Alegre, Calle Los Tulipanes, Casa B1, Panama City, Republic of Panama Publisher: Kathleen Peddicord Copyright © 2011 Live and Invest Overseas. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. The information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Belize Country Monograph [Escriba texto] T A B L E O F C ONTENTS Government ............................................................................................................. 3 Economy and resources ............................................................................................ 4 Climate .................................................................................................................... 4 Population and society ............................................................................................. 5 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................... 6 Practical information ................................................................................................ 6 Special benefits for retirees ...................................................................................... 7 Cost of living ............................................................................................................ 7 Cost of housing ......................................................................................................... 9 Health care ............................................................................................................... 9 Taxes ..................................................................................................................... 10 Territoriality and Residence ........................................................................................... 10 Gross Income................................................................................................................. 10 Deductions and Allowances ........................................................................................... 10 Tax Credits .................................................................................................................... 10 Other Taxes ................................................................................................................... 10 Tax Authorities .............................................................................................................. 11 Further Reading ..................................................................................................... 11 Recommended Resources ....................................................................................... 11 Copyright © 2011| Live and Invest Overseas | www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Page 2 Belize Country Monograph [Escriba texto] Area: 22,963 square kilometers/8,866 square miles Capital: Belmopan Major towns/cities: Belize City, Dangriga, Orange Walk, Corozal, San Ignacio Major ports: Belize City, Dangriga, Punta Gorda Physical features: tropical swampy coastal plain, Maya Mountains in south; over 90% forested Government Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II since 1981, represented by Governor General Sir Colville Young since 1993 Head of government: Dean Oliver Barrow since 2008 Political system: liberal democracy Administrative divisions: six districts Political parties: National Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; National Reform Party or NRP [Cornelius Dueck]; People's National Party or PNP [Wil Maheia]; People's United Party or PUP [John Briceno]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Barrow]; Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Paul Morgan]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [Hipolito Bautista] Armed forces: 1,100, plus 700 militia reserves (2002) Death penalty: retained and used for ordinary crimes Defence expenditure: (% GDP): 1.4 (2009) Education expenditures: (% GDP): 5.1 (2007) Copyright © 2011| Live and Invest Overseas | www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Page 3 Belize Country[Escriba Monograph texto] Economy and resources Currency: Belize dollar GDP (US$): 2.65 billion (2010) Real GDP growth: 1.5% (2010) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$): 8,400 (2010) Consumer price inflation: 4.1% (2010) Unemployment: 13.1% (2009) Public debt (%GDP): 40 (2010) Major trading partners: U.S., Mexico, U.K., Cuba, Spain, China Industries: clothing, agricultural products (particularly sugar cane for sugar and rum), timber, tobacco Exports: sugar, clothes, citrus products, forestry and fish products, bananas. Principal market: U.S. 30.7% (2009) Imports: foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, basic manufactures. Principal source: U.S. 33.65% (2009) Arable land: 3.05% Agricultural products: sugar cane, citrus fruits, bananas, maize, red kidney beans, rice; livestock rearing (cattle, pigs, and poultry); fishing; timber reserves Climate Belize's climate is classified as subtropical, with a cool continuous air stream flowing over from the Caribbean Sea. The annual mean temperature reads 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with highest summer temperatures rarely exceeding 96 degrees Fahrenheit and lowest winters hardly ever below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Coastal towns and communities in the higher elevated regions of the country are normally cooler than inland regions like Belmopan, the nation's capital. Annual rainfall figures are usually between 50 and 170 inches. The southernmost districts of Toledo and Stann Creek receive the highest amounts of rainfall. Traditionally, the rainy Copyright © 2011| Live and Invest Overseas | www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Page 4 Belize Country Monograph [Escriba texto] season falls between June and November and the dry season between February and May. However, due to the recent changes in global weather patterns, habitual weather predictions are becoming less reliable. The average humidity is 85 percent, which is nicely balanced by the cool breezes coming in from the Caribbean Sea. Belize climatological information: Population and society Population: 321,115 (2010) Population growth rate: 2% (2010) Urban population (% of total): 52 (2010) Age distribution (% of total population): 0–14 36.8%, 15–64 59.6%, 65+ 3.5% (2010) Ethnic groups: 48.7% mestizos, 24.9% Creoles, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indians, Mennonites, Canadians and Europeans, including Spanish and British 9.7% (2000) Languages: English (official), Spanish (widely spoken), Creole dialects Religion: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% Education: (compulsory years): 10 Literacy rate: 76.7% (men); 77.1% (women) (2000) Labor force: 10.2% agriculture, 18.1% industry, 71.7% services (2007) Life expectancy: 66.53 (men); 70 (women) (2010) Copyright © 2011| Live and Invest Overseas | www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Page 5 Belize Country Monograph [Escriba texto] Child mortality rate: (under 1, per 1,000 live births): 21.95 (2010) Internet users: 36,000 (2009) Infrastructure Airports: 45 (2010) Railways: none Roads: total road network: 3,007 kilometers, of which 575 kilometers paved (2006) Roads in Belize vary from two-lane paved roads to dirt or gravel tracks. The few paved roads are high-crowned, which can contribute to cars overturning. There are few markings or reflectors. Even in urban areas, most streets lack lane markings, leading many motorists to create as many lanes as possible in any given stretch of street or road. Bridges on the major highways are often of only a single lane. The Manatee Road, leading from the Western Highway east of Belmopan to Dangriga, is mostly unpaved, easily flooded after storms and without services. The Southern Highway from Dangriga to Punta Gorda is now complete and in good condition. Service stations are available along the major roads although there are some significant gaps in the rural areas. Practical information Visa requirements: visa not required Embassy in the U.S.: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; tel. (202) 332-9636 American embassy: #4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan; tel. (501) 822-4011 Chamber of commerce: Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, #4792 Coney Drive, Withfield Tower First Floor, Belize City; tel. (501) 223-5330 Office hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon–Fri Banking hours: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Mon–Fri Time difference: GMT -6 Chief tourist attractions: beaches and barrier reef; hunting and fishing; Mayan remains; nine major wildlife reserves (including the only reserves for jaguar and red-footed booby) Major holidays: 1 January, 9 March, 1, 24 May, 10, 24 September, 12 October, 19 November, 25–26 December; variable: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Holy Saturday Copyright © 2011| Live and Invest Overseas | www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Page 6 Belize Country[Escriba Monograph texto] Special benefits for retirees Ten years ago, the government of Belize enacted legislation to allow Qualified Retired Persons (QRPs) to obtain permanent residency in this country. In many ways, this program is the most efficient route to foreign residency anywhere in the Americas. And, while the QRP visa allows you full-time residency, you can enjoy the benefits of being a QRP even if you spend as little as two weeks a year in Belize. The only requirements are that you or your spouse be 45 years of age or older, that you consider yourself
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