1 Belize Country Profile Page 1 Generic Information Belize, formerly named British Honduras, is an independent country on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide. Page 2 Belize has an area of 22,800 km2 and a population of 368,310 (2015). It has the lowest population density in Central America. The country's population growth rate of 1.87 percent per year (2015) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Belize's abundance of terrestrial and marine species and its diversity of ecosystems gives it a key place in the globally significant Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. The country has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and languages that reflect its rich history. English is the official language of Belize, with Belizean Kriol being the unofficial language. Over half of the population is multilingual, with Spanish being the second most common spoken language. Belize is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to both the Latin American and Caribbean regions. It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA), the only country to hold full membership in all three regional organisations. Belize is a Commonwealth realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its monarch and head of state. For a generic country overview, please consult the following sources: Belize Wikipedia Country Information https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize Belize IMF Country Information http://www.imf.org/external/country/BLZ/ Belize Economist Intelligence Unit Information http://country.eiu.com/Default.aspx?country=Belize Humanitarian Info Belize World Food Programme Information http://www.wfp.org/content/panama Belize UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Information http://www.unocha.org/ Facts and Figures Belize Wolfram Alpha Information http://m.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Belize&x=-1313&y=-71 Belize World Bank Information http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/belize Belize Population Information http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/belize-population/ Page 3.