Demographics of Belize

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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.

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 1700s. 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.

Contents 1 CIA World Factbook demographic statistics 1.1 Population 1.2 Belize's Largest Cities & Towns by Population 1.3 Age structure 1.4 Median age 1.5 Population growth rate 1.6 Birth rate 1.7 Death rate 1.8 Sex ratio 1.9 Infant mortality rate 1.10 Life expectancy at birth 1.11 Total fertility rate 1.12 HIV/AIDS 1.13 Nationality 1.14 Ethnic groups 1.15 Religions 1.16 Languages 1.17 Literacy 2 References 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

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

[edit] Population

301,270 (July 2008 est.)^[2]

[edit] 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.

[edit] Age structure

• 0-14 years: 38.4% (male 58,978/female 56,647)
• 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 88,521/female 86,450)
• 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 5,095/female 5,543) (2008 est.)

[edit] Median age

• total: 20.1 years
• male: 20.0 years
• female: 20.3 years (2008 est.)

[edit] Population growth rate

• 2.207% (2008 est.)

[edit] Birth rate

• 27.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

[edit] Death rate

• 5.77 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

[edit] 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 (2008 est.)

[edit] Infant mortality rate

• total: 23.65 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 20.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

[edit] Life expectancy at birth

• total population: 68.19 years
• male: 66.39 years
• female: 70.08 years (2008 est.)

[edit] Total fertility rate

• 3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

[edit] HIV/AIDS

• Adult prevalence rate: 2.4% (2003 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: 3,600 (2003 est.)

Deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

[edit] Nationality

• Noun: Belizean(s)
• Adjective: Belizean

[edit] 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)
African	582	17.18
British	1,758	9.10
Chinese	1,716	19.23
Creole	57,859	28.88
East Indian	6,868	27.66
Garifuna	14,061	27.17
Keq'chi	12,366	44.88
Mopan	8,980	35.30
Yucatec	3,155	19.33
Mennonite	8,276	42.53
Meztizo	78,537	29.73
Spanish	34,508	32.22
Other	2,610	21.84
Not Available	835	45.51
Total	232,111	30.71

[edit] Religions

• 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]

[edit] 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. To speak Kriol is synonymous with being Belizean. 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. Due to the fact that 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[7]
Language	Speaks Very Well	Speaks Some	Total
English	54%	26%	80%
Spanish	52%	11%	63%

Languages in Belize according to 2000 census^[7]

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%

[edit] Literacy

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

[edit] References

[edit] See also

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

[edit] External links

• Kekchi and Mopan history - Maya history by Native Planet

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