Belize (formerly British Honduras) Economy - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

GDP: $193 million (1985), $J ,200 per capita (1985); real growth rate 1.5% (1983)

Natural resources: arable land timber, fish

Agriculture: main products—sugarcane citrus fruits, corn, molasses, rice beans, bananas, livestock products, honey; net importer of food; an illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade

Fishing: catch 1,349 metric tons (1980)

Major industries: sugar refining, garments, timber and forest products, furniture, rum, soap, beverages, cigarettes

Electric power: 23 000 kW capacity (1985); 56 million kWh produced (1985), 340 kWh per capita

Exports: $93 million (f.o.b., 1984 est.); sugar garments, seafood, molasses, citrus fruits, wood and wood products

Imports: $126 million (c.i.f., 1984 est.); machinery and transportation equipment food, manufactured goods fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Major trade partners: exports—US 36%, UK 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Ganada 10%; imports—US 55%, UK 17%, Netherlands Antilles 8%, Mexico 7% (1983)

Aid: US economic commitments, including Ex-lm (FY70-84), $3.0 million; ODA and OOF commitments from Western (non-US) countries (1970-83), $160 million

Budget· revenues, $49 million, expenditures, $90 million (budget for 1984/85)

Monetary conversion rate: 2 Belize dollars=US$l (December 1985)

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

(formerly Dahomey)

Communications Railroads, none

Highways: 2,575 km total; 340 km paved, 1,190 km gravel, 735 km improved earth, and 310 km unimproved earth

Inland waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft, seasonally navigable

Ports: 2 major (Belize City, Belize City Southwest), 5 minor

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airfields: 41 total, 36 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications. 8,650 telephones; (4.5 per 100 popl.); above average system based on radio-relay; 5 AM and 5 FM stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT station

NOTE: The information regarding Belize (formerly British Honduras) on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize (formerly British Honduras) 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize (formerly British Honduras) 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.