Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Geographic coordinates:
17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 22,966 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 22,806 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 160 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 152

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 542 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (2): Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km

Coastline:
386 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]

Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation:
mean elevation: 173 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m

Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 6.9% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 3.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.4% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 2.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 60.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 32.5% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
35 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east

Natural hazards:
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution, including pollution of Belize's Barrier Reef System, from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; inability to properly dispose of solid waste

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean