Belize Geography - 2022

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

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

land: 22,806 sq km

water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries

total: 542 km

border countries (2): Guatemala 266 km; Mexico 276 km

Coastline

386 km

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

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Terrain

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation

highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 173 m

Natural resources

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 6.9% (2018 est.)

arable land: 3.3% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 2.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 60.6% (2018 est.)

other: 32.5% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

35 sq km (2012)

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)

Geography - note

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

NOTE: The information regarding Belize on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.