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Belize vs. Mexico

Economy

BelizeMexico
Economy - overview

Tourism is the number one foreign exchange earner in this small economy, followed by exports of sugar, bananas, citrus, marine products, and crude oil.

The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to GDP growth averaging nearly 4% in 1999-2007, but GPD growth has averaged only 2.1% from 2007-2016, with 2.5% growth estimated for 2017. Belize's dependence on energy imports makes it susceptible to energy price shocks.

Although Belize has the third highest per capita income in Central America, the average income figure masks a huge income disparity between rich and poor, and a key government objective remains reducing poverty and inequality with the help of international donors. High unemployment, a growing trade deficit and heavy foreign debt burden continue to be major concerns. Belize faces continued pressure from rising sovereign debt, and a growing trade imbalance.

Mexico's $2.4 trillion economy - 11th largest in the world - has become increasingly oriented toward manufacturing since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) entered into force in 1994. Per capita income is roughly one-third that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal.

Mexico has become the US' second-largest export market and third-largest source of imports. In 2017, two-way trade in goods and services exceeded $623 billion. Mexico has free trade agreements with 46 countries, putting more than 90% of its trade under free trade agreements. In 2012, Mexico formed the Pacific Alliance with Peru, Colombia, and Chile.

Mexico's current government, led by President Enrique PENA NIETO, has emphasized economic reforms, passing and implementing sweeping energy, financial, fiscal, and telecommunications reform legislation, among others, with the long-term aim to improve competitiveness and economic growth across the Mexican economy. Since 2015, Mexico has held public auctions of oil and gas exploration and development rights and for long-term electric power generation contracts. Mexico has also issued permits for private sector import, distribution, and retail sales of refined petroleum products in an effort to attract private investment into the energy sector and boost production.

Since 2013, Mexico's economic growth has averaged 2% annually, falling short of private-sector expectations that President PENA NIETO's sweeping reforms would bolster economic prospects. Growth is predicted to remain below potential given falling oil production, weak oil prices, structural issues such as low productivity, high inequality, a large informal sector employing over half of the workforce, weak rule of law, and corruption. Mexico's economy remains vulnerable to uncertainty surrounding the future of NAFTA - because the United States is its top trading partner and the two countries share integrated supply chains - and to potential shifts in domestic policies following the inauguration of a new a president in December 2018.

GDP (purchasing power parity)$2.734 billion (2019 est.)

$2.726 billion (2018 est.)

$2.671 billion (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
$2,525,481,000,000 (2019 est.)

$2,526,859,000,000 (2018 est.)

$2,472,586,000,000 (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP - real growth rate0.8% (2017 est.)

-0.5% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)
-0.3% (2019 est.)

2.19% (2018 est.)

2.34% (2017 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)$7,005 (2019 est.)

$7,118 (2018 est.)

$7,109 (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
$19,796 (2019 est.)

$20,024 (2018 est.)

$19,816 (2017 est.)

note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP - composition by sectoragriculture: 10.3% (2017 est.)

industry: 21.6% (2017 est.)

services: 68% (2017 est.)
agriculture: 3.6% (2017 est.)

industry: 31.9% (2017 est.)

services: 64.5% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line41% (2013 est.)41.9% (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage sharelowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
lowest 10%: 2%

highest 10%: 40% (2014)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)1.1% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)
3.6% (2019 est.)

4.9% (2018 est.)

6% (2017 est.)
Labor force120,500 (2008 est.)

note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel
50.914 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupationagriculture: 10.2%

industry: 18.1%

services: 71.7% (2007 est.)
agriculture: 13.4%

industry: 24.1%

services: 61.9% (2011)
Unemployment rate9% (2017 est.)

8% (2016 est.)
3.49% (2019 est.)

3.33% (2018 est.)

note: underemployment may be as high as 25%
Budgetrevenues: 553.5 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 572 million (2017 est.)
revenues: 261.4 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 273.8 billion (2017 est.)
Industriesgarment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oilfood and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism
Industrial production growth rate-0.6% (2017 est.)-0.6% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - productssugar care, oranges, bananas, maize, poultry, rice, sorghum, papayas, grapefruit, soybeanssugar cane, maize, milk, oranges, sorghum, tomatoes, poultry, wheat, green chillies/peppers, eggs
Exports$457.5 million (2017 est.)

$442.7 million (2016 est.)
$491.593 billion (2019 est.)

$484.595 billion (2018 est.)

$457.693 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - commoditiesraw sugar, bananas, fruit juice, fish products, crude petroleum (2019)cars and vehicle parts, computers, delivery trucks, crude petroleum, insulated wiring (2019)
Exports - partnersUnited Kingdom 27%, United States 24%, Spain 6%, Jamaica 5%, Ireland 5% (2019)United States 75% (2019)
Imports$845.9 million (2017 est.)

$916.2 million (2016 est.)
$480.886 billion (2019 est.)

$485.211 billion (2018 est.)

$458.381 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - commoditiesrefined petroleum, cigarettes, recreational boats, natural gas, cars (2019)integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, office machinery/parts, telephones (2019)
Imports - partnersUnited States 36%, China 13%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 10% (2019)United States 54%, China 14% (2019)
Debt - external$1.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.338 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$456.713 billion (2019 est.)

$448.268 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange ratesBelizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar -

2 (2017 est.)

2 (2016 est.)

2 (2015 est.)

2 (2014 est.)

2 (2013 est.)
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar -

19.8 (2020 est.)

19.22824 (2019 est.)

20.21674 (2018 est.)

15.848 (2014 est.)

13.292 (2013 est.)
Fiscal year1 April - 31 Marchcalendar year
Public debt99% of GDP (2017 est.)

95.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
54.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

56.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$312.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$376.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$175.3 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$178.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

note: Mexico also maintains access to an $88 million Flexible Credit Line with the IMF
Current Account Balance-$143 million (2017 est.)

-$163 million (2016 est.)
-$4.351 billion (2019 est.)

-$25.415 billion (2018 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)$1.854 billion (2017 est.)$1,269,956,000,000 (2019 est.)
Credit ratingsMoody's rating: Caa3 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
Fitch rating: BBB- (2020)

Moody's rating: Baa1 (2020)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020)
Ease of Doing Business Index scoresOverall score: 55.5 (2020)

Starting a Business score: 72 (2020)

Trading score: 68.2 (2020)

Enforcement score: 50.1 (2020)
Overall score: 72.4 (2020)

Starting a Business score: 86.1 (2020)

Trading score: 82.1 (2020)

Enforcement score: 67 (2020)
Taxes and other revenues29.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)22.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)-1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24total: 15.3%

male: 9.5%

female: 24.8% (2017 est.)
total: 7.2%

male: 6.7%

female: 8% (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end usehousehold consumption: 75.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 15.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 22.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 49.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -63.2% (2017 est.)
household consumption: 67% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 11.8% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 22.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.8% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 37.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -39.7% (2017 est.)
Gross national saving10.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

8.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

10.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
23.7% of GDP (2019 est.)

23.7% of GDP (2018 est.)

23.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Source: CIA Factbook