Costa Rica vs. Belize
Introduction
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including disease from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic development. On 1 December 1948, Costa Rica dissolved its armed forces. Although it still maintains a large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread. | Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1862. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992 and the two countries are involved in an ongoing border dispute. Both nations have voted to send the dispute for final resolution to the International Court of Justice. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include the country's heavy foreign debt burden, high crime rates, high unemployment combined with a majority youth population, growing involvement in the Mexican and South American drug trade, and one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Central America. |
Geography
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama | Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico |
| Geographic coordinates | 10 00 N, 84 00 W | 17 15 N, 88 45 W |
| Map references | Central America and the Caribbean | Central America and the Caribbean |
| Area | total: 51,100 sq km land: 51,060 sq km water: 40 sq km note: includes Isla del Coco | total: 22,966 sq km land: 22,806 sq km water: 160 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly smaller than West Virginia | slightly smaller than Massachusetts |
| Land boundaries | total: 661 km border countries (2): Nicaragua 313 km, Panama 348 km | total: 542 km border countries (2): Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km |
| Coastline | 1,290 km | 386 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm | 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 and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands | tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May) |
| Terrain | coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes | flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,819 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 746 m | highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,124 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 173 m |
| Natural resources | hydropower | arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower |
| Land use | agricultural land: 37.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 25.5% (2018 est.) forest: 51.5% (2018 est.) other: 11.4% (2018 est.) | 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 | 1,015 sq km (2012) | 35 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes volcanism: Arenal (1,670 m), which erupted in 2010, is the most active volcano in Costa Rica; a 1968 eruption destroyed the town of Tabacon; Irazu (3,432 m), situated just east of San Jose, has the potential to spew ash over the capital city as it did between 1963 and 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Miravalles, Poas, Rincon de la Vieja, and Turrialba | frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south) |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution | 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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 | four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65 | only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean |
| Total renewable water resources | 113 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 21.734 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | roughly half of the nation's population resides in urban areas; the capital of San Jose is the largest city and home to approximately one-fifth of the population | 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 |
Demographics
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,151,140 (July 2021 est.) | 405,633 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 22.08% (male 575,731/female 549,802) 15-24 years: 15.19% (male 395,202/female 379,277) 25-54 years: 43.98% (male 1,130,387/female 1,111,791) 55-64 years: 9.99% (male 247,267/female 261,847) 65 years and over: 8.76% (male 205,463/female 241,221) (2020 est.) | 0-14 years: 32.57% (male 66,454/female 63,700) 15-24 years: 19% (male 39,238/female 36,683) 25-54 years: 37.72% (male 73,440/female 77,300) 55-64 years: 6.18% (male 12,235/female 12,444) 65 years and over: 4.53% (male 8,781/female 9,323) (2020 est.) |
| Median age | total: 32.6 years male: 32.1 years female: 33.1 years (2020 est.) | total: 23.9 years male: 23 years female: 24.8 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 1.04% (2021 est.) | 1.67% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 14.53 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 21.62 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | -0.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | total: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 79.41 years male: 76.75 years female: 82.22 years (2021 est.) | total population: 75.56 years male: 73.96 years female: 77.24 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 1.87 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 2.66 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.4% (2020 est.) | 1.2% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Costa Rican(s) adjective: Costa Rican | noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean |
| Ethnic groups | White or Mestizo 83.6%, Mulatto 6.7%, Indigenous 2.4%, Black or African descent 1.1%, other 1.1%, none 2.9%, unspecified 2.2% (2011 est.) | Mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, White 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.) note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 16,000 (2020 est.) | 3,800 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 71.8%, Evangelical and Pentecostal 12.3%, other Protestant 2.6%, Jehovah's Witness 0.5%, other 2.4%, none 10.4% (2016 est.) | Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | <500 (2020 est.) | <200 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | Spanish (official), English major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.3%, none 0.2% (cannot speak); note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2010 est.) major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English) La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 16 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2019) | total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2019) |
| Education expenditures | 7% of GDP (2019) | 7.6% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 81.4% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 46.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 98.6% of population total: 99.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1.4% of population total: 0.8% of population (2017 est.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 98.4% of population rural: 95.8% of population total: 97.8% of population unimproved: urban: 1.6% of population rural: 4.2% of population total: 2.2% of population (2017 est.) | improved: urban: 98.8% of population rural: 95.3% of population total: 96.9% of population unimproved: urban: 1.2% of population rural: 4.7% of population total: 3.1% of population (2017 est.) |
| Major cities - population | 1.421 million SAN JOSE (capital) (2021) | 23,000 BELMOPAN (capital) (2018) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 2.9% (2018) | 4.6% (2015/16) |
| Health expenditures | 7.6% (2018) | 5.7% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 2.89 physicians/1,000 population (2018) | 1.12 physicians/1,000 population (2017) |
| Hospital bed density | 1.1 beds/1,000 population (2017) | 1 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 25.7% (2016) | 24.1% (2016) |
| Demographic profile | Costa Rica's political stability, high standard of living, and well-developed social benefits system set it apart from its Central American neighbors. Through the government's sustained social spending - almost 20% of GDP annually - Costa Rica has made tremendous progress toward achieving its goal of providing universal access to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation, and electricity. Since the 1970s, expansion of these services has led to a rapid decline in infant mortality, an increase in life expectancy at birth, and a sharp decrease in the birth rate. The average number of children born per women has fallen from about 7 in the 1960s to 3.5 in the early 1980s to below replacement level today. Costa Rica's poverty rate is lower than in most Latin American countries, but it has stalled at around 20% for almost two decades. Costa Rica is a popular regional immigration destination because of its job opportunities and social programs. Almost 9% of the population is foreign-born, with Nicaraguans comprising nearly three-quarters of the foreign population. Many Nicaraguans who perform unskilled seasonal labor enter Costa Rica illegally or overstay their visas, which continues to be a source of tension. Less than 3% of Costa Rica's population lives abroad. The overwhelming majority of expatriates have settled in the United States after completing a university degree or in order to work in a highly skilled field. | Migration continues to transform Belize's population. About 16% of Belizeans live abroad, while immigrants constitute approximately 15% of Belize's population. Belizeans seeking job and educational opportunities have preferred to emigrate to the United States rather than former colonizer Great Britain because of the United States' closer proximity and stronger trade ties with Belize. Belizeans also emigrate to Canada, Mexico, and English-speaking Caribbean countries. The emigration of a large share of Creoles (Afro-Belizeans) and the influx of Central American immigrants, mainly Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans, has changed Belize's ethnic composition. Mestizos have become the largest ethnic group, and Belize now has more native Spanish speakers than English or Creole speakers, despite English being the official language. In addition, Central American immigrants are establishing new communities in rural areas, which contrasts with the urbanization trend seen in neighboring countries. Recently, Chinese, European, and North American immigrants have become more frequent. Immigration accounts for an increasing share of Belize's population growth rate, which is steadily falling due to fertility decline. Belize's declining birth rate and its increased life expectancy are creating an aging population. As the elderly population grows and nuclear families replace extended households, Belize's government will be challenged to balance a rising demand for pensions, social services, and healthcare for its senior citizens with the need to reduce poverty and social inequality and to improve sanitation. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 70.9% (2018) | 51.4% (2015/16) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 45.1 youth dependency ratio: 30.2 elderly dependency ratio: 14.9 potential support ratio: 6.7 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 52 youth dependency ratio: 44.4 elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 potential support ratio: 13.1 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica etymology: the name means "rich coast" in Spanish and was first applied in the early colonial period of the 16th century | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras etymology: may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered" |
| Government type | presidential republic | parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm |
| Capital | name: San Jose geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named in honor of Saint Joseph | name: Belmopan geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the decision to move the capital of the country inland to higher and more stable land was made in the 1960s; the name chosen for the new city was formed from the union of two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan," one of the rivers in the area of the new capital that empties into the Belize River |
| Administrative divisions | 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose | 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo |
| Independence | 15 September 1821 (from Spain) | 21 September 1981 (from the UK) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 15 September (1821) | Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981) |
| Constitution | history: many previous; latest effective 8 November 1949 amendments: proposals require the signatures of at least 10 Legislative Assembly members or petition of at least 5% of qualified voters; consideration of proposals requires two-thirds majority approval in each of three readings by the Assembly, followed by preparation of the proposal as a legislative bill and its approval by simple majority of the Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership; a referendum is required only if approved by at least two thirds of the Assembly; amended many times, last in 2020 | history: previous 1954, 1963 (preindependence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981 amendments: proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general; amended several times, last in 2017 |
| Legal system | civil law system based on Spanish civil code; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court | English common law |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (since 8 May 2018); First Vice President Epsy CAMPBELL Barr (since 8 May 2018); Second Vice President Marvin RODRIGUEZ Cordero (since 8 May 2018) cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president elections/appointments: president and vice presidents directly elected on the same ballot by modified majority popular vote (40% threshold) for a 4-year term (eligible for non-consecutive terms); election last held on 4 February 2018 with a runoff on 1 April 2018 (next to be held on 6 February 2022) election results: 2018: Carlos ALVARADO Quesada elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 25%; Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 21.6%; Antonio ALVAREZ (PLN) 18.6%; Rodolfo PIZA (PUSC) 16%; Juan Diego CASTRO (PIN) 9.5%; Rodolfo HERNANDEZ (PRS) 4.9%, other 4.4%; percent of vote in second round - Carlos ALVARADO Quesada (PAC) 60.7%; Fabricio ALVARADO Munoz (PRN) 39.3% 2014: Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera elected president; percent of vote - Luis Guillermo SOLIS Rivera (PAC) 77.8%; Johnny ARAYA (PLN) 22.2% | chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Juan Antonio BRICENO (since 12 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister Cordel HYDE (since 16 November 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among members of the National Assembly elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister |
| Legislative branch | description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 7 provinces - by closed party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 4 February 2018 (next to be held on 6 February 2022) election results: percent of vote by party - PLN 19.5%, PRN 18.2%, PAC 16.3%, PUSC 14.6%, PIN 7.7%, PRS 4.2%, PFA 4%, ADC 2.5%, ML 2.3%, PASE 2.3%, PNG 2.2%, other 6.2%; seats by party - PLN 17, PRN 14, PAC 10, PUSC 9, PIN 4, PRS 2, PFA 1; composition - men 31, women 26, percent of women 45.6% | description: bicameral National Assembly consists of: Senate (14 seats, including the president); members appointed by the governor general - 6 on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1 each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, non-governmental organizations in good standing, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; Senate president elected from among the Senate members or from outside the Senate; members serve 5-year terms House of Representatives (31 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last appointed 11 November 2020 (next appointments in November 2025) House of Representatives - last held on 11 November 2020 (next to be held in November 2025) election results: Senate - all members appointed; composition - men 9, women 5, percent of women 35.7% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PUP 59.6%, UDP 38.8%, other 1.6%; seats by party - PUP 26, UDP 5; composition - men 27, women 4, percent of women 12.9%; note - total percent of women in the National Assembly 20% |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 22 judges organized into 3 cassation chambers each with 5 judges and the Constitutional Chamber with 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court of Justice judges elected by the National Assembly for 8-year terms with renewal decided by the National Assembly subordinate courts: appellate courts; trial courts; first instance and justice of the peace courts; Superior Electoral Tribunal | highest courts: Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 10 justices); note - in 2010, Belize acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor-general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75; in 2013, the Supreme Court chief justice overturned a constitutional amendment that had restricted Court of Appeal judge appointments to as short as 1 year subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts; Family Court |
| Political parties and leaders | Accessibility Without Exclusion or PASE [Oscar Andres LOPEZ Arias] Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or PFA [Ana Patricia MORA Castellanos] Christian Democratic Alliance or ADC [Mario REDONDO Poveda] Citizen Action Party or PAC [Marta Eugenia SOLANO Arias] Costa Rican Renewal Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO Alvarez] Libertarian Movement Party or ML [Victor Danilo CUBERO Corrales] National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes] National Liberation Party or PLN [Jorge Julio PATTONI Saenz] National Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos Luis AVENDANO Calvo] New Generation or PNG [Sergio MENA] Patriotic Alliance [Jorge ARAYA Westover] Social Christian Republican Party or PRS [Dragos DOLANESCU Valenciano] Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Pedro MUNOZ Fonseca] | Belize Progressive Party or BPP [Patrick ROGERS] (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party, elements of the Vision Inspired by the People, and other smaller political groups) People's United Party or PUP [Johnny BRICENO] United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean Oliver BARROW] Vision Inspired by the People or VIP [Hubert ENRIQUEZ] |
| International organization participation | BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando LLORCA Castro (since 17 September 2018) chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 499-2984 FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795 email address and website: embcr-us@rree.go.cr http://www.costarica-embassy.org/index.php?q=node/21 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington DC honorary consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico), Saint Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ) | chief of mission: Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826 telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888 email address and website: reception.usa@mfa.gov.bz https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/ consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York (consular services temporarily suspended beginning 18 December 2020) consulate(s): Miami |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gloria BERBENA (since January 2021) embassy: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas, San Jose mailing address: 3180 St. George's Place, Washington DC 20521-3180 telephone: [506] 2519-2000 FAX: [506] 2519-2305 email address and website: acssanjose@state.gov https://cr.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Leyla MOSES-ONES(since August 2021) embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo mailing address: 3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC 20521-3050 telephone: (501) 822-4011 FAX: (501) 822-4012 email address and website: ACSBelize@state.gov https://bz.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk placed toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverance, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed | royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves; the colors are those of the two main political parties: blue for the PUP and red for the UDP; various elements of the coat of arms - the figures, the tools, the mahogany tree, and the garland of leaves - recall the logging industry that led to British settlement of Belize note: Belize's flag is the only national flag that depicts human beings; two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans |
| National anthem | name: "Himno Nacional de Costa Rica" (National Anthem of Costa Rica) lyrics/music: Jose Maria ZELEDON Brenes/Manuel Maria GUTIERREZ note: adopted 1949; the anthem's music was originally written for an 1853 welcome ceremony for diplomatic missions from the US and UK; the lyrics were added in 1903 | name: Land of the Free lyrics/music: Samuel Alfred HAYNES/Selwyn Walford YOUNG note: adopted 1981; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom) |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | yiguirro (clay-colored robin); national colors: blue, white, red | Baird's tapir (a large, browsing, forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, Black Orchid; national colors: red, blue |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years | citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Economy
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | Since 2010, Costa Rica has enjoyed strong and stable economic growth - 3.8% in 2017. Exports of bananas, coffee, sugar, and beef are the backbone of its commodity exports. Various industrial and processed agricultural products have broadened exports in recent years, as have high value-added goods, including medical devices. Costa Rica's impressive biodiversity also makes it a key destination for ecotourism. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and relatively high education levels, as well as the incentives offered in the free-trade zones; Costa Rica has attracted one of the highest levels of foreign direct investment per capita in Latin America. The US-Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), which became effective for Costa Rica in 2009, helped increase foreign direct investment in key sectors of the economy, including insurance and telecommunication. However, poor infrastructure, high energy costs, a complex bureaucracy, weak investor protection, and uncertainty of contract enforcement impede greater investment. Costa Rica's economy also faces challenges due to a rising fiscal deficit, rising public debt, and relatively low levels of domestic revenue. Poverty has remained around 20-25% for nearly 20 years, and the government's strong social safety net has eroded due to increased constraints on its expenditures. Costa Rica's credit rating was downgraded from stable to negative in 2015 and again in 2017, upping pressure on lending rates - which could hurt small business, on the budget deficit - which could hurt infrastructure development, and on the rate of return on investment - which could soften foreign direct investment (FDI). Unlike the rest of Central America, Costa Rica is not highly dependent on remittances - which represented just 1 % of GDP in 2016, but instead relies on FDI - which accounted for 5.1% of GDP. | 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. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | $99.146 billion (2019 est.) $97.122 billion (2018 est.) $94.605 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $2.734 billion (2019 est.) $2.726 billion (2018 est.) $2.671 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 3.3% (2017 est.) 4.2% (2016 est.) 3.6% (2015 est.) | 0.8% (2017 est.) -0.5% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $19,642 (2019 est.) $19,427 (2018 est.) $19,112 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $7,005 (2019 est.) $7,118 (2018 est.) $7,109 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 5.5% (2017 est.) industry: 20.6% (2017 est.) services: 73.9% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 10.3% (2017 est.) industry: 21.6% (2017 est.) services: 68% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 21% (2019 est.) | 41% (2013 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 36.9% (2014 est.) | lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2% (2019 est.) 2.2% (2018 est.) 1.6% (2017 est.) | 1.1% (2017 est.) 0.7% (2016 est.) |
| Labor force | 1.843 million (2020 est.) note: official estimate; excludes Nicaraguans living in Costa Rica | 120,500 (2008 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 14% industry: 22% services: 64% (2006 est.) | agriculture: 10.2% industry: 18.1% services: 71.7% (2007 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 8.1% (2017 est.) 9.5% (2016 est.) | 9% (2017 est.) 8% (2016 est.) |
| Budget | revenues: 8.357 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 11.92 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 553.5 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 572 million (2017 est.) |
| Industries | medical equipment, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products | garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil |
| Industrial production growth rate | 1.3% (2017 est.) | -0.6% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | sugar cane, pineapples, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, fruit, oranges, watermelons, cassava, rice | sugar care, oranges, bananas, maize, poultry, rice, sorghum, papayas, grapefruit, soybeans |
| Exports | $10.81 billion (2017 est.) $10.15 billion (2016 est.) | $457.5 million (2017 est.) $442.7 million (2016 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | medical instruments, bananas, tropical fruits, orthopedic appliances, food preparations (2019) | raw sugar, bananas, fruit juice, fish products, crude petroleum (2019) |
| Exports - partners | United States 38%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, Guatemala 5%, Panama 5% (2019) | United Kingdom 27%, United States 24%, Spain 6%, Jamaica 5%, Ireland 5% (2019) |
| Imports | $15.15 billion (2017 est.) $14.53 billion (2016 est.) | $845.9 million (2017 est.) $916.2 million (2016 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, medical instruments, packaged medicines (2019) | refined petroleum, cigarettes, recreational boats, natural gas, cars (2019) |
| Imports - partners | United States 41%, China 13%, Mexico 7% (2019) | United States 36%, China 13%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 10% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $29.589 billion (2019 est.) $28.553 billion (2018 est.) | $1.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.338 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Costa Rican colones (CRC) per US dollar - 573.5 (2017 est.) 544.74 (2016 est.) 544.74 (2015 est.) 534.57 (2014 est.) 538.32 (2013 est.) | Belizean dollars (BZD) per US dollar - 2 (2017 est.) 2 (2016 est.) 2 (2015 est.) 2 (2014 est.) 2 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | 1 April - 31 March |
| Public debt | 48.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 44.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 99% of GDP (2017 est.) 95.9% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $7.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $7.574 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $312.1 million (31 December 2017 est.) $376.7 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$1.692 billion (2017 est.) -$1.326 billion (2016 est.) | -$143 million (2017 est.) -$163 million (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $61.855 billion (2019 est.) | $1.854 billion (2017 est.) |
| Credit ratings | Fitch rating: B (2020) Moody's rating: B2 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: B (2020) | Moody's rating: Caa3 (2020) Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 69.2 (2020) Starting a Business score: 79.9 (2020) Trading score: 77.6 (2020) Enforcement score: 55.2 (2020) | Overall score: 55.5 (2020) Starting a Business score: 72 (2020) Trading score: 68.2 (2020) Enforcement score: 50.1 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 14.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 29.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -6.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 31.5% male: 28% female: 37.1% (2019 est.) | total: 15.3% male: 9.5% female: 24.8% (2017 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 64.2% (2017 est.) government consumption: 17.3% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 33.3% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -32.9% (2017 est.) | household 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.) |
| Gross national saving | 14.2% of GDP (2019 est.) 15.2% of GDP (2018 est.) 14.9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 10.1% of GDP (2019 est.) 8.5% of GDP (2018 est.) 10.8% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 10.79 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 280 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 9.812 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 453 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 643 million kWh (2015 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 807 million kWh (2016 est.) | 243 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 2,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 1,220 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 6.7 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 3.584 million kW (2016 est.) | 198,000 kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 18% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 51% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 27% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 18% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 22% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 36 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 53,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 4,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 51,320 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 4,161 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 100% (2020) | electrification - total population: 99.5% (2018) electrification - urban areas: 98.2% (2018) electrification - rural areas: 100% (2018) |
Telecommunications
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 640,302 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12.7 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 18,500 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4.72 (2019 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 8,550,243 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 169.59 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 254,919 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65.01 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .cr | .bz |
| Internet users | total: 3,694,974 percent of population: 74.09% (July 2018 est.) | total: 181,660 percent of population: 47.08% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Costa Rica has broad telecom coverage though geographical distribution of digital service is unequal; recent regulator liberalization spurred expansion in all sectors; broadband market is the most advanced and highest penetration in Central America yet lags behind many South American countries; operators investing in NGN technology; number portability and cheaper broadband costs will increase competition; government aims to subsidize tele-health and e-learning (2021) (2018)domestic: 13 per 100 fixed-line, 162 per 100 mobile-cellular; point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available (2019) international: country code - 506; landing points for the ARCOS-1, MAYA-1, and the PAC submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Belize's fixed-line tele-density and mobile penetration is lower than average for the region, due to insufficient competition, underinvestment in services, and lax standards; mobile accounts for 90% of all phones; operator aims to provide cheaper prices and customer retention through investment in broadband to over 80% of premises and LTE infrastructure; operator launched safe cities project to fight crime; government distributed tablets to students to promote e-learning; submarine cable to Ambergris Caye enables FttP service in San Pedro; importer of broadcast equipment from the United States (2021) (2020) domestic: 5 per 100 fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons; mobile sector accounting for over 90% of all phone subscriptions (2019) international: country code - 501; landing points for the ARCOS and SEUL fiber-optic telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 8 (Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 904,734 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17.95 (2019 est.) | total: 29,600 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7.55 (2019 est.) |
| Broadcast media | multiple privately owned TV stations and 1 publicly owned TV station; cable network services are widely available; more than 100 privately owned radio stations and a public radio network (2017) | 8 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV provides access to foreign stations; about 25 radio stations broadcasting on roughly 50 different frequencies; state-run radio was privatized in 1998 (2019) |
Transportation
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Roadways | total: 5,035 km (2017) | total: 3,281 km (2017) paved: 601 km (2017) unpaved: 2,680 km (2017) |
| Waterways | 730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2011) | 825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2011) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon Pacific Ocean - Caldera | major seaport(s): Belize City, Big Creek |
| Merchant marine | total: 10 by type: other 10 (2020) | total: 790 by type: bulk carrier 50, container ship 4, general cargo 401, oil tanker 67, other 268 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 161 (2013) | total: 47 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 47 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 27 (2017) under 914 m: 16 (2017) | total: 6 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017) under 914 m: 3 (2017) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 114 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 18 (2013) under 914 m: 96 (2013) | total: 41 (2013) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013) under 914 m: 29 (2013) |
| National air transport system | number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,948,546 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 11.13 million mt-km (2018) | number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 28 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,297,533 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.78 million mt-km (2018) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | TI | V3 |
Military
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security: the Public Force (Fuerza Pública (National Police)), Air Surveillance Service (Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea), and National Coast Guard Service (Servicio Nacional de Guardacostas) (2021) note: Costa Rica's armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949 | Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Air Wing; Belize Coast Guard (independent from the BDF, but under the Ministry of Defense) (2021) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 0.7% of GDP (2017) 0.7% of GDP (2016) 0.7% of GDP (2015) 0.8% of GDP (2014) 0.8% of GDP (2013) | 1.2% of GDP (2019) 1.2% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016) 1.2% of GDP (2015) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | 12,500 Public Force personnel; approximately 400-500 air and 400-500 coast guard personnel (2021) | the Belize Defense Force (BDF) has approximately 1,300 active personnel; approximately 300 Belize Coast Guard (2021) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Public Force is lightly armed with an inventory that includes mostly second-hand US equipment; since 2000, the only reported major equipment deliveries were from the US (light helicopters in 2012 and 2014 and second-hand coast guard cutters in 2018) (2020) | the BDF's inventory is limited and consists mostly of UK- and US-origin equipment (2020) |
Transnational Issues
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | Costa Rica and Nicaragua regularly file border dispute cases over the delimitations of the San Juan River and the northern tip of Calero Island to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 2009, the ICJ ruled that Costa Rican vessels carrying out police activities could not use the river, but official Costa Rican vessels providing essential services to riverside inhabitants and Costa Rican tourists could travel freely on the river; in 2011, the ICJ provisionally ruled that both countries must remove personnel from the disputed area; in 2013, the ICJ rejected Nicaragua's 2012 suit to halt Costa Rica's construction of a highway paralleling the river on the grounds of irreparable environmental damage; in 2013, the ICJ, regarding the disputed territory, ordered that Nicaragua should refrain from dredging or canal construction and refill and repair damage caused by trenches connecting the river to the Caribbean and upheld its 2010 ruling that Nicaragua must remove all personnel; in early 2014, Costa Rica brought Nicaragua to the ICJ over offshore oil concessions in the disputed region | Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to approximately half of Belize, but agrees to the Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Belize and Mexico are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty |
| Illicit drugs | transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years | major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; offshore sector money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes |
| Trafficking in persons | current situation: Costa Rica is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Costa Rican women and children, as well as those from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and other Latin American countries, are sex trafficked in Costa Rica; child sex tourism is a particular problem with offenders coming from the US and Europe; men and children from Central America, including indigenous Panamanians, and Asia are exploited in agriculture, construction, fishing, and commerce; Nicaraguans transit Costa Rica to reach Panama, where some are subjected to forced labor or sex trafficking tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Costa Rica does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts declined in 2014, with fewer prosecutions and no convictions and no actions taken against complicit government personnel; some officials conflated trafficking with smuggling, and authorities reported the diversion of funds to combat smuggling hindered anti-trafficking efforts; the government identified more victims than the previous year but did not make progress in ensuring that victims received adequate protective services; specialized services were limited and mostly provided by NGOs without government support, even from a dedicated fund for anti-trafficking efforts; victims services were virtually non-existent outside of the capital (2015) | current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims and Belizeans abroad; Belizean and foreign women, men, and girls and LGBTI persons, mainly from Central America, are sex trafficked in bars, nightclubs, hotels, and brothels; men, women, and children from Central America, Mexico, and Asia may migrate voluntarily to Belize seeking work and then are subjected to forced labor in restaurants, shops, domestic work, and agriculture; foreign child sex tourists exploit children in tourist areas tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Belize does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities initiated more trafficking investigations, convicted a trafficker, screened for potential trafficking victims during labor inspections, and continued to implement a 2018-2020 national anti-trafficking action plan; anti-trafficking training was provided to the anti-trafficking police unit, immigration officers, prosecutors, judges, prison officials, and social workers; however, the government did not initiate any new trafficking prosecutions and continued to apply victim identification procedures inconsistently; corruption and official complicity in trafficking remained concerns, but no investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees were reported (2020) |
Environment
| Costa Rica | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 15.85 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 8.02 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 5.61 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 21.23 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.57 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.55 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 652 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 2.302 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 11.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 68.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 0.82% of GDP (2018 est.) | forest revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.46 million tons (2014 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 18,396 tons (2014 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 1.3% (2014 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 101,379 tons (2015 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
