r, is assisting in
efforts to reduce dependency on sugar with an agricultural diversification
program.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $373 million, per capita $1,635; real growth rate
10% (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (1988)
Budget:
revenues $126.8 million; expenditures $123.1 million, including capital
expenditures of $44.8 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$134 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
sugar, clothing, seafood, molasses, citrus, wood and wood products
partners:
US 47%, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada (1987)
Imports:
$194 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, food, manufactured goods, fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners:
US 56%, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico (1991)
External debt:
$142 million (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9.7% (1989); accounts for 16% of GDP
Electricity:
34,532 kW capacity; 90 million kWh produced, 395 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
garment production, citrus concentrates, sugar refining, rum, beverages,
tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 30% of GDP (including fish and forestry); commercial crops
include sugarcane, bananas, coca, citrus fruits; expanding output of lumber
and cultured shrimp; net importer of basic foods
Illicit drugs:
an illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
eradication program cut marijuana production from 200 metric tons in 1987 to
about 50 metric tons in 1991; transshipment point for cocaine
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $104 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $215 million
Currency:
Belizean dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Belizean dollars (Bz$) per US$1 - 2.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

:Belize Communications

Highways:
2,710 km total; 500 km paved, 1,600 km gravel, 300 km improved earth, and
310 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally navigable
Ports:
Belize City; additional ports for shallow draught craft include Corozol,
Punta Gorda, Big Creek
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,127 GRT/5,885 DWT
Civil air: