People: Population 256,062; 42% under 15 years; density 29 per square mile; ethnicity: Mestizo 44% (mixed
Caucasian and Maya Indian), Creole 30% (mixed African and Caucasian), Maya 11% and Garifuna 7% (mixed African and Carib Indian).
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna.
Religion: Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 30%.
Geography: approximately 17 degrees N, 89 degrees W; area 8,800 square miles (about the size of Massachusetts);
barrier reef 175 miles in length.
Government: Parliamentary Democracy; member of the British Commonwealth; Independence Day September
21, 1981; Capitol city is Belmopan; Prime Minister is Said Musa.
Economy: Industries: garments, food processing, tourism; crops: sugar (main export), citrus, bananas;
labor force: 38% agriculture, 32% industry, 30% services; money is the dollar (fixed at 2B$=1US$); hardwoods like mahogany
are still valued.
