Location Middle 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
water: 160 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km

Area - comparative slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline 386 km

Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 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 the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

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 extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 96% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Belize Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.