Population 262,999 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 41.6% (male 55,716; female 53,581)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 73,068; female 71,368)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,511; female 4,755) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 2.65% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 31.08 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 24.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.46 years
female: 73.87 years (2002 est.)
male: 69.17 years

Total fertility rate 3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 2.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 2,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 170 (1999 est.)

Nationality
noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Religions Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist 3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)

Languages English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.3%
male: 70.3%
female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
note: other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

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 People 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Belize People 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.