Short facts about people of Belize

Population:

256,062 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years:  42.04% (male 54,876; female 52,780) 15-64 years:  54.43% (male 70,534; female 68,837) 65 years and over:  3.53% (male 4,403; female 4,632) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.7% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:

31.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:

4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

25.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:  71.19 years male:  68.91 years female:  73.57 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.05 children born/woman (2001 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 43.7%, Creole 29.8%, Maya 10%, Garifuna 6.2%, other 10.3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 30% (Anglican 12%, Methodist 6%, Mennonite 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Pentecostal 2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6% (1980)

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%

Source: World Factbook