World Factbook
Belize
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
22,806 sq km
water
160 sq km
total
22,966 sq km
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
Land use
other
33.7% (2023 est.)
forest
58.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 4.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Coastline
386 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point
Doyle's Delight 1,124 m
mean elevation
173 m
Irrigated land
35 sq km (2012)
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Land boundaries
total
542 km
border countries
Guatemala 266 km; Mexico 276 km
Maritime claims
note
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 limit is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
territorial sea
12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
Geography - note
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean
Natural resources
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Geographic coordinates
17 15 N, 88 45 W
Population distribution
approximately 25% to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east