World Factbook
Belize
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: royal blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; the coat of arms is on a large white disk at the center and shows a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree, with the motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom; a green garland of 50 mahogany leaves rings the coat of arms meaning: the figures, the mahogany tree, and the garland refer to the logging industry that led the British to settle Belize; blue and red are the colors of the two main political parties
note: Belize has the only national flag that depicts humans; the flags of two British overseas territories, Montserrat and the British Virgin Islands, also depict humans
Capital
name
Belmopan
etymology
the name is formed from two words: "Belize," the name of the longest river in the country, and "Mopan," one of the rivers in the area that empties into the Belize River
time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
17 15 N, 88 46 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
previous 1954, 1963 (pre-independence); latest signed and entered into force 21 September 1981
amendment process
proposed and adopted by two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly House of Representatives except for amendments relating to rights and freedoms, changes to the Assembly, and to elections and judiciary matters, which require at least three-quarters majority vote of the House; both types of amendments require assent of the governor general
Country name
former
British Honduras
etymology
traditionally believed to be derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the last name of Scottish explorer Peter Wallace, who settled in the area in 1638; alternatively, may be named for the Belize River, whose name possibly derives from the Maya word "belix," meaning "muddy-watered"
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Belize
Independence
21 September 1981 (from the UK)
Legal system
English common law
Government type
parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with the court president and 3 justices, and the Supreme Court with the chief justice and 10 justices); the Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal
subordinate courts
Magistrates' Courts; Family Court
judge selection and term of office
Court of Appeal president and justices appointed by the governor-general upon advice of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; justices' tenures vary by terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the prime minister and the National Assembly opposition leader; other judges appointed by the governor-general upon the advice of the Judicial and Legal Services Section of the Public Services Commission and with the concurrence of the prime minister after consultation with the National Assembly opposition leader; judges can be appointed beyond age 65 but must retire by age 75
Executive branch
cabinet
governor general appoints Cabinet from among members of the National Assembly, on the advice of the prime minister
chief of state
King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor-General Froyla TZALAM (since 27 May 2021)
head of government
Prime Minister John BRICEÑO (since 12 November 2020)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; governor-general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor-general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
National holiday
Battle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
National color(s)
red, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
Political parties
Belize People’s Front or BPF Belize Progressive Party or BPP (formed in 2015 from a merger of the People's National Party, elements of the Vision Inspired by the People, and other smaller political groups) People's United Party or PUP United Democratic Party or UDP Vision Inspired by the People or VIP
Legislative branch
note
legislature name
National Assembly
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"God Save the King"
history
royal anthem, as a Commonwealth country
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
Baird's tapir (a large forest-dwelling mammal), keel-billed toucan, black orchid
Administrative divisions
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
5 years
number of seats
32 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
3/12/2025
expected date of next election
March 2030
percentage of women in chamber
12.5%
parties elected and seats per party
People's United Party (PUP) (26); United Democratic Party (UDP) (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate
term in office
5 years
number of seats
13 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
5/9/2025
expected date of next election
May 2030
percentage of women in chamber
35.7%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 332-6888
chancery
2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-2826
telephone
[1] (202) 332-9636
chief of mission
Ambassador Lynn Raymond YOUNG (since 7 July 2021)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
email address and website
reception.usa@mfa.gov.bz https://www.belizeembassyusa.mfa.gov.bz/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(501) 822-4012
embassy
4 Floral Park Road, Belmopan, Cayo
telephone
(501) 822-4011
mailing address
3050 Belmopan Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Katharine BEAMER (since 23 August 2025)
email address and website
ACSBelize@state.gov https://bz.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction