BELGIUM (Continued)
Fishing: catch 33,178 metric tons (1978); exports $60 million (1978), imports $327 million (1978)
Major industries: engineering and metal products, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, and petroleum
Crude steel: 18.0 million metric tons capacity (December 1981); 13.4 million metric tons produced, 1,360 kg per capita (1978)
Electric power: 12,500,000 kW capacity (1980); 53,643 million kWh produced (1980), 5,440 kWh per capita
Exports: (Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union) $88.9 billion (f.o.b., 1980); iron and steel products, finished or semifinished precious stones, textile products
Imports: (Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union) $93.5 billion (c.i.f., 1980); nonelectrical machinery, motor vehicles, textiles, chemicals, fuels
Major trade partners: (Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union, 1979) 70% EC (22% West Germany, 17% France, 169$ Netherlands, 8% UK, 5% Italy), 5% US
Aid: (1970-79) bilateral economic aid authorized (ODA and OOF), $3,018 million
Budget: (1982 proj.) revenues, Belgian francs (BF) 1,153.5 billion; expenditures, BF 1,507.7 billion; deficit, BF $354.2 billion
Monetary conversion rate: (1980 average) 29.243 Belgian Francs=US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 4,171 km total; 3,971 km standard gauge (1.435 m) and government-owned, 2,536 km double track, 1,413 km electrified; 200 km government-owned, electrified meter gauge (1.000 m)
Highways: 104,663 km total; 1,102 km paved, limited access, divided autoroute; 51,780 km other paved; 51,781 km unpaved
Inland waterways: 2,043 km, of which 1,528 km are in regular use by commercial transport
Ports: 5 major, 1 minor
Pipelines: refined products, 1,115 km; crude, 161 km; natural gas, 3,218 km
Civil air: 49 major transport aircraft, including 4 leased in and 5 leased out
Airfields: 47 total, 46 usable; 25 with permanent-surface runways; 14 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities; 3.45 million telephones (35.0 per 100 popl.); 6 AM, 31 FM, and 31 TV stations; 5 coaxial submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT station
DEFENSE FORCES
Military manpower: males 15-49, 2,478,000; 2,096,000 fit for military service; 79,000 reach military age (19) annually
BELIZE
(formerly British Honduras)
_Belize.jpg)
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| (See reference map III) |
LAND
22,973 km2; 38% agricultural (5% cultivated), 46% exploitable forest, 16% urban, waste, water, offshore islands or other
Land boundaries: 515 km
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm (fishing 12 nm)
Coastline: 386 km
PEOPLE
Population: 150,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.8%
Nationality: noun—Belizean(s); adjective—Belizean
Ethnic divisions: 51% Negro, 22% mestizo, 19% Amerindian, 8% other
Religion: 50% Roman Catholic; Anglican, Seventh-Day Adventist, Methodist, Baptist, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mennonite
Language: English, Spanish, Maya, and Carib
Literacy: 70%-80%
Labor force: 40,000; 39% agriculture, 14% manufacturing, 8% commerce, 12% construction and transport, 20% services, 7% other; shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel; over 15% are unemployed
Organized labor: 8% of labor force
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Belize
Type: became an independent state on 21 September 1981; a member of the Commonwealth
Capital: Belmopan
Legal system: English law
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