People of Belize

source: CIA World Fact Book 1997

Population: 224,663 (July 1997 est.)

• 0-14 years: 43% (male 48,921; female 47,057)
• 15-64 years: 54% (male 61,133; female 59,466)
• 65 years and over: 3% (male 3,965; female 4,121) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.42% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 31.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 5.61 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

• at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
• under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
• 15-64 years : 1.03 male(s)/female
• 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
• total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 33.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

• Total population: 68.75 years
• male: 66.8 years
• female: 70.81 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 3.99 children born/woman (1997 est.)

• noun: Belizean(s)
• adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: mestizo 44%, Creole 30%, Maya 11%, Garifuna 7%, other 8%

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)

• definition: age 14 and over has ever attended school
• total population: 70.3%
• male: 70.3%
• female: 70.3% (1991 est.)
• note : other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%