mark 4, France 4, Greece 4)
registered in other countries: 101 (2005)

Airports:
43 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
1 (2004 est.)

Military Belgium

Military branches:
Land, Naval, and Air Components (2005)

Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise some
7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,436,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,998,003 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 64,263 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$3.999 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues Belgium

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound
ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine
processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and
marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of
legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering
related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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@Belize

Introduction Belize

Background:
Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the
independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.
Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism
has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued
by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug
trade, and increasing urban crime.

Geography Belize

Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and
Mexico

Geographic coordinates:
17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mex