fertility
rate: 3.96 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 2,400 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 170 (1999 est.)

Nationality: noun: Belizean(s) adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups: mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%,
other 9.7%

Religions: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Anglican 5.3%, Methodist
3.5%, Mennonite 4.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Pentecostal 7.4%,
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), none 9.4%, other 14% (2000)

Languages: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 70.3% male: 70.3% female: 70.3% (1991 est.) note: other
sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%

Government Belize

Country name: Belize former: Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Belmopan

Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange
Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence: 21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution: 21 September 1981

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since
17 November 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA
(since 27 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1
September 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary;
governor general appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints
the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority
party to be prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate
(12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the
prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and
one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical
Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union
Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed
for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members
are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year ter