Demographics of Belize

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Belize, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Belize's population, 1961-2003.

Belize population pyramid in 2020

Belize is the most sparsely populated nation in Central America. It is larger than El Salvador. Slightly more than half of the people live in rural areas. About one-fourth live in Belize City, the principal port, commercial centre, and former capital. About 80% of the population are Christian.

Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. About 52.9% of the population is of mixed Indigenous (mostly Maya) and European descent (Mestizo), 24.9% are Kriols, about 10.6% are Maya, and about 6.1% are Afro-Amerindian (Garifuna).[1] The remaining population includes European, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and North American groups. In the case of Europeans, most are descendants of Spanish and British colonial settlers, whether pure-blooded or mixed with each other. Most Spanish left the nation just after it was taken by the British colonists who, in the same way, left after independence. Dutch and German Mennonites settled in Belize, mostly in isolated areas.

Belize's largest cities and towns by population

1. Belize City, BZ - 67,169
2. San Ignacio, CY - 27,878
3. Belmopan, CY - 19,931
4. Orange Walk Town, OW - 16,709
5. Corozal Town, CZ - 13,400
6. San Pedro, BZ - 11,765
7. Dangriga, SC - 9,591
8. Benque Viejo del Carmen, CY - 6,148
9. Ladyville, BZ - 5,458
10. Punta Gorda, TO - 6,351

- Based on 2010 census.

Population

According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, the current population stands at 408,487.[2]

In conjunction with a census of the British Empire, census data was compiled for Belize in 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921, 1931 and 1946. Belize conducted its own censuses in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1991 and in 2000. None has been held since then.

Ethnic groups

Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. About 52.9% are Mestizo, 25.9% Creole, 11.3% Maya, 6.1.% Garifuna, 3.9% East Indian, 3.6% Mennonites, 1.2% White, 1% Asian, 1.2% Other and 0.3% Unknown.[3]

In the case of Spain, most are descendants of Spanish and British colonial settlers, whether pure-blooded or mixed with each other. Most Spanish left the nation just after it was taken by the British colonists who, in the same way, left after independence. Beginning in 1958, German Mennonites of "Russian" Mennonite and Pennsylvania Dutch heritage settled in Belize, mostly in isolated areas.

Maya

Because Belize's original Luis's peoples were decimated by disease and wars or fled to Mexico and Guatemala, most of the country's Maya today are descended from other groups. The current Maya population consists mainly of three language groups. The Yucatec fled to Belize in the late 1840s to escape the Caste War in Yucatán, Mexico. Their descendants live in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts, which border on Mexico. Before the massive migration of Yucatec Maya from Mexico to Belize, a local Yucatec Maya group named the Iciache Maya already inhabited the land. Today most Yucatec Maya work in the sugar cane. In the 1870s-1880s, many Q'eqchi' fled from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, where their lands were being stolen for coffee plantations, which then enslaved them. They settled villages in the Toledo district.

Living near rivers and streams, they are primarily farmers, though many younger people now work in tourism, and on shrimp, banana and citrus plantations. The Mopans originated in Belize, but most were driven out to Guatemala after the British displaced Spanish in a struggle that took most of the 18th century. They returned to Belize in 1886, running from enslavement and taxation in Petén. The Cayo district and San Antonio in the Toledo district are their homes now. Q'eqchi' and Mopan have intermarried, though the two languages remain distinct and mutually unintelligible.

Population of Belize according to ethnic group[4][5]

Ethnic group	Census 1946		Census 1991		Census 2000[1]		Census 2010
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Q'eqchi' Maya	10,030	16.9	7,954	4.3	12,366	5.3	17,409	5.7
Mopan Maya			6,770	3.7	8,980	3.9	10,557	3.5
Yucatec/other Maya			5,686	3.1	3,155	1.4	2,141	0.7
Mestizo/Spanish/Latino	18,360	31.0	80,477	43.6	113,045	48.7	150,921	49.7
Creole	22,693	38.3	55,051	29.8	57,859	24.9	63,057	21.8
Black African					582	0.3	1,151	0.4
Garifuna	4,112	6.9	12,274	6.6	14,061	6.1	13,985	4.6
White * German Mennonite * Other white	2,329 0 2,329	3.9 0 3.9	7,257 5,763 1,494	3.9 3.1 0.8	10,034 8,276 1,758	4.3 3.6 0.8	13,964 10,865 3,099	4.6 3.6 1.0
East Indian	1,366	2.3	6,455	3.5	6,868	3.0	7,073	2.3
Chinese/Asians	50	0.1	747	0.4	1,716	0.7	2,823	0.9
Mixed							18,947	6.2
Syrian/Lebanese	128	0.2	167	0.1			240	0.1
Other			1,867	1.0	2,610	1.1	762	0.3
Unknown	152	0.3	17	0.0	835	0.4	392	0.1
Total	59,220		184,722		232,111		324,528

Birth Rate by Ethnic Groups (2000 Census)[6]

Ethnic Group	Population (2000)	Birth Rate (1999)	Births
African	582	17.18	10
British	1,758	9.10	16
Chinese	1,716	19.23	33
Creole	57,859	28.88	1,671
East Indian	6,868	27.66	190
Garifuna	14,061	27.17	382
Q'eqchi'	12,366	44.88	555
Mopan	8,980	35.30	317
Yucatec	3,155	19.33	61
Mennonite	8,276	42.53	352
Mestizo	78,537	29.73	2,335
Spanish	34,508	32.22	1,112
Other	2,610	21.84	57
Not Available	835	45.51	38
Total	232,111	30.71	7,128

Vital statistics[7][8][9]

	Average population	Live births	Deaths	Natural change	Crude birth rate (per 1000)	Crude death rate (per 1000)	Natural change (per 1000)	Total fertility rate[10]	Infant mortality rate[10]
1934	52,000	1,945	971	974	37.4	18.7	18.7
1935	53,000	2,081	1,377	704	39.3	26.0	13.3
1936	53,000	1,879	1,256	623	35.5	23.7	11.8
1937	54,000	1,876	1,054	822	34.7	19.5	15.2
1938	54,000	2,052	1,178	874	38.0	21.8	16.2
1939	55,000	2,084	1,092	992	37.9	19.9	18.0
1940	56,000	2,192	986	1,206	39.1	17.6	21.5
1941	57,000	2,133	1,030	1,103	37.4	18.1	19.4
1942	57,000	1,905	1,250	655	33.4	21.9	11.5
1943	58,000	1,925	1,136	789	33.2	19.6	13.6
1944	58,000	2,031	1,153	878	35.0	19.9	15.1
1945	59,000	2,141	1,204	937	36.3	20.4	15.9
1946	59,000	2,065	1,019	1,046	35.0	17.3	17.7
1947	61,000	2,473	1,049	1,424	40.5	17.2	23.3
1948	63,000	2,506	861	1,645	39.8	13.7	26.1
1949	65,000	2,548	877	1,671	39.2	13.5	25.7
1950	69,000	2,657	845	1,812	39.7	12.6	27.0
1951	71,000	2,905	801	2,104	42.1	11.6	30.5
1952	73,000	3,028	794	2,234	42.1	11.0	31.0
1953	76,000	2,986	820	2,166	40.4	11.1	29.3
1954	78,000	3,231	876	2,355	42.5	11.5	31.0
1955	80,000	3,463	858	2,605	44.4	11.0	33.4
1956	82,000	3,725	821	2,904	46.0	10.1	35.9
1957	85,000	3,615	932	2,683	43.6	11.2	32.3
1958	87,000	3,988	795	3,193	46.4	9.2	37.1
1959	89,000	4,016	730	3,286	45.6	8.3	37.3
1960	92,000	4,091	717	3,374	45.0	7.9	37.1
1961	95,000	4,244	708	3,536	45.6	7.6	38.0
1962	97,000	4,461	853	3,608	47.0	9.0	38.0
1963	100,000	4,783	712	4,071	48.8	7.3	41.5
1964	103,000	4,568	729	3,839	45.2	7.2	38.0
1965	106,000	4,637	710	3,927	44.6	6.8	37.8
1966	109,000	4,898	776	4,122	45.8	7.3	38.5
1967	113,000	4,851	811	4,040	43.7	7.3	36.4
1968	116,000	4,671	714	3,957	41.0	6.3	34.7
1969	119,000	4,660	783	3,877	39.8	6.7	33.1
1970	122,000	4,455	813	3,642	37.1	6.8	30.4
1971	125,000	5,052	625	4,427	41.4	5.1	36.3
1972	127,000	4,954	669	4,285	40.0	5.4	34.6
1973	129,000	5,010	801	4,303	39.8	6.4	34.2
1974	131,000	5,039	721	4,379	39.4	5.6	34.2
1975	133,000	5,201	800	4,401	40.0	6.2	33.9
1976	135,000	5,340	881	4,459	40.2	6.6	33.5
1977	137,000	5,570	767	4,803	41.0	5.6	35.3
1978	139,000	5,384	885	4,499	38.7	6.4	32.4
1979	141,000	5,523	710	4,813	38.9	5.0	33.9
1980	144,000	6,264	717	5,547	43.2	4.9	38.3
1981	148,000	5,821	709	5,112	39.1	4.8	34.3
1982	151,000	5,899	663	5,236	38.6	4.3	34.3
1983	156,000	6,044	724	5,320	38.2	4.6	33.6
1984	160,000	5,756	750	5,006	38.0	4.9	33.0
1985	165,000	5,916	693	5,223	35.6	4.2	31.5
1986	170,000	6,136	688	5,448	36.2	4.1	32.1
1987	174,000	6,121	675	5,446	35.1	3.9	31.3
1988	179,000	6,325	708	5,617	35.4	4.0	31.4
1989	183,000	6,686	762	5,924	36.5	4.2	32.3
1990	188,000	7,200	819	6,381	38.4	4.4	34.0
1991	191,000	6,555	842	5,713	34.3	4.4	29.9
1992	195,000	7,597	846	6,751	39.0	4.3	34.6
1993	198,000	6,462	935	5,527	32.6	4.7	27.9
1994	202,000	5,887	944	4,943	29.1	4.7	24.4
1995	207,000	6,623	931	5,692	32.0	4.5	27.5
1996	212,000	6,678	964	5,714	31.4	4.5	26.9
1997	218,000	7,348	1,173	6,175	33.6	5.4	28.3
1998	225,000	6,844	1,350	5,494	30.4	6.0	24.4
1999	232,000	7,113	1,190	5,923	30.7	5.1	25.5
2000	239,000	7,313	1,534	5,779	30.7	6.4	24.2
2001	245,000	7,215	1,261	5,954	29.4	5.1	24.3
2002	252,000	7,553	1,284	6,269	30.0	5.1	24.9
2003	258,000	7,440	1,277	6,163	28.8	4.9	23.9
2004	265,000	8,083	1,298	6,785	30.5	4.9	25.6
2005	283,000	8,396	1,369	7,027	29.6	4.8	24.8	3.6	18.4
2006	291,000	7,171	1,396	5,775	24.6	4.8	19.8	3.0	19.6
2007	298,000	7,036	1,389	5,647	23.5	4.6	18.9	2.9	17.2
2008	306,000	7,126	1,302	5,824	23.2	4.2	19.0	2.8	12.0
2009	315,000	7,417	1,453	5,964	23.5	4.6	18.8		18.9
2010	323,000	7,228	1,554	5,674	22.3	4.8	17.5		13.6
2011	332,000	7,217	1,554	5,663	21.7	4.7	17.1		16.5
2012	340,000	7,125	1,650	5,475	20.9	4.5	16.4	2.40
2013	349,000	7,264	1,637	5,627	20.8	4.7	16.1	2.39
2014	358,000	7,318	1,620	5,698	20.4	4.5	15.9	2.35
2015	370,000	7,456	1,772	5,684	20.1	4.8	15.3	2.34
2016	387,000	7,200	1,796	5,404	18.6	4.6	14.0	2.20
2017	387,879	7,252	1,872	5,380	18.7	4.8	13.9	2.15
2018	398,050	7,775	1,886	5,889	19.5	4.7	14.8	2.27
2019	408,487	7,296	1,949	5,347	17.9	4.8	13.1
2020	419,199

Languages

English is the only official language of Belize, a relic of past British colonization. It is the main language used in government and education.[11] Although only 5.6% of the population speaks it as the main language at home, 54% can speak it very well, and another 26% can speak some English. 37% of Belizeans consider their primary language to be Kriol, an English-based creole of words and syntax from various African languages (namely Akan, Igbo, and Twi),[12] and other languages (Miskito, Caliche). It is also a second or third language for another 40% of the multilingual country.

Kriol shares similarities with many Caribbean English Creoles as far as phonology and pronunciations are concerned. Also, many of its words and structures are both lexically and phonologically similar to English, its superstrate language. Because it is English-based, all Kriol speakers can understand English. A number of linguists classify Belizean Kriol as a separate language, while others consider it to be a dialect of English.

Spanish is the mother tongue of Mestizo and Central American refugees and is commonly spoken at home by 43% of the population. Maya dialects such as Q'eqchi', Mopan and Yucatec are spoken. Garifuna (which is Arawakan/Maipurean based, with elements of the Carib language, French, and Spanish) and the Plautdietsch and Pennsylvania German dialects of the Mennonites are spoken as well. Literacy currently stands at nearly 80%. In 2001, UNESCO declared the Garifuna language, dance, and music a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". English is the primary language of public education, with Spanish taught in primary and secondary school as well. Bilingualism is highly encouraged, and therefore, very common.

English & Spanish Language Proficiency[1]
Language	Speaks Very Well	Speaks Some	Total
English	54%	26%	80%
Spanish	52%	11%	63%

Languages in Belize[3]

Language	Percentage
English	62.9%
Spanish	56.6%
Creole	44.6%
Maya	10.5%
German	3.2%
Garifuna	2.9%
Other	1.8%
unknown	0.3%
none (cannot speak)	0.2%

Religion

According to the 2010 census[13][14] Catholics constitute 40.0% of the population of Belize, down from 49.6% in 2000 and 57.7% in 1991;[15] Protestants constitute 31.7% of the population, with a slight growth in percentage for some groups since 2000 (8.5% Pentecostal; 5.5% Adventist; 4.6% Anglican; 3.8% Mennonite; 3.6% Baptist; 2.9% Methodist; 2.8% Nazarene); Jehovah's Witnesses are 1.7% of the population. 10.2% of Belizeans follow other religions (with a growth in percentage since 2000); amongst these there are followers of the indigenous Maya religion, Garifuna religion, Obeah and Myalism, and minorities of Mormons, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Baháʼís, Rastafarians and other.[16] The Mennonites, of German descent, live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk. 15.6% of the Belizean population do not adhere to any religion, up from 9.4% in 2000.

Belizean Roman Catholic churches belong to the Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan; Anglican churches belong to the Diocese of Belize, part of the Church in the Province of the West Indies. Hinduism is followed by most Indian immigrants, while Islam is common among Middle Eastern immigrants and has gained a following among some Kriols. Catholics frequently visit the country for special gospel revivals. The Greek Orthodox Church has a presence in Santa Elena.[17]

The Constitution of Belize provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The Government at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors. The Government generally respects religious freedom in practice. In 2008, the U.S. government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

Religions in Belize[3]

Religion	Percentage
Catholic	40.1%
Protestant	31.5%
Pentecostal	8.4%
Seventh-day Adventist	5.4%
Anglican	4.7%,
Mennonite	3.7%
Baptist	3.6%
Methodist	2.9%
Nazarene	2.8%
Jehovah's Witness	1.7%
Other (includes Baháʼí, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Islam, Rastafarian)	10.5%
Unknown	0.6%
None	15.5%

Structure of the population

Structure of the population (01.07.2017) (Estimates)[18]

Age Group	Male	Female	Total	%
Total	193 942	193 937	387 879	100
0-4	23 163	22 116	45 330	11,68
5-9	23 771	23 424	47 195	12,17
10-14	22 693	22 659	45 352	11,69
15-19	20 850	20 831	41 681	10,75
20-24	18 046	18 695	36 741	9,47
25-29	15 427	16 458	31 885	8,22
30-34	13 335	14 137	27 472	7,08
35-39	12 144	12 732	24 876	6,41
40-44	10 367	10 495	20 862	5,38
45-49	9 187	8 802	17 989	4,64
50-54	7 152	6 949	14 101	3,64
55-59	5 416	4 976	10 392	2,68
60-64	3 957	3 527	7 484	1,93
65-69	2 814	2 474	5 288	1,36
70-74	2 230	1 975	4 205	1,08
75-79	1 564	1 518	3 082	0,79
80+	1 776	1 994	3 770	0,97

Age group	Male	Female	Total	Percent
0-14	62 824	61 649	124 473	35,59
15-64	104 484	106 035	210 519	60,20
65+	7 557	7 179	14 736	4,21

Life expectancy at birth

Period	Life expectancy in Years	Period	Life expectancy in Years
1950–1955	55.9	1985–1990	71.5
1955–1960	58.6	1990–1995	70.6
1960–1965	61.3	1995–2000	68.6
1965–1970	64.3	2000–2005	68.5
1970–1975	66.7	2005–2010	69.5
1975–1980	68.6	2010–2015	69.8
1980–1985	70.4

Source: UN World Population Prospects[19]

Other demographics statistics

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.[20]

• One birth every 63 minutes
• One death every 240 minutes
• One net migrant every 360 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 69 minutes

Demographic statistics according to the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[3]

Population

385,854 (July 2018 est.)

Ethnic groups

This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population. Ethnic groups field listing

mestizo 52.9%, Creole 25.9%, Maya 11.3%, Garifuna 6.1%, East Indian 3.9%, Mennonite 3.6%, white 1.2%, Asian 1%, other 1.2%, unknown 0.3% (2010 est.)

note: percentages add up to more than 100% because respondents were able to identify more than one ethnic origin

Languages

English 62.9% (official), Spanish 56.6%, Creole 44.6%, Maya 10.5%, German 3.2%, Garifuna 2.9%, other 1.8%, unknown 0.3%, none 0.2% (cannot speak) (2010 est.)

note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Age structure

Population pyramid of Belize in 2017

0-14 years: 33.61% (male 66,207 /female 63,466)

15-24 years: 18.74% (male 37,184 /female 35,127)

25-54 years: 37.43% (male 70,222 /female 74,187)

55-64 years: 5.88% (male 11,397 /female 11,284)

65 years and over: 4.35% (male 8,293 /female 8,487) (2018 est.)

Median age

total: 23.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 168th

male: 23.2 years

female: 24.4 years (2018 est.)

Birth rate

22.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 63rd

Death rate

4.2 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 206th

Total fertility rate

2.8 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 60th

Net migration rate

-0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 129th

Population growth rate

1.8% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 57th

Contraceptive prevalence rate

51.4% (2015/16)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 56.8 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 50.9 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio: 17 (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 40.1%, Protestant 31.5% (includes Pentecostal 8.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 4.7%, Mennonite 3.7%, Baptist 3.6%, Methodist 2.9%, Nazarene 2.8%), Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 10.5% (includes Baháʼí, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.7 years

male: 73.1 years

female: 76.3 years (2018 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 45.7% of total population (2018)

rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24

total: 17.7%. Country comparison to the world: 73rd

male: 11%

female: 28.4% (2016 est.)

See also

• Kriols
• Garifuna people
• Maya peoples
• Mennonites in Belize
• Indians in Belize
• Ethnic groups in Central America

References

1. "Belize 2000 Housing and Population Census". Belize Central Statistical Office. 2000. Archived from the original on 20 December 2008. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
2. http://sib.org.bz/
3. "World Factbook CENTRAL AMERICA : BELIZE", The World Factbook, 12 July 2018 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
4. UN Demographic Yearbooks
5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. United nations. Demographic Yearbooks
8. Statistical Institute of Belize
9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
11. "Belize: Language and Religion". MSN Encarta Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2008.
12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2008.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. "2010 Census of Belize Overview". 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
14. "2010 Census of Belize Detailed Demographics of 2000 and 2010". 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
15. Belize 2000 Census Archived 25 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
16. Clifton L. Holland. Population of Belize by Religion: 1970-2000. PROLADES.
17. Orthodox Church of Belize homepage
18. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/documents/dyb2017/table07.pdf
19. "World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
20. "Belize Population 2019", World Population Review

External links

• Q'eqchi' and Mopan history - Maya history by Native Planet