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:
Area - comparative: Land boundaries:
Coastline: Maritime claims:
Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Total renewable water resources: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note:
total:
22,966 sq km
country comparison to the world: 152
land:
22,806 sq km
water:
160 sq km
slightly smaller than Massachusetts
total:
542 km
border countries:
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
386 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
territorial sea:
12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
More Climate Details
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
lowest point:
Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
Doyle's Delight 1,160 m
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
arable land:
3.27%
permanent crops:
1.39%
other:
95.34% (2011)
30 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
18.55 cu km (2011)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]
total:
0.22 cu km/yr (4%/49%/46%)
per capita:
845.2 cu m/yr (2000)
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean