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Belize
Despite the fact that Belize is situated towards at top end of Central America it is something of a rarity in this area of the world due to the fact that it has very strong connections with the UK. This British colonial heritage is shared with a number of Caribbean areas in Central America which is perhaps one of the reasons why the country is beginning to attract the attention of expats from the UK and other countries around the world. Surprisingly, even when you consider the size of Belize, the current population is only around 333,000 although it is currently growing at around 2.2% per annum which is one of the highest growth rates in the Western Hemisphere.
The official language of Belize is English and can be traced back to 1638 when the first English and Scottish adventurers arrived on the shores. As seems to be the norm with a number of countries in Central America there are also fairly strong links with Spain and Spanish speaking is also commonplace amongst some of the population.
Where is Belize?
Belize itself is situated in the northern section of Central America and is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the south and west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. The vicinity to the sea has proven very beneficial with regards to both transport and business links to other areas of the world. When you consider the size of the population, less than 350,000 people, it is a surprise that the country actually registers on the radar of many expats but it does seem to be catching the attention of more and more people.
Despite the fact that the country has the highest growth rate in the population, around 2.2% per annum, it has the lowest population density in Central America and the third lowest in the Americas. However, Belize has a massive diversity in terrain, marine species and ecosystems which are some of the reasons why it is beginning to grab the attention of travellers. There have been a number of disputes regarding Belize with the UK government having to step in on a number of occasions to defend the area. One of the main aggressors with regards to the independence of Belize, which was granted on 21 September 1981, was Guatemala. So for a relatively small country Belize has a history that many others would struggle to match!
The weather in Belize
Before we look at the weather in Belize it is worth reviewing the geography of the area with the country surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world along the Caribbean coastline. The country also has a number of fairly flat areas, mountainous areas and lowlands which all come together to offer a very interesting and diverse climate. Officially the Belize climate is classed as tropical with defined wet and dry seasons although as we suggested above there are a number of different ecosystems operating in the area.
A number of factors come into play as regards to the temperature and weather which include the ocean winds, the high mountainous areas and the lowlands. The ranges of temperature are not as pronounced as in many countries with average temperatures of around 24°C in January rising to 27°C in July. However, there are regional variations depending upon the elevation of the areas in question.
However, there is a very large divergence in rainfall across the country ranging from 1350 mm in the north to 4500 mm in the far south. The driest regions of Belize are in the north and central regions lasting between January and May with the dry season slightly shorter in the south often lasting from February to April. Unfortunately, Belize is very near to a hurricane corridor in the area and hurricanes have played a prominent role in the history of Belize. Indeed one hurricane in 1931 wiped out two thirds of the buildings in Belize City, killing more than 1000 people and having a major impact upon the country. The authorities even moved the Belize capital, Belize City, inland with the creation of a brand-new capital called Belmopan. Hurricanes have been and always will be a problem with regards to Belize and due to the country’s relatively small size a direct hit can have disastrous consequences.
Working in Belize
There are a number of different industries operating in Belize which include agriculture, merchandising, tourism, construction and banking. There was also a recent oil find in the country although so far the authorities have failed to maximize on the potential income flow from this particular find. Many believe that oil in the region could hold the key to future growth in the Belize economy and future attractions for overseas investors. With regards to the agricultural industry sugar is by far and away the most popular crop although bananas are also prominent.
However, it is the financial arena in Belize which has attracted some criticism from overseas with the government lacking in the area of taxation collection which has led to some economic difficulties in the short to medium term. Due to areas such as tourism and construction going from strength to strength many believe that economic growth of around 4% per annum is within reach and should help stabilize the country. Major trading partners include the United States, Mexico, the European Union and Central America.
Due to the size of the country there will be difficulties for the economy which will be impacted disproportionately by worldwide events compared to the larger economies. However, the growth in oil, banking, tourism and construction will help offset the strong dependence upon agriculture which again should ensure a more stable economy in the future.
Major cities in Belize
There are six main districts and constituencies in Belize which include:-
Belize District
Belize City is the capital of the Belize District and has a population of around 71,000 people although official estimates are very sketchy. For many years this was the capital of Belize but due to the impact of hurricanes in the region the capital was moved inwards and rebuilt under a totally different name. However, Belize City is still the largest city in Belize itself and has an economy which is based around banking, insurance, marketplaces and national, international air, sea and road travel. Despite the fact that it is not officially the capital of Belize it is in many ways still the major player in the Belize economy.
Cayo District
The Cayo District is actually the largest district in Belize with a capital by the name of San Ignacio which has a population itself of around 20,000 people and is the central hub of the district. This area of the country is very much focused upon agricultural employment with crops such as oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and bananas all playing a prominent role although there was a recent oil find in the area which could potentially open up new doors and new income streams for the country. This area of the country is also home to a number of nature reserves which has attracted growing numbers of eco-tourists to the region. For a country the size of Belize it is vital that different areas of the country are able to develop and grow their own niche markets for the general good of the population.
Corozal District
The capital of the Corozal District is Corozal Town which has a relatively small population of just over 8000 people. Interestingly Corozal Town was actually a private estate before the creation of a town in the 1840s and has itself undergone a number of dramatic changes due to damage by various hurricanes over the years. This relatively small area of Belize is home to a number of burial sites and jewellery and artifacts of historic significance had been discovered over the years.
Orange Walk District
The capital of the Orange Walk District is Orange Walk Town which has a population of around 18,000 people and is the second largest town in Belize. Again, this is an area of the country which is littered with historic locations and historic buildings. Immigrants to the region managed to build a sugar cane industry which to this very day is still the major income for the region, and indeed one of the largest business sectors of Belize. However, in line with many other cities in Belize tourism and other agricultural crops are now starting to play their own role in the local economy, allowing the economy to be diversified away from just sugar cane.
Stann Creek district
The Stann Creek district is situated in the Southeast region of Belize and has a population of around 26,000 people with a capital city known as Dangriga. Tourism, culture and music play a very prominent part in the local economy and have assisted in increasing the number of visitors to the region. Tourism, along with many other cities in Belize, is becoming more prominent in the local economy.
Toledo District
Punta Gordo is the capital city of the Toledo District with a population of around 6000 people with English by far and away the most common language. This is another area of Belize which is dependent upon tourism although historically it is a seaport and fishing town. There are a number of prominent hotels in the region which have helped to assist growth in the tourism industry.
The cost of living in Belize
The cost of living in Belize is relatively low compared to the vast majority of countries around the world although interestingly the country does have the most expensive electricity in the region. It is very difficult to get an angle on the individual cost of goods and services in Belize but when you consider that gross domestic product per person is under $10,000 and the average income per person is also under $10,000 per annum it is not difficult to see that a modest income or modest savings could result in a relatively high standard of living. However, on the downside there is no doubt that the economy of Belize has the potential to grow in the future with the recent oil find perhaps the kickstart which the country needs. As a consequence, it is likely that we will see the cost of living in Belize grow gradually over the years although business opportunities should also rise for those looking to set up a new operation in the country.
Real estate investment is also becoming very popular and with tourism playing a larger and larger role in the country this is perhaps another area which could attract those from overseas. In many ways Belize is a country which is looking for direction and could become prominent in a number of different business arenas in the years to come.
Conclusion
In many ways relocating Belize is something of an unknown entity for many people with an economy which has historically been dependent upon agriculture but is now being opened up to the tourism and the oil industries. For those looking to find a different place to relocate to and potentially build themselves a business there is certainly some mileage in investigating Belize in more detail. However, due to the size of the economy there will always be relatively high volatility until new niches are found and the country learns to maximize the potential of the recently oil find.
There are many factors connected with Belize which could come together to create a very strong and a very prosperous economy although there are also relatively high risks associated with the country due to the size and its location in the hurricane corridor.
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