GEOGRAPHY
Nestled in between Guatemala and Mexico, Belize is a small Central American nation that is approximately the size equivalent to the state of Massachusetts. With a mostly flat terrain and a hot and humid tropical climate, Belize is very well suited for growing crops such as bananas and cacao. Due to the close proximity to the Caribbean, Belize is quite prone to hurricanes and coastal flooding.
THE PEOPLE
Belize has a small nationwide population of 360,000 people. There is a diverse population, with just over half of Belizeans identifying as mestizo. The other half of the population is made up of people of Creole, Mayan, Garifuna, East Indian, Mennonite, White, Asian, and other descents. English is the official language, but Spanish and Creole are also widely spoken. Over 70% of Belizeans follow a branch of the Christian faith.
ECONOMY
Belize is a popular tourist destination, and this industry brings in much of the revenue for the country. However, they also export citrus, bananas, sugar, and oil. Belize has one of the highest per capita income rates in Central America, but there is a enormous wealth disparity between the richest and poorest Belizeans. Over 41% of Belizeans live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate is just above 10%.
EDUCATION
Belize has based their education system on that of Great Britain. The children have a good rate of attendance, with 93% of children aged 5-14 attending school. It can be difficult for the poorer families to afford textbooks and the fees that come with pursuing an education. The Belizean government has been working towards implementing technology into the classroom to help learning. Belize has a literacy rate of 82%, which is quite close to the worldwide average.
HEALTH CARE
Belize has established universal health care and the distribution of this care is overseen by the Ministry of Health. The largest hospital in Belize is located in the capital. The hospitals have struggled with funding and have faced a shortage of supplies. In rural areas, the healthcare is especially poor due to shortages of staff, medicine, and hospital beds.
HEMOPHILIA IN BELIZE
According to the World Federation of Hemophilia, there are only 16 diagnosed Belizeans with Hemophilia. It is quite likely that there are more Belizeans who are living undiagnosed due to poor infrastructure and lack of knowledge about the condition.
