Belize Capital

The capital city of Belize is Belmopan. It is also called the Garden City, and it became the capital city of Belize in 1970 after the former capital, Belize City, was almost destroyed by Hurricane Hattie in 1967. It is a planned settlement and it was chosen because of its location, which is inland and therefore safer from tropical cyclones. The reclamation efforts would not be costly and would provide an industrial area. The government was moved into Belmopan in 1970 and it is located in Cayo District near the Belize River Valley. It is 50 miles west of Belize City on an elevation of 250 feet above sea level.

The city of Belmopan has a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants. The city is the fastest growing settlement in Belize and is the third largest settlement in the country after Belize City and San Ignacio. The city's rapid expansion has been due to the increasing number of people moving from Belize City as well as those who have settled in its outskirts in the suburbs of Las Flores, Salvapan, and San Martin.

Some of the many attractions include St. Herman’s Cave, which Ancient Mayans used for their ceremonies or Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) which is a Mayan sacrificial burial site near Belmopan and contains a set of humans remains as well some ceramics. Tourists can also choose among many exciting activities like cave tubing through the caves or hiking and zip lining through the jungle. Many tour companies facilitate all these activities. There are also many nightclubs on the outskirts of the capital that provide night entertainment.

Belmopan has a tropical monsoon climate according to the Koppen Climate classification. It experiences significant rainfall in its wet season which runs for the better part of the year, that is, from May to February. Even during the dry season, it still experiences some rainfall. The average monthly temperatures do not vary a lot, with an average of 76.82°F.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Belmopan
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)
Ethnic Groups	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%
Religion	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 Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army), unspecified 0.6%, none 15.5% (2010 est.)
Government	Parliamentary democracy (National Assembly) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Independance	21 September 1981 (from the UK)
Area	22,966.00 km²
Water Area	160.00 km²
Land Area	22,806.00 km²
Population	353,858.00 Approximately 25 to 30% of the population lives in the former capital, Belize City; over half of the overall population is rural; population density is slightly higher in the north and east
Location	Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
No. Bordering Countries	2
Bordering Countries	Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 276 km
GDP(PPP)	$3,088,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$8,200.00 (USD)
Export Partners	The major export partners are the United Kingdom, United States, and Nigeria.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are sugar, bananas, citrus, and clothing.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the United States, Mexico, and Cuba.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, and fuels.
Climate	Tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
Terrain	Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south
Learn More	Belize

Belize Capital

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