Page last updated on February 21,

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:
total: 22,966 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 152
land: 22,806 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 160 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:
total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
386 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
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

Climate:
tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)
More Climate Details

Terrain:
flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Doyle's Delight 1,160 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use:
arable land: 3.05%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.39%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 95.56% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2008)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
18.6 cu km (2000)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.15 cu km/yr (7%/73%/20%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 556 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:
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

Geography - note:
only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean