Country Deion Belize is a small country of 8,867 square miles. It is bordered on the north by Mexico, the west and south by Guatemala and the east by the Caribbean Sea. The country has a population of 340,000 of which approximately85,000 are located in its largest city, Belize City. Belize City is located on the central Caribbean coast and is the major center for commerce and trade. The nation's capital, Belmopan, is located 50 miles inland from Belize City. Belmopan has a population of approximately 11,000. Other cities of significant size include Orange Walk Town, San Ignacio and Punta Gorda. Belize claims over 200 cayes, many of which are uninhabited. The ethnic mix of Belize consists of Creole-black, Mestizo-hispanic, Maya Indian, Garifuna-black, Eastern Indian, Chinese and European. Belize has a sub-tropical climate with an annual rainfall varying from 51 inches in the north to 175 inches in the south. Belize's geography is diverse; pine forests, jungles, rainforests, swamps, savannas and coral reefs. The land is home to a wide variety of flora such as palms, ceiba, cacao, banana, cashew, pineapple, passion fruit and orchids. As with most sub-tropical climates, the fauna is diverse and consists of wide variety of birds, seven species of felines, such as the jaguar, two species of monkeys, snakes, lizards and an innumerable quantity of colorful fish, corals and sea mammals.
Belize is a developing country with a very small domestic tax base.
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