## This template should be used for english speaking countries or for ## countries for which there is no specific language version #language en = SFD 2010/NorthAmerica/Belize = '''Belize''' (formerly ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Honduras|British Honduras]]''), is a country in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America|Central America]]. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Although Kriol and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language|Spanish]] are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Belize is bordered by Mexico to its north, by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala|Guatemala]] to its south and west, and by the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Sea|Caribbean Sea]] to the east. With 8,867 square miles (22,960 kmĀ²) of land and 320,000 people (2008 est.), the population density of Belize is the lowest in the Central American region, and it also has one of the lowest [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_density|population densities in the world]]. However, the country's population growth rate, 2.21% (2008 est.), is the highest in the region and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population_growth|one of the highest in the western hemisphere]]. Belize's abundance of biologically significant and unique [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem|ecosystems]] contributes to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerica|Mesoamerica]]'s designation as a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity|biodiversity]] "hotspot". Belize is culturally unique among Central American nations. It is the only nation in Central America with a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_(people)|British]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_colonial_empire|colonial heritage]], although as a part of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Caribbean_Zone|Western Caribbean Zone]], it shares this heritage with the Caribbean portions of other Central American countries. Despite this, Belize considers itself to be a Central American nation affiliated with both the Caribbean and Latin America. The origin of the name ''Belize'' is unclear, but one idea is that the name is from the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayan_civilization|Maya]] word ''be'lix'', meaning "muddy water", applied to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize_River|Belize River]]. Others have suggested that it stems from the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquistador|conquistador]]'s mispronunciation of 18th century [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirate|pirate]] Peter Wallace. Belize, having a sizeable proportion of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africans|Africans]] from the ancient [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Kongo|Kingdom of Kongo]] could have brought the name with them, as there is a Belize in [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angola|Angola]] as well. == Cities / Regions == <> == Create a new City or Region == <> ---- CategoryCountry