Country profile · BZ
Belmopan · Central America
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Species, IUCN status, protected areas
History view & timeline of notable moments
Looking for Belize’s population, area, or density? The headline figures are here, answer-first — every one citable to its primary source.
Belize is the 177th most populous of the 250 countries we track. At 18 people/km² it is denser than 17% of them.
Every figure links to its primary source — open them, question them, find a fresher one if you can. The category sections below go deeper; lateral views (biodiversity, critical events) are in the header above.
GDP, human development, happiness, connectivity
Belize's GDP per capita is $7.7k (current US$, 2024). Its Human Development Index, which combines life expectancy, education, and income, sits at 0.721 (2023). Every number above links to its primary source; we encourage you to verify the latest figures directly.
5 indicators cited · validated May 26
Belize is small, English-speaking, and offers a uniquely structured retirement programme (QRP) — but it's not as cheap as nearby Guatemala or Honduras. Belize City has logistical infrastructure; San Pedro/Ambergris Caye carry tourism premium; Cayo District (San Ignacio) is the most expat-affordable. Belize's WB gdp_per_capita_usd is ~USD 6,600 (2023). Inflation at 4.4% (2024) is moderate. Healthcare OOP via WB is ~USD 130/month per capita.
For a solo expat in San Ignacio (Cayo): ~USD 1,100/month baseline. Ambergris Caye: USD 1,600-1,900 (tourism premium). Family of three Cayo: ~USD 1,800; San Pedro ~USD 2,800.
Belize's QRP carries an unusually broad set of fiscal benefits: NO income tax on foreign-source income for QRP holders, NO inheritance tax, NO capital gains tax. Standard Belize-source top marginal personal income tax is 25% per OECD Tax Database; GST is 12.5%; corporate tax 25%. The QRP requires 30 days/year minimum physical presence in Belize to maintain status — meaning QRP holders typically don't become Belizean tax residents under standard residency rules.
Two caveats. Belize uses the Belize Dollar (BZD) pegged to USD at 2:1 — eliminating major FX risk for USD earners. Second, imports drive consumer-goods costs: anything not produced locally (electronics, vehicles, processed foods) carries 10-30% import premium over US prices. Budget accordingly for setup costs and ongoing replacement of imported items.
These figures are reference baselines drawn from primary government and supranational sources — each indicator has a methodology page that documents the source dataset, refresh cadence, and known limitations of what it does and does not capture. Browse the full Belize country profile for the latest values across these indicators, or read the methodology page for health_expenditure_per_capita_usd to understand the underlying basis. You can also compare Belize with similar destinations side-by-side using your own weighting of cost-of-living, tax, and quality-of-life dimensions — the comparison tool surfaces the same indicator data with the per-indicator citations preserved.
Sources
Want to compare Belize’s cost data against other countries? Open the match engine →
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI)
Belize scores 50 out of 100 on the World Bank's Rule of Law measure (2024). Its Voice & Accountability score, which captures citizens' ability to participate in selecting government and free expression, is 59. These are composite indicators built from many underlying surveys — follow the source links to see their full methodology.
Life expectancy, healthcare resources, mortality
Life expectancy at birth in Belize is 73.6 years (2023, World Bank). Mortality figures below are sensitive to data lag — some countries report several years behind real time.
Air quality and protected areas
Terrestrial protected areas cover 37.3% of land — the Kunming-Montréal global target is 30% by 2030.
Population total and density
1 program sourced from issuing government
Tap any program for eligibility, fees, and the official source.
Validated May 26
Belize operates the Qualified Retired Persons Programme (QRP), administered by the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) — an unusual choice of administering body for a retirement visa (most countries route through immigration or foreign-affairs ministries).
Required minimum age: 45+ (R&D verified — previous DB content said 40+; per BTB primary source the threshold is 45). Monthly income: USD 2,000 (or USD 24,000/year) from foreign source, paid in USD to a Belizean bank account. Approved currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, CAD. Application fees USD 1,350 + annual renewal fees. Permanent residency status for QRP holders is NOT capped — once approved, residency continues indefinitely subject to annual minimum-presence and continued-income requirements. Family allowed (spouse + dependent children).
Belize's QRP carries an unusually broad set of fiscal benefits: NO income tax on foreign-source income, NO inheritance tax, NO capital gains tax for QRP residents. Belize operates GST (General Sales Tax) at 12.5%. Top marginal Belize-source personal income tax is 25%. Tax residency rules: minimum 30 days/year physical presence in Belize required to maintain QRP status — meaning QRP holders don't necessarily become Belizean tax residents. Path to citizenship: typically 5 years of permanent residency.
Two caveats. First, QRP requires a one-time importation of household goods + a vehicle (or small aircraft / boat) tax-free as part of the establishment process — useful but operationally complex. Second, the 30-day minimum-presence rule is non-negotiable — QRP holders who fail to meet 30 days/year can have status revoked; this is more restrictive than many "retirement" visas which allow nearly-zero physical presence. Browse Belize or compare BZ QRP with other Caribbean retirement tracks.
Primary-source verification: visa administration via Belize Immigration & Nationality Department; tax-side rules via Belize Ministry of Finance; programme governance via Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade & Immigration.
Sources
Featured in
Every list below is a multi-indicator query whose criteria Belize satisfies on the current data. Click any chip to see the full ranked list and tweak the thresholds.
Same subregion: Central America