Belize

Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America, bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east and Guatemala to the west and south, with a maritime boundary toward Honduras to the southeast; the least populated and least densely populated country in Central America, it covers about 22,970 square kilometers and had a population of 397,483 at the 2022 census. Belmopan is the capital and Belize City the largest city, with English as the official language alongside widely spoken Belizean Creole, Spanish and Mayan languages. Maya civilization flourished in the region from roughly 1500 BC to about 1200 AD; European contact began with Christopher Columbus in 1502 to 1504, English settlers arrived in 1638, Britain defeated Spain at the Battle of St. George's Caye in 1798, and the territory became the British colony of British Honduras in 1840, gaining independence as Belize on 21 September 1981. Belize is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with King Charles III as head of state, represented by a governor-general, and Prime Minister Johnny Briceno heading the government; it is the only mainland Central American country that is a Commonwealth realm. Its extensive coral reefs place it within the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, and the country is known culturally for its September Celebrations and for punta music.