View source for Demographics of Belize

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is a legitimate description when the title is already adequate; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Infobox place demographics|place=[[Belize]]|image=Belize Population Pyramid for 2022.svg|image_size=350|caption=Population pyramid of Belize in 2022|size_of_population=397,483 (2022 census)|nation=Belizean|major_ethnic=Mestizo (52.9%)|minor_ethnic=Creole (25.9%)|official=[[English language|English]]|age_0–14_years=32.57%|age_65_years=4.53%|growth=1.64% (2022 est.)|birth=21.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)|death=3.94 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)|net_migration=-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)|sr_at_birth=1.05 male(s)/female|sr_under_15=1.04 male(s)/female|sr_65_years_over=0.78 male(s)/female|total_mf_ratio=1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)|infant_mortality=11.15 deaths/1,000 live births|life=75.82 years|life_male=74.23 years|life_female=77.5 years|fertility=2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)|spoken=[[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Belizean Creole language|Kriol]]}}

[[Demographics]] of the [[population]] of [[Belize]] include [[population density]], [[Ethnic group|ethnicity]], education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.

[[Belize]] is the most sparsely populated nation in [[Central America]]. It is larger than [[El Salvador]]. Slightly more than half of the people live in rural areas. About one-fourth live in [[Belize City]], the principal port, commercial centre,<!--Not center please as it was a British colony until 1981--> and former capital. About 80% of the population are [[Christians|Christian]].

Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. About 52.9% of the population is of mixed Indigenous (mostly [[Maya peoples|Maya]]) and European descent (or Mestizo), 24.9% are [[Belizean Kriol people|Kriol]]s, about 10.6% are Maya, and about 6.1% are Afro-Amerindian ([[Garifuna people|Garifuna]]).<ref name="2000 Belize Census">{{cite web
 |url=http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220091841/http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=2008-12-20
 |title=Belize 2000 Housing and Population Census
 |access-date=2008-09-09
 |year=2000
 |publisher=Belize Central Statistical Office
}}
</ref> The remaining population includes European, East Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and North American groups. In the case of Europeans, most are descendants of [[Spanish people|Spanish]] and [[British people|British]] colonial settlers, whether pure-blooded or mixed with each other. Most Spanish left the nation just after it was taken by the British colonists who, in the same way, left after independence. [[Netherlands|Dutch]] and [[Prussia|Prussian]] [[Mennonites]] settled in Belize, mostly in isolated areas.

==Population size and structure==
According to the Statistical Institute of Belize, the current population stands at 441,471.<ref name=est>{{cite web |url=https://sib.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/PostcensalEstimates_2010-2022_AgeGroup.xlsx |title=Postcensal estimates by age group and sex, 2010 - 2022 |publisher=Statistical Institute of Belize |access-date=13 December 2022 |format=XLSX}}</ref>

In conjunction with a census of the British Empire, census data was compiled for Belize in 1790, 1816, 1823, 1826, 1829, 1832, 1835, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, 1921, 1931 and 1946.  Belize conducted its own censuses in 1960, 1970, 1980, 1991, 2000, 2010, and 2022.
{{Historical populations
| title= Historical population
| percentages = pagr
| align = none
| cols = 3
| source = [https://sib.org.bz/census-history-in-belize/ "A Historical Recollection - Belize Population Censuses: 1816–2010"], Statistical Institute of Belize.
| 1790 |2493
| 1816 |3824
| 1823 |4107
| 1826 |5653
| 1829 |4235
| 1832 |4537
| 1835 |2543
| 1861 |25635
| 1871 |24710
| 1881 |27452
| 1891 |31471
| 1901 |37479
| 1911 |40458
| 1921 |45317
| 1931 |51347
| 1946 |59220
| 1960 |90505
| 1970 |119934
| 1980 |145353
| 1991 |189393
| 2000 |248916
| 2010 |322441
| 2022 |397483
}}

=== Structure of the population ===
{{Hidden begin 
|title= Structure of the population (01.07.2017) (Estimates)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by age, sex and urban/rural residence: latest available year, 2008 - 2017 |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=unstats.un.org}}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 193 942
| align="right" | 193 937
| align="right" | 387 879
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0-4
| align="right" | 23 163
| align="right" | 22 116
| align="right" | 45 330
| align="right" | 11.69
|-
| align="right" | 5-9
| align="right" | 23 771
| align="right" | 23 424
| align="right" | 47 195
| align="right" | 12.17
|-
| align="right" | 10-14
| align="right" | 22 693
| align="right" | 22 659
| align="right" | 45 352
| align="right" | 11.69
|-
| align="right" | 15-19
| align="right" | 20 850
| align="right" | 20 831
| align="right" | 41 681
| align="right" | 10.75
|-
| align="right" | 20-24
| align="right" | 18 046
| align="right" | 18 695
| align="right" | 36 741
| align="right" | 9.47
|-
| align="right" | 25-29
| align="right" | 15 427
| align="right" | 16 458
| align="right" | 31 885
| align="right" | 8.22
|-
| align="right" | 30-34
| align="right" | 13 335
| align="right" | 14 137
| align="right" | 27 472
| align="right" | 7.08
|-
| align="right" | 35-39
| align="right" | 12 144
| align="right" | 12 732
| align="right" | 24 876
| align="right" | 6.41
|-
| align="right" | 40-44
| align="right" | 10 367
| align="right" | 10 495
| align="right" | 20 862
| align="right" | 5.38
|-
| align="right" | 45-49
| align="right" | 9 187
| align="right" | 8 802
| align="right" | 17 989
| align="right" | 4,64
|-
| align="right" | 50-54
| align="right" | 7 152
| align="right" | 6 949
| align="right" | 14 101
| align="right" | 3.64
|-
| align="right" | 55-59
| align="right" | 5 416
| align="right" | 4 976
| align="right" | 10 392
| align="right" | 2.68
|-
| align="right" | 60-64
| align="right" | 3 957
| align="right" | 3 527
| align="right" | 7 484
| align="right" | 1.93
|-
| align="right" | 65-69
| align="right" | 2 814
| align="right" | 2 474
| align="right" | 5 288
| align="right" | 1.36
|-
| align="right" | 70-74
| align="right" | 2 230
| align="right" | 1 975
| align="right" | 4 205
| align="right" | 1.08
|-
| align="right" | 75-79
| align="right" | 1 564
| align="right" | 1 518
| align="right" | 3 082
| align="right" | 0.79
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 1 776
| align="right" | 1 994
| align="right" | 3 770
| align="right" | 0.97
|-
! width="50"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0-14
| align="right" | 62 824
| align="right" | 61 649
| align="right" | 124 473
| align="right" | 35.59
|-
| align="right" | 15-64
| align="right" | 104 484
| align="right" | 106 035
| align="right" | 210 519
| align="right" | 60.20
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 7 557
| align="right" | 7 179
| align="right" | 14 736
| align="right" | 4.21
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2021):<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=unstats.un.org}}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
! width="80pt"|Age Group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 215 099
| align="right" | 215 092
| align="right" | 430 191
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 25 746
| align="right" | 24 724
| align="right" | 50 470
| align="right" | 11.73
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 26 363 
| align="right" | 25 979
| align="right" | 52 342
| align="right" | 12.17
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 25 169
| align="right" | 25 130
| align="right" | 50 299
| align="right" | 11.69
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 23 124
| align="right" | 23 103
| align="right" | 46 227
| align="right" | 10.75
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 20 014
| align="right" | 20 734
| align="right" | 40 748
| align="right" | 9.47
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 17 112
| align="right" | 18 253
| align="right" | 35 365
| align="right" | 8.22
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 14 788
| align="right" | 15 681
| align="right" | 30 469
| align="right" | 7.09
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 13 469
| align="right" | 14 119
| align="right" | 27 588
| align="right" | 6.41
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 11 497 
| align="right" | 11 641
| align="right" | 23 138
| align="right" | 5.38
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 10 189
| align="right" | 9 760
| align="right" | 19 949
| align="right" | 4.64
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 7 934
| align="right" | 7 708
| align="right" | 15 642
| align="right" | 3.64
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 6 005
| align="right" | 5 519
| align="right" | 11 524
| align="right" | 2.68
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 4 390
| align="right" | 3 912
| align="right" | 8 302
| align="right" | 1.93
|-
| align="right" | 65-69
| align="right" | 3 121
| align="right" | 2 744
| align="right" | 5 865
| align="right" | 1.36
|-
| align="right" | 70-74
| align="right" | 2 473
| align="right" | 2 190
| align="right" | 4 663
| align="right" | 1.08
|-
| align="right" | 75-79
| align="right" | 1 735
| align="right" | 1 684
| align="right" | 3 419
| align="right" | 0.79
|-
| align="right" | 80+
| align="right" | 1 970
| align="right" | 2 211
| align="right" | 4 181
| align="right" | 0.97
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 77 278
| align="right" | 75 833
| align="right" | 153 111
| align="right" | 35.59
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 128 522
| align="right" | 130 430
| align="right" | 258 952
| align="right" | 60.19
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 9 299
| align="right" | 8 829
| align="right" | 18 128
| align="right" | 4.21
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

{{Chart|definition=Belize Total Population.chart|data=Belize Total Population.tab|Width=550}}

{{Chart|definition=Belize Population Change.chart|data=Belize Population Change.tab|Width=550}}
===Belize's largest cities and towns by population===
{{Further|List of municipalities in Belize}}

#[[Belize City]], BZ - 67,169
#[[San Ignacio Cayo|San Ignacio]], CY - 27,878
#[[Belmopan]], CY - 19,931
#[[Orange Walk Town]], OW - 16,709
#[[Corozal Town]], CZ - 13,400
#[[San Pedro Town|San Pedro]], BZ - 11,765
#[[Dangriga]], SC - 9,591
#[[Benque Viejo del Carmen]], CY - 6,148
#[[Punta Gorda, Belize|Punta Gorda]], TO - 6,351
- Based on 2010 census.

==Vital statistics==
{{Chart|definition=Belize TFR.chart|data=Belize TFR.tab|Width=330}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
!<ref>{{cite web |url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm |title=Demographic Yearbook |website=[[United Nations Statistics Division]]}}{{nonspecific|date=May 2022}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sib.org.bz/ Statistical Institute of Belize]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://caricomstats.org/Files/Databases/Demography/BZ.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916004052/http://www.caricomstats.org/Files/Databases/Demography/BZ.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! width="70pt"|Average population 
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Total fertility rate<ref name="demographic profile">{{Cite web |url=http://caricomstats.org/Files/Databases/Demography/BZ.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916004052/http://www.caricomstats.org/Files/Databases/Demography/BZ.pdf |archive-date=16 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! width="70pt"|Infant mortality rate<ref name="demographic profile"/>
|-
| 1934
| 52,000
|1,945|| 971|| 974
|37.4||18.7||18.7
|
|
|-
| 1935
| 53,000
|2,081||1,377|| 704
|39.3||style="color:red;"|26.0||13.3
|
|
|-
| 1936
| 53,000
|1,879||1,256||style="color:red;"| 623
|35.5||23.7||11.8
|
|
|-
| 1937
| 54,000
|style="color:red;"|1,876||1,054|| 822
|34.7||19.5||15.2
|
|
|-
| 1938
| 54,000
|2,052||1,178|| 874
|38.0||21.8||16.2
|
|
|-
| 1939
| 55,000
|2,084||1,092|| 992
|37.9||19.9||18.0
|
|
|-
| 1940
| 56,000
|2,192|| 986||1,206
|39.1||17.6||21.5
|
|
|-
| 1941
| 57,000
|2,133||1,030||1,103
|37.4||18.1||19.4
|
|
|-
| 1942
| 57,000
|1,905||1,250|| 655
|33.4||21.9||11.5
|
|
|-
| 1943
| 58,000
|1,925||1,136|| 789
|33.2||19.6||13.6
|
|
|-
| 1944
| 58,000
|2,031||1,153|| 878
|35.0||19.9||15.1
|
|
|-
| 1945
| 59,000
|2,141||1,204|| 937
|36.3||20.4||15.9
|
|
|-
| 1946
| 59,000
|2,065||1,019||1,046
|35.0||17.3||17.7
|
|
|-
| 1947
| 61,000
|2,473||1,049||1,424
|40.5||17.2||23.3
|
|
|-
| 1948
| 63,000
|2,506|| 861||1,645
|39.8||13.7||26.1
|
|
|-
| 1949
| 65,000
|2,548|| 877||1,671
|39.2||13.5||25.7
|
|
|-
| 1950
| 69,000
|2,657|| 845||1,812
|39.7||12.6||27.0
|
|
|-
| 1951
| 71,000
|2,905|| 801||2,104
|42.1||11.6||30.5
|
|
|-
| 1952
| 73,000
|3,028|| 794||2,234
|42.1||11.0||31.0
|
|
|-
| 1953
| 76,000
|2,986|| 820||2,166
|40.4||11.1||29.3
|
|
|-
| 1954
| 78,000
|3,231|| 876||2,355
|42.5||11.5||31.0
|
|
|-
| 1955
| 80,000
|3,463|| 858||2,605
|44.4||11.0||33.4
|
|
|-
| 1956
| 82,000
|3,725|| 821||2,904
|46.0||10.1||35.9
|
|
|-
| 1957
| 85,000
|3,615|| 932||2,683
|43.6||11.2||32.3
|
|
|-
| 1958
| 87,000
|3,988|| 795||3,193
|46.4||9.2||37.1
|
|
|-
| 1959
| 89,000
|4,016|| 730||3,286
|45.6||8.3||37.3
|
|
|-
| 1960
| 92,000
|4,091|| 717||3,374
|45.0||7.9||37.1
|
|
|-
| 1961
| 95,000
|4,244|| 708||3,536
|45.6||7.6||38.0
|
|
|-
| 1962
| 97,000
|4,461|| 853||3,608
|47.0||9.0||38.0
|
|
|-
| 1963
| 100,000
|4,783|| 712||4,071
|style="color:blue;"|48.8||7.3||style="color:blue;"|41.5
|
|
|-
| 1964
| 103,000
|4,568|| 729||3,839
|45.2||7.2||38.0
|
|
|-
| 1965
| 106,000
|4,637|| 710||3,927
|44.6||6.8||37.8
|
|
|-
| 1966
| 109,000
|4,898|| 776||4,122
|45.8||7.3||38.5
|
|
|-
| 1967
| 113,000
|4,851|| 811||4,040
|43.7||7.3||36.4
|style="color:blue;"|5.838
|
|-
| 1968
| 116,000
|4,671|| 714||3,957
|41.0||6.3||34.7
|
|
|-
| 1969
| 119,000
|4,660|| 783||3,877
|39.8||6.7||33.1
|
|
|-
| 1970
| 122,000
|4,455|| 813||3,642
|37.1||6.8||30.4
|style="color:blue;"|6.276
|51.2
|-
| 1971
| 125,000
|5,052
|style="color:blue;"| 625||4,427
|41.4||5.1||36.3
|
|30.9
|-
| 1972
| 127,000
|4,954|| 669||4,285
|40.0||5.4||34.6
|
|34.0
|-
| 1973
| 129,000
|5,010|| 801||4,303
|39.8||6.4||34.2
|
|41.7
|-
| 1974
| 131,000
|5,039|| 721||4,379
|39.4||5.6||34.2
|
|42.5
|-
| 1975
| 133,000
|5,201|| 800||4,401
|40.0||6.2||33.9
|style="color:blue;"|5.769
|42.6
|-
| 1976
| 135,000
|5,340|| 881||4,459
|40.2||6.6||33.5
|
|45.1
|-
| 1977
| 137,000
|5,570|| 767||4,803
|41.0||5.6||35.3
|
|40.0
|-
| 1978
| 139,000
|5,384|| 885||4,499
|38.7||6.4||32.4
|
|39.9
|-
| 1979
| 141,000
|5,523|| 710||4,813
|38.9||5.0||33.9
|
|37.8
|-
| 1980
| 144,000
|6,264|| 717||5,547
|43.2||4.9||38.3
|style="color:blue;"|5.883
|30.2
|-
| 1981
| 148,000
|5,821|| 709||5,112
|39.1||4.8||34.3
|style="color:blue;"|5.771
|27.5
|-
| 1982
| 151,000
|5,899|| 663||5,236
|38.6||4.3||34.3
|style="color:blue;"|5.494
|22.9
|-
| 1983
| 156,000
|6,044|| 724||5,320
|38.2||4.6||33.6
|style="color:blue;"|5.290
|23.2
|-
| 1984
| 160,000
|5,756|| 750||5,006
|38.0||4.9||33.0
|style="color:blue;"|5.150
|26.2
|-
| 1985
| 166,213
|5,916|| 693||5,223
|35.6||4.2||31.5
|style="color:blue;"|4.920
|20.6
|-
| 1986
| 170,382
|6,136|| 688||5,448
|36.2||4.1||32.1
|style="color:blue;"|5.040
|23.1
|-
| 1987
| 175,153
|6,121|| 675||5,446
|35.1||style="color:blue;"|3.9||31.3
|style="color:blue;"|5.400
|20.1
|-
| 1988
| 179,814
|6,325|| 708||5,617
|35.4||4.0||31.4
|style="color:blue;"|4.958
|20.2
|-
| 1989
| 183,200
|6,686|| 762||5,924
|36.5||4.2||32.3
|style="color:blue;"|5.181
|19.4
|-
| 1990
| 189,000
|7,200|| 819||6,381
|38.4||4.4||34.0
|style="color:blue;"|5.477
|10.6
|-
| 1991
| 194,000
|6,555|| 842||5,713
|34.3||4.4||29.9
|style="color:blue;"|4.109
|14.3
|-
| 1992
| 199,000
|7,597|| 846||6,751
|39.0||4.3||34.6
|style="color:blue;"|4.918
|11.5
|-
| 1993
| 205,000
|6,462|| 935||5,527
|32.6||4.7||27.9
|style="color:blue;"|3.205
|19.3
|-
| 1994
| 211,000
|5,887|| 944||4,943
|29.1||4.7||24.4
|style="color:blue;"|3.580
|19.4
|-
| 1995
| 216,500
|6,623|| 931||5,692
|32.0||4.5||27.5
|style="color:blue;"|4.009
|14.9
|-
| 1996
| 222,000
|6,678|| 964||5,714
|31.4||4.5||26.9
|style="color:blue;"|3.896
|26.0
|-
| 1997
| 230,000
|7,348||1,173||6,175
|33.6||5.4||28.3
|style="color:blue;"|4.189
|24.0
|-
| 1998
| 238,500
|6,844||1,350||5,494
|30.4||6.0||24.4
|style="color:blue;"|3.671
|21.5
|-
| 1999
| 243,055
|7,113||1,190||5,923
|30.7||5.1||25.5
|
|12.6
|-
| 2000
| 249,765
|7,313||1,534||5,779
|30.7||6.4||24.2
|
|21.2
|-
| 2001
| 256,089
|7,215||1,261||5,954
|29.4||5.1||24.3
|style="color:blue;"|3.468
|16.6
|-
| 2002
| 262,623
|7,553||1,284||6,269
|30.0||5.1||24.9
|style="color:blue;"|3.537
|19.2
|-
| 2003
| 269,379
|7,440||1,277||6,163
|28.8||4.9||23.9
|style="color:blue;"|3.386
|16.0
|-
| 2004
| 276,381
|8,083||1,298||6,785
|30.5||4.9||25.6
|style="color:blue;"|3.557
|14.1
|-
| 2005
| 283,601
|style="color:blue;"|8,396||1,369||style="color:blue;"|7,027
|29.6||4.8||24.8
|style="color:blue;"|3.571
|18.4
|-
| 2006
| 291,070
|7,171||1,396||5,775
|24.6||4.8||19.8
|style="color:blue;"|2.995
|19.6
|-
| 2007
| 298,792
|7,036||1,389||5,647
|23.5||4.6||18.9
|style="color:blue;"|2.865
|17.2
|-
| 2008
| 306,809
|7,126||1,302||5,824
|23.2||4.2||19.0
|style="color:blue;"|2.800
|12.0
|-
| 2009
| 315,082
|7,417||1,453||5,964
|23.5||4.6||18.8
|style="color:blue;"|3.010
|18.9
|-
| 2010
| 323,598
|7,228||1,554||5,674
|22.3||4.8||17.5
|style="color:blue;"|2.580
|13.6
|-
| 2011
| 328,375
|7,217||1,554||5,663
|21.7||4.8||16.9
|style="color:blue;"|2.500
|16.5
|-
| 2012
| 334,158
|7,281||1,650||5,631
|21.4||4.8||16.6
|style="color:blue;"|2.414
|15.9
|-
| 2013
| 341,655
|7,246||1,637||5,609
|20.7||4.7||16.0
|style="color:blue;"|2.402
|17.4
|-
| 2014
| 349,169
|7,311||1,620||5,691
|20.4||4.6||15.8
|style="color:blue;"|2.370
|12.3
|-
| 2015
| 356,705
|7,449||1,772||5,677
|20.2||4.9||15.3
|style="color:blue;"|2.366
|17.2
|-
| 2016
|364,118
|7,221||1,805||5,416
|19.1||4.8||14.3
|style="color:blue;"|2.230
|14.1
|-
| 2017
|371,352
|7,238||1,872||5,366
|18.7||5.0||13.7
|style="color:blue;"|2.181
|14.5
|-
| 2018
|378,770
|7,723||1,886||5,837
|19.4||4.8||13.6
|style="color:blue;"|2.294
|12.3
|-
| 2019
|386,121
|7,287||1,994||5,293
|17.8||4.9||12.9
|style="color:blue;"|2.123
|15.0
|-
| 2020
|392,997
|7,016||2,173||4,843
|16.7||5.2||11.5
|2.021
|12.0
|-
| 2021
|399,373
|6,654
|style="color:red;"|2,504
|4,150
|15.5
| 5.8
||9.7
|1.879
|12.6
|-
| 2022
|397,484
|7,039||2,300||4,739
|15.9|| 5.2||10.5
|2.036
|15.5
|-
| 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abstract of Statistics 2023 |url=https://sib.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2023_Abstract_of_Statistics.pdf |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=sib.org.bz}}</ref>
|404,198
|6,337||2,297||4,040
|15.7|| 5.7||10.0
|1.807
|15.1
|-
| 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abstract of Statistics 2024 |url=https://sib.org.bz/wp-content/uploads/2024_Abstract_of_Statistics.pdf |access-date=2025-09-14 |website=sib.org.bz}}</ref>
|410,919
|style="color:red;"|5,802||2,327||3,475
|style="color:red;"|14.1||5.7||style="color:red;"|8.4
|style="color:red;"|1.625
|17.4
|-
| 2025
|417,634
|||||
|||||
|
|
|}

'''Birth Rate per 1,000 population by Ethnic Groups (2000 Census)'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl |title=Archived copy |website=celade.cepal.org |access-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220091841/http://celade.cepal.org/cgibin/RpWebEngine.exe/PortalAction?&MODE=MAIN&BASE=CPVBLZ2000&MAIN=WebServerMain.inl |archive-date=20 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
! Ethnic Group
! Population (2000)
! Birth Rate (1999)
! Births
|----
|'''African'''
|582
|17.18
|10
|----
|'''British'''
|1,758
|9.10
|16
|----
|'''Chinese'''
|1,716
|19.23
|33
|----
|'''Creole'''
|57,859
|28.88
|1,671
|----
|'''East Indian'''
|6,868
|27.66
|190
|----
|'''Garifuna'''
|14,061
|27.17
|382
|----
|'''Q'eqchi''''
|12,366
|44.88
|555
|----
|'''Mopan'''
|8,980
|35.30
|317
|----
|'''Yucatec'''
|3,155
|19.33
|61
|----
|'''Mennonite'''
|8,276
|42.53
|352
|----
|'''Mestizo'''
|78,537
|29.73
|2,335
|----
|'''Spanish'''
|34,508
|32.22
|1,112
|----
|'''Other'''
|2,610
|21.84
|57
|----
|'''Not Available'''
|835
|45.51
|38
|----
|'''Total'''
|'''232,111'''
|'''30.71'''
|'''7,128'''
|----
|}


=== Life expectancy at birth ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Period
!Life expectancy in
Years
!Period
!Life expectancy in
Years
|-
|1950–1955
|55.9
|1985–1990
|71.5
|-
|1955–1960
|58.6
|1990–1995
|70.6
|-
|1960–1965
|61.3
|1995–2000
|68.6
|-
|1965–1970
|64.3
|2000–2005
|68.5
|-
|1970–1975
|66.7
|2005–2010
|69.5
|-
|1975–1980
|68.6
|2010–2015
|69.8
|-
|1980–1985
|70.4
|
|
|}
Source: ''UN World Population Prospects''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division – United Nations|access-date=2017-07-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919061238/https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|archive-date=19 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Ethnic groups==
Most Belizeans are of multiracial descent. About 52.9% are Mestizo, 25.9% are [[Creole peoples|Creole]], 11.3% [[Maya peoples|Maya]], 6.1.% [[Garifuna people|Garifuna]], 3.9% [[Indo-Caribbean|East Indian]],  3.6% [[Mennonites]], 1.2% [[White people|White]], 1% [[Asians|Asian]], 1.2% Other and 0.3% Unknown.<ref name="CIABELIZE">{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belize/|title=World Factbook CENTRAL AMERICA : BELIZE|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=July 12, 2018}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

=== Maya ===
Because Belize's original Maya peoples were decimated by disease and wars or fled to Mexico and Guatemala, most of the country's Maya today are descended from other groups. The current Maya population consists mainly of three language groups.

The Yucatec fled to Belize in the late 1840s to escape the [[Caste War]] in [[Yucatán (state)|Yucatán]], [[Mexico]].  Their descendants live in the [[Orange Walk District|Orange Walk]] and [[Corozal District|Corozal]] districts, which border on Mexico. Before the massive migration of Yucatec Maya from Mexico to Belize, a local Yucatec Maya group named the Iciache Maya already inhabited the land. Today most Yucatec Maya work in the sugar cane industry.

In the 1870s-1880s, many [[Q'eqchi' people|Q'eqchi']] fled from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, where their communal land were seized for coffee plantations, where they were forced into service. They settled villages in the Toledo district. Living near rivers and streams, they are primarily farmers, though many younger people now work in tourism, and on shrimp, banana and citrus plantations.

The [[Mopan people|Mopan]]s originated in Belize, but most were driven out to [[Guatemala]] after the British displaced Spanish in a struggle that took most of the 18th century.  They returned to Belize in 1886, running from enslavement and taxation in [[Petén (department)|Petén]]. The Cayo district and San Antonio in the Toledo district are their homes now.

Q'eqchi' and Mopan have intermarried, though the two languages remain distinct and mutually unintelligible. Mopan and Yucatec are mutually intelligible.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|+Population of Belize according to ethnic group<ref name="UN Demographic Yearbooks">[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2.htm#2001 UN Demographic Yearbooks]</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110505004542_2.pdf
 |title=Archived copy
 |access-date=2012-06-07
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812062733/http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110505004542_2.pdf
 |archive-date=2011-08-12
}}
</ref>
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! width="200pt" rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! colspan="2" | Census 1946|| colspan="2" | Census 1991|| colspan="2" | Census 2000<ref name="2000 Belize Census"/>|| colspan="2"| Census 2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=Main results of 2010 population and housing census |url=http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110505004542_2.pdf#page=5 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812062733/http://www.statisticsbelize.org.bz/dms20uc/dynamicdata/docs/20110505004542_2.pdf#page=5 | archive-date=12 August 2011 }}</ref>|| colspan="2" |Census 2022<ref name="2022 Belize Census">{{cite web |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fsib.org.bz%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FCensus2022_GeneralCharacteristics.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |title=Census 2022 |access-date=2025-02-19}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Number || % || Number || % || Number || % || Number || % || Number || %
|-
|align=left|[[Q'eqchi' people|Q'eqchi' Maya]]||rowspan="3"| 10,030||rowspan="3"|16.9||7,954||4.3||12,366||5.3||17,409||5.8 ||26,230||6.6
|-
|align=left|[[Mopan people|Mopan Maya]]||6,770||3.7||8,980||3.9||10,557||3.5||15,932||4.0
|-
|align=left|[[Yucatec|Yucatec/other Maya]]||5,686||3.1||3,155||1.4||2,141||0.7||2,160||0.5
|-
|align=left|[[Mestizo]]||18,360||31.0||80,477||43.6||113,045||48.7||150,921||49.7||205,646||51.7
|-
|align=left|[[Belizean Creole people|Creole]] ||rowspan="2"|22,693||rowspan="2"|38.3||rowspan="2"|55,051||rowspan="2"|29.8||57,859||24.9||63,057||20.8||100,111||25.2
|-
|align=left|Black African||582||0.3||1,151||0.4 || ||
|-
|align=left|[[Europeans]]<br />* German ([[Mennonites in Belize|Mennonite]])<br />* British (Anglo-Celtic)||2,329<br /> <br /> ||3.9<br /><br /> ||7,257<br />5,763<br />1,494||3.9<br />3.1<br />0.8||10,034<br />8,276<br />1,758||4.3<br />3.6<br />0.8||13,964<br />10,865<br />3,099||4.6<br />3.6<br />1.0||18,154<br />15,249<br />2,905||4.6<br />3.8<br />0.7
|-
|align=left|[[Garifuna people|Garifuna]]||4,112||6.9||12,274||6.6||14,061||6.1||13,985||4.6||15,845||4.0
|-
|align=left|[[Indo-Caribbean|East Indian]]/Hindu||1,366||2.3||6,455||3.5||6,868||3.0||7,073||2.3||6,712||1.7
|-
|align=left|[[Chinese people|Chinese/Asians]]||50||0.1||747||0.4||1,716||0.7||2,823||0.9||1,344||0.3
|-
|align=left|Mixed|| || || || || || ||18,947||6.2 || ||
|-
|align=left|[[Lebanese people|Syrian/Lebanese]]||128||0.2||167||0.1|| || ||240||0.1 || ||
|-
|align=left|Other|| || ||1,867||1.0||2,610||1.1||762||0.3 || 2,263||0.6
|-
|align=left|Unknown||152||0.3||17||0.0||835||0.4||392||0.1 || 3,086||0.8
|-
|align=left|Total||colspan=2|59,220||colspan=2|184,722||colspan=2|232,111||colspan=2|303,422|| colspan="2" |397,483
|}

==Languages==
{{Main|Languages of Belize}}
[[English language|English]] is the only official language of Belize. It is the main language used in government and education.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562789_2/Belize.html#s3 |title=Belize: Language and Religion |access-date=2008-09-09 |encyclopedia=MSN Encarta Encyclopedia |publisher=Microsoft Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101065306/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562789_2/Belize.html |archive-date=2009-11-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Although only 5.6% of the population speaks it as the main language at home, 54% can speak it very well, and another 26% can speak some English. 37% of Belizeans consider their primary language to be [[Belizean Kriol language|Kriol]], an English-based [[Creole language|creole]] of words and syntax from various [[African languages]] (namely [[Akan language|Akan]], [[Igbo language|Igbo]], and [[Twi language|Twi]]),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kriol.org.bz/ |title=Belize Kriol |access-date=5 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928123702/http://www.kriol.org.bz/ |archive-date=28 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and other languages ([[Miskito language|Miskito]]). 

Kriol shares similarities with many [[Caribbean]] English Creoles as far as phonology and pronunciations are concerned. Also, many of its words and structures are both lexically and phonologically similar to English, its superstrate language. Because it is English-based, all Kriol speakers can understand English. A number of linguists classify Belizean Kriol as a separate language, while others consider it to be a [[dialect]] of English.

[[Spanish language|Spanish]] is the mother tongue of Mestizo and Central American [[refugee]]s and is commonly spoken at home by 56.6% to 68.8% of the population. Maya dialects such as [[Q'eqchi' language|Q'eqchi']], [[Mopan language|Mopan]] and [[Yucatec language|Yucatec]] are spoken. [[Garifuna language|Garifuna]] (which is [[Arawakan]]/[[Maipurean]] based, with elements of the [[Carib language]], French, and Spanish) and the [[Plautdietsch]] and [[Pennsylvania Dutch|Pennsylvania German]] dialects of the Mennonites are spoken as well. Literacy currently stands at nearly 80%. In 2001, [[UNESCO]] declared the Garifuna language, dance, and music a "[[Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]". English is the primary language of public education, with Spanish taught in primary and secondary school as well. Bilingualism is highly encouraged, and therefore, very common.

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="5" | English & Spanish Language Proficiency<ref name="2000 Belize Census"/>
|-
! width="120" | Language
! width="80" | Speaks Very Well
! width="80" | Speaks Some
! width="80" | Total
|- align=right
| align=left | [[English language|English]]
| 54%
| 26%
| 80%
|- align=right
| align=left | [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| 52%
| 11%
| 63%
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Languages in Belize<ref name="CIABELIZE"/>
!Language
!Percentage
|-
| align="left" | [[English language|English]]
| align="right" |62.9%
|-
| align="left" |[[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| align="right" |56.6%
|-
| align="left" | [[Creole language|Creole]]
| align="right" |44.6%
|-
| align="left" | [[Mayan languages|Maya]]
| align="right" |  10.5%
|-
| align="left" | [[German language|German]]
| align="right" |3.2%
|-
| align="left" |[[Garifuna language|Garifuna]]
| align="right" |  2.9%
|-
| align="left" | Other
| align="right" | 1.8%
|-
| align="left" | unknown
| align="right" | 0.3%
|-
| align="left" | none (cannot speak)
|align="left" |0.2%
|}

==Religion==
{{Main|Religion in Belize}}
According to the 2010 census<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belize.com/belize-2010-census.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529210225/http://www.belize.com/belize-2010-census.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 May 2012|title=2010 Census of Belize Overview|year=2011|access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belize.com/belize-demographics |title=2010 Census of Belize Detailed Demographics of 2000 and 2010 |year=2011 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] constitute 40.1% of the population of Belize, down from 49.6% in 2000 and 57.7% in 1991;<ref>''[http://www.caricomstats.org/Files/Publications/NCR%20Reports/Belize.pdf Belize 2000 Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125104920/http://www.caricomstats.org/Files/Publications/NCR%20Reports/Belize.pdf |date=25 January 2012 }}''.</ref> [[Protestantism|Protestants]] constitute 31.7% of the population, with a slight growth in percentage for some groups since 2000 (8.5% [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]]; 5.5% [[Adventism|Adventist]]; 4.6% [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]; 3.8% [[Mennonite]]; 3.6% [[Baptist]]; 2.9% [[Methodism|Methodist]]; 2.8% Nazarene); [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] are 1.7% of the population. 10.2% of Belizeans follow other religions (with a growth in percentage since 2000); amongst these there are followers of the indigenous [[Maya religion]], [[Garifuna religion]], [[Obeah]] and [[Myalism]], and minorities of [[Mormonism|Mormons]], [[Hinduism|Hindus]], [[Buddhism|Buddhists]], [[Muslim]]s, [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]], [[Rastafarians]] and other.<ref>Clifton L. Holland. ''[http://www.prolades.com/cra/regions/cam/bel/religion_belize_1970-2000.pdf Population of Belize by Religion: 1970-2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306122608/http://www.prolades.com/cra/regions/cam/bel/religion_belize_1970-2000.pdf |date=6 March 2021 }}''. PROLADES.</ref> The [[Mennonites]], of [[Germans|German]] descent, live mostly in the rural districts of Cayo and Orange Walk. 15.6% of the Belizean population do not adhere to any religion, up from 9.4% in 2000.

Belizean Roman Catholic churches belong to the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan|Diocese of Belize City-Belmopan]]; Anglican churches belong to the [[Anglican Diocese of Belize|Diocese of Belize]], part of the [[Church in the Province of the West Indies]]. [[Hinduism]] is followed by most Indian immigrants, while [[Islam]] is common among Middle Eastern immigrants and has gained a following among some Kriols. Catholics frequently visit the country for special gospel revivals. The [[Greek Orthodox Church]] has a presence in [[Santa Elena, Belize|Santa Elena]].<ref>[http://www.orthodoxchurch.bz/ Orthodox Church of Belize homepage]</ref>

The [[Constitution of Belize]] provides for [[freedom of religion]], and other laws and policies contribute to the generally free practice of religion. The Government at all levels protects this right in full against abuse, either by governmental or private actors. The Government generally respects religious freedom in practice. In 2008, the U.S. government received no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Religions in Belize<ref name="CIABELIZE"/>
!Religion
!Percentage
|-
| [[Catholic]]
| 40.1%
|-
| [[Protestant]]
| 31.5%
|-
| [[Pentecostal]]
| 8.4%
|-
| [[Seventh-day Adventist]]
| 5.4%
|-
| [[Anglican]]
|4.7%,
|-
| [[Mennonite]]
| 3.7%
|-
| [[Baptists|Baptist]]
|3.6%
|-
| [[Methodist]]
| 2.9%
|-
|   [[Nazarene (sect)|Nazarene]]
| 2.8%
|-
| [[Jehovah's Witness]]
| 1.7%
|-
| Other  (includes [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]], [[Buddhist]], [[Hindu]], [[Mormon]], [[Islam]], [[Rastafarian]])
| 10.5%
|-
| Unknown
| 0.6%
|-
|None
| 15.5%
|}


==See also==
*[[Belizean Kriol people|Kriol]]s
*[[Garifuna people]]
*[[Maya peoples]]
*[[Mennonites in Belize]]
*[[Indians in Belize]]
*[[Ethnic groups in Central America]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://sib.org.bz/}} &ndash; Statistical Institute of Belize
* [https://caricom.org/country_profiles/belize/ Belize profile] &ndash; Caribbean Community Statistics
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070115132454/http://www.nativeplanet.org/indigenous/maya/mayahistory.htm Q'eqchi' and Mopan history] - Maya history by Native Planet

{{Ethnic groups in Belize}}
{{Belize topics}}
{{North America in topic|Demographics of}}
{{Population country lists}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

[[Category:Demographics of Belize| ]]