Fun Facts about Belize

Did you know...

Belize has a population of about 250,000 people TOTAL making it about the size of a typical US city and much smaller than any large metropolis.  Find out how big your city is comparatively.

Belize is about the size of Vermont.

Belize has no area codes for phone numbers.  You can call anywhere in Belize with just seven digits!

Belize has no zip codes, and in some places (like San Antonio) no street names either.  Here is the address to Rod's Boathouse:
Rod
San Antonio Rio Hondo
Orange Walk District
Belize C.A.

Belize has no Wal-Mart, no Home Depot, no big-box stores.  It does sell a ton of Coca-Cola though.

Speaking of Coca-Cola, did you know that in Belize they make it with real SuGaR and sell it in a glass bottle.

The official language of Belize is English.

There are FOUR languages spoken in Belize.  English, Spanish, Garifuna, and several different types of Creole!

Creole is a language in its own right, not just a dialect of English.  Even some signs in Belize are written in Creole.

Belize was originally part of the British Commonwealth.  It gained its independence in 1981!

Belize considers itself part of the Carribean, not Central America.  Can you guess why?  It does consider itself the Carribean gateway to Central America though.

Mennonite farmers produce 70% of the food in Belize.  They say the Mennonites feed the nation and have been instrumental in helping Belize become self-sustaining in many areas (meaning they no longer need to pay to import some products because they are grown right here in Belize!)

The Amish were actually a group of Mennonites which branched off.

There are two basic groups of Mennonites in Belize.  The very conservative group which still use horses and buggies and metal tires on their tractors and the more progressive group which uses many modern conveniences but still dresses plain with headcovering.

The radio plays American Pop hits.  Its pretty funny. Oh, and Christmas songs like 'White Christmas' are pretty funny when it's 85°!

There are open fruit markets everywhere!  Can you imagine year round market? Yum!