History of Belize in Timeline

Belize is a Central American country located on the northeastern coast, bordered by Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and Guatemala. It also shares a maritime border with Honduras. Despite its location, Belize identifies with the Caribbean region and is a member of CARICOM and the Commonwealth Caribbean, reflecting its historical ties to the British West Indies.

1922: Migration of Russian Mennonites to Mexico

Between 1922 and 1925, many Russian Mennonites migrated to Mexico, following earlier settlements in the Russian Empire and Canada.

1925: Migration of Russian Mennonites to Mexico

Between 1922 and 1925, many Russian Mennonites migrated to Mexico, following earlier settlements in the Russian Empire and Canada.

1931: Devastating Hurricane

In 1931, a devastating hurricane struck the colony of Belize, worsening the effects of widespread unemployment caused by the Great Depression.

1931: Hurricane Devastates Belize City

In 1931, an unnamed hurricane destroyed over two-thirds of the buildings in Belize City and killed more than 1,000 people.

1935: Reinstatement of Elections

In 1935, elections were reinstated in Belize, but only 1.8 per cent of the population was eligible to vote.

1949: Devaluation of the British Honduras dollar

In 1949, Britain's decision to devalue the British Honduras dollar worsened economic conditions in Belize and led to the creation of the People's Committee, which demanded independence.

1952: US Peace Corps Public Health and Education Program

Since 1952, the US Peace Corps has had a public health and education program in Belize through the US Embassy Regional Security Program in Central America.

1954: Women win the right to vote

In 1954, women won the right to vote in Belize.

1954: First Election Under Universal Suffrage

The first election under universal suffrage was held in Belize in 1954 and was decisively won by the People's United Party (PUP).

1955: Hurricane Janet Levels Corozal

In 1955, Hurricane Janet levelled the northern town of Corozal.

1956: George Cadle Price became PUP's leader

In 1956, George Cadle Price became the leader of the People's United Party (PUP).

1958: Migration of Russian Mennonites to Belize

After 1958, Russian Mennonites migrated to Belize, settling in communities like Spanish Lookout, Shipyard, Little Belize, and Blue Creek.

1961: George Cadle Price became the effective head of government

In 1961, George Cadle Price became the effective head of government, a post he would hold under various titles until 1984.

1961: Hurricane Hattie

In 1961, Hurricane Hattie forced major internal relocation in Belize, making Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the US especially important for Belizeans.

1964: Self-government under a new constitution

In 1964, Britain granted British Honduras self-government under a new constitution.

1971: Religious Demographics

According to PROLADES, in 1971, Belize's population was 64.6% Catholic, 27.8% Protestant, and 7.6% of other faiths.

June 1973: British Honduras Renamed Belize

On 1 June 1973, British Honduras was officially renamed Belize.

1974: Dominance of PUP and UDP

Since 1974, the party system in Belize has been dominated by the centre-left People's United Party and the centre-right United Democratic Party.

1978: Hurricane Greta Causes Damage

In 1978, Hurricane Greta caused more than US$25 million in damage along the southern coast of Belize.

1980: RAF Harrier Detachment Stationed in Belize

In 1980, the RAF Harrier detachment was permanently stationed in Belize.

1980: Belize's Forest Cover

In late 1980, Belize's forest cover was approximately 75.9%.

1980: Ethnic-Demographic Shift

Since 1980, Belize has experienced a substantial ethnic-demographic shift, with the Creole population being outnumbered by the Hispanic/Mestizo community due to migration and birth rates.

September 1981: Independence from the United Kingdom

On 21 September 1981, Belize achieved its independence from the United Kingdom, becoming the only mainland Central American country which is a Commonwealth realm. King Charles III became its monarch and head of state, represented by a governor-general.

September 1981: Independence of Belize

On 21 September 1981, Belize was granted independence, but Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation due to its longstanding territorial dispute.

1981: United Kingdom Maintains Deterrent Force

After Belize achieved independence in 1981, the United Kingdom maintained a deterrent force in the country to protect it from invasion by Guatemala.

1981: US Becomes Major Diplomatic Partner

Since 1981, following Belize's independence, the United States has been a major diplomatic partner, leading to consistently growing relations through mutual cooperation.

1984: End of Price's Leadership

In 1984, George Cadle Price's term as head of government ended.

1984: UDP Defeats PUP in National Elections

In 1984, the United Democratic Party (UDP) defeated the People's United Party (PUP) in the first national election after independence, leading to Manuel Esquivel replacing George Cadle Price as prime minister.

1986: Citizenship-by-Investment Programme Began

In 1986, Belize began its citizenship-by-investment program, which became popular among Chinese migrants in the 1990s.

1986: University College of Belize Founded

In 1986, the University College of Belize was founded, later evolving into the University of Belize, a prominent tertiary institution.

1989: PUP Returns to Power

In 1989, the People's United Party (PUP) under George Cadle Price returned to power after elections.

1990: Limestone Exploitation in Belize

In 1990 limestone, used in road construction, was the only mineral resource exploited for domestic or export use in Belize.

1990: Belize Forest Cover

In 1990, forest cover in Belize was 1,600,030 hectares (ha).

1990: Establishment of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

In 1990, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded as the first wilderness sanctuary for the jaguar.

1991: Catholic Population

In 1991, Catholics formed 57% of the population of Belize, a decrease compared to previous years.

1993: UDP Regains Power

In 1993, the UDP regained power in Belize, and Esquivel became prime minister for a second time.

1994: Withdrawal of British Soldiers

In 1994, British soldiers were withdrawn from Belize, but the United Kingdom left behind a military training unit.

1994: Main British force left

In 1994, the main British force left Belize, three years after Guatemala recognized Belizean independence.

1995: Original WTO Member

Belize became an original member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995.

1996: Belize Barrier Reef Declared World Heritage Site

In 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

1997: Strength of the regular army, the reserve army, the air wing and the maritime wing

In 1997 the regular army numbered more than 900, the reserve army 381, the air wing 45 and the maritime wing 36, amounting to an overall strength of approximately 1,400.

1997: Increase in Citizenship-by-Investment Price

In 1997, in response to high demand, the price for Belize's citizenship-by-investment program rose from US$25,000 to US$50,000.

1998: Said Musa as Prime Minister

In 1998, Said Musa, the son of an immigrant from Palestine, became the Prime Minister of Belize.

1998: CARICOM Men's Basketball Championship Win

In 1998, the Belize national basketball team won the CARICOM Men's Basketball Championship, which was held at the Civic Centre in Belize City.

1998: PUP Wins National Elections

In 1998, the PUP won a landslide victory in the national elections, and Said Musa was sworn in as prime minister.

1998: Damage to Belize's Coral Reef

Scientists claim that over 40% of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998.

1999: Centrobasquet Tournament Participation

In 1999, after winning the CARICOM championship, the Belize national basketball team participated in the Centrobasquet Tournament in Havana, finishing seventh out of eight teams.

1999: Economic growth and challenges

In early 1999, the tourist and construction sectors strengthened in Belize, leading to a preliminary estimate of revived growth at four per cent.

2000: CARICOM Championship Placement

In 2000, Belize placed fourth at the CARICOM championship in Barbados.

2000: Hurricane Keith Hits Belize

In 2000, Hurricane Keith hit Belize as a Category 4 storm, causing 19 deaths and at least $280 million in damage.

2000: Catholic Population

In 2000, the Catholic population in Belize dropped to 49% of the total population.

October 2001: Hurricane Iris strikes Monkey River Town

On 9 October 2001, Hurricane Iris made landfall at Monkey River Town as a Category 4 storm, demolishing homes and destroying the banana crop.

2001: Central American Games Championship Win

In 2001, Belize won the Central American Games championship after moving to the Central American region.

2001: Caribbean Community vote on the Caribbean Court of Justice

In 2001, the Caribbean Community heads of government voted on a measure declaring that the region should work towards replacing the UK's Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as final court of appeal with the Caribbean Court of Justice.

2003: Last Victory of UDP before defeat in 2020

2003 was the last time the United Democratic Party (UDP) had won a general election before being defeated in 2020.

2003: PUP Maintains Majority

In 2003, the PUP maintained its majority in the elections, and Said Musa continued as prime minister of Belize.

2005: Unrest in Belize

In 2005, Belize experienced unrest due to discontent with the PUP government, including tax increases in the national budget.

2005: Baháʼí Population

In 2005, the Association of Religion Data Archives estimated there were 7,776 Baháʼís in Belize, comprising 2.5% of the national population and the highest proportion in any country.

2005: Maritime wing becomes part of the Belizean Coast Guard

In 2005, the maritime wing became part of the Belizean Coast Guard.

2006: COCABA Championship Record

In 2006, the Belize national basketball team finished the COCABA championship with a 2–4 record.

2006: Cultivation of Crude Oil

In 2006, the cultivation of newly discovered crude oil in the town of Spanish Lookout presented new prospects and problems for Belize.

2007: Belize is third largest exporter of Papaya

In 2007 Belize became the world's third largest exporter of papaya.

2007: Belize backs UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

In 2007, Belize backed the United Nations (UN) Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which established legal land rights to indigenous groups.

2007: Hurricane Dean Makes Landfall

In 2007, Hurricane Dean made landfall as a Category 5 storm near the Belize–Mexico border, causing extensive damage in northern Belize.

February 2008: Dean Barrow becomes Prime Minister

On 8 February 2008, Dean Barrow was sworn in as prime minister after his UDP won a landslide victory in general elections.

2008: End of Said Musa's Premiership

In 2008, Said Musa's tenure as the Prime Minister of Belize came to an end after serving since 1998.

2009: COCABA Tournament Placement

In 2009, Belize finished second in the COCABA tournament in Cancun, Mexico, going 3–0 in group play.

August 2010: Belize's Forest Cover

A remote sensing study published in August 2010 revealed that Belize's forest cover in early 2010 was approximately 62.7%.

October 2010: Hurricane Richard Affects Belize

In October 2010, Belize was directly affected by Hurricane Richard, causing damage to crops and housing.

December 2010: Belize bans bottom trawling

In December 2010, Belize became the first country in the world to completely ban bottom trawling.

2010: Religious Demographics

According to the 2010 census, 40.1% of Belizeans were Catholics, 31.8% Protestants, 1.7% were Jehovah's Witnesses, 10.3% adhered to other religions, and 15.5% professed to be irreligious.

2010: Literacy Rate

As of 2010, the literacy rate in Belize was estimated to be 79.7%, one of the lowest in the Western Hemisphere.

2010: Centrobasquet Tournament

In 2010, Belize won its opening match in the Centrobasquet Tournament, defeating Trinidad and Tobago, but ultimately failed to qualify.

2010: Indo-Belizean Population

In 2010, Indo-Belizeans, or citizens of Belize of Indian ancestry, made up 3.9% of the population.

2010: Supreme Court Ruling on Customary Land Titles

In 2010, the Supreme Court of Belize made a ruling that acknowledges customary land titles as communal land for indigenous peoples.

2011: Education Sector Strategy 2011–2016

In 2011, Belize's educational policy followed the "Education Sector Strategy 2011–2016", which set objectives for improving access, quality, and governance of the education system.

2011: US Adds Belize to List of Major Drug Transit Countries

In 2011, the United States added Belize to the list of nations considered major drug producers or transit countries for narcotics.

2011: Last British Forces Left Ladyville Barracks

In 2011, the last British Forces left Ladyville Barracks, with the exception of seconded advisers.

2012: Tourism Statistics

In 2012, Belize saw 917,869 tourist arrivals, with approximately 584,683 visitors from the United States. Tourist receipts amounted to over $1.3 billion, highlighting the importance of tourism after agriculture.

2012: UDP Re-elected

In 2012, Dean Barrow and the UDP were re-elected with a considerably smaller majority.

2012: Government spends $17 million on the military

In 2012, the Belizean government spent about $17 million on the military, constituting 1.08% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

2013: Supreme Court upholds ruling on land rights

In 2013, the Supreme Court of Belize upheld its 2010 ruling, affirming the recognition of customary land titles as communal land for indigenous peoples.

2014: Belize Named as Major Money Laundering Country

Since 2014, the United States Department of State has named Belize as one of the world's "major money laundering countries".

November 2015: Third Consecutive UDP Victory

In November 2015, Dean Barrow led the UDP to a third consecutive general election victory, increasing the party's number of seats from 17 to 19.

December 2015: Belize bans offshore oil drilling near Barrier Reef

In December 2015, Belize banned offshore oil drilling within 1 km of the Barrier Reef and its World Heritage Sites.

2015: CCJ Order on Mayan Land Registry

In 2015, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ordered the Belizean government to develop a land registry to classify and exercise traditional governance over Mayan lands.

2016: Belize's Biocapacity and Ecological Footprint

In 2016, Belize had 3.8 global hectares of biocapacity per person, while using 5.4 global hectares of biocapacity per person, resulting in a biocapacity deficit.

2016: IOM Assistance Request

In 2016, Belize requested assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), leading to the development of a national migration policy plan.

2016: Simone Biles at the Rio Summer Olympics

In 2016, Simone Biles, a dual citizen of the United States and Belize, won four gold medals at the Rio Summer Olympics. Simone Biles considers Belize her second home.

2016: End of Education Sector Strategy 2011–2016

In 2016, the "Education Sector Strategy 2011–2016", which aimed at improving access, quality, and governance of Belize's education system, concluded.

2017: Belize Struggles to Recognize Indigenous Rights

As of 2017, Belize still struggles to recognize indigenous populations and their respective rights.

2017: Oil Production

As of 2017, oil production was 320 m/d (2,000 bbl/d) in Belize.

2017: Moratorium on Offshore Oil Activities

In 2017, Belize implemented an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil activities within its maritime jurisdiction.

April 2018: Guatemala's Referendum on Territorial Claim

In April 2018, Guatemala's government held a referendum to determine if the country should take its territorial claim on Belize to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Score

In 2018, Belize had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.15/10, ranking it 85th globally out of 172 countries.

2018: Request submitted to the ICJ

In 2018, Belize submitted a request to the ICJ regarding the Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute.

2018: National Migration Policy Plan Launched

In 2018, a national migration policy plan was launched following a request for assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2016.

2018: Population growth rate

In 2018, the population growth rate of Belize was estimated at 1.87% per year, which was the second-highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

April 2019: Postponement of Belize Referendum

In April 2019, a referendum was to be held in Belize, but a court ruling led to its postponement.

May 2019: Belize Referendum

In May 2019, Belize held a referendum and 55.4% of voters opted to send the territorial dispute matter to the ICJ.

2019: Workforce Participation and Political Representation

As of 2019, 49.9% of women in Belize participated in the workforce, compared to 80.6% of men. Women held 11.1% of the seats in Belize's National Assembly.

2019: Request submitted to the ICJ

In 2019, Guatemala submitted a request to the ICJ regarding the Belizean-Guatemalan territorial dispute.

2019: Gender Inequality Index Score

In 2019, the UN gave Belize a Gender Inequality Index score of 0.415, ranking it 97th out of 162 countries.

November 2020: PUP Defeats UDP, Johnny Briceño Takes Office

On 11 November 2020, the People's United Party (PUP), led by Johnny Briceño, defeated the United Democratic Party (UDP) for the first time since 2003, and Briceño took office as Prime Minister on 12 November.

December 2020: Submission of Guatemala's Initial Brief

By December 2020, the ICJ ordered Guatemala's initial brief to be submitted in the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute.

2020: Border dispute with Guatemala Remains Unresolved

As of 2020, the border dispute between Belize and Guatemala remained unresolved and contentious.

2020: US Aid to Belize

Between 2020 and 2023, Belize received $2.62 billion US dollars in aid from the United States to combat trafficking, narcotic smuggling, and gang violence.

2020: Belize Forest Cover

In 2020, forest cover in Belize was around 56% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,277,050 hectares (ha) of forest.

2020: Belizeans in the US Census

In the 2020 US Census Data, Belizeans ranked among the top 5 of largest "Some Other Race Alone" or "Some Other Race Alone or in Any Combination" group.

2021: Global Gender Gap Report Ranking

In 2021, the World Economic Forum ranked Belize 90th out of 156 countries in its Global Gender Gap Report, placing it fourth from last in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2022: Population Census and Vital Statistics

According to the 2022 census, Belize's population was 397,483. The birth rate was 17.8 births per 1,000 population, and the death rate was 6.3 deaths per 1,000 population.

2022: Renewable Energy Generation

As of 2022, renewable sources accounted for 53% of total gross electricity generation in Belize.

2022: Government of Belize's National Digital Agenda 2022–2025

In 2022, Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) aligned with the Government of Belize's National Digital Agenda 2022–2025, aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and connectivity by expanding service offerings such as high-speed broadband, 4G LTE mobile services, and digital television through DigiTV.

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2022: Submission of Belize's Response

In 2022, Belize's response was to be submitted regarding the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute to the ICJ.

2022: Population update

In 2022, the population of Belize was recorded at 397,483.

2022: Hurricane Lisa Makes Landfall

The most recent hurricane to make landfall in Belize was Hurricane Lisa in 2022.

June 2023: End of Written Submissions

On 7 June 2023, the stage of written submissions ended in the case before the ICJ, with the next step being oral arguments from each country's legal teams in the Belize-Guatemala territorial dispute.

2023: Belize's Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As of 2023, Belize's greenhouse gas emissions are relatively low (7.46 million tonnes), but it ranks as the 13th highest country for per capita emissions.

2023: US Aid to Belize

Between 2020 and 2023, Belize received $2.62 billion US dollars in aid from the United States to combat trafficking, narcotic smuggling, and gang violence.

2023: Belize certified for malaria elimination by WHO

In 2023, Belize became the second Central American country to be awarded certification for the elimination of malaria by the WHO.

2023: Homicide Rate

In 2023, Belize recorded 87 murders, resulting in a homicide rate of 19.7 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, with Belize District experiencing the most murders.

2023: Reported Cases of Crime

In 2023, there were 34 reported cases of rape, 170 robberies, 628 burglaries, and 118 cases of theft in Belize.

2023: National Energy Policy

The Government of Belize's National Energy Policy 2023–2040 outlines a commitment to achieving 75% renewable energy in the electricity generation mix by 2030.

2024: BEL Infrastructure Upgrades

In 2024, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) completed an upgrade of the West Lake Gas Turbine, increasing its capacity from 19 MW to 30 MW, and installed a new gas turbine on Ambergris Caye, adding 20 MW of generation capacity.

2024: Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Development

In 2024, the development of the US foreign assistance agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), was a big step in addressing further growth in the economy of Belize.

2024: BEL Proposes Tariff Review

In its 2024–2028 Full Tariff Review, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) proposed a $500 million investment to support the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery energy storage systems.

2025: Government of Belize's National Digital Agenda 2022–2025

The Government of Belize's National Digital Agenda 2022-2025 continues driving BTL to enhance digital infrastructure and connectivity, expanding services like high-speed broadband, 4G LTE mobile services, and digital television.

2028: BEL Proposes Tariff Review

2030: UN Sustainable Development Goals target year

Belize created a voluntary national report on its progress toward the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

2030: Renewable Energy Target

The Government of Belize's National Energy Policy 2023–2040 outlines a commitment to achieving 75% renewable energy in the electricity generation mix by 2030.

2040: National Energy Policy

The Government of Belize's National Energy Policy 2023–2040 outlines a commitment to achieving 75% renewable energy in the electricity generation mix by 2030.