British Honduras, renamed Belize in 1966, was a former British colony and a member of the British Commonwealth as well as CARICOM, an English-speaking Caribbean community. Belize's population contains a wide mix of peoples, which is typical of Central America's Atlantic coast. The largest  and politically dominant peoples are the Creoles. These descendants of African slaves and British settlers make up about 40% of the population. The Spanish-speaking mestizo population accounts for 33% while Mayan Indian groups constitute 10%. The Black Caribs or Garifunas, originally from St. Vincent are at 8%. There are also several minority groups including a German-speaking Mennonite farming community, Belizean merchants of Lesbanese, Palestinian, Chinese and East Indian descent, an array of British soldiers, and a couple Canadian and North American entrepreneurs. Furthermore, since 1980, Belize has had thousands of Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees.
    This population is very integrated from extensive ethnic intermixing. Even though the country is divided into those who speak English, Spanish, Garifuna or Indian dialects as their first language, almost everyone can understand and communicate in a creole English dialect. It was in the 1960's that steps where taken to promote "dialogue" between the various social groups. The capital was moved from  Belize City to Belmopan in the interior. This was to symbolically bring the government closer to the inland Mayan and mestizo populations. In the government's commemorative booklet, The Road to Independence, Mayan and slave struggles were highlighted in a progressive class analysis of the country's history.
    The economy of Belize depends on sugar for about 60% of its export earnings. However, there are several other exports including citrus fruits, bananas, beef, seafood, and manufactured garments.  Two of the main foreign exchange earners are emigration and the estimated $100 million a year marijuana trades. This economy has not dissuaded the Guatemalan government from laying claim to all of Belize and there is constantly fear of a Guatemalan invasion.

See CIA Demographics

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