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East of Guatemala and just south of Mexico.
Independence from Britain: 1981. Member of Commonwealth. Parliamentary Democracy. Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II. Head of government (2005): Prime Minister Said Wilbert Musa. Bicameral legislature.
According to the CIA Factbook the country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Estimated per capita GDP:
2007 $7,800 (Ranks 110th. A decline)
GDP annual growth rate estimated for 2007: 3.0 percent. (Ranks 161st)
Has an essentially private enterprise economy, a relatively large tourism industry,described as the "mainstay" of its economy. A big trade deficit and foreign debt. About 27 percent of the labor force, according to a 2001 estimate, is in agriculture.
Unemployment for 2006 was 9.4 percent.
2007: deaths 5.77 down from 6.04 in 2005; births 27.84, down from 29.34 in 2005
Estimated for July 2008: 301,270, up from 279,457 in 2005. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 2.207 percent per year. Density measured in 2005: 12.6 persons per square kilometer.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 23.65, down from 25.69 in 2005 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births).
Life expectancy estimated for 2008: 68.19, up from 67.49 years in 2005.
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 2.4percent (2003)
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.