Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America with 8,867 square miles of territory and 320,000 people (2008 est.).
Belize was affiliated with the British Empire prior to gaining its independence in 1981. Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and speaking many languages. It is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Kriol and Spanish are also widely spoken.