Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Language: English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)

Currency: 1 Belizean dollar (Bz$) = 100 cents

Population: 235,789

Natural Hazards: frequent, devastating hurricanes (September to December) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Import: machinery and transportation equipment,
manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Export: sugar 46%, bananas 26%, citrus fruits, clothing, fish
products, molasses, wood

Industries: garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Transportation:
Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 2,248 km
paved: 427 km
unpaved: 1,821 km (1996 est.)

Waterways: 825 km river network used by shallow-draft craft; seasonally
navigable

Ports & Harbors: Belize City, Big Creek, Corozol, Punta Gorda

Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Language: Spanish (official), English spoken around Puerto Limon

Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos

Population: 3,674,490

Natural Hazards: occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season; active volcanoes

Import: raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment,
petroleum (1997)

Export: manufactured products, coffee, bananas, textiles, sugar
(1997)

Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Transportation:
Railways:
total: 950 km
narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)

Highways:
total: 35,597 km
paved: 6,051 km
unpaved: 29,546 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable

Ports & Harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, Puerto Quepos, Puntarenas