Belize Economy

Latin America & Caribbean · Upper middle income · Capital: Belmopan

Updated 17 Oct 2026

GDP Annual Growth Rate in Belize decreased to 2.75 percent in 2025 from 3.50 percent in 2024. Inflation Rate in Belize decreased to 1.06 percent in 2025 from 3.29 percent in 2024.

GDP Growth Rate

Real GDP, annual % change. Hatched bars are IMF projections.

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Inflation Rate

Annual data, %. Source: World Bank.

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Key Highlights

  • Real GDP grew 2.7% in 2025 (previous year: 3.5%).
  • Consumer price inflation was 1.1% in 2025, compared with 3.3% in the previous period.
  • The unemployment rate was 8.9% in 2025 (previous: 8.7%).
  • General government debt was 66.9% of GDP in 2025.
  • The IMF projects real GDP growth of 1.9% for 2026 (World Economic Outlook projection).

Main Indicators

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP Annual Growth Rate2.7%3.5%2025World Bank
Inflation Rate1.1%3.3%2025World Bank
Unemployment Rate8.9%8.7%2025World Bank
Government Debt to GDP66.9%64.3%2025IMF
Balance of Trade$0.0B$0.1B2024World Bank
Current Account to GDP-2.8%-1.6%2025World Bank
GDP$3.3B$3.2B2025World Bank

GDP

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP per Capita$7,865$7,6812025World Bank
GDP per Capita PPP$14,966$14,3672025World Bank
Gross National Income$3.2B$3.1B2025World Bank
GDP from Agriculture7.9%8.1%2024World Bank
GDP from Industry14.6%14.4%2024World Bank
GDP from Manufacturing6.6%6.5%2024World Bank
GDP from Services62.4%62.1%2024World Bank
Gross Fixed Capital Formation21.1%20.5%2024World Bank
Household Consumption to GDP64.3%63.7%2024World Bank

Labour

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Youth Unemployment Rate19.3%18.6%2025World Bank
Labour Force Participation Rate59.1%56.9%2025World Bank
Employment Rate53.9%51.9%2025World Bank
Population0.42M0.42M2025World Bank

Prices

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
GDP Deflator Growth1.1%1.4%2025World Bank

Money

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Lending Rate8.48%8.42%2025World Bank
Deposit Interest Rate1.98%2.07%2025World Bank
Broad Money Growth5.9%9.4%2025World Bank
Foreign Exchange Reserves$0.6B$0.5B2025World Bank

Trade

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Current Account-$0.1B-$0.1B2025World Bank
Exports$1.8B$1.7B2024World Bank
Imports$1.7B$1.6B2024World Bank
Foreign Direct Investment$0.00B$0.13B2025World Bank
External Debt$1.6B$1.5B2024World Bank
Remittances$0.12B$0.12B2025World Bank
Terms of Trade95.496.12024World Bank
Tourist Arrivals0.49M1.67M2020World Bank
Tourism Revenues$0.10B$0.10B1998World Bank

Government

IndicatorLastPreviousPeriodTrendSource
Government Budget-1.0%-1.5%2025IMF
Government Revenues to GDP25.1%23.4%2024IMF
Government Spending to GDP26.3%25.8%2024IMF
Tax Revenue to GDP21.3%20.6%2017World Bank
Military Expenditure1.00%1.08%2025World Bank

Belize economy explained in simple words

Size of the economy

The economy of Belize produced goods and services worth $3.3B in 2025, making it the 182nd largest of 214 economies with data.

With a population of about 0.4 million, GDP per person is $7,865. The World Bank classifies Belize as a “upper middle income” economy.

Economic growth

Real GDP grew 2.7% in 2025, compared with world growth of 3.5% (IMF).

Over the last 10 years growth averaged 2.4% a year, ranging from -13.5% to 18.0%.

The IMF projects growth of 1.9% in 2026.

Prices and interest rates

Consumer price inflation was 1.1% in 2025.

Jobs

The unemployment rate was 8.9% in 2025 (world: 4.8%).

About 59.1% of people aged 15 and over are in the labour force (working or looking for work).

Government finances

General government debt was 66.9% of GDP in 2025, compared with a median of 52.9% across 191 economies.

The government budget balance was -1.0% of GDP (2025) — a deficit, meaning spending exceeded revenue.

Trade and external position

The current account was -2.8% of GDP in 2025 — a deficit with the rest of the world.

Exports of goods and services were $1.8B and imports $1.7B.

Foreign exchange reserves (including gold) stood at $0.6B.

Structure of the economy

By sector, value added is split roughly as: services 62.4%, industry 14.6%, agriculture 7.9% of GDP.

How to read this page

The four boxes at the top show the most-watched numbers: GDP growth (how fast the economy is expanding), inflation (how fast prices are rising), the central bank policy rate (the base cost of borrowing) and unemployment (the share of job-seekers without work). The small arrow shows the change from the previous reading.

The tabs group all available indicators by topic — GDP, labour, prices, money, trade, government and housing. Each row shows the latest value, the previous value, the period it refers to, a small trend line and the source. Click any indicator to open its full history, chart, statistics and comparison with other countries.

Monthly and quarterly figures come from national statistics offices and central banks — via the OECD, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and, for India, the Ministry of Statistics (MoSPI); annual figures come from the World Bank and the IMF. Different indicators are published at different times, so the periods shown can differ.

Frequently asked questions

What is the GDP growth rate of Belize?
The latest GDP growth rate of Belize is 2.7% (2025), compared with 3.5% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the inflation rate of Belize?
The latest inflation rate of Belize is 1.1% (2025), compared with 3.3% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the unemployment rate of Belize?
The latest unemployment rate of Belize is 8.9% (2025), compared with 8.7% in the previous period. Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators.
What is the government debt to GDP ratio of Belize?
The latest government debt to GDP ratio of Belize is 66.9% (2025), compared with 64.3% in the previous period. Source: IMF — World Economic Outlook.

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.