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Belize
Map of Belize |
Population: 250.000
Capital: Belmopan
Official language: English
Ethnic groups: mestizo 44.1%, Creole 31%, Maya 9.2%, Garifuna
6.2%, other 9.5%
Background: Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala
delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981.
Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become
the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment,
growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increased urban
crime.
(Source: Worldfackbook 2000, CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Belize
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Costa Rica |
Population: 3,5 million
Capital: San Jose
Official language: Spanish
Ethnic groups: white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian
1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%
Background: Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since
the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its
democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country,
it has achieved a relatively high standard of living. Land ownership is
widespread. Tourism is a rapidly expanding industry.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Costa Rica
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El Salvador |
Population: 6 million
Capital: San Salvador
Official language:
Ethnic groups: mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
Background: El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821
and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war,
which cost the lives of some 75,000 people, was brought to a close in 1992
when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for
military and political reforms.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: El Salvador
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Guatemala |
Population: 12,5 million
Capital: Guatemala
Official language:
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated
Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 56%, Amerindian
or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 44%
Background: Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule in 1821.
During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of
military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In
1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict,
which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created
some 1 million refugees.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Guatemala
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Honduras |
Population: 6 million
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Official language:
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%,
Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Background: Part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras
became as independent nation in 1821. After two and one-half decades of
mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power
in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista
contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan government and an ally to Salvadoran
government forces fighting against leftist guerrillas.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Honduras
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Mexico |
Population: 100 million
Capital: Mexico
Official language:
Ethnic groups: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian
or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%
Background: The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico
came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence
early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw
Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half
a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing
economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for
a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and
few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in
the impoverished southern states.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Mexico
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Nicaragua |
Population: 5 million
Capital: Managua
Official language: Spanish
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white
17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Background: Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s, Nicaragua
gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation
and corruption spread to all classes by 11038 and resulted in a short-lived
civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 11039.
Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor
anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections
in 1990 and again in 1996 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has
slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane
Mitch in 1998.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC Country Profiles: Nicaragua
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Panama
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Population: 3 million
Capital: Panama
Official language: Spanish
note: many Panamanians bilingual
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian
and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Background: With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in
1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction
of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the
structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US
Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 11037, an
agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US
to Panama by 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility
over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help,
dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the
area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned
over to Panama on 31 December 1999.
(Source: WorldFackbook 2000 CIA)
More info: BBC
Country Profiles: Panama