Geography & environment — Belize
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Belize: Central America
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Central America
- Geographic Coordinates
17 15 N, 88 45 W
- Total Area
8,867 Square Miles 22,966 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
8,805 Square Miles 22,806 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
62 Square Miles 160 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
321 Miles 516 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
- Coastline
240 Miles 386 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in the south
- Highest Point
1,160 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Victoria Peak 1,160 m
- Lowest Point Location
Caribbean Sea 0 m
- Natural Resources
Arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
- Irrigated Land
12 Square Miles 30 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate
- Climate
Belize's subtropical climate is hot and humid most of the year. In Belize City, the average daily temperature is 85°F, but the daytime high is often in the 90s between May and October, with uncomfortably high humidity. The dry season runs from January through April. Heavy rains begin in June and can continue through December. Mosquito outbreaks are a perennial result. From March to November, a fairly steady breeze makes the heat in Belize City less intolerable. The coolest period is December to February when the average daily temperature is only 75°F. During this period, night temperatures can drop into the upper 50s. Tropical storms and hurricanes can occur from June through November. In 1931 and 1961, hurricanes devastated Belize City.
- Terrain
Flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in the south
- Location
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
- Total Area
8,867 Square Miles 22,966 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
- Deforestation
- water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff
- solid and sewage waste disposal
- Environment - International Agreements
- Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling Signed,
- but not ratified: none of the selected agreements