Belize
- Population: 321,000
- Religion: 25.5% Protestant
- Known For: Beaches, tiny islands, Creole
- LAM presence since: 1951
In 1951, Latin America Mission chose the country of Belize to launch its first English-language evangelism campaign, which would be followed by others around Central America. Today, LAM serves in Belmopan, the capital of the small country, with a home for girls who have been abandoned, orphaned or neglected.
Belize shares the Mayan heritage of its neighboring countries, but its history has been shaped by territory disputes between Spain and Britain, which claimed it as a colony. Belize won its independence in 1981, though disagreements still remain with Guatemala over where its borders precisely fall.
English is the official language of Belize, though Spanish and a local Creole dialect are much more widely spoken. Much of Belize's natural areas are protected, and the country is known for its many small islands and a large barrier reef — making tourism the mainstay of Belize's economy.Though the nation has one of the highest per capita incomes in Central America, it also suffers an enormous gap between the rich and the poor. More than four out of 10 Belizeans live in poverty.
