BZ
Aid, poverty & equality · Latin America & Caribbean · Upper-middle income
Belize: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 1.0% (2018), 88th of 151 in the world and 16th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $4.20/day is 4.0% (2018), 82nd of 151 in the world and 14th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean. Poverty, $8.30/day is 19.7% (2018), 88th of 151 in the world and 13th of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean.
Undernourishment
BelizeLatin America & CaribbeanUpper-middle incomeWorld
Women in parliament
BelizeLatin America & CaribbeanUpper-middle incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Belize in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Latin America & Caribbean; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 1.0%2018 | 88/151 | 16/22 | 22.5%1999 | · | 1.0%2018 | −21.5 ppsince 1999 | 4.3% | 2.1% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 4.0%2018 | 82/151 | 14/22 | 37.0%1999 | · | 4.0%2018 | −33.0 ppsince 1999 | 8.0% | 5.4% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 19.7%2018 | 88/151 | 13/22 | 66.7%1999 | · | 19.7%2018 | −47.0 ppsince 1999 | 24.7% | 26.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 52.0%2018 | 15/145 | 3/23 | 34.1%2002 | 41.3%2009 | 52.0%2018 | +17.9 ppsince 2002 | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 39.92018 | 38/151 | 17/22 | 53.21999 | · | 39.92018 | −25%since 1999 | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 30.0%2018 | 46/151 | 17/22 | 42.4%1999 | · | 30.0%2018 | −12.4 ppsince 1999 | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 5.8%2018 | 112/151 | 4/22 | 3.2%1999 | · | 5.8%2018 | +2.6 ppsince 1999 | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 4.4%2024 | 89/167 | 15/28 | 5.7%2001 | 4.8% | 4.6% | −1.5 ppsince 2014 | 5.1% | 4.0% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 12.8%2024 | 105/155 | 27/28 | · | · | 31.6% | — | 25.2% | 12.6% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 68.0%2024 | 81/145 | 9/21 | · | · | · | +19.8 ppsince 2014 | 73.5% | 84.0% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 12.5%2025 | 160/190 | 30/32 | 6.9% | 0.0% | 9.7% | +9.4 ppsince 2015 | 36.6% | 27.0% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $31.9m2023 | 133/145 | 27/32 | $16.1m | $24.5m | $69.9m | −38%since 2013 | $10.8bn | $57.4bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 1.1%2023 | 93/139 | 12/30 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 3.5% | −1.6 ppsince 2013 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $77.52023 | 60/145 | 11/32 | $67.1 | $76.4 | $179 | −48%since 2013 | $16.4 | $18.8 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Extreme poverty−21.5 pp1.0% in 2018
- Poverty, $4.20/day−33.0 pp4.0% in 2018
- Poverty, $8.30/day−47.0 pp19.7% in 2018
- Gini index−25%39.9 in 2018
Worse than ten years ago
- National poverty rate+17.9 pp52.0% in 2018
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Belize and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Belize. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Belize | Mexico | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 1.0%2018 | 1.6%2024 | 9.7%2023 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 4.0%2018 | 4.1%2024 | 17.6%2023 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 19.7%2018 | 21.4%2024 | 47.3%2023 |
| National poverty rate | 52.0%2018 | 29.6%2024 | 56.0%2023 |
| Gini index | 39.92018 | 42.62024 | 45.22023 |
| Top 10% income share | 30.0%2018 | 33.4%2024 | 34.1%2023 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 5.8%2018 | 5.6%2024 | 4.6%2023 |
| Undernourishment | 4.4%2024 | 3.1%2024 | 12.7%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 12.8%2024 | 16.5%2024 | 49.0%2024 |