The only English-speaking country in Central America, Belize was a British colony for more than a century and was known as British Honduras until 1973 and became an independent nation in 1981. It is now a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations with a constitutional monarchy which recognises Queen Elizabeth II of England as Sovereign. The origin of the name Belize is relatively unclear, but one theory is that it derives from the Maya word belix, meaning "muddy water", referring to the Belize River.

About Belize | Belize History | Belize Culture

The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and 300 AD and flourished until about 900 AD. European settlement began with British Jews, privateers and shipwrecked English seamen as early as 1638 and grew into habitations located at Belize Town and St George's Caye until it became a de-facto colony of the United Kingdom. Many of the English settlers cut logwood, greatly valued in Europe as the principal dyestuff for the expanding woollen industry. By the 1770s, a second tropical exotic timber, mahogany replaced logwood as the main export from Belize.

In the early nineteenth century the settlement was called British Honduras, and in 1871 it became a Crown Colony, beginning a period of over 100 years of official British rule. In 1964, British Honduras became a selfgoverning colony, Britains last colony in the Americas, and renamed itself as Belize in 1973. Full independence and membership in the Commonwealth of Nations came on 21 September, 1981. A British garrison remains in Belize at the request of the local government until this day.

Queen Elizabeth is represented in the country by the Governor-General. However, the cabinet, which is led by a prime minister as head of government, exercise executive authority acting as advisors to the Governor-General. The Parliament is composed of the Senate, which is appointed by the Governor-General, and a House of Representatives, with seats awarded each party based on results of democratic elections.

Guatemala has claimed ownership of all or part of Belize throughout its history, with some maps showing it as an eastern province of Guatemala. Currently the border dispute with Guatemala remains unresolved, requiring mediation at various times from Britain, the Organization of American States, and other regional bodies. Guatemala and Belize are currently participating in exchange programs in an attempt to improve relations.