Background and Objectives
The Sustainable Development Monitoring Survey (SDMS) 2026 is a national survey conducted by the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) under the Statistical Institute of Belize Act of 2006. As the coordinator of Belize’s National Statistics System, the SIB leads the collection and dissemination of accurate, relevant official statistics that support evidence-based development planning and the monitoring of national programmes delivered through the country’s sustainable development frameworks.
The survey brings together a wide set of topics, or modules, in a single visit to each selected household. Together these modules build a fuller picture of everyday life in Belize, from work and livelihoods to health, diet, access to land and public services, personal safety, and people’s experiences with the systems that serve them. This breadth allows the SIB to produce indicators that align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and with international statistical standards.
National data collection is scheduled from Sunday, July 26th to Saturday, August 22nd, 2026, across all six districts of Belize. Information will be gathered for every member of selected households, while one knowledgeable adult can respond on behalf of the household for many topics. A sample of approximately 3,000 households was drawn from urban and rural areas nationwide, including the Cayes. This approach keeps the sample representative and geographically diverse.
Why the Sustainable Development Monitoring Survey
A Fuller Picture of Wellbeing
By combining many topics in one survey, the SDMS shows how different parts of daily life connect, giving a more complete view of wellbeing across Belize than any single survey could.
Better Services for Communities
Understanding how people experience health, education, and other public services helps those services be shaped to meet real needs across the country.
Tracking the Sustainable Development Goals
The survey produces indicators aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, helping Belize measure progress and share comparable, credible data with international partners.
Safer, More Inclusive Communities
Learning about people’s experiences with safety, fair treatment, and access to justice provides the evidence needed to build communities where everyone can thrive.
Stronger National Statistics
The SDMS strengthens the accuracy and relevance of Belize’s official statistics, reinforcing the credibility of the data used by researchers, planners, and international partners.
Your Experience Counts
By taking part, you help ensure that your household’s reality is reflected in national statistics, contributing to a fairer and more responsive Belize.
What the Survey Covers
The SDMS 2026 brings together the modules below. Many are answered by one knowledgeable household member, while certain topics are answered by a randomly selected household member who meets the age criteria for that topic. The most sensitive topics are answered only by adults and are handled privately by a trained interviewer.
Households and Livelihoods
| Module | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Household Listing | A roster of the people who live in the household. |
| Agricultural Work | Farming and agricultural activity carried out by the household. |
| Own-Use Provision of Services | Unpaid work and services household members produce for their own use, such as caregiving. |
Health and Wellbeing
| Module | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Diet Quality | What household members typically eat, to better understand nutrition. |
| Health Behaviors | Everyday habits that influence health. |
Rights and Secure Access
| Module | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Rights to Land and Tenure Security | How secure people feel in their access to land and property. |
| Access to Justice | People’s ability to resolve disputes and reach fair outcomes. |
Experience with Services and Institutions
| Module | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Last Experience with Public Services | People’s most recent experience using health, education, and public-service offices. |
| Corruption | People’s experiences with integrity and fairness in everyday dealings. |
Safety and Dignity
| Module | What it looks at |
|---|---|
| Discrimination | Experiences of unfair or unequal treatment. |
| Physical Violence | Experiences related to physical safety and personal security. |
| Psychological Violence | Experiences related to emotional and psychological safety. |
Survey Pilot
Ahead of the national round, the SIB will carry out a pilot from late May to mid-June 2026 to test the survey instruments and field procedures. Two trained teams will work in selected communities in the Cayo and Stann Creek areas. Findings from the pilot inform any refinements to the questionnaires and fieldwork before the full August 2026 round, helping the main survey run smoothly and produce high-quality data.
Duration
Conducted in the Cayo and Stann Creek areas to test and refine the survey before the national rollout.
Conducted across all six districts: Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize, Cayo, Stann Creek, and Toledo.
Data Collection
The primary method of data collection is face-to-face interviews carried out by trained interviewers using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) software on tablets. The CAPI software improves the accuracy and speed of data collection by using preloaded skip patterns that guide interviewers to the right questions based on each respondent’s previous answers. Once an interview is complete, the data is automatically saved and uploaded to a secure central database for analysis.
Telephone interviews may be used only as a last resort for households in remote or hard-to-reach locations. Field and zone supervisors carry out regular quality checks throughout the collection period.
Field Staff
SIB field staff can be identified by their SIB identification card and a beige vest bearing the SIB logo. All survey vehicles display SIB logo decals. Every field staff member working on the Sustainable Development Monitoring Survey 2026 signs an Oath of Secrecy that prohibits the disclosure of any confidential information.
Confidentiality and Privacy
The Statistical Institute of Belize assures the public that all information provided during the survey is kept strictly confidential. All SIB employees, both temporary and permanent, take an Oath of Secrecy, and the data collected is used for statistical purposes only. The survey includes some sensitive topics; these are answered only by adult household members and are handled privately by a trained interviewer. Personal information is safeguarded in accordance with the Statistical Institute of Belize Act No. 9 of 2006 and international statistical standards.
Contact Us
For questions regarding the Sustainable Development Monitoring Survey 2026, please contact the Data Dissemination Department at the Statistical Institute of Belize by phone at 822-2207 ext. 209 or by email at info@mail.sib.org.bz.