Demographic and Social Statistics
The Statistical Institute of Belize compiles the national statistics that describe the people of Belize and the conditions they live in. These four series cover the size and structure of the population, work and the labour market, schooling and educational attainment, and health. Together they show who lives in Belize, where, and how everyday circumstances are changing over time.
Last reviewed: August 25, 2026 | Produced by the Statistical Institute of Belize, Belmopan
Latest figures
The most recent published value for each headline series. Every figure links to the release where the methods, coverage and reference period are set out in full.
- Total population
418,982
Mid-year estimate, 2026 - Incidence of Poverty
19.1%
September, 2025 - Unemployment rate
1.9%
Labour Force Survey, April 2026 - Labour force participation
53.6%
Labour Force Survey, April 2026
Figures are shown as published and may be revised in later releases. Reference periods and collection methods differ between series, so values above are not directly comparable with one another.
The four social and demographic series
Select a series to reach its release archive, data tables, methodology and publication schedule.
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Population
Size, structure and distribution
Measures how many people live in Belize, their age and sex composition, and how they are distributed across districts and between urban and rural areas.
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Labour Force
Work and the labour market
Measures employment, unemployment and participation in the labour market, drawn from the Labour Force Survey and reported by district, sex and age group.
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Education Statistics
Schooling and attainment
Covers enrolment, participation and completion across the levels of the education system, alongside the levels of schooling reached by the population as a whole.
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Health Statistics
Vital statistics and health
Covers births, deaths and related vital statistics, together with indicators describing access to and use of health services across the country.
Where these statistics come from
Unlike the economic series, these four draw on different collection vehicles, and knowing which one produced a figure is essential to reading it correctly.
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Population and Housing Census
A full count of everyone in the country, conducted roughly every ten years. It provides the benchmark from which population estimates between census rounds are carried forward.
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Labour Force Survey
A national household sample survey measuring work and job search. Because it samples rather than counts, its estimates carry a margin of error.
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MICS7
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, an internationally standardised household survey covering the situation of children and women.
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SDMS 2026
The Sustainable Development Monitoring Survey, covering many aspects of daily life across Belize, from work and health to services and wellbeing.
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Poverty Statistics
Measures of living standards derived from household expenditure and income data. Thresholds and indicator sets differ between assessments, so figures are not comparable across years without reference to the accompanying notes.
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Administrative records
Education and health series are compiled from records maintained by the institutions that deliver those services, and their coverage differs from survey-based measures.
When these statistics are published
Release dates are set in advance and apply equally to all users. No figure is shared before its scheduled publication time.
| Series | Frequency | Main source | Next release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population estimates | [Annually] | Census, carried forward | [Date] |
| Labour force | [Twice yearly] | Labour Force Survey | [Date] |
| Education | [Annually] | Administrative records | [Date] |
| Health | [Annually] | Administrative records | [Date] |
Working with the data
Beyond the headline releases, demographic and social statistics are available in several formats depending on what you need.
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Publications
Full release documents, census reports, thematic reports and the Abstract of Statistics, with complete tables and methodological notes.
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Customised data
Request tabulations that are not part of a standard release, including district level breakdowns, prepared by the Data Dissemination Unit.
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Microdata
Anonymised survey and census datasets for researchers, available under SIB’s access conditions.
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Census thematic reports
Detailed analysis of census results by theme, including population structure, housing, education and economic activity.
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Belize National Statistical System
Statistics produced across the wider national system, alongside SIB’s own outputs.
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Infographics and videos
Visual summaries of key social and demographic results, suitable for classrooms, newsrooms and presentations.
Reading these statistics correctly
A short note on comparability, which matters here more than in most domains because these four series are built in genuinely different ways.
A census counts everyone and a survey estimates from a sample, so the two produce different kinds of number and should not be read as interchangeable. Survey based estimates, including all labour force measures, carry a margin of error, and a difference between two periods that falls inside that margin should be read as broadly unchanged rather than as movement in a particular direction. Population figures for years between census rounds are estimates carried forward from the last full count and are revised when a new census provides a fresh benchmark, which is why an estimate published in one year may not match the figure for the same year published later. Education and health series are compiled from administrative records, so their coverage reflects the institutions that report into them and may differ in scope from survey based measures of the same topic. Where an indicator has been redefined, a threshold changed, or a classification updated between rounds, the series is not continuous across that point, and the accompanying notes in each release set out exactly where those breaks fall.
Common questions
What is the population of Belize?
The most recent published population figure appears in the latest figures above. Between census rounds the Statistical Institute of Belize publishes mid-year estimates carried forward from the last full count, and the complete series with age and district detail is on the Population page.
What is the unemployment rate in Belize?
Belize’s unemployment rate is produced from the Labour Force Survey, which measures how many people are working, how many are seeking work, and how many are outside the labour market. Full results by district, sex and age group are on the Labour Force page.
How often is the Labour Force Survey conducted?
The survey is conducted [twice a year, with rounds in April and September]. Because it is based on a sample of households rather than a full count, its results are estimates and carry a margin of error, which is stated in each release.
Can I get these statistics for a specific district or town?
Many releases already include district level tables. Where the breakdown you need is not published, the Data Dissemination Unit can prepare a custom tabulation if the underlying data supports it at that level of detail. Submit a request through the Customised Data page.
Why does an older population figure differ from the one published now?
Population figures for years between census rounds are estimates projected forward from the last full count. When a new census provides a fresh benchmark, the intervening estimates are revised to align with it. A revision of this kind reflects better information rather than an error in the earlier figure.
Need a figure that is not on this page?
The Data Dissemination Unit responds to data requests from researchers, journalists, businesses, students and the general public. Tell us what you need, the period you need it for, and the level of detail required.