Be·lize [ bə lz ]country in Central America on the Caribbean Sea, bordered to the west by Mexico and Guatemala. It became a British crown colony in 1862 and an independent member of the British Commonwealth in 1981. Languages: English, Spanish. Currency: Belizean dollar. Capital: Belmopan. Population: 307,899 (2009 estimate).
Area: 22,965 sq km (8,867 sq mi) Former name British Honduras until 1973
