Belize 411 Belize Information & History

Demographics & Language

Language:

English is the only official language of Belize due to being a former British colony. It is the main language used in government and education. Although only 5.6% of the population speaks it as the main language at home, 54% can speak it very well, and another 26% can speak some English.

•Kriol is the most extended language when mother tongue and second/third language speakers are included. 37% of Belizeans consider their primary language to be Kriol, an English-based creole of words and syntax from various African languages (namely Akan, Igbo, and Twi), and other languages (Miskito, Caliche). It is also a second or third language for another 40% of the multilingual country. Kriol shares similarities with many Caribbean English Creoles as far as phonology and pronunciations are concerned. Also, many of its words and structures are both lexically and phonologically similar to English, its superstrate language. Due to the fact that it is English-based, all Kriol speakers can understand English. A number of linguists classify Belizean Kriol as a separate language, while others consider it to be a dialect of English.

•Spanish is the second most extended language in Belize. It is commonly spoken at home by 46% of the population (mostly Mestizos), and some other people are able to communicate in this language too.

•Maya languages such as Kekchi, Mopan and Yucatec are spoken by less than 5% of the population, which is also the case with Garifuna (being Arawakan/Maipurean-based and with elements of the Carib language, French, English, and Spanish) and the Plautdietsch dialect of the Mennonites. Literacy currently stands at nearly 80%. In 2001, UNESCO declared the Garifuna language, dance, and music a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".

English is the primary language of public education, with Spanish taught in primary and secondary school as well. Bilingualism is highly encouraged, and therefore, very common.

English & Spanish Language Proficiency:

Language	Speaks very well	Speak Some	Total
English	54%	26%	80%
Spanish	52%	11%	63%

Languages in Belize according to 2000 census

Language	Mother Tongue speakers	First language speakers
Spanish	94,422 (54%)	88,121 (43%)
Kriol	67,527 (32.9%)	75,822 (37%)
Maya Kek'chi	67,527 (4.9%)	9,314 (4.5%)
English	7,946 (3.9%)	11,551 (5.6%)
Maya Mopan	6,909 (3.4%)	6,093 (3%)
Garifuna	6,929 (3.4%)	4,071 (2%)
Plautdietsch	6,783 (3.3%)	6,624 (3.2%)
Chinese	1,607 (0.8%)	1,529 (0.7%)
Maya Yucateco	1,176 (0.6%)	613 (0.3%)
Hindi	280 (0.1%)	613 (0.1%)
Others/no answer	1,402 (0.7%)	1,192 (0.6%)

Home » Page1 » This Page