Photo: Josh Steinitz · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Belize: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Belize is placed 92nd of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 73.57 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 12.66 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
92nd
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 73.57Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 12.66Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 14.96Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 2.7Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Belize on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
73.57
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Belize: 73.57. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Central America
- 80.8 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 72.6 · Mexico 75.07
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
12.66
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Belize: 12.66. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Central America
- 10.05 El Salvador
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 20.51 · Mexico 13.05
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Belize’s is from 2015 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
14.96
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Belize: 14.96. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Central America
- 9 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 46 · Mexico 12.5
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2.7
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Belize: 2.7. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Central America
- 2.3 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Guatemala 22.4 · Mexico 2.7
02Over time
Which way Belize is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize rose from 68.91 in 2000 to 73.57 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2023 73.57 74.630 2022 72.19 74.313 2021 70.92 72.433 2020 71.58 73.063 2019 72.58 74.196 2018 72.32 74.081 2017 72.06 74.029 2016 71.84 74.013 2015 71.65 73.783 2014 71.44 73.330 2013 71.28 73.386 2012 71.13 73.210 2011 70.98 73.003 2010 70.88 72.827 2009 70.81 72.426 2008 70.67 72.264 2007 70.65 72.113 2006 70.54 72.027 2005 70.33 71.876 2004 70.15 71.477 2003 69.82 71.409 2002 69.53 71.173 2001 68.94 70.926 2000 68.91 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize fell from 24.46 in 2000 to 12.66 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2024 12.66 14.5 2023 12.75 15.2 2022 12.83 14.7 2021 12.96 15.1 2020 13.18 15.3 2019 13.49 15.7 2018 13.90 16.3 2017 14.40 16.8 2016 14.99 17.5 2015 15.64 17.9 2014 16.34 18.3 2013 17.04 18.7 2012 17.71 18.8 2011 18.31 19.0 2010 18.85 19.2 2009 19.33 20.8 2008 19.74 20.7 2007 20.16 21.8 2006 20.59 22.8 2005 21.04 24.0 2004 21.55 25.9 2003 22.14 26.9 2002 22.81 28.0 2001 23.58 29.1 2000 24.46 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
BelizeWorld median
Belize fell from 4.4 in 2019 to 2.7 in 2024; the world median went from 4.95 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Belize World median 2024 2.7 4.9 2023 3.2 4.7 2022 3.2 5.4 2021 4.0 5.7 2020 4.4 5.6 2019 4.4 5.0 2018 — 4.2 2017 — 4.0 2016 — 3.4 2015 — 3.4
03In context
Belize beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Belize and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico | =83rd | 75.07 | 13.05 | 12.5 | 2.7 |
| Belize | 92nd | 73.57 | 12.66 | 14.96 | 2.7 |
 Guatemala | 156th | 72.6 | 20.51 | 46 | 22.4 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Belize in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Belize is ahead of the world, and behind
48 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median19
Statistics on which Belize does better than the middle country measured.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9568.2552.95No earlier reading
Belize: 68.25 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 27th of 136 · derived.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.996.482.9No earlier reading
Belize: 96.4 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 22nd of 109 · derived.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5757.8337.57No earlier reading
Belize: 57.83 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 27th of 115 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5461.7673.546No earlier reading
Belize: 1.767 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 126th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.555.241.5No earlier reading
Belize: 55.2 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 34th of 127 · derived.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.269.88921.26No earlier reading
Belize: 9.889 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 83rd of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35182.9272.35No earlier reading
Belize: 182.9 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.865.175.8No earlier reading
Belize: 65.1 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 62nd of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0170.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Belize: 0.017 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 72nd of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4511.714.45▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 11.7 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 139th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.912.820.9▲ Improved since 2019
Belize: 12.8 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 85th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.417.826.4No real change since 2017
Belize: 17.8 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 86th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413841▼ Worsened since 2012
Belize: 38 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.240.25▲ Improved since 2014
Belize: 0.24 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1636.7988.163▲ Improved since 2013
Belize: 6.798 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 115th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.56965.5▲ Improved since 2018
Belize: 69 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2610.7912.26No real change since 2014
Belize: 10.79 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 112th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.462.858▲ Improved since 2014
Belize: 2.46 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 109th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2571.371.25No real change since 2013
Belize: 71.3 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 98th of 196 · derived.
Behind the world median21
Statistics on which Belize does worse than the middle country measured.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.767.467.7No earlier reading
Belize: 67.4 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 65th of 127 · derived.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.55.655.5▲ Improved since 2014
Belize: 5.65 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 79th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.995.396.9No earlier reading
Belize: 95.3 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7147.42133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Belize: 147.42 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 98th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908890▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 88 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1349.2128.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Belize: 9.212 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 88th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6566.846.65▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 66.8 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.488.263.48▲ Improved since 2015
Belize: 8.26 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3915.4216.39No real change since 2013
Belize: 15.42 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 131st of 222 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6979.93102.69▲ Improved since 2013
Belize: 79.93 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7210.762▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 0.721 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 115th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8176.181No earlier reading
Belize: 76.1 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 92nd of 153 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.275.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 7 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 66th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2111.5610.21▼ Worsened since 2010
Belize: 11.56 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 61st of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9822,8422,982No real change since 2014
Belize: 2,842 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 97th of 155 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.4280.351▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 0.428 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 110th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7433.1640.74No earlier reading
Belize: 33.16 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 90th of 136 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8360.9384.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 60.93 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4655.2327.46No real change since 2013
Belize: 55.23 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 62nd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918391▼ Worsened since 2015
Belize: 83 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.395.499.3▼ Worsened since 2013
Belize: 95.4 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 73rd of 84 · derived.
No better end8
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6540.220.65No earlier reading
Belize: 40.2 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.73111.73Moved since 2014
Belize: 11 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 27th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8368.1857.83Moved since 2013
Belize: 68.18 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.694.55Moved since 2017
Belize: 4.69 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.44035.4No real change since 2013
Belize: 40 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8940.0138.89Moved since 2015
Belize: 40.01 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 81st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2542.841.25Moved since 2013
Belize: 42.8 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1716.9416.17Moved since 2013
Belize: 16.94 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
No current reading for Belize
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2022), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, Human Capital Index, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2018), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2018) and Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2018). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Belize’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Belize’s 6th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Peace & Security11th of 1772/4 keys
- Energy21st of 1652/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainability48th of 1863/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1833/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation76th of 1763/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing92nd of 2004/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality75th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties101st of 1983/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience110th of 1934/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions111th of 1943/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture109th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital120th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 134th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology148th of 1983/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 152nd of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade152nd of 1773/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Belize can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
United States=30th4/4 keysHighest in Central America
Costa Rica60th4/4 keysThis page
Belize92nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Belize and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Belize on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Belize rank on health & wellbeing?
Belize is placed 92nd of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Belize?
73.57 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Belize?
12.66 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Belize compare with Mexico on health & wellbeing?
Mexico is placed joint 83rd of 200, and Belize 92nd. Life Expectancy at Birth: Mexico 75.07, Belize 73.57; Under-Five Mortality Rate: Mexico 13.05, Belize 12.66; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: Mexico 12.5, Belize 14.96; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: Mexico 2.7, Belize 2.7.
How have Belize’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 68.91 in 2000 to 73.57 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 24.46 in 2000 to 12.66 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 4.4 in 2019 to 2.7 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Belize?
No current reading is published for Belize on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health Spending, Children with Functional Difficulties, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, Human Capital Index, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) and Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 48 statistics on this page come from 15 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Belize’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Belize (banner) — Josh Steinitz, CC BY 2.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Belize: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/belize/health