IFES Election Guide | Country Profile: Belize

Belize

411,110
Population (as of Jan. 1, 2023)

204,378
Registered Voters (as of Jan. 25, 2025)

71.78%
Average Turnout

9
Elections in our database

V-Dem Score: N/A

CEDAW Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: March 7, 1990
Ratified Date: May 16, 1990

SIGI* Score: 18.2
Level of Discrimination: Very Low
*Social Institutions and Gender Index (2023)

CRPD Status: Signed and Ratified
Signed Date: May 9, 2011
Ratified Date: June 2, 2011

HDI* Score: 0.721
Category: High
*UNDP Human Development Index (2023)

Name	Official Name	Type
Belizean House of Representatives		Lower House
Belizean Senate		Upper House

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: King CHARLES III *
Head of Government: Prime Minister John BRICEÑO **
Assembly: Belize has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate with 13 seats and the House of Representatives with 31 seats.

* The King is represented by Governor General Froyla TZALAM

** The position of the governor general is appointed by the monarch.The governor general appoints the prime minister after legislative elections, typically selecting the leader of the majority party for the position.

Description of electoral system:

The King is hereditary head of state.
Prime Minister is appointed by the governor-general.
In the Senate 13 members are appointed by the governor-general to serve 5-year terms. In the House of Representatives 31 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms.

Elections

2025-03-12 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 128,002
Registered 204,378
Turnout 62.63

2020-11-11 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 149,650
Registered 182,815
Turnout 81.86

2019-05-08 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 96,417
Registered 148,500
Turnout 64.93

2015-11-04 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 142,900
Registered 196,587
Turnout 72.69

2012-03-07 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 130,258
Registered 178,054
Turnout 73.16

2008-02-07 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 116,943
Registered 156,993
Turnout 74.49

2008-02-07 | Status: Held
Referendum
Votes 73,213
Registered 156,993
Turnout 46.63

2003-03-05 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 100,340
Registered 126,261
Turnout 79.47

1998-08-27 | Status: Held
Belizean House of Representatives
Votes 84,876
Registered 94,173
Turnout 90.13

Election For	Date	Status	Votes	Registered Voters	Turnout
Belizean House of Representatives	2025-03-12	Held	128,002	204,378	62.63
Belizean House of Representatives	2020-11-11	Held	149,650	182,815	81.86
Referendum	2019-05-08	Held	96,417	148,500	64.93
Belizean House of Representatives	2015-11-04	Held	142,900	196,587	72.69
Belizean House of Representatives	2012-03-07	Held	130,258	178,054	73.16
Belizean House of Representatives	2008-02-07	Held	116,943	156,993	74.49
Referendum	2008-02-07	Held	73,213	156,993	46.63
Belizean House of Representatives	2003-03-05	Held	100,340	126,261	79.47
Belizean House of Representatives	1998-08-27	Held	84,876	94,173	90.13

Voter Turnout

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