Languages of Belize

According to the 2010 census, the major languages spoken in Belize include English, Spanish and Kriol, all three spoken by more than 40% of the population. Mayan languages are also spoken in certain areas.

English is the official language and the primary language of public education, though spoken natively by a minority of people as a first language. Spanish is taught in primary and secondary schools as well. Bilingualism is very common. Literacy currently stands at nearly 80%.

Languages spoken in Belize (2010)

Language	speakers	percentage
English	183,903	62.9%
Spanish	165,296	56.6%
Belizean Creole	130,467	44.6%
Q'eqchi' Maya	17,581	6.0%
Mopan Maya	10,649	3.6%
German	9,364	3.2%
Garifuna	8,442	2.9%
Other languages	7,847	2.7%
N.A.	1,537	0.5%
Total	292,263	100%

Major languages by district

English is the major language in the primary and most populated Belize District. Spanish is the most used language in the frontier districts of Cayo, Orange Walk and Corozal. Creole is the main language in the Stann Creek district, and Mayan languages dominate in the southernmost district of Toledo.

Languages spoken by District (2010)

District	Population	English	Spanish	Creole	Mayan
Belize District	95,292	72.5%	34.1%	63.6%	1.2%
Cayo	75,046	66.7%	71.5%	39.9%	6.2%
Orange Walk	45,946	62.2%	85.6%	16.8%	2.3%
Corozal	41,061	54.4%	84.7%	18.9%	2.5%
Stann Creek	34,324	52.0%	39.3%	67.4%	16.3%
Toledo	30,785	47.9%	28.2%	47.2%	68.4%
Total	324,528	62.9%	56.6%	44.6%	10.5%

Standard English and Belizean Creole

English is the official language of Belize, a former British colony. It is the primary language of public education, government and most media outlets. The majority of Belizeans, regardless of ethnicity, speak an English-based creole called Belizean Creole (also referred to as Kriol) during most informal, social and interethnic dialogue.

When a Creole language exists alongside its lexifier language, as in Belize, a creole continuum forms between the Creole and the lexifier language. This is known as code-switching. It is therefore difficult to substantiate or differentiate the number of Creole speakers compared to English speakers. Belizean Creole might best be described as the lingua franca of the nation.

Spanish

Main article: Belizean Spanish

Approximately 50% of Belizeans self-identify as Mestizo, Latino or Hispanic. Spanish is spoken as a native tongue by about 45% of the population, and taught in schools to children who do not have it as their first language. "Kitchen Spanish" is an intermediate form of Spanish mixed with Belizean Creole, and is spoken in northern towns such as Corozal and San Pedro.

Over half the population is bilingual, and a large segment is multilingual. Being such a small and multiethnic state surrounded by Spanish-speaking nations, multilingualism is strongly encouraged in the society.

Other languages

Belize is also home to three Mayan languages: Q’eqchi’, the endangered indigenous Belizean language of Mopan, and Yucatec Maya.

Approximately 16,100 people speak the Arawakan-based Garifuna language.

6,900 Mennonites in Belize speak mainly Plautdietsch while a minority of Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German.

See also

• Kriol people
• Demographics of Belize
• Maya peoples
• Ethnic Chinese in Belize