Updated: October 29, 2026. By Grant Kenneth, Belize Real Estate MLS.
This page collects the numbers people most often ask us about Belize property, tourism, residency, taxes and the wider economy, in one place. Every figure links to the page or report it came from, all money is shown in US dollars (the Belize dollar is fixed at BZ$2 = US$1), and we’ve noted the year for each one. If you’re a journalist or researcher, you’re welcome to cite any stat here with a link back to this page.
What are the key Belize real estate statistics for 2026?
The median asking price across 3,247 active listings on belizerealestatemls.com was US$325,000 on October 12, 2026, and Belize had 397,483 residents at the 2022 Census. Here are the headline numbers, with full sources further down.
| Statistic | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Median asking price, all active listings | US$325,000 | Belize Real Estate MLS (2026) |
| Share of listings under US$250,000 | 40.6% | Belize Real Estate MLS (2026) |
| Stamp duty on land transfers to foreign buyers | 8% above the first US$10,000 | Ministry of Natural Resources, Valuation Unit (in force since 2017) |
| QRP minimum retirement income | US$2,000 a month | Belize Tourism Board (2026) |
| Overnight visitors | 551,698 | Belize Tourism Board, preliminary (2025) |
| Cruise passenger arrivals | 967,214 | Belize Tourism Board, preliminary (2025) |
| Real GDP growth | 2.7% | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Inflation | 1.1% | Statistical Institute of Belize (2025) |
| Population, 2022 Census | 397,483 | Statistical Institute of Belize (2022) |
| Accommodation tax on hotel and vacation rental stays | 9% | Belize Tourism Board (2026) |
How much does property cost in Belize?
On October 12, 2026, the median asking price across 3,247 active belizerealestatemls.com listings was US$325,000, while the average was US$665,512 (Belize Real Estate MLS, 2026). These are seller asking prices rather than closed sales, because Belize does not publish an official sold-price index.
Which areas of Belize have the highest and lowest asking prices?
Placencia had the highest median asking price among mainland areas with 30 or more listings, at US$575,000 across 443 listings, while Orange Walk was lowest at US$175,000 (Belize Real Estate MLS, 2026). Ambergris Caye is the biggest market by volume, with 1,041 active listings and a median of US$319,000.
| Area | Active listings | Median asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Ambergris Caye | 1,041 | US$319,000 |
| Placencia | 443 | US$575,000 |
| Corozal | 286 | US$197,450 |
| Caye Caulker | 132 | US$429,500 |
| Hopkins | 90 | US$432,000 |
| Orange Walk | 90 | US$175,000 |
| Belmopan | 79 | US$242,500 |
| Belize City | 72 | US$375,000 |
| San Ignacio | 57 | US$295,000 |
Source: Belize Real Estate MLS Q4 2026 market report, active listings on October 12, 2026 (asking prices).
How much do homes, condos and land cost in Belize?
Homes had a median asking price of US$470,000, condos US$405,000 and land US$175,000 on October 12, 2026 (Belize Real Estate MLS, 2026). Land is also the largest category, with 1,387 of the 3,247 active listings.
| Measure | Median asking price |
|---|---|
| Homes (759 listings) | US$470,000 |
| Condos (484 listings) | US$405,000 |
| Land (1,387 listings) | US$175,000 |
| Condos, per interior sq ft | US$358 |
| Homes, per interior sq ft | US$250 |
| Land and farms of 1+ acre, per acre | US$12,929 |
Source: Belize Real Estate MLS (2026).
How much Belize property is listed under US$250,000?
About 40.6% of active listings were priced under US$250,000 on October 12, 2026, and 14.5% were under US$100,000 (Belize Real Estate MLS, 2026). Roughly 65.0% were listed under US$500,000.
Is lending for Belize real estate growing?
Domestic bank loans for residential real estate rose by about US$11.2 million in 2025 to roughly US$107.0 million (BZ$213.9 million), according to the Central Bank of Belize Annual Report 2025. Construction output also grew 9.0% in 2025, the same report says.
| Bank lending indicator | Figure | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Weighted average lending rate, domestic banks | 8.48% | Dec 2025 |
| Residential construction lending rate | 6.59% | Dec 2025 |
| Personal loan rate | 11.46% | Dec 2025 |
| Residential real estate loans outstanding | about US$107.0 million | 2025 |
Source: Central Bank of Belize Annual Report 2025 (Tables A.15 and A.17).
How many foreigners buy property and retire in Belize?
Belize does not publish a count of foreign property buyers, but 11.5% of the population was born abroad at the 2022 Census (Statistical Institute of Belize, 2022). The Central Bank also recorded about US$33.5 million (BZ$67.0 million) of new foreign direct investment into real estate activities in 2025 (Central Bank of Belize, 2025).
How much foreign investment goes into Belize property and tourism building?
New inward foreign direct investment into tourism-related construction was about US$63.9 million (BZ$127.8 million) in 2025, according to the Central Bank of Belize. A further US$33.5 million went into real estate activities that year.
What does Belize’s QRP retirement program require?
The Qualified Retirement Program is open to people aged 40 or older with retirement income of at least US$2,000 a month (US$24,000 a year) from outside Belize (Belize Tourism Board, 2026). Members must also spend at least 30 consecutive days in Belize each year.
| QRP requirement or fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 40 |
| Minimum retirement income | US$2,000 per month or US$24,000 per year |
| Minimum yearly stay | 30 consecutive days |
| Application program fee | US$150 |
| Applicant fee | US$1,000 |
| Dependent fee | US$750 |
| QRP ID card | US$200 per card |
| QRP ID card renewal | US$25 per year |
Source: Belize Tourism Board QRP page (2026). Belize does not publish an official count of active QRP members, so we have not included one.
How many tourists visit Belize each year?
The Belize Tourism Board’s preliminary 2025 figures show 551,698 overnight visitors and 967,214 cruise passengers (BTB, 2026 release). Overnight arrivals were 9.6% above 2019, while cruise arrivals were still 17.4% below 2019’s 1,170,558.
| Tourism indicator | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight visitors (BTB, preliminary) | 551,698, up 0.8% | BTB (2025) |
| Overnight visitors, 2024 / 2019 | 547,370 / 503,166 | BTB (2024, 2019) |
| Cruise passenger arrivals (BTB, preliminary) | 967,214, up 8.1% | BTB (2025) |
| Stay-over arrivals (Central Bank series) | 504,907, down 1.6% | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Stay-over arrivals by air | 418,870 | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Cruise ship port calls | 337 | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Average length of stay | 6.1 days | Central Bank of Belize Key Tourism Indicators (2025) |
| Hotel occupancy rate | 48.1% | Central Bank of Belize Key Tourism Indicators (2024) |
| Tourism earnings (inflows) | US$827.3 million | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
Why two overnight numbers? The BTB counts overnight stays in its preliminary release, while the Central Bank’s stay-over series (built from BTB data) uses a different count, so the two shouldn’t be mixed in one trend line.
Where do Belize’s visitors come from?
US visitors made up 72.3% of stay-over arrivals in 2025, followed by Europe at 10.2% and Canada at 6.3% (Central Bank of Belize, 2025). European arrivals grew 18.3% that year, even as US arrivals fell 3.0%.
How big is Belize’s economy?
Belize’s GDP was about US$3.33 billion in 2025 (BZ$6,655.8 million at current prices), and the economy grew 2.7% in real terms after 3.5% in 2024 (Central Bank of Belize, 2025). The World Bank puts 2025 GDP at US$3.33 billion as well (World Bank, 2025).
| Economic indicator | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 2.7% (2025), 3.5% (2024) | Central Bank of Belize |
| GDP per capita, current prices | about US$8,019 | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| GDP per capita, current US$ | US$7,865 | World Bank (2025) |
| Unemployment rate (annual average) | 2.0%, a record low | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Unemployment rate, April | 2.1%, down from 3.0% | Statistical Institute of Belize (2025) |
| Labour force participation rate | 58.6% | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Total public sector debt | about US$2.34 billion, 70.2% of GDP | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Gross official international reserves | US$552.3 million (4.4 months of imports) | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
| Remittance inflows | US$121.5 million | Central Bank of Belize (2025) |
Is the Belize dollar pegged to the US dollar?
Yes. The Belize dollar has been fixed at BZ$2.00 to US$1.00 since May 1976 (Central Bank of Belize, 2025).
Is the cost of living in Belize rising?
Prices rose just 1.1% in 2025, down from 3.3% in 2024 and a 6.3% peak in 2022 (Central Bank of Belize, 2025). The Statistical Institute’s consumer price index stood at 120.5 in December 2025 (SIB, 2025).
| Price category (2025 change) | Change |
|---|---|
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | +1.6% |
| Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels | +2.0% |
| Restaurants and accommodation services | +2.1% |
| Personal care and miscellaneous goods and services | +2.5% |
| Transport | -1.8% |
Sources: Statistical Institute of Belize (2025); transport figure from the Central Bank of Belize (2025). The Central Bank reports the housing group at 2.1%, citing higher home rental rates.
What taxes and fees do property buyers pay in Belize?
Foreign buyers pay 8% stamp duty on the value of land above BZ$20,000 (US$10,000), while Belizean and CARICOM nationals pay 5% (Ministry of Natural Resources Valuation Unit, rates in force since November 1, 2017). After purchase, land tax is assessed at 1% of the land’s unimproved value (BELTRAIDE, 2026).
| Tax or fee | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp duty, foreign buyers | 8% above US$10,000 | Valuation Unit |
| Stamp duty, Belizean and CARICOM buyers | 5% above US$10,000 | Valuation Unit |
| Land tax | 1% of unimproved value | BELTRAIDE |
| Property tax, Belmopan | 2% of assessed value | BELTRAIDE |
| Property tax, Belize City | 2.5% of assessed value | BELTRAIDE |
| General Sales Tax (GST) | 12.5% | BELTRAIDE |
| Hotel and tourist accommodation tax | 9% per guest stay | Belize Tourism Board |
For a worked example, try our Belize closing cost calculator.
Do Airbnb and vacation rental owners in Belize pay the 9% accommodation tax?
Yes. Vacation rentals listed on platforms such as Airbnb must be registered and licensed with the Belize Tourism Board, and licensed accommodations collect the 9% tax from each guest on behalf of the government (BTB Airbnb Resource, 2026). The tax is paid to the BTB.
How many people own or rent their homes in Belize?
About 67.8% of Belizean households owned the dwelling they lived in at the 2022 Census, with or without a mortgage (Statistical Institute of Belize, 2022). The country had 110,719 households, almost 40% more than in 2010.
| Housing indicator (2022 Census) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Households | 110,719 |
| Households owning their dwelling | 67.8% |
| Average household size | 3.6 people (4.0 in 2010) |
| Highest average household size | Toledo, 4.0 people |
| Households in urban areas | 42.2% |
| Houses built from concrete | almost 54% |
Source: Statistical Institute of Belize, 2022 Census key findings.
What is the population of Belize by district?
Belize counted 397,483 people at the 2022 Census, up 23.3% from 322,424 in 2010 (Statistical Institute of Belize, 2022). Belize District is the largest with 113,630 residents, and Stann Creek grew fastest at 40.3%.
| District | 2010 | 2022 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | 95,287 | 113,630 | 19.3% |
| Cayo | 75,034 | 99,105 | 32.1% |
| Orange Walk | 45,936 | 54,152 | 17.9% |
| Stann Creek | 34,324 | 48,162 | 40.3% |
| Corozal | 41,060 | 45,310 | 10.4% |
| Toledo | 30,783 | 37,124 | 20.6% |
| Belize (national) | 322,424 | 397,483 | 23.3% |
Source: Statistical Institute of Belize, 2022 Census.
What is Belize’s population now?
The Central Bank of Belize estimates the 2025 population at 415,000 (Central Bank of Belize, 2025), while the World Bank’s 2025 estimate is 422,924 (World Bank, 2025). The national median age was 25 at the 2022 Census (SIB, 2022).
What damage have recent hurricanes caused in Belize?
Hurricane Lisa made landfall on November 2, 2022 near the mouth of the Sibun River, about 10 nautical miles southwest of Belize City, with winds of about 80 knots (US National Hurricane Center, 2023 report). The NHC estimates Lisa caused about US$100 million in damage in Belize, with no reported casualties.
| Hurricane Lisa (2022) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Landfall date | November 2, 2022 |
| Intensity at landfall | about 80 knots (Category 1) |
| Estimated damage in Belize | about US$100 million |
| Storm surge on parts of the eastern coast | 3 to 5 feet |
| Reported casualties | none |
Source: National Hurricane Center Tropical Cyclone Report, Hurricane Lisa.
How much of Belize is forested?
Forest covered about 58.0% of Belize’s land area in 2024 (World Bank, 2024). About 41.6% of the population lived in urban areas in 2025, according to the World Bank.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average house price in Belize?
Belize has no official sold-price index, but across 3,247 active belizerealestatemls.com listings on October 12, 2026, the median asking price was US$325,000 and the average was US$665,512 (Belize Real Estate MLS, 2026). Homes alone had a median asking price of US$470,000.
How much is stamp duty in Belize for foreigners?
Foreign buyers pay 8% stamp duty on the value of land above BZ$20,000 (US$10,000), and Belizean or CARICOM nationals pay 5% (Ministry of Natural Resources Valuation Unit). Duty is assessed on open market value.
How much income do you need for the Belize QRP?
You need at least US$2,000 a month, or US$24,000 a year, in retirement income from outside Belize, and you must be 40 or older (Belize Tourism Board, 2026). The applicant fee is US$1,000 plus a US$150 application fee.
How many tourists visited Belize in 2025?
The Belize Tourism Board’s preliminary count was 551,698 overnight visitors and 967,214 cruise passengers in 2025 (BTB, 2026). That’s about 1.52 million arrivals in total.
What is the population of Belize?
The 2022 Census counted 397,483 people (Statistical Institute of Belize). The Central Bank’s 2025 estimate is 415,000.
What is the property tax rate in Belize?
Land tax is 1% of a property’s unimproved value, and city and town councils set their own property tax, such as 2% of assessed value in Belmopan and 2.5% in Belize City (BELTRAIDE, 2026). For more detail see our guide to property tax in Belize.
How should you cite these Belize statistics?
Please cite the original source shown next to each figure and link to this page, for example: “Belize Real Estate Statistics (2026), Belize Real Estate MLS, belizerealestatemls.com.” We review the figures when new official data comes out, and the Updated date at the top shows the last check.
How were these statistics collected?
Every figure was checked against its original source page or report before publishing, and anything we couldn’t confirm was left out. Belize dollar amounts were converted at the fixed rate of BZ$2 = US$1, and listing prices are asking prices from belizerealestatemls.com, not closed sales.
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