Mayas
The Maya, who make up around 10% of Belize's inhabitants, were the first of all the ethnic groups to arrive in the country, and a large majority of them live in the districts of Cayo (San Ignacio), Corozal (to the north), Orange Walk and Toledo (Punta Gorda). They have been present in the country for over 4,000 years and belong to three distinct communities: the Yucatecs, the Ketchi and the Mopan.
Creoles
Creoles, who made up the vast majority of the population before independence, now account for just 25% of Belize's inhabitants. Many of them have migrated to North America in parallel with the growing influx of Latinos into the country. They identify themselves by their common language, and include descendants of African ancestors, with the exception of the Garifuna, who have their own history and language.
Les métisses
A mixture of Spanish and Mayan descendants, the Mestizos make up around half the population. They arrived in Belize during the Caste War that shook the Yucatan in the mid-19th century, and brought with them sugarcane cultivation, which has developed extensively in the north of the country, to such an extent that the country's third-largest city, Orange Walk, is often nicknamed "sugar city".
The Garifunas
The Garifuna are a distinct people, descended from the interbreeding of the Kalinagos (or Caribs) and Arawaks Indians with the African slaves who arrived in the eastern Caribbean, mainly in the West Indies, on the islands of St. Vincent and Dominica. They are sometimes referred to as the Black Caribs. Persecuted and deported many times over the centuries of slavery, they were gradually rounded up and finally deported by the British to the coasts of Belize and Honduras, where they settled in the early 19th century. Today, some 600,000 people make up the Garifuna community as a whole, living mainly in Honduras and the United States. Belize, however, is the country where this culture is most strongly represented, with almost 15,000 of the country's 410,000 inhabitants. As a result of its history, the language of this people is logically mixed, and while it has its origins in the Arawak language family, words of African (Yoruba, Swahili and Bantu languages), French, Spanish and English origin can also be identified in its usage. To protect Garifuna culture, UNESCO has declared their music, dance and language to be part of the intangible heritage of humanity. Garifuna gastronomy is also a unique experience, to be discovered mainly in the Stan Creek district, between Dangriga and Placencia.
The Mennonites
The population that will most surprise visitors is undoubtedly that of the Mennonites. The most rigorous among them live as they did in the 18th century. Most of today's Mennonites are descended from an ancient religious order that settled in West Prussia in the latter part of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century. At the time, the region was under the control of the Russian Empire, and most Mennonites in Belize today are still referred to as "Russian Mennonites", even though their mother tongue is Plautdietsch, related to German and Dutch. Today, they number around 12,000 in the country, representing 3% of the population. In 1873, a group of these "Russian" Mennonites settled in Manitoba, Canada. After a split for theological reasons, a group of Mennonites emigrated to Mexico in 1922. Around 1958, a splinter group of these same Mexican Mennonites settled in the territory known as British Honduras, now Belize. They were later joined by new waves of Mennonite emigration from North America. Often confused with the Amish, they are instantly identifiable by their simple rustic clothing of straw hats, plaid shirts and overalls for the men, while the women wear long dresses and distinctive bonnets.
Local farmers. Today, Belize's Mennonite community is renowned for its high-quality fresh produce, poultry, beef, dairy and bee products, often organic, as well as for its handcrafted furniture and wooden huts used throughout the country by inhabitants of all ethnic groups, and even for tourism, as in Sarteneja. Most Mennonites live in exclusive communities, but some members regularly sell their products at local markets in the west and north of the country. It's not uncommon to find them criss-crossing their region in horse-drawn carriages, offering visitors a sense of stepping back in time. However, it's difficult to communicate with most of them, as they are often shy and speak little Spanish or English. Clinging to their old ways and tending to avoid interaction with their neighbors, Mennonites are a kind and gentle people, grateful for their ability to prosper and contribute to Belize's economy, but like their ancestors, time has divided this people into three distinct societies. While the more conservative members of the community shun electricity, technology and modernity, others live more modern lives. The more progressive Mennonite communities have adopted everything from the latest tractors to computers, cell phones and modern clothing. Given the diversity between these trends, which has grown since the community was established in Belize in 1958, it's not surprising that there are currently 10 distinct Mennonite communities located in the districts of Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk and Toledo.
Local languages
With such ethnic diversity, Belize is a country where many languages are spoken. English is the official language, but depending on the region you visit, you may hear Spanish, Creole, Mayan or even Garifuna spoken!
