Just How Big Is Belize’s Diaspora and Why Does it Matter?

Immigration Minister Kareem Musa says the Belizean diaspora numbers more than 300,000 people, a figure close to 75% of Belize’s resident population, with the majority living in the United States.

“About 81%, I should say, are in the United States,” Musa said on Thursday. He presented the government’s estimate at the third Belize Diaspora Summit, held in Belize City over three days.

He drew attention to a separate 2024 study by the Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development that put the government’s figure far lower, at roughly 52,900 Belize-born people living abroad in 2020. Musa explained that the two figures measure different populations.

“The government estimate appears to reflect a wider community that includes descendants, while the other is based on country of birth. Both of these studies tell us that Belize’s diaspora is large, global, and strategically important,” he added.

But why is knowing the size of Belize’s diaspora important? That’s because organisers presented a policy paper calling for a National Diaspora Policy, including formal government representation and greater participation in national decision-making for Belizeans abroad.

“We are introducing a policy paper requesting that the government creates a National Diaspora Policy for the diaspora community. That comes with government and representation, and I think it is much bigger than voting,” said Aria Lightfoot, the summit’s organiser. Among the proposals discussed is a Senate seat reserved for the diaspora community, similar to seats currently held by NGOs, Business and the church.

Minister Musa said he supports giving diaspora Belizeans a greater say, including reconsidering voting eligibility rules. “I don’t agree with that,” Musa said, responding to criticism that diaspora participation in governance should be limited since they don’t live in Belize. “I am on record saying that when it comes to voting in our general and city council elections, that we need to consider a possible amendment to the law to remove that three-month residency requirement and to make room for diaspora Belizeans to come and register to vote.”

The question of diaspora voting rights has surfaced before. Musa first proposed amending the Representation of the People Act to allow diaspora voting back in 2018.