Belize (/bəˈliːz/(listen)) (Spanish: Belice), is a country located on the eastern coast of Central America. Belize is bordered on the northwest by Mexico, on the east by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by Guatemala. It has an area of 8,800 square miles (22,800km2) and a population of 387,879 (2017).[5] Its mainland is about 180mi (290km) long and 68mi (110km) wide. It has the lowest population and population density in Central America.[9] The country's population growth rate of 1.87% per year (2015) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.[3]