World · permanent entity record · BO
Belarus
Thirty-second orientation
Belarus at a glance
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Belarusian(s); adjective: Belarusian
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Government
- presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
- Languages
- Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history
Belarus through time
Admitted to the United Nations
Belarus became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04
Source history · changed fields only
Changes since the final CIA profile
| Field | Maintained Almanac value | Final CIA profile |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,085,991World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025 | total: 9,460,972 (2025 est.) male: 4,414,771 female: 5,046,201CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-20 |
A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.
World Development Indicators · latest available observation
People, economy, and access
Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.
- Gross domestic product
- $93.4 billion
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Gross domestic product per person
- $10,279
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Life expectancy at birth
- 74.4 years
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Urban population
- 79.5%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- People using the internet
- 94.3%
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Source footnote: Source and notes: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat), in the last 12 months Retrieved 2026-09-08.
World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.
Maintained profile
- Capital
- Minsk
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
- Area
- 207,600 sq km
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
- Population
- 9,085,991
- World Bank, World Development Indicators · World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Source footnote: Extrapolated assuming the same growth rate as the one between 2024 average population and 2025 January 1st population of National Statistical Committee website. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
- Currency
- Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
- Languages
- Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
- Nationality / demonym
- noun: Belarusian(s); adjective: Belarusian
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
- Government
- presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
- CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json ·
- Continent
- Europe
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Europe.”
- Coastline
- 0 km (landlocked)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Climate
- cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Religions
- Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Flag colors
- red, green, white
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
- National symbol
- no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Highest point
- Dzyarzhynskaya Hara · 1,135 ft (346 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- Lowest point
- Nyoman River · 295 ft (90 m)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
- NATO membership
- Not a member
- NATO, What is NATO? · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
- BRICS membership
- Not a member
- BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data
Final CIA World Factbook profile
This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.
CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b
Introduction1 fields
- Background
- After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. In 1999, Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union, envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place and negotiations on further integration have been contentious. Since taking office in 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means and a centralized economic system. Government restrictions on political and civil freedoms, freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion have remained in place. Restrictions on political freedoms have tightened in the wake of the disputed presidential election in 2020. The election results sparked large-scale protests as members of the opposition and civil society criticized the election’s validity. LUKASHENKA has remained in power as the disputed winner of the presidential election after quelling protests in 2020. Since 2022, Belarus has facilitated Russia's war in Ukraine, which was launched in part from Belarusian territory.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Geography19 fields
- Area
- total : 207,600 sq km land: 202,900 sq km water: 4,700 sq km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Area - comparative
- slightly less than twice the size of Kentucky; slightly smaller than Kansas
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land boundaries
- total: 3,599 km border countries (5): Latvia 161 km; Lithuania 640 km; Poland 375 km; Russia 1,312 km; Ukraine 1,111 km
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Elevation
- highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m mean elevation: 160 m
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural resources
- timber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 39.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2023 est.) forest: 44% (2023 est.) other: 16.5% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major rivers (by length in km)
- Dnyapro (Dnieper) (shared with Russia [s] and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major watersheds (area sq km)
- Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq km)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Geography - note
- landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
People and Society35 fields
- Population
- total: 9,460,972 (2025 est.) male: 4,414,771 female: 5,046,201
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nationality
- noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Ethnic groups
- Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Languages
- Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2019 est.) major-language sample(s): Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Religions
- Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Age structure
- 0-14 years: 16.1% (male 787,849/female 741,293) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 3,073,507/female 3,204,088) 65 years and over: 17.8% (2024 est.) (male 572,483/female 1,122,231)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio: 52 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 27.9 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Median age
- total: 42.5 years (2025 est.) male: 39.5 years female: 45 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Birth rate
- 8.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Death rate
- 13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Net migration rate
- 0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population distribution
- a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Major urban areas - population
- 2.057 million MINSK (capital) (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sex ratio
- at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 26.8 years (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 74.7 years (2024 est.) male: 69.8 years female: 80 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total fertility rate
- 1.45 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Drinking water source
- urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Health expenditure
- 6.6% of GDP (2021) 12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Physician density
- 4.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Hospital bed density
- 9.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Sanitation facility access
- urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Alcohol consumption per capita
- total: 10.57 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 2.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Tobacco use
- total: 26.4% (2025 est.) male: 44.5% (2025 est.) female: 11.6% (2025 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 62.4% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Child marriage
- women married by age 15: 0.1% (2019) women married by age 18: 4.7% (2019) men married by age 18: 1.6% (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Education expenditure
- 5% of GDP (2023 est.) 13.2% national budget (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Literacy
- total population: 99.9% (2019 est.) male: 99.9% (2019 est.) female: 99.9% (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 14 years (2023 est.) male: 14 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Environment10 fields
- Environmental issues
- soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International environmental agreements
- party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Climate
- cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Land use
- agricultural land: 39.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 27.4% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 11.7% (2023 est.) forest: 44% (2023 est.) other: 16.5% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Urbanization
- urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Carbon dioxide emissions
- 46.709 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 1.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.884 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 29.328 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Particulate matter emissions
- 13.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.28 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 600 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 430 million cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 385 million cubic meters (2022)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Total renewable water resources
- 57.9 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Government25 fields
- Country name
- conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian) local short form: Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian) former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic etymology: the name is a compound of the Slavic words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Government type
- presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Capital
- name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; it may be derived from the Menka River
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Administrative divisions
- 6 regions (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legal system
- civil law system note: nearly all major codes (civil, civil procedure, criminal, criminal procedure, family, and labor) were revised and came into force in 1999 and 2000
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Constitution
- history: several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994 amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic through petition to the National Assembly or by petition of least 150,000 eligible voters; approval required by at least two-thirds majority vote in both chambers or by simple majority of votes cast in a referendum note: one of several amendments passed in the February 2022 referendum -- the presidential 5-year, two-term limit -- will be imposed after the 2025 election
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (since 20 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Alyaksandr TURCHYN (since 10 March 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly most recent election date: first election held on 23 June and 10 July 1994; the 1994 constitution set the next election for 1999, but Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA extended his term to 2001 via a referendum; subsequent election held in 2001; a 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed LUKASHENKA to run and win a third term (19 March 2006), fourth term (19 December 2010), fifth term (11 October 2015), sixth term (9 August 2020), and seventh term (26 January 2025) election results: 2025: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 86.8%, Sergey Syrankov (Communist Party) 3.2%, 3.6% voting against all 2020: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 80.1%, Svyatlana TSIKHANOWSKAYA (independent) 10.1%, other 9.8%; note - widespread street protests erupted following announcement of the election results amid allegations of voter fraud 2015: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA elected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 84.1%, Tatsyana KARATKEVIC (BSDPH) 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH (LDP) 3.3%, other 8.2%. expected date of next election: 2030
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch
- legislature name: National Assembly (Natsionalnoye Sobranie) legislative structure: bicameral
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch - lower chamber
- chamber name: House of Representatives (Palata Predstaviteley) number of seats: 110 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/25/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Belaya Rus party (51); Republican Party of Labour and Justice (8); Communist Party of Belarus (7); Non-partisans (40); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 33.9% expected date of next election: February 2029
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Legislative branch - upper chamber
- chamber name: Council of the Republic (Soviet Respubliki) number of seats: 65 (56 indirectly elected; 8 appointed) scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 4/4/2024 percentage of women in chamber: 30.5% expected date of next election: March 2029
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Judicial branch
- highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman and deputy chairman and organized into several specialized panels, including economic and military; number of judges set by the president of the republic and the court chairman); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 judges, including a chairman and deputy chairman) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Council of the Republic; judges initially appointed for 5 years and evaluated for life appointment; Constitutional Court judges - 6 appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Council of the Republic; the presiding judge directly elected by the president and approved by the Council of the Republic; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70 subordinate courts: oblast courts; Minsk City Court; town courts; Minsk city and oblast economic courts
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Political parties
- Belaya Rus or BR Republican Party of Labour and Justice or RPTS Communist Party of Belarus or CBP Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus or LDPB
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Chargé d'Affaires Pavel SHIDLOWSKI (since 9 August 2022) chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1606 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 email address and website: usa@mfa.gov.by Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America (mfa.gov.by)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Michael KREIDLER (since July 2025) embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 mailing address: 7010 Minsk Place, Washington DC 20521-7010 telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83 FAX: [375] (17) 334-78-53 email address and website: ConsularMinsk@state.gov https://by.usembassy.gov/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- International organization participation
- BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Independence
- 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 3 July (1944) note: 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Flag
- description: red horizontal band (top), with a green horizontal band below that is half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the left side has traditional Belarusian designs in red meaning: the red stands for past struggles to escape oppression, and the green for hope and the country's forests
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National symbol(s)
- no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National anthem(s)
- title: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians) lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI history: music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Białowieża Forest (n); Mir Castle Complex (c); Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (c)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Economy32 fields
- Economic overview
- declining Russian energy subsidies will end in 2024; growing public debt; strong currency pressures have led to higher inflation; recent price controls on basic food and drugs; public sector wage increases and fragile private sector threaten household income gains and economic growth
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- $265.22 billion (2024 est.) $254.995 billion (2023 est.) $244.89 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP growth rate
- 4% (2024 est.) 4.1% (2023 est.) -4.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Real GDP per capita
- $29,000 (2024 est.) $27,800 (2023 est.) $26,500 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $75.962 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- 5.8% (2024 est.) 5% (2023 est.) 15.2% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 6.9% (2024 est.) industry: 30.7% (2024 est.) services: 49.7% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 56.8% (2024 est.) government consumption: 19% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 65.1% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -66.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Agricultural products
- milk, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rapeseed, rye, chicken (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industries
- metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Industrial production growth rate
- 6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Labor force
- 4.817 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Unemployment rate
- 3.4% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
- total: 10.1% (2024 est.) male: 11.7% (2024 est.) female: 8.4% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Population below poverty line
- 3.9% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- 24.4 (2020 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Average household expenditures
- on food: 29.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 4.5% (2020 est.) highest 10%: 20.7% (2020 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Remittances
- 1.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Budget
- revenues: $22.876 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $21.912 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Public debt
- 33.2% of GDP (2019 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Taxes and other revenues
- 12.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Current account balance
- -$1.925 billion (2024 est.) -$1.104 billion (2023 est.) $2.628 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports
- $49.386 billion (2024 est.) $47.714 billion (2023 est.) $47.124 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - partners
- China 34%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 7%, Poland 6%, Brazil 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exports - commodities
- fertilizers, rapeseed oil, wood, poultry, beef (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports
- $50.679 billion (2024 est.) $47.459 billion (2023 est.) $42.438 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - partners
- China 33%, Poland 16%, Germany 11%, Lithuania 10%, Turkey 9% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Imports - commodities
- cars, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastic products, video displays (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- $8.912 billion (2024 est.) $8.118 billion (2023 est.) $7.923 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Debt - external
- $18.01 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Exchange rates
- Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 3.246 (2024 est.) 3.007 (2023 est.) 2.626 (2022 est.) 2.539 (2021 est.) 2.44 (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Energy8 fields
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity
- installed generating capacity: 12.653 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 39.883 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 4.553 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 4 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 3.149 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Electricity generation sources
- fossil fuels: 70% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 26.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Nuclear energy
- Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 2.22GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 28.6% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Coal
- consumption: 710,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 966,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.635 million metric tons (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Petroleum
- total petroleum production: 30,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 125,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 198 million barrels (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Natural gas
- production: 68.494 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 15.094 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 15.433 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.832 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Energy consumption per capita
- 104.821 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Communications6 fields
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 4.14 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 11.9 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 131 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadcast media
- 7 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian TV broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian Radio operates 5 national networks and an external service; Russian and Polish radio broadcasts are available (2019)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Internet users
- percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 3.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transportation5 fields
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- EW
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Railways
- total: 5,528 km (2014) standard gauge: 25 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge broad gauge: 5,503 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Merchant marine
- total: 4 (2023) by type: other 4
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Military and Security6 fields
- Military and security forces
- Belarus Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force, Special Troops, Territorial Defense Forces Ministry of Interior: State Border Troops, Militia, Internal Troops (2025) note: in early 2023, President LUKASHENKA ordered the formation of a new volunteer paramilitary territorial defense force to supplement the Army
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military expenditures
- 2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 50-60,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the military's inventory is comprised mostly of Russian and Soviet-origin equipment; Belarus's defense industry manufactures some equipment (mostly modernized Soviet designs), including vehicles, guided weapons, and electronic warfare systems (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military service age and obligation
- 18-27 years of age for compulsory military or alternative service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications, and 24-36 months for alternative service; 17-year-olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2025) note: conscripts can be assigned to the military, to the Ministry of Interior, or to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (alternative service)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Military - note
- the military of Belarus is responsible for territorial defense; Russia is the country’s closest security partner, and the military conducts joint training exercises with Russian forces; in 2022, Belarus allowed the Russian military to stage on its territory for their invasion of Ukraine; in 2023, Belarus agreed to permit Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its soil Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and has committed an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force; the military trains regularly with other CSTO members (2025)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
Transnational Issues2 fields
- Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees: 44,621 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 5,620 (2024 est.)
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
- Trafficking in persons
- tier rating: Tier 3 — Belarus does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore, Belarus remained on Tier 3; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/belarus/
- CIA World Factbook historical record · as of · source
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