Belarus

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.

53 00 N, 28 00 E

large tracts of marshy land

slightly less than twice the size of Kentucky; slightly smaller than Kansas

soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

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

cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

0 km (landlocked)

Total: 3,599 km

Border countries (5): Latvia 161 km; Lithuania 640 km; Poland 375 km; Russia 1,312 km; Ukraine 1,111 km

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.)

none (landlocked)

timber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes

generally flat with much marshland

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Europe

260 sq km (2022)

57.9 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

Lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m

Mean elevation: 160 m

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Dnieper (533,966 sq 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

Total : 207,600 sq km

Land: 202,900 sq km

Water: 4,700 sq km

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)

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.)

Total population: 99.9% (2019 est.)

Male: 99.9% (2019 est.)

Female: 99.9% (2019 est.)

Noun: Belarusian(s)

Adjective: Belarusian

Total: 14 years (2023 est.)

Male: 14 years (2023 est.)

Female: 15 years (2023 est.)

Urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 99.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0.8% of population (2022 est.)

2.057 million MINSK (capital) (2023)

4.72 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

9.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

26.8 years (2019 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 51.4 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 27 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 3.7 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 98.3% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 1.7% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.)

Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.)

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.

6.6% of GDP (2021)

12.3% of national budget (2022 est.)

Women married by age 15: 0.1% (2019)

Women married by age 18: 4.7% (2019)

Men married by age 18: 1.6% (2019)

0.7 (2024 est.)

62.4% (2019 est.)

Total: 10.1% (2024 est.)

Male: 11.7% (2024 est.)

Female: 8.4% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 42.1 years (2024 est.)

Male: 39.5 years

Female: 45 years

1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.45 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 9,501,451 (2024 est.)

Male: 4,433,839

Female: 5,067,612

Total: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 26.4% (2025 est.)

Male: 44.5% (2025 est.)

Female: 11.6% (2025 est.)

24.5% (2016)

13.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

8.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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.)

Total population: 74.7 years (2024 est.)

Male: 69.8 years

Female: 80 years

5% of GDP (2023 est.)

13.2% national budget (2024 est.)

-0.42% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 600 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial: 430 million cubic meters (2022)

Agricultural: 385 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.28 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2022 est.)

13.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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.)

104.821 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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/

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

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

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

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

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

25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

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

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

Legislature name: National Assembly (Natsionalnoye Sobranie)

Legislative structure: Bicameral

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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC

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

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

18 years of age; universal

presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

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

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)

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)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol

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

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)

green, red, white

3.9% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Lowest 10%: 4.5% (2020 est.)

Highest 10%: 20.7% (2020 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

fertilizers, rapeseed oil, wood, poultry, beef (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 34%, Kazakhstan 10%, Uzbekistan 7%, Poland 6%, Brazil 5% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

milk, sugar beets, potatoes, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rapeseed, rye, chicken (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

cars, broadcasting equipment, fabric, plastic products, video displays (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
3.246 (2024 est.)
3.007 (2023 est.)
2.626 (2022 est.)
2.539 (2021 est.)
2.44 (2020 est.)

metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances

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

$75.962 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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

China 33%, Poland 16%, Germany 11%, Lithuania 10%, Turkey 9% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 29.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On alcohol and tobacco: 7.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

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

4.817 million (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$18.01 billion (2023 est.)

Note: Present value of external debt in current US dollars

$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

33.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

3.4% (2024 est.)
3.5% (2023 est.)
3.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

12.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$265.22 billion (2024 est.)
$254.995 billion (2023 est.)
$244.89 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

5.8% (2024 est.)
5% (2023 est.)
15.2% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$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

$29,000 (2024 est.)
$27,800 (2023 est.)
$26,500 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$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

$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

4% (2024 est.)
4.1% (2023 est.)
-4.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

6% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Consumption: 710,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports: 966,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 1.635 million metric tons (2023 est.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

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.)

Percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)

.by

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)

Total subscriptions: 11.8 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2022 est.)

Total: 3.2 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 4.173 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2023 est.)

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)

EW

46 (2025)

Total: 4 (2023)

By type: Other 4

4 (2025)

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.)

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

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)

approximately 50-60,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

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)

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)

Refugees: 44,621 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons: 5,620 (2024 est.)

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/

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.)

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

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

24.4 (2020 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality