2016 Edition

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 have any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first and only directly elected president, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 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. The situation was somewhat aggravated after security services cracked down on mass protests challenging election results in the capital, Minsk, following the 2010 presidential election, but little protest occurred after the 2015 election.

Area

207,600 sq km 202,900 sq km 4,700 sq km

land

202,900 sq km

total

207,600 sq km

water

4,700 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

160 m lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m

highest point

Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

mean elevation

160 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

53 00 N, 28 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

1,140 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

3,642 km Latvia 161 km, Lithuania 640 km, Poland 418 km, Russia 1,312 km, Ukraine 1,111 km

border countries (5)

Latvia 161 km, Lithuania 640 km, Poland 418 km, Russia 1,312 km, Ukraine 1,111 km

total

3,642 km

Land use

43.7% arable land 27.2%; permanent crops 0.6%; permanent pasture 15.9% 42.7% 13.6% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

43.7%

forest

42.7%

other

13.6% (2011 est.)

Location

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

generally flat with much marshland

Age structure

15.65% (male 770,014/female 727,338) 10.68% (male 525,704/female 496,414) 45.04% (male 2,118,447/female 2,191,694) 13.95% (male 589,288/female 745,815) 14.69% (male 448,135/female 957,527) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

15.65% (male 770,014/female 727,338)

15-24 years

10.68% (male 525,704/female 496,414)

25-54 years

45.04% (male 2,118,447/female 2,191,694)

55-64 years

13.95% (male 589,288/female 745,815)

65 years and over

14.69% (male 448,135/female 957,527) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

10.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

54,218 5% (2005 est.)

percentage

5% (2005 est.)

total number

54,218

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.3% (2005)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

63.1% (2012)

Death rate

13.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

43% 23% 20% 5% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

20%

potential support ratio

5% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

43%

youth dependency ratio

23%

Drinking water source

urban: 99.9% of population rural: 99.1% of population total: 99.7% of population urban: 0.1% of population rural: 0.9% of population total: 0.3% of population (2015 est.)

rural

0.9% of population

total

0.3% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0.1% of population

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.64% (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,000 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

35,200 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

11.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births 4 deaths/1,000 live births 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Russian (official) 70.2%, Belarusian (official) 23.4%, other 3.1% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 3.3% (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

72.7 years 67.2 years 78.6 years (2016 est.)

female

78.6 years (2016 est.)

male

67.2 years

total population

72.7 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99.7% 99.8% 99.7% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.7% (2015 est.)

male

99.8%

total population

99.7%

Major urban areas - population

MINSK (capital) 1.915 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

39.8 years 36.8 years 42.9 years (2016 est.)

female

42.9 years (2016 est.)

male

36.8 years

total

39.8 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.4 (2013 est.)

Nationality

Belarusian(s) Belarusian

adjective

Belarusian

noun

Belarusian(s)

Net migration rate

0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

25.2% (2014)

Physicians density

3.93 physicians/1,000 population (2013)

Population

9,570,376 (July 2016 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.21% (2016 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 94.1% of population rural: 95.2% of population total: 94.3% of population urban: 5.9% of population rural: 4.8% of population total: 5.7% of population (2015 est.)

rural

4.8% of population

total

5.7% of population (2015 est.)

urban

5.9% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

16 years 15 years 16 years (2014)

female

16 years (2014)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.79 male(s)/female 0.46 male(s)/female 0.87 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.79 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.46 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.87 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.48 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

12.5% 12.4% 12.6% (2009 est.)

female

12.6% (2009 est.)

male

12.4%

total

12.5%

Urbanization

76.7% of total population (2015) 0.05% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.05% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

76.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk) administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian

note

administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian

Capital

Minsk 53 54 N, 27 34 E UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

53 54 N, 27 34 E

name

Minsk

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus no 7 years

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

Constitution

several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994; amended 1996, 2004 (2016)

Country name

Republic of Belarus Belarus Respublika Byelarus'/Respublika Belarus' Byelarus'/Belarus' Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic the name is a compound of the Belarusian words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian

conventional long form

Republic of Belarus

conventional short form

Belarus

etymology

the name is a compound of the Belarusian words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian

former

Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Respublika Byelarus'/Respublika Belarus'

local short form

Byelarus'/Belarus'

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant; left in 2008 upon insistence of Belarusian Government); Charge d'Affaires Scott RAULAND (since 30 June 2014) 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 Unit 7010 Box 100, DPO AE 09769 [375] (17) 210-12-83 [375] (17) 334-7853

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant; left in 2008 upon insistence of Belarusian Government); Charge d'Affaires Scott RAULAND (since 30 June 2014)

embassy

46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002

FAX

[375] (17) 334-7853

mailing address

Unit 7010 Box 100, DPO AE 09769

telephone

[375] (17) 210-12-83

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Charge d'Affaires Pavel SHIDLOVSKIY (since 23 April 2014) 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 986-1606 [1] (202) 986-1805 New York

chancery

1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Charge d'Affaires Pavel SHIDLOVSKIY (since 23 April 2014)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 986-1805

telephone

[1] (202) 986-1606

Executive branch

president Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994) prime minister Andrey KABYAKOV (since 27 December 2014); first deputy prime minister Vasily MATYUSHEVSKIY (since 27 December 2014) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); first election took place on 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held on 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed the president to run in a third (19 March 2006), fourth (19 December 2010), and fifth election (11 October 2015); next election in 2020; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (independent) 83.5%, Tatsiana KARATKEVICH (Tell the Truth) 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH (LDP) 3.3%, other 8.8%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

president Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)

election results

Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (independent) 83.5%, Tatsiana KARATKEVICH (Tell the Truth) 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH (LDP) 3.3%, other 8.8%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); first election took place on 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held on 9 September 2001; an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed the president to run in a third (19 March 2006), fourth (19 December 2010), and fifth election (11 October 2015); next election in 2020; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly

head of government

prime minister Andrey KABYAKOV (since 27 December 2014); first deputy prime minister Vasily MATYUSHEVSKIY (since 27 December 2014)

Flag description

red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red; the red band color recalls past struggles from oppression, the green band represents hope and the many forests of the country

Government type

presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Independence

25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

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

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, 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) 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 including the court chairman appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Chamber of Representatives; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70 provincial (including Minsk city) courts; first instance (district) courts; economic courts; military courts

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, 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 including the court chairman appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Chamber of Representatives; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70

subordinate courts

provincial (including Minsk city) courts; first instance (district) courts; economic courts; military courts

Legal system

civil law system; note - nearly all major codes (civil, civil procedure, criminal, criminal procedure, family, and labor) have been revised and came into force in 1999 or 2000

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobraniye consists of the Council of the Republic or Sovet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members indirectly elected by regional and Minsk city councils and 8 members appointed by the president; members serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - the US does not recognize the legitimacy of the National Assembly Palata Predstaviteley - last held on 11 September 2016 (next to be held in 2020); OSCE observers determined that the election was neither free nor impartial and that vote counting was problematic in a number of polling stations; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won virtually every seat with only the UCP member and one independent forming opposition representation in the chamber; international observers determined that the previous elections, on 28 September 2008 and 23 September 2012, also fell short of democratic standards, with pro-LUKASHENKO candidates winning every seat Sovet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KPB 8, Belarusian Patriotic Party 3, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 3, LDP 1, UCP 1, independents 104

description

bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobraniye consists of the Council of the Republic or Sovet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members indirectly elected by regional and Minsk city councils and 8 members appointed by the president; members serve 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - the US does not recognize the legitimacy of the National Assembly

election results

Sovet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KPB 8, Belarusian Patriotic Party 3, Republican Party of Labor and Justice 3, LDP 1, UCP 1, independents 104

elections

Palata Predstaviteley - last held on 11 September 2016 (next to be held in 2020); OSCE observers determined that the election was neither free nor impartial and that vote counting was problematic in a number of polling stations; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won virtually every seat with only the UCP member and one independent forming opposition representation in the chamber; international observers determined that the previous elections, on 28 September 2008 and 23 September 2012, also fell short of democratic standards, with pro-LUKASHENKO candidates winning every seat

National anthem

"My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians) Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI 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)

lyrics/music

Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI

name

"My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians)

note

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)

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

National symbol(s)

no clearly defined current national symbol, the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional Belarusian symbol; national colors: green, red, white

no clearly defined current national symbol, the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional Belarusian symbol; national colors

green, red, white

Political parties and leaders

Belarusian Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKIY] Belarusian Patriotic Party [Nikolai ULAKHOVICH] Belarusian Socialist Sporting Party [Vladimir ALEKSANDROVICH] Communist Party of Belarus or KPB [Igor KARPENKO] Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Sergey GAYDUKEVICH] Republican Party [Vladimir BELOZOR] Republican Party of Labor and Justice [Vasiliy ZADNEPRYANIY] Belarusian Christian Democracy Party [Pavel SEVERINETS] (unregistered) Belarusian Liberal Party of Freedom and Progress [Vladimir NOVOSYAD] (unregistered) Belarusian Party of the Green [Anastasiya DOROFEYEVA] Belarusian Party of the Left "Fair World" [Sergey KALYAKIN] Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Aleksey YANUKEVICH] Belarusian Social-Democratic Assembly [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH] Belarusian Social Democratic Party ("Assembly") or BSDPH [Irina VESHTARD] Belarusian Social Democratic Party (People's Assembly) [Nikolay STATKEVICH] (unregistered) Christian Conservative Party or BPF [Zyanon PAZNYAK] United Civic Party or UCP [Anatoliy LEBEDKO]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH] (unregistered) Belarusian Association of Journalists [Andrei BASTUNETS] Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK] Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Aleh HULAK] For Freedom Movement [Aleksandr Milinkevich] Malady Front (Young Front) [Zmitser DASHKEVICH] (unregistered) Vyasna (Spring) human rights center [Ales BELYATSKIY] (unregistered) Perspektiva [Anatoliy SHUMCHENKO] (small business association) "Tell the Truth" Movement [Tatsiana KARATKEVICH] (unregistered) Women's Independent Democratic Movement [Ludmila PETINA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Budget

$22.97 billion $22.17 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$22.17 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$22.97 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

20% (13 August 2014) 10.5% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

18.08% (31 December 2015 est.) 18.74% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.064 billion (2015 est.) -$5.197 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$34.85 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $40.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.5 (2011) 21.7 (1998)

Economy - overview

As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-developed, though aging industrial base; it retained this industrial base - which is now outdated, energy inefficient, and dependent on subsidized Russian energy and preferential access to Russian markets - following the breakup of the USSR. The country also has a broad agricultural base which is largely inefficient and dependent on government subsidies. After an initial burst of capitalist reform from 1991-94, including privatization of smaller state enterprises and some service sector businesses, creation of institutions of private property, and development of entrepreneurship, Belarus' economic development greatly slowed. About 80% of all industry remains in state hands, and foreign investment has been hindered by a climate hostile to business. A few banks, which had been privatized after independence, were renationalized. State banks account for 75% of the banking sector. Economic output, which had declined for several years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, revived in the mid-2000s due to the boom in oil prices. Belarus has only small reserves of crude oil, though it imports most of its crude oil and natural gas from Russia at prices substantially below the world market. Belarus exported refined oil products at market prices produced from Russian crude oil purchased at a steep discount. In late 2006, Russia began a process of rolling back its subsidies on oil and gas to Belarus. Tensions over Russian energy reached a peak in 2010, when Russia stopped the export of all subsidized oil to Belarus save for domestic needs. In December 2010, Russia and Belarus reached a deal to restart the export of discounted oil to Belarus. In 2015, Belarus continued to import Russian crude oil at a discounted price. However, the plunge in global oil prices heavily reduced revenues. Little new foreign investment has occurred in recent years. In 2011, a financial crisis began, triggered by government directed salary hikes unsupported by commensurate productivity increases. The crisis was compounded by an increased cost in Russian energy inputs and an overvalued Belarusian ruble, and eventually led to a near three-fold devaluation of the Belarusian ruble in 2011. In November 2011, Belarus agreed to sell to Russia its remaining shares in Beltransgaz, the Belarusian natural gas pipeline operator, in exchange for reduced prices for Russian natural gas. Receiving part of a $3 billion loan from the Russian-dominated Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) Bail-out Fund, a $1 billion loan from the Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, and the $2.5 billion sale of Beltransgaz to Russian state-owned Gazprom helped stabilize the situation in 2012; nevertheless, the Belarusian currency lost more than 60% of its value, as the rate of inflation reached new highs in 2011 and 2012, before calming in 2013. In December 2013, Russia announced a new loan for Belarus of up to $2 billion for 2014. Notwithstanding foreign assistance, the Belarusian economy continued to struggle under the weight of high external debt servicing payments and trade deficit. In mid-December 2014, structural economic shortcomings were aggravated by the devaluation of the Russian ruble and triggered a near 40% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. Belarus entered 2015 with stagnant economic growth and reduced hard currency reserves, with under one month of import cover.

Exchange rates

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 15,926 (2015 est.) 10,224.1 (2014 est.) 10,224.1 (2013 est.) 8,336.9 (2012 est.) 4,974.6 (2011 est.)

Exports

$26.19 billion (2015 est.) $35.42 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners

Russia 39%, UK 11.2%, Ukraine 9.5%, Netherlands 4.3%, Germany 4.1% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

50.3% 14.9% 28.6% 6% 60% -59.8% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

60%

government consumption

14.9%

household consumption

50.3%

imports of goods and services

-59.8% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

28.6%

investment in inventories

6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

8.9% 41.3% 49.8% (2015 est.)

agriculture

8.9%

industry

41.3%

services

49.8% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,700 (2015 est.) $18,400 (2014 est.) $18,100 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-3.9% (2015 est.) 1.6% (2014 est.) 1% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$54.61 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$167.7 billion (2015 est.) $174.5 billion (2014 est.) $171.8 billion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

26.2% of GDP (2015 est.) 28.7% of GDP (2014 est.) 28.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.8% 21.9% (2008)

highest 10%

21.9% (2008)

lowest 10%

3.8%

Imports

$28.33 billion (2015 est.) $38.06 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals

Imports - partners

Russia 56.6%, China 7.9%, Germany 4.6% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

-6.5% (2015 est.)

Industries

metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

13.6% (2015 est.) 18.3% (2014 est.)

Labor force

4.546 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

9.3% 32.7% 58% (2014 est.)

agriculture

9.3%

industry

32.7%

services

58% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

6.3% (2012 est.)

Public debt

48.5% of GDP (2015 est.) 34.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.176 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $5.059 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.651 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $7.608 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$10.17 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$22.23 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $27.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.301 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $3.524 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

42.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

0.7% (2014 est.) 0.5% (2013 est.) official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers

note

official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

70 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

31,810 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

439,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

26,080 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

200 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

33 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

4.5 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

7.8 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

9.2 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

33 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

20.08 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

20.05 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

170,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

284,200 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,334 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

444,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

4 state-controlled national TV channels; Polish and Russian TV broadcasts are available in some areas; state-run Belarusian Radio operates 3 national networks and an external service; Russian and Polish radio broadcasts are available (2007)

Internet country code

.by

Internet users

5.968 million 62.2% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

62.2% (July 2015 est.)

total

5.968 million

Telephone system

Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; modernization of the network progressing with roughly two-thirds of switching equipment now digital state-owned Beltelcom is the sole provider of fixed-line local and long distance service; fixed-line teledensity is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved; multiple GSM mobile-cellular networks are experiencing rapid growth; mobile-cellular teledensity now approaching 120 telephones per 100 persons country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations (2015)

domestic

state-owned Beltelcom is the sole provider of fixed-line local and long distance service; fixed-line teledensity is improving although rural areas continue to be underserved; multiple GSM mobile-cellular networks are experiencing rapid growth; mobile-cellular teledensity now approaching 120 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; modernization of the network progressing with roughly two-thirds of switching equipment now digital

international

country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); 3 fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

4,540,678 47 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

47 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

4,540,678

Telephones - mobile cellular

11.448 million 119 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (July 2015 est.)

total

11.448 million

Airports

65 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

7 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

20

914 to 1,523 m

1

over 3,047 m

1

total

33

under 914 m

7 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

28 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

over 3,047 m

1

total

32

under 914 m

28 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EW (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

National air transport system

1,489,035 1.807 million mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1.807 million mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,489,035

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

30

number of registered air carriers

2

Pipelines

gas 5,386 km; oil 1,589 km; refined products 1,730 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Mazyr (Prypyats')

river port(s)

Mazyr (Prypyats')

Railways

5,528 km 5,503 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified) 25 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

broad gauge

5,503 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)

standard gauge

25 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

5,528 km

Roadways

86,392 km 74,651 km 11,741 km (2010)

paved

74,651 km

total

86,392 km

unpaved

11,741 km (2010)

Waterways

2,500 km (major rivers are the west-flowing Western Dvina and Neman rivers and the south-flowing Dnepr River and its tributaries, the Berezina, Sozh, and Pripyat rivers) (2011)

Military branches

Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force (2013)

Belarus Armed Forces

Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force (2013)

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2014) 1.3% of GDP (2013) 1.2% of GDP (2012) 1.27% of GDP (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications; 17 year olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2012)

Disputes - international

boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus

Illicit drugs

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in 2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities (2008)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

126,407 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015) 5,635 (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

126,407 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2015)

stateless persons

5,635 (2015)

Trafficking in persons

Belarus is a source, transit, and destination country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; more victims are exploited within Belarus than abroad; Belarusians exploited abroad are primarily trafficked to Germany, Poland, Russian, and Turkey but also other European countries, the Middle East, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Mexico; Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, and Vietnamese are exploited in Belarus; state-sponsored forced labor is a continuing problem; students are forced to do farm labor without pay and military conscripts are forced to perform unpaid non-military work; the government has retained a decree forbidding workers in state-owned wood processing factories from leaving their jobs without their employers’ permission Tier 3 – Belarus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and was placed on Tier 3 after being on the Tier 2 Watch List for two consecutive years without making progress; government efforts to repeal state-sponsored forced labor policies and domestic trafficking were inadequate; no trafficking offenders were convicted in 2014, and the number of investigations progressively declined from 2005-2014; efforts to protect trafficking victims remain insufficient, with no identification and referral mechanism in place; care facilities were not trafficking-specific and were poorly equipped, leading most victims to seek assistance from private shelters (2015)

current situation

Belarus is a source, transit, and destination country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; more victims are exploited within Belarus than abroad; Belarusians exploited abroad are primarily trafficked to Germany, Poland, Russian, and Turkey but also other European countries, the Middle East, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Mexico; Moldovans, Russians, Ukrainians, and Vietnamese are exploited in Belarus; state-sponsored forced labor is a continuing problem; students are forced to do farm labor without pay and military conscripts are forced to perform unpaid non-military work; the government has retained a decree forbidding workers in state-owned wood processing factories from leaving their jobs without their employers’ permission

tier rating

Tier 3 – Belarus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and was placed on Tier 3 after being on the Tier 2 Watch List for two consecutive years without making progress; government efforts to repeal state-sponsored forced labor policies and domestic trafficking were inadequate; no trafficking offenders were convicted in 2014, and the number of investigations progressively declined from 2005-2014; efforts to protect trafficking victims remain insufficient, with no identification and referral mechanism in place; care facilities were not trafficking-specific and were poorly equipped, leading most victims to seek assistance from private shelters (2015)