2017 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.

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

large tracts of marshy land

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

15.78% (male 774,995/female 732,191) 10.29% (male 505,420/female 477,123) 44.76% (male 2,104,170/female 2,170,515) 14.21% (male 599,630/female 757,744) 14.95% (male 457,766/female 970,193) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

15.78% (male 774,995/female 732,191)

15-24 years

10.29% (male 505,420/female 477,123)

25-54 years

44.76% (male 2,104,170/female 2,170,515)

55-64 years

14.21% (male 599,630/female 757,744)

65 years and over

14.95% (male 457,766/female 970,193) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

10.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

63.1% (2012)

Death rate

13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

43.8 23.2 20.6 4.9 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

20.6

potential support ratio

4.9 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.8

youth dependency ratio

23.2

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

4.9% of GDP (2015)

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

0.4% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

19,000 (2016 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 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 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

73 years 67.5 years 78.8 years (2017 est.)

female

78.8 years (2017 est.)

male

67.5 years

total population

73 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

40 years 37.1 years 43.1 years (2017 est.)

female

43.1 years (2017 est.)

male

37.1 years

total

40 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.7 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

Belarusian(s) Belarusian

adjective

Belarusian

noun

Belarusian(s)

Net migration rate

0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.5% (2016)

Physicians density

4.07 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

9,549,747 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.22% (2017 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 (2015)

female

16 years (2015)

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 (2017 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

77.4% of total population (2017) -0.04% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.04% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

77.4% of total population (2017)

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 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 (2016)

amendments

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 (2016)

history

several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994

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 Robert RILEY (since 22 August 2016) 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 Unit 7010 Box 100, DPO AE 09769 [375] (17) 210-1283 [375] (17) 234-7853

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant; left in 2008 upon insistence of Belarusian Government); Charge d'Affaires Robert RILEY (since 22 August 2016)

embassy

46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002

FAX

[375] (17) 234-7853

mailing address

Unit 7010 Box 100, DPO AE 09769

telephone

[375] (17) 210-1283

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

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

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) were revised and came into force in 1999 and 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 House of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - the US does not recognize the legitimacy of the National Assembly House of Representatives - 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 alternative representation in the House; 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 Council of the Republic - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - 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, independent 94

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 House of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year terms); note - the US does not recognize the legitimacy of the National Assembly

election results

Council of the Republic - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - 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, independent 94

elections

House of Representatives - 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 alternative representation in the House; 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 [Georgi ATAMANOV] 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 Party of the Green [Anastasiya DOROFEYEVA] Belarusian Party of the Left "Just 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 or BRDP [Aleksandr YAROSHUK] Belarusian Helsinki Committee or BHC [Aleh HULAK] For Freedom Movement [Yuri GUBAREVICH] 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

$19.6 billion $18.95 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$18.95 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$19.6 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

14% (19 April 2017) 15% (15 March 2017)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.4% (31 December 2016 est.) 18.08% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-1.703 billion (2016 est.) $-1.843 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$37.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $37.88 billion (31 December 2015 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 between 1991 and 1994, 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 reluctance to welcome private investment absent joint ownership or affiliation with the state. A few businesses, which had been privatized after independence, were renationalized. State banks account for 75% of the banking sector. Economic output declined for several years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, but 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 world market prices. Belarus then derives export revenue by refining Russian crude and selling it at market prices. In late 2006, Russia began a process of rolling back its subsidies on oil and gas exports to Belarus. Several times since, Russia and Belarus have had serious disagreements over the level and price of Russian energy supplies. At one point in 2010, Russia stopped the export of all subsidized oil to Belarus save for domestic needs before the two countries reached a deal to restart the export of discounted oil to Belarus. Beginning in early 2016, Russia claims Belarus began accumulating debt – reaching $740 million by April 2017 – for paying below an agreed price for Russian natural gas. Russia decided to reduce its export of crude oil as a result of the debt. In April 2017, Belarus agreed to pay its gas debt and Russia restored the flow of crude. New non-Russian foreign investment has been limited in recent years. In 2011, a financial crisis began, triggered by government-directed salary hikes, compounded by an increased cost in Russian energy inputs and an overvalued Belarusian ruble that lead to a nearly three-fold devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. In November 2011, Belarus agreed to sell to Russia its remaining shares of Beltransgaz, the Belarusian natural gas pipeline operator, in exchange for reduced prices for Russian natural gas. The situation stabilized in 2012, after Belarus received part of a $3 billion loan from the Russian-dominated Eurasian Economic Community Bailout Fund, a $1 billion loan from the Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, and $2.5 billion from the sale of Beltransgaz to Russian state-owned Gazprom; nevertheless, the Belarusian currency lost more than 60% of its value, as 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, which triggered a near 40% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble. Since 2012, Belarus’s economy has suffered stagnation, which has led to widening productivity and income gaps between Belarus and neighboring countries. Since 2015, the Belarusian government has tightened its monetary policies (including allowing a more flexible exchange rate regime) and reduced subsidized government lending to state-owned industrial and agricultural enterprises, amid a drop in state budget revenues owing to falling global prices on key Belarusian export commodities - petroleum products and potash fertilizer. Belarus entered 2016 with a contracting economy and minimal hard currency reserves. GDP and foreign trade fell and unemployment rose, while inflation declined and hard currency reserves increased.

Exchange rates

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2 (2016 est.) 2 (2015 est.) 15,926 (2014 est.) 10,224.1 (2013 est.) 8,336.9 (2012 est.)

Exports

$22.98 billion (2016 est.) $26.16 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Russia 46.3%, Ukraine 12.2%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

54.6% 16.1% 23.9% 5.4% 62.7% -62.7% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

62.7%

government consumption

16.1%

household consumption

54.6%

imports of goods and services

-62.7% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.9%

investment in inventories

5.4%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

8.1% 39.6% 52.3% (2016 est.)

agriculture

8.1%

industry

39.6%

services

52.3% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$18,100 (2016 est.) $18,600 (2015 est.) $19,400 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.6% (2016 est.) -3.8% (2015 est.) 1.7% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$47.39 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$171.7 billion (2016 est.) $174.1 billion (2015 est.) $179.1 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

21.7% of GDP (2016 est.) 25.8% of GDP (2015 est.) 28.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.8% 21.9% (2008)

highest 10%

21.9% (2008)

lowest 10%

3.8%

Imports

$25.57 billion (2016 est.) $28.31 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 55.5%, China 7.8%, Germany 4.9%, Poland 4.4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-4% (2016 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.8% (2016 est.) 13.6% (2015 est.)

Labor force

4.381 million (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

9.7% 23.4% 66.8% (2015 est.)

agriculture

9.7%

industry

23.4%

services

66.8% (2015 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

5.7% (2016 est.)

Public debt

47.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 48.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.927 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.176 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.431 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$3.547 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $4.649 billion (31 December 2015)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$6.929 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $7.241 billion (31 December 2015)

Stock of domestic credit

$20.64 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $22.23 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.718 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.301 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

40.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

1% (2016 est.) 1% (2015 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

31,770 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

450,200 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

32,670 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

198 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

31.75 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

3.482 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

6.104 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

10.08 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

32.04 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

26.5 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2016 est.)

Natural gas - imports

17.3 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

30 million cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

172,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

290,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,387 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

471,600 bbl/day (2014 est.)

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 (2017)

Internet country code

.by

Internet users

6,805,786 71.1% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

71.1% (July 2016 est.)

total

6,805,786

Telephone system

Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; modernization of the network progressing with over 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; the country has three major GSM mobile-cellular networks; mobile-cellular teledensity now approaches 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 (2017)

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; the country has three major GSM mobile-cellular networks; mobile-cellular teledensity now approaches 120 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading telecommunications infrastructure; modernization of the network progressing with over 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 (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

4,515,382 47 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

47 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

4,515,382

Telephones - mobile cellular

11,439,866 120 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (July 2016 est.)

total

11,439,866

Airports

65 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

7 (2017)

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 (2017)

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

1.2% of GDP (2016) 1.33% of GDP (2015) 1.33% of GDP (2014) 1.33% of GDP (2013) 1.28% of GDP (2012)

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, depending on academic qualifications; 17 year olds are eligible to become cadets at military higher education institutes, where they are classified as military personnel (2016)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

244,621 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2017) 6,182 (2016)

refugees (country of origin)

244,621 applicants for forms of legal stay other than asylum (Ukraine) (2017)

stateless persons

6,182 (2016)

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 2005-14; 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 2005-14; 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)