Belarus

Country Profile: Belarus

Official Name: Republic of Belarus

Capital: Minsk

Geography:

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest.

Area: Approximately 207,595 square kilometers (approximately 80,153 square miles).

Population: Approximately 9.4 million people (as of 2023 estimate).

Language: The official languages are Belarusian and Russian.

Climate:

Belarus has a moderate continental climate, with cool humid winters and warm summers.

Economy:

The economy of Belarus is a mixed one, with public sector employees accounting for about half of the workforce. Major industries include metal-cutting machines, tractors, trucks, motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, and radios.

Government:

Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a president and the National Assembly. The term for each presidency is five years.

Education:

Education is compulsory in Belarus and is provided free to all citizens until they reach the age of 15. The education system is composed of pre-school, general secondary, vocational, specialized secondary, and higher education.

Culture:

Belarusian culture involves a broad mix of influences: the country’s Slavic roots and history of union with surrounding nations; the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland; the influence of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and Orthodox Christianity.

Noteworthy Facts:

Belarus was devastated during World War II, during which it lost about a third of its population and more than half of its economic resources. The country was one of the hardest-hit by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Belarus has also been termed “Europe’s last dictatorship” due to its authoritarian government.

This is a general overview of Belarus. There’s much more to learn about this country, from its complex history to its rich cultural traditions.