View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2010 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 [time series]

.by

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

147,311 (2010) country comparison to the world: 71

Internet users [time series]

2.643 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 69

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 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 reached 100 telephones per 100 persons in 2009 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 (2008)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3.969 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 40

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

9.686 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 67

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Central bank discount rate [time series]

13.5% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 30 12% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

11.68% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$5.062 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 -$6.402 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$24.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $19.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

27.9 (2005) country comparison to the world: 124 21.7 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Belarus has seen limited structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. Since 2005, the government has re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition, businesses have been subjected to pressure by central and local governments, including arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. Continued state control over economic operations hampers market entry for businesses, both domestic and foreign. Government statistics indicate GDP growth was strong, surpassing 10% in 2008, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high rate of inflation and a low rate of unemployment. However, the global crisis pushed the country into recession in 2009, and GDP grew only 0.2% for the year. Slumping foreign demand hit the industrial sector hard. Minsk has depended on a standby-agreement with the IMF to assist with balance of payments shortfalls. In line with IMF conditions, in 2009, Belarus devalued the ruble more than 40% and tightened some fiscal and monetary policies. On 1 January 2010, Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus launched a customs union, with unified trade regulations and customs codes still under negotiation. In late January, Russia and Belarus amended their 2007 oil supply agreement. The new terms raised prices for above quota purchases, increasing Belarus' current account deficit. GDP grew 4.8% in 2010, in part, on the strength of renewed export growth. In December 2010, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement to form a Common Economic Space and Russia removed all Belarusian oil duties.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

30.54 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Electricity - exports [time series]

5.062 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

9.406 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

29.92 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Exchange rates [time series]

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 3,019.9 (2010), 2,789.5 (2009), 2,130 (2008), 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$24.49 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $21.34 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 33.6%, Netherlands 13.78%, Ukraine 8.68%, Latvia 6.32%, Poland 4.19%, Germany 4.17% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$52.89 billion (2010 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$128.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $122.5 billion (2009 est.) $122.3 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 9% industry: 42.9% services: 48.1% (2010 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$13,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $12,700 (2009 est.) $12,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 0.2% (2009 est.) 10.2% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 22% (2005)

Imports [time series]

$29.79 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $28.31 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 56.42%, Germany 8.31%, Ukraine 4.79%, China 4.04% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177 12.9% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

36% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7

Labor force [time series]

5 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 75

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 14% industry: 34.7% services: 51.3% (2003 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

17 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009) country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas - imports [time series]

17.6 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas - production [time series]

152 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Oil - consumption [time series]

173,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Oil - exports [time series]

303,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Oil - imports [time series]

444,800 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Oil - production [time series]

31,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

198 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Population below poverty line [time series]

27.1% (2003 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$5.755 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $4.831 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$13.62 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 92 $14.07 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$19.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $17.15 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$4.747 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 92 $4.381 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 1.6% (2005) note: official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 207,600 sq km country comparison to the world: 85 land: 202,900 sq km water: 4,700 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Kansas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.79 cu km/yr (23%/47%/30%) per capita: 286 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

53 00 N, 28 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,310 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 3,306 km border countries: Latvia 171 km, Lithuania 680 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 26.77% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 72.63% (2005)

Location [time series]

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

generally flat and contains much marshland

Total renewable water resources [time series]

58 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 provinces (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

Capital [time series]

name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution [time series]

15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: Byelarus' former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael SCANLAN embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723 telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347 through 7348 FAX: [375] (17) 334-7853

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Oleg KRAVCHENKO chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604 FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail MYASNIKOVICH (since 28 December 2010); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003) cabinet: Council of Ministers (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; 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) and fourth election (19 December 2010); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 79.7%, Andrey SANNIKAU 2.6%, other candidates 17.7%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Independence [time series]

25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobraniye consists of the Council of the Republic or Sovet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members elected by regional and Minsk city councils and 8 members appointed by the president, to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held on 28 September 2008 (next to be held in the spring of 2012); international observers determined that despite minor improvements the election ultimately fell short of democratic standards; pro-LUKASHENKO candidates won every seat 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 - NA

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians) lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI 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 [time series]

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

pro-government parties: Belarusian Agrarian Party or AP [Mikhail SHIMANSKY]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolay ULAKHOVICH, chairman]; Communist Party of Belarus or KPB [Tatsyana HOLUBEVA]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Sergey GAYDUKEVICH]; Republican Party of Labor and Justice [Vasiliy ZADNEPRYANYY] opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party [Pavel SEVERINETS] (unregistered); Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Sergey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV] (unregistered); Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Aleksey YANUKEVICH]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Hramada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada ("Assembly") or BSDPH [Anatoliy LEVKOVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party People's Assembly ("Narodnaya Hramada") [Nikolay STATKEVICH] (unregistered); Belarusian Women's Party Nadzeya ("Hope") [Yelena YESKOVA, chairperson]; Christian Conservative Party or BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; European Belarus Campaign [Andrey SANNIKOV]; Party of Freedom and Progress [Vladimir NOVOSYAD] (unregistered); "Tell the Truth" Campaign [Vladimir NEKLYAYEV]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatoliy LEBEDKO]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs (unregistered) [Sergey MATSKEVICH]; Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Aleksandr YAROSHUK]; Belarusian Association of Journalists [Zhana LITVINA]; Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Aleh HULAK]; Belarusian Independence Bloc (unregistered) and For Freedom movement [Aleksandr MILINKEVICH]; Belarusian Organization of Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; BPF-Youth [Andrus KRECHKA]; Charter 97 (unregistered) [Andrey SANNIKOV]; Perspektiva small business association [Anatol SHUMCHENKO]; Nasha Vyasna (unregistered) ("Our Spring") human rights center; "Tell the Truth" Movement [Vladimir NEKLYAYEV]; Women's Independent Democratic Movement [Ludmila PETINA]; Young Belarus (Malady Belarus) [Zmitser KASPYAROVICH]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Zmitser DASHKEVICH]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. 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 president, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion remain in place.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,435,318 females age 16-49: 2,466,762 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,708,634 females age 16-49: 2,043,083 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 55,758 female: 52,572 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications (2010)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.3% (male 707,550/female 667,560) 15-64 years: 71.3% (male 3,337,253/female 3,540,916) 65 years and over: 14.5% (male 446,746/female 948,508) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.76 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Death rate [time series]

13.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.2% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 56

Ethnic groups [time series]

Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 174 male: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages [time series]

Belarusian (official) 36.7%, Russian (official) 62.8%, other 0.5% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities) (1999 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.92 years country comparison to the world: 139 male: 65.26 years female: 76.93 years (2010 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.8% female: 99.4% (1999 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 38.8 years male: 35.8 years female: 41.8 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Population [time series]

9,612,632 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.368% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 221

Religions [time series]

Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.062 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.25 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 73% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania in 2006; 1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security

Illicit drugs [time series]

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)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

67 (2010) country comparison to the world: 74

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 35 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 27 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 5,250 km; oil 1,528 km; refined products 1,730 km (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Mazyr

Railways [time series]

total: 5,537 km country comparison to the world: 32 broad gauge: 5,512 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified) standard gauge: 25 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 94,797 km country comparison to the world: 49 paved: 84,028 km unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)

Waterways [time series]

2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by shallowness) (2003) country comparison to the world: 36