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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]

295,217 (2012) country comparison to the world: 64

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 now exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons 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]

4.407 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 37

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

10.675 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 75

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $22.38 billion expenditures: $21.96 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

0.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Central bank discount rate [time series]

10.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 14 13.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

19.49% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 13.58% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.688 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $-5.053 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.225 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $1.278 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

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

27.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 125 21.7 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

As part of the former Soviet Union, Belarus had a relatively well-developed 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 inefficient and dependent on government subsidies. After an initial burst of capitalist reform from 1991-94, including privatization of state enterprises, 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 thanks 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. 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 more than half of a $3 billion loan from the Russian-dominated Eurasian Economic Community Bail-out Fund, a $1 billion loan from the Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, and the $2.5 billion sale of Beltranzgas 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 53% in 2011 and 59% in 2012.

Exchange rates [time series]

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 8,336.9 (2012 est.) 4,974.6 (2011 est.) 2,978.5 (2010 est.) 2,789.49 (2009) 2,130 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$45.57 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $40.93 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 35.4%, Netherlands 16.4%, Ukraine 12.1%, Latvia 7.1% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$62.4 billion (2012 est.)

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

$145.3 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $143.1 billion (2011 est.) $135.6 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 46.7% government consumption: 14.6% investment in fixed capital: 32.8% investment in inventories: 1.6% exports of goods and services: 81.6% imports of goods and services: -77.1% (2012 est.)

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

agriculture: 9.1% industry: 46.3% services: 44.5% (2012 est.)

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

$15,500 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $15,200 (2011 est.) $14,300 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 5.5% (2011 est.) 7.7% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

31.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20 29.2% of GDP (2011 est.) 26.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 21.9% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$45.01 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 $44.39 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 59.4%, Germany 5.9%, China 5.1%, Ukraine 5% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

59.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 223 53.3% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

5 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 76

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 9.4% industry: 45.9% services: 44.7% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

27.1% (2003 est.)

Public debt [time series]

31.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 48.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$5.809 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $6.011 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$13.32 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94 $16.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$19.82 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $13.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$4.018 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109 $2.436 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

35.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Unemployment rate [time series]

1% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 1.6% (2005) note: official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

67.16 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Crude oil - imports [time series]

294,800 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Crude oil - production [time series]

32,070 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

198 million bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 60

Electricity - consumption [time series]

31.74 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - exports [time series]

5.067 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

99.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - imports [time series]

7.767 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

8.032 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity - production [time series]

32.82 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

21.82 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas - imports [time series]

21.02 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas - production [time series]

220 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 98

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

188,800 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

224,200 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

43,240 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

346,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 207,600 sq km country comparison to the world: 86 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: 4.34 cu km/yr (32%/65%/3%) per capita: 435.4 cu m/yr (2009)

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]

1,150 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: 26.63% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 72.78% (2011)

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 (2011)

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: none scheduled for 2013

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994; amended 1996, 2004 (2013)

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ethan GOLDRICH (since July 2012) embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002 mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723 telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83 FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

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); note - the US does not recognize the results of the 19 December 2010 elections under which the Central Election Commission of Belarus declared LUKASHENKO president 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 SANNIKOV 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 law organization participation [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, 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 [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chairman, deputy chairman, and NA judges); 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 Chamber of Representatives; term of judges is 11 years with an age limit of 70 subordinate courts: regional, district, city, town, and military courts

Legal system [time series]

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 [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); note - the US does not recognize the legitimacy of the national assembly elections: Palata Predstaviteley - last held on 23 September 2012 (next to be held September 2016); 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 every seat with no opposition representation in the chamber; international observers determined that the previous election, on 28 September 2008, despite minor improvements also fell short of democratic standards, with pro-LUKASHENKO candidates winning every seat election results: Sovet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley [2008] - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KPB 6, AP 1, no affiliation 103; Palata Predstaviteley [2012] - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - KPB 3, AP 1, no affiliation 106

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

name: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians)

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

National symbol(s) [time series]

mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser)

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 [Igor KARPENKO] 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 the Left "Fair World" [Sergey KALYAKIN] Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Aleksey YANUKEVICH] Belarusian Social-Democratic Hramada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH] Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada ("Assembly") or BSDPH [Irina VESHTARD] Belarusian Social Democratic Party People's Assembly ("Narodnaya Hramada") [Nikolay STATKEVICH] (unregistered) 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 [Ales BYALYATSKI] "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: 2,401,785 females age 16-49: 2,429,653 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,693,626 females age 16-49: 2,012,401 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 51,855 female: 48,760 (2010 est.)

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

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

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 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)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 752,536/female 710,384) 15-24 years: 12.3% (male 607,877/female 575,827) 25-54 years: 45.5% (male 2,146,332/female 2,238,033) 55-64 years: 13% (male 548,170/female 699,780) 65 years and over: 14% (male 423,287/female 923,662) (2013 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.99 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 54,218 percentage: 5 % (2005 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

1.3% (2005) country comparison to the world: 126

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

72.6% (2005)

Death rate [time series]

13.68 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 41.1 % youth dependency ratio: 21.6 % elderly dependency ratio: 19.5 % potential support ratio: 5.1 (2013)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.3% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 62

Ethnic groups [time series]

Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 3.2% (2009 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

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

17,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.3% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 131

Hospital bed density [time series]

11.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.67 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 206 male: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages [time series]

Belarusian (official) 23.4%, Russian (official) 70.2%, other 6.4% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities) (1999 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.81 years country comparison to the world: 140 male: 66.14 years female: 77.82 years (2013 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.8% female: 99.5% (2009 est.)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

MINSK (capital) 1.861 million (2011)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

190 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 58

Median age [time series]

total: 39.2 years male: 36.1 years female: 42.2 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

24.9 (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian

Net migration rate [time series]

0.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

24.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 65

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.76 physicians/1,000 population (2011)

Population [time series]

9,625,888 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.18% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Religions [time series]

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

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 91% of population rural: 97% of population total: 93% of population unimproved: urban: 9% of population rural: 3% of population total: 7% of population (2010 est.)

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

total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 16 years (2011)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.46 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 75% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; Poland seeks enhanced demarcation and security along this Schengen hard border with financial assistance from the EU

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

stateless persons: 6,969 (2012)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Belarus is a source, transit, and destination country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and children are trafficked to European and Middle Eastern countries and within Belarus for sexual exploitation; Belarusian men, women, and children are found in forced labor in the construction industry and other sectors in Russia and Belarus; Belarusian men seeking work abroad are increasingly subjected to forced labor tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Belarus does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government demonstrates decreased law enforcement efforts, conducting fewer trafficking investigations and convicting only one trafficking offender; while two new anti-trafficking laws were passed, they have not been fully implemented and government services to victims remain very limited; the government continues its efforts to prevent trafficking through public awareness campaigns and NGO-operated anti-trafficking hotlines (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

65 (2013) country comparison to the world: 75

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 33 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 32 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 28 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2013)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

river port(s): Mazyr (Prypyats')

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: 86,392 km country comparison to the world: 55 paved: 74,651 km unpaved: 11,741 km (2010)

Waterways [time series]

2,500 km (use limited by its location on the perimeter of the country and by its shallowness) (2011) country comparison to the world: 36