Country Profile: Belarus

Belarus, located in Eastern Europe and bordered by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, and Russia, is a landlocked country with a predominantly flat terrain. As of 2024, it has an estimated population of approximately 9.5 million people, primarily ethnic Belarusians, with the capital city of Minsk being home to over two million residents. The economy is characterized by a centralized system with a significant public sector and reliance on Russian energy, though it faces challenges such as inflation and public debt. Since gaining independence from the USSR in 1991, Belarus has been governed by President Alyaksandr Lukashenko, whose authoritarian rule has led to ongoing civil and political restrictions.

Geography

Belarus has an area of 207,600 square kilometers, making it slightly smaller than Kansas. The country is landlocked, with no coastline, and features a generally flat terrain interspersed with marshland and numerous lakes. The climate is cold in winter and cool and moist in summer.

39.6% of land is used for agriculture (2023 est.).
44% of land is covered by forests (2023 est.).
Major rivers include the Dnieper, which stretches 2,287 km.

People and Society

Belarus has a population estimated at 9,501,451 in 2024, with a slight female majority. The society is predominantly Belarusian (83.7%), with Russian, Polish, and Ukrainian minorities. Urbanization is significant, with about 80.7% of the population residing in urban areas.

66.1% of the population falls within the 15-64 age group (2024 est.).
The median age of the population is 42.1 years (2024 est.).
Life expectancy at birth is 74.7 years (2024 est.).

Economy

The Belarusian economy is undergoing challenges, including declining energy subsidies and high inflation, with a projected GDP of $265.22 billion in 2024. The economy is largely public sector-driven, with notable contributions from agriculture and industry.

4% GDP growth is forecasted for 2024.
3.4% unemployment rate is expected in 2024.
Exports are projected at $49.386 billion in 2024.

Government

Belarus is officially a presidential republic, but it operates as an authoritarian regime under President Alyaksandr Lukashenko since 1994. The government tightly controls political freedoms and civil rights, with a bicameral National Assembly.

Last presidential election was in 2025, with Lukashenko securing 86.8% of the vote.
The legal system is based on civil law.
Belarus is not a party to the International Criminal Court.

Military and Security

Belarus maintains a substantial military presence, primarily to ensure territorial defense, with approximately 50,000-60,000 active-duty personnel. The country has close military ties with Russia and has allowed Russian military deployments within its territory.

Military expenditures are estimated at 2% of GDP for 2024.
The armed forces include the Army, Air Defense, and Territorial Defense Forces.
Conscription is required for males aged 18-27.

Energy

Belarus has achieved 100% electrification coverage. The energy sector is dominated by fossil fuels and nuclear power, with plans to enhance renewable energy sources.

Electricity consumption is about 39.883 billion kWh in 2023.
70% of electricity generation is from fossil fuels (2023 est.).
12.653 million kW of installed generating capacity is reported (2023 est.).

Environment

Environmental challenges include soil pollution and contamination from the Chernobyl disaster fallout. Belarus is a signatory to various international environmental agreements.

39.6% of land is agricultural (2023 est.).
44% forest cover contributes to biodiversity.
Annual CO2 emissions are approximately 46.709 million metric tonnes (2023 est.).

Transportation

Belarus has a well-developed transportation network, including railways and airports.

Total railway length is 5,528 km (2014).
The country has 46 airports planned by 2025.
There are 4 registered civil aircraft.

Communications

The telecommunications sector includes widespread mobile and internet access, with increasing usage of fixed broadband.

92% of the population are internet users (2023 est.).
Fixed line subscriptions total 4.173 million (2023 est.).
Mobile cellular subscriptions exceed 11.8 million (2023 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	9,501,451	2024 estimate
Area	207,600 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$265.22 billion	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	3.4%	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy at Birth	74.7 years	2024 estimate
Urban Population	80.7%	2023 estimate
Military Expenditures	2% of GDP	2024 estimate
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	104.821 million Btu	2023 estimate
CO2 Emissions	46.709 million metric tonnes	2023 estimate
Literacy Rate	99.9%	2019 estimate