Country Profile: Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, and Ukraine. It has a population of approximately 9.5 million, with a higher proportion of females than males. The economy is characterized by a centralized system heavily reliant on state-owned enterprises and is currently facing challenges from declining energy subsidies and inflation. The governance is marked by authoritarian rule, with President Alyaksandr Lukashenka in power since 1994, under a system that restricts political freedoms.

Geography

Belarus covers an area of about 207,600 square kilometers, predominantly flat with extensive marshland and numerous lakes, resulting from glacial scouring. The country experiences a transitional climate with cold winters and cool, moist summers. As a landlocked nation, it has no coastlines and shares borders totaling 3,599 kilometers with five neighboring countries.

43.3% of land is forested (2022 est.)
39.9% of land is used for agriculture (2022 est.)
The highest point is Dzyarzhynskaya Hara, reaching 346 m.
Major rivers include the Dnyapro which extends for 2,287 km.
Belarus features around 11,000 lakes.

People and Society

As of 2024, the estimated population of Belarus stands at approximately 9.5 million. The majority of the population identifies as Belarusian, with notable ethnic Russian and Polish minorities. The country is significantly urbanized, with about 80.7% of its population living in urban areas. The official languages are Russian and Belarusian, with a large portion of the population displaying high literacy rates.

16.1% of the population is aged 0-14 years (2024 est.)
The median age is 42.1 years (2024 est.)
3.9% of the population lived below the poverty line (2022 est.)
Life expectancy is 74.7 years (2024 est.)
The total fertility rate is 1.45 children per woman (2024 est.)

Economy

Belarus's economy is primarily driven by industry and services, with a real GDP projected at $265.22 billion for 2024. The country faces challenges, including declining Russian energy subsidies, increasing public debt, and inflation pressures. Agriculture plays a significant role, with key products including milk, sugar beets, and potatoes.

30.7% of GDP comes from industry (2024 est.)
The unemployment rate is approximately 3.4% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate is forecasted at 5.8% (2024 est.)
Public debt stood at 33.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
$49.386 billion in exports is expected for 2024.

Government

Belarus is officially a presidential republic, but it is widely regarded as a dictatorship under President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has been in power since 1994. The National Assembly consists of a bicameral legislature, which includes a House of Representatives and a Council of the Republic, both with limited political freedoms.

The most recent election was held on February 25, 2024.
The legislative branch is made up of 110 members in the lower chamber and 65 members in the upper chamber.
18 years is the voting age, with universal suffrage.

Military and Security

The Belarus Armed Forces consist of various branches, including the Army and Air Force, with a focus on territorial defense. The military often collaborates closely with Russia, particularly in training exercises and operations. Military expenditures are projected to rise to 2% of GDP in 2024.

Approximately 50-60,000 active-duty military personnel (2025).
The military inventory primarily includes Russian and Soviet-origin equipment.
The compulsory military service age is between 18-27 years.

Energy

Belarus relies heavily on both fossil fuels and nuclear energy for its electricity needs, with installed generating capacity estimated at 12.653 million kW as of 2023. The country is working towards enhancing its energy independence while grappling with fluctuations in natural gas imports.

70% of electricity generation comes from fossil fuels (2023 est.).
100% of the population has access to electricity (2022 est.).
Roughly 28.6% of total electricity production is from nuclear energy (2023 est.).

Environment

Environmental challenges in Belarus include soil pollution from agricultural activities and contamination from the fallout of the 1986 Chornobyl disaster. The country is a party to several environmental agreements aimed at addressing issues like air pollution and biodiversity.

Approximately 39.9% of land is used for agriculture (2022 est.).
Urban population constitutes 80.7% as of 2023.
The country has 4 World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO.

Transportation

Belarus has a well-established transport network, including railways and roads, facilitating movement across the country. The civil aviation sector is also developing, with numerous airports serving domestic and international flights.

The total length of railways is about 5,528 km (2014).
There are 46 airports in Belarus (2025).
The country has 4 merchant marine vessels (2023).

Communications

Telecommunications in Belarus are well developed, with a significant proportion of the population using mobile phones and the internet. The country has a high rate of internet penetration and access to both fixed-line and mobile telephony.

92% of the population uses the internet (2023 est.).
There are about 11.8 million mobile subscriptions (2023 est.).
4.173 million fixed-line subscriptions were reported (2023 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	9,501,451	2024 est.
Area	207,600 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$265.22 billion	2024 est.
Inflation Rate	5.8%	2024 est.
Unemployment Rate	3.4%	2024 est.
Birth Rate	8.3 births/1,000 population	2024 est.
Life Expectancy	74.7 years	2024 est.
Energy Consumption per Capita	104.821 million Btu/person	2023 est.
Total Fertility Rate	1.45 children born/woman	2024 est.
Urban Population	80.7%	2023