Belarus is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. The capital and largest city is Minsk, and the official languages are Belarusian and Russian. With a population of over 9.3 million people, Belarus is one of the least populous countries in Europe.

Belarus has a mixed economy, with a heavy emphasis on industry, particularly in the areas of machinery and equipment manufacturing, chemicals, and food processing. The country is also known for its production of fertilizers, potash, and forest products. Agriculture is an important sector, with major crops including potatoes, grain, and vegetables.

Belarus is a presidential republic, with a President serving as the head of state and a Prime Minister serving as the head of government. The country has close political and economic ties with Russia, with which it shares a customs union and a defense agreement. Belarus is also a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Eurasian Economic Union, among other international organizations.

Belarus has a rich cultural heritage, influenced by its history as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Soviet Union. The country has a variety of festivals and celebrations throughout the year, including the Belarusian Independence Day and the Kupala Night, a traditional summer solstice celebration.

Despite its many strengths, Belarus faces challenges such as limited political freedom and human rights concerns, as well as economic difficulties such as inflation and low productivity. The country has taken steps to address these issues, including implementing economic reforms and seeking closer ties with other countries, particularly in the European Union.

National holiday
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

Telephone Code
375

Local Emergency Phone
Ambulance: 03; Fire: 01; Police: 02

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

Currency (Code)
Rubles (BYB/BYR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F (all plugs are symmetrical 2 pins)

Major Languages
Russian, Belarusian

Major Religions
Orthodox 48.3%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Nyasvizh Castle; Mir Castle; Minsk (includes Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum and Vul Kastrychnitskaya); Homel Palace; Brest Fortress

Major Sports
Ice hockey, athletics (track and field), wrestling, soccer, tennis, swimming

Cultural Practices
Avoid using the "thumbs up" gesture in Belarus; it is considered rude.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is entirely discretionary and service charges are not automatically added to the bill. If you want to tip in a restaurant or café, give about 5% of the total amount. A few rubles are a common and appropriate tip for metered taxi drivers.

Souvenirs
Flax/linen items, woodcarvings, leather goods, vodka, chocolate

Traditional Cuisine
Draniki — shallow-fried potato pancakes

Geography
Area
total: 207,600 sq km
land: 202,900 sq km
water: 4,700 sq km

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

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

People and Society
Population
9,383,853 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Belarusian 83.7%, Russian 8.3%, Polish 3.1%, Ukrainian 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.9% (2009 est.)

Languages
Russian (official) 70.2%, Belarusian (official) 23.4%, other 3.1% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 3.3% (2009 est.)

Religions
Orthodox 48.3%, Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1% (2011 est.)

Population growth rate
-0.32% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Capital
name: Minsk

Economy
Economic overview
declining Russian energy subsidies will end in 2024; growing public debt; strong currency pressures have led to higher inflation; recent price controls on basic food and drugs; public sector wage increases and fragile private sector threaten household income gains and economic growth

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$184.482 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$19,800 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, triticale, barley, maize, rye, rapeseed, poultry

Industries
metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, refrigerators, washing machines and other household appliances

Exports
$49.425 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Russia 42%, Ukraine 13%, United Kingdom 7% (2019)

Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, fertilizers, cheese, delivery trucks, crude petroleum (2019)

Imports
$45.459 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Russia 57%, China 7%, Poland 5%, Germany 5%, Ukraine 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment (2019)