Belarus

Belarus

Introduction

Background

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.

Geography

Location

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Geographic coordinates

53 00 N, 28 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 207,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 86 land:202,900 sq km
water:4,700 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

cold winters, cool and moist summers

transitional between continental and maritime

Terrain

generally flat and contains much marshland

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

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

Irrigated land

1,310 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

58 cu km (1997)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

soil pollution from pesticide use

southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl’ in northern Ukraine

Environment – international agreements

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

Geography – note

landlocked

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective:Belarusian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Population

9,577,552 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.2% (male 699,048/female 660,130)
15-64 years:71.7% (male 3,328,548/female 3,542,359)
65 years and over:14.1% (male 427,086/female 920,381) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 39 years
male:36.1 years
female:42.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.363% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218

Birth rate

9.76 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Death rate

13.77 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Net migration rate

0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Urbanization

urban population: 75% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

MINSK (capital) 1.837 million (2009)

Sex ratio

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 132

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.25 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 173 male:7.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.2 years
country comparison to the world: 139 male:65.57 years
female:77.18 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.26 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215

Health expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 113

Physicians density

4.869 physicians/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 5

Hospital bed density

11.23 beds/1,000 population (2007)
country comparison to the world: 4

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

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 (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

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

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.3% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 117

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 83

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

Government

Country name

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

Government type

republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Capital

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 and will continue throughout 2011

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

25 August 1991 (from the Soviet 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

Constitution

15 March 1994

revised by national referendum 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers

became effective 27 November 1996

revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

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 the World 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

Legislative branch

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 – KPB 6, AP 1, no affiliation 103

Judicial branch

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)

Political parties and leaders

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 pressure groups and leaders

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]

International organization participation

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), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser)

National anthem

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)

Economy

Economy – overview

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$131.2 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 $121.9 billion (2009 est.)
$121.7 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$54.71 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

7.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25 0.2% (2009 est.)
10.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$13,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 $12,600 (2009 est.)
$12,600 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 9.5%
industry:44.8%
services:45.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

5 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6 1.6% (2005)
note:official registered unemployed

large number of underemployed workers

Population below poverty line

27.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Distribution of family income – Gini index

27.2 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 129 21.7 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed)

36.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Budget

revenues: $23.59 billion
expenditures:$24.7 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

43.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186 12.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18 13.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.217% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88 11.675% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$4.554 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93 $3.949 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$16.75 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 $13.31 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.25 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 $16.55 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax

beef, milk

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

10.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity – production

32.95 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity – consumption

31.07 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity – exports

5.245 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity – imports

1.84 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Oil – production

31,010 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Oil – consumption

163,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

Oil – exports

310,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Oil – imports

471,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

Oil – proved reserves

198 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Natural gas – production

150 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas – consumption

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

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas – imports

17.6 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

Natural gas – proved reserves

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Current account balance

-$8.5 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180 -$6.39 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$25.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 $21.36 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

Russia 38.9%, Netherlands 11%, Ukraine 10.2% (2010)

Imports

$34.47 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 $28.32 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Russia 51.8%, Germany 6.8%, Ukraine 5.4%, China 4.8% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.431 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99 $4.831 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$33.1 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 $22.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Exchange rates

Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar -
3,019.9 (2010)
2,789.49 (2009)
2,130 (2008)
2,145 (2007)
2,144.6 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

67 (2010)
country comparison to the world:74

Airports – with paved runways

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

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

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 5,250 km

oil 1,528 km

refined products 1,730 km (2010)

Railways

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 (2010)

Roadways

total: 94,797 km
country comparison to the world: 47 paved:84,028 km
unpaved:10,769 km (2005)

Waterways

2,500 km (use limited by its location on the perimeter of the country and by its shallowness) (2003)
country comparison to the world: 35

Ports and terminals

Mazyr

Military

Military branches

Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force, Special Operations Force (2011)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service

conscript service obligation – 12-18 months, depending on academic qualifications (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,401,785
females age 16-49:2,429,653 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

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

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania

Poland seeks enhanced demarcation and security along this Schengen hard border with financial assistance from the EU

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Belarus is a source, destination, and transit country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor

women and children are subjected to sex trafficking in Russia, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Spain, Greece, Belgium, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and within Belarus

Belarusian men, women, and children are found in forced begging, as well as in forced labor in the construction industry and other sectors in Russia and Belarus
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the government did not demonstrate evidence of increasing anti-trafficking efforts

instead, it weakened victim protection efforts and prosecuted and convicted fewer trafficking offenders than in previous years

however, the government did conduct anti-trafficking prevention campaigns jointly with NGOs, identifying a number of victims of trafficking, and providing limited in-kind assistance to anti-trafficking NGOs (2011)

Illicit drugs

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)