What are the Key Facts of Belarus?

Where is Belarus?

Belarus is an Eastern European country that is completely landlocked. It shares its border with Russia (to the northeast), Latvia and Lithuania (to the northwest), Poland (to the west), and Ukraine (to the south).

What is the Geography of Belarus?

Belarus has a low-lying, flat landform. It is heavily forested. In the northern Belarus, Poltsk Lowland is there and in the south, there is Dnieper Lowland. In the western part of the country, a certain part of the rolling hills blends into the lowlands. The southern reaches of Belarus have an extensive cover of Pripyat marshes.

The country is spread over a total area of 207,600 sq. km (80,155 sq. mi), which includes 202,900 sq. km (78,340 sq. mi) of land area and 4,700 sq. km (1,815) of water area. The total land boundary is 3,642 km (2,263 mi), out of which 1,312 km (815 mi) is shared with Russia, 161 km (100 mi) with Latvia, 640 km (398 mi) with Lithuania, 418 km (260 mi) with Poland, and 1,111 km (690 mi) with Ukraine. As the country is landlocked, there is no coastline.

While Dzyarzhynskaya Hara is the highest elevation point of the country at 346 m (1,135 ft), the lowest elevation point is Nyoman River at 90 m (295 ft). The mean elevation point is also 90 m (295 ft). Major mountains of Belarus are Dzyarzhynskaya, Zamkavaya, Vysokaya, Perekop, Sokolinskaya, Lysaya, Mayak, Mayakova, Tyutikovaya, Krivaya, and Lis’ya. The main rivers of the country are Neman, Dnieper, and Pripyat. There are many streams in the country and the number of lakes is around 11,000.

Belarus has a temperate-continental climate as it is quite close to the Baltic Sea. The closest point is just 257 km (160 mi) away. The average temperature during January revolves around −6 °C (21 °F). In the southern part of the country, average temperature revolves around 18.5–19 °C (66 °F) during July. However, in the northern parts, the average temperature revolves around somewhat lower 17.5 °C (64 °F).

In the month of January, the temperature revolves around −8 °C (18 °F) in the northeast region, while it remains −4.5 °C (24 °F) in the southwest part. The average precipitation level annually ranges from 550-700 mm (21.7-27.6 in). Sometimes, it exceeds the average level too. During summertime, heavy rains are common. 70% of rainfall takes place from April-to-October.

While the highest level of humidity (90%) remains during December-January, the lowest level is recorded during May-June. The average level of humidity throughout the year remains around 80%. As the humidity remains excessively high in some regions such as Minsk and Navahrudak, these places have 65-to-100 days of foggy weather every year.

What is the Economy of Belarus?

Belarus was a part of the former Soviet Union. It had a formidable industrial base. However, after the disintegration of USSR, the country is mainly dependent upon Russian energy. The non-Russian FDI in Belarus is extremely low. 75% of the banks are state-owned. The total contribution of the state-owned enterprises to the GDP is 70-75%.

The Belarusian economy was in sort of limbo till the mid-2000s but it started reviving after that. Russia sells its crude oil to Belarus at a price that is significantly less than the market prices. Belarus, in turn, refines this crude oil and sells the refined petroleum at market prices, thereby deriving its export revenue.

The economy of Belarus stagnated during 2012-2016. As the global prices of the refined petroleum fell, the country’s budget revenues dropped too. From 2015, the government started taking many steps including tightening of the macroeconomic policies, more exchange rate flexibility, enhanced price liberalization, decrease in subsidized government lending to the government-owned enterprises, etc.

The Belarusian economy witnessed a modest growth only in 2017 along with improvement in external conditions. The liquidity condition of the economy got better after it issued sovereign debt. In February 2018, Belarus also issued US$600 million worth of Eurobonds to the investors of the US and UK.

Nominal GDP of the country in 2018 was US$59.662 billion (World Bank). The economy rebounded from its -2.5% GDP growth rate in 2016 to 3% economic growth in 2018. The unemployment rate is hovering around 5.7% in 2018.

There are around 560,000 Belarusians who are living under the poverty line September 2017). However, the country has been successful in decreasing poverty faster than any other country in Central Asian as well as European regions. The poverty rate fell from 41.9% in 2000 to 5.7% in 2016, thanks to the rapid growth of both the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. The GDP growth rate will remain around 2% in 2019-2020.

What is the Transportation System of Belarus?

Railways constitute the main transportation system of Belarus. There is 5,512 km (3,425 mi) of railway lines in the country. Belarusskaya Chyhunka operates the country’s rail transport. Minsk metro or the underground train facility in Minsk has become highly popular for faster transport. Tram services are also available.

Roadways across the country are also significantly developed. Over 93,055 km (57,822 mi) of roads are there in Belarus and all of them are paved. The density of paved roads is around 337 km per 1,000 sq km of territory. 2,500 km (1,550 mi) of waterways is also available in the country. Mazyr port is there on Pripyat River.

There are 65 airports in Belarus, out of which 35 have paved runways and 30 have unpaved ones. Some of the main airports are Minsk International Airport, Minsk-1, and Gomel Airport. One heliport is also there.

What International Organizations is Belarus part of?

UN, IMF, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, WHO, CEI, CIS, CSTO, Interpol, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, NAM, NSG, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, WCO, WIPO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, UNWTO, UPU, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, OPCW, OSCE, IMSO, IOC, PFP, UNIFIL, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, PCA, WMO, ZC, ICC (NGOs), WFTU (NGOs), ITUC (NGOs), SCO (dialogue member), WTO (observer), BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer)