Dialing code +375
ISO 2 code BY
ISO 3 code BLR
Capital Minsk
Main Language Belarusian
Currency Ruble (BYR)
GDP $114.1 billion 60th
Population 9,685,000 87th

Geography

Continent Europe
Location Eastern Europe east of Poland
Land 207,600 km2 86th
Terrain Generally flat and contains much marshland
Climate Cold winters cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Natural Hazards Generally flat and contains much marshland
Note: Landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11 000 lakes

Neighbouring Countries

Latvia Lithuania Poland Russia Ukraine

History

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.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 70.63 years 129th
Median Age 38.6 years 39th
Birth Rate 9.71 births/1,000 population 184th
Death Rate 13.86 births/1,000 population 25th
Sex Ratio 0.47 male(s)/female 204th
Literacy 99.6% 15th
Population

9.7 million

Transportation

Roadways 94797 km 47th
Railways 5538 km 31st
Airports 65 76th
Waterways 2500 km 34th
Heliports 1 72nd
Airports paved 1 148th

Economy

Currency Ruble (BYR)
GDP $114.1 billion 60th
GDP per capita (PPP) $11800 84th