What You Need to Know About Belarus
Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe, bordered on all sides by other countries such as Ukraine, Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. The area of Belarus amounts to 207,600 km2, ranking it 84th in size compared to other countries in the world.
Its population is 9,408,400 inhabitants, which means a rather low population density per km2. The capital of Belarus is Minsk, a city with a population of 2 million inhabitants. As such, Minsk is ranked the 11th city with the highest density in the world.
Moreover, Belarus is home to the geographical center of Europe, which is Polotsk. In fact, there is a monument to this effect in the city. The telephone code in Belarus is 375, that is 00375 or +375.
The Most Popular Cities in Belarus
Main Attractions
Minsk
It is the capital of Belarus and also a very popular tourist destination. If you go there, you can enjoy the Gorky Central children’s parks located near the Belarusian Circus. There is also the Aleksandrovsky Garden: a very popular botanical garden. Finally, visit the botanical garden of the National Academy of Sciences as well as the Victory Park.
Brest
Brest is the largest city in Belarus, containing many historical monuments. Among them is the Brest Fortress. There are also other interesting places such as Sovetskaya Street, a pedestrian street full of cafes and restaurants to have a good time.
Nesvizh
Nesvizh is also a large city located 120 km from the capital. Tourists go there to visit the Nesvizh Castle as well as the Mir Castle. Don’t forget to visit the parks surrounding the castle and the churches of Nesvizh.
Polotsk
Polotsk was the former Belarusian capital. Currently, it is the cultural capital filled with interesting attractions such as the Polotsk Sophia Cathedral. It is also the geographical center of Europe, surrounded by many churches.
Grodno
This city is especially famous for the two castles it has. They are called the new and the old. There is also the Farny Church, the Pharmacy Museum, the old town, and various parks.
Where Are the Cities Located on the Map?
Minsk
On the map, Minsk is located in the center of the country, that is between the foothills of the Minsk region. The distances between Minsk and Kiev, Warsaw, Moscow are respectively 437 km, 476 km, and 676 km in the northwest, northeast, and southwest directions from each city. Its geographical location is 53° 55′ 45″ north, 27° 29′ 46″ east.
Brest
The city of Brest is located in the West on the map, near Poland. The distances separating the city from Minsk and Warsaw are 328 km and 184 km respectively. Its geographical location is 52° 05′ north, 23° 42′ east.
Nesvizh
It is a city located to the Southwest of the capital and to the Northwest of Slutsk, at distances of 96 km and 62 km respectively. Geographical location: 53° 13′ 01″ north, 26° 40′ 01″ east
Polotsk
Crossed by the Dvina river, Polotsk is a city located to the Northwest of the Belarusian capital. The two cities are 193 km apart. Geographical location: 55° 29′ north, 28° 48′ east
Grodno
It is the city closest to Poland on the map. Only 15 km separate Grodno and the Polish border. It is crossed by the Neman river. Geographical location 53° 40′ north, 23° 49′ east
Belarus Climate Map
The climate of Belarus is characterized by heavy snowfall from December to March in winter. Summer, on the other hand, is hot and short. These features are typical of a temperate-continental climate with similarities to a moderate Central European climate.
The country averages 7°C throughout the year. And the climate is more or less uniform across all regions of Belarus due to the small size of Belarus. Temperatures are about -5° to 0°C in winter and 25 to 30°C in summer.
Winter lasts about 3 to 4 months during which strong winds and snowstorms occur in the country. Summer, on the other hand, lasts about 5 months; during this period Belarus is quite sunny and dry. This period is also marked by violent thunderstorms that occur especially in the late afternoon.
Spring and autumn are seasons influenced by the Atlantic influence. It will therefore be both humid and rainy, even snowy in the second half of October. Rain can occur in all seasons. Average precipitation reaches up to 600 mm.
Belarus Financial Map
Belarus experienced economic growth over the past 5 years and the number of households below the poverty line has decreased.
Currently, Belarusian economic growth is no longer ongoing. In fact, it was the accumulation of capital coming from Russian aid that allowed such an achievement. These funds formerly came from energy subsidy agreements but they will be gradually reduced.
From now on, Belarus must increase its industrial production if it hopes to increase its GDP. According to estimates, this year, the economy will suffer a reduction of 2.8% due to the pandemic and the Belarusian economy is based on heavy industries and exports.
Here are some economic indicators:
- Current Currency: Belarusian Ruble (Br)
- Gross Domestic Product at nominal parity: 128.4 billion USD
- Gross Domestic Product at PPP: 179.4 billion USD
- Gross Domestic Product Growth 2.4%
- Gross Domestic Product per capita 15,592 USD at PPP
- Population below the poverty line: 5.7%
- Unemployment rate: 1%
- Exports: 24.2 billion USD
- Public revenues: 22.15 billion USD
- Public expenditures: 20.57 billion USD
Demographic and Administrative Map of Belarus
Demographics of Belarus
Currently, Belarus has 9,447,850 inhabitants according to the latest United Nations estimates. This is slightly less than the UN estimate of 9,449,323 inhabitants in the middle of this year. This population represents 0.12% of the world population. Thus, Belarus ranks 96th compared to other countries in terms of population dependencies.
The population of Belarus has a low density due to 121 inhabitants per km2 or 47 per km2. Approximately 7,483,636 inhabitants, representing 79.2% of the population, live in large cities. The Belarusian population is a young population with an average age of 40.3 years and a high fertility rate of 1.54 children per woman.
Life expectancy is average at 74.14 years for men and women combined according to World Bank data. However, this year, population growth has declined (-0.1%) due to the pandemic and high mortality rate.
Administration of Belarus
The administrative map of Belarus was established in 1960 while Belarus was part of the USSR. Six regions make up Belarus, also called Oblasts, to which the city of Minsk with a special status is added.
The oblasts take their name from their administrative center. For example, Minsk is both the capital and the administrative center of the region of the same name voblast. The regions are then subdivided into Raions equivalent to districts. There are 118 Raions which are further subdivided into 102 towns and 108 urban localities.
The Oblasts: Brest; Homiel; Hrodna; Mahiliow; Minsk; City of Minsk; Vitebsk
The Raions:
- Baranavichy District
- Brest District
- Byaroza District
- Drahichyn District
- Hantsavichy District
- Ivanava District
- Ivatsevichy District
- Kamenets District
- Kobryn District
- Luninets District
- Lyakhavichy District
- Malaryta District
- Pinsk District
- Pruzhany District
- Stolin District
- Zhabinka District
- Akciabrski District
- Brahin District
- Buda-Kashalyowa District
- Chachersk District
- Dobruš District
- Gomel District
- Jeĺsk District
- Kalinkavichy District
- Karma District
- Khoiniki District
- Loyew District
- Lyelchytsy District
- Mazyr District
- Naroulia District
- Pietrykaŭ District
- Rahačoŭ District
- Rečyca District
- Svietlahorsk District
- Vietka District
- Žlobin District
- Žytkavičy District
- Ashmyany District
- Astravyets District
- Byerastavitsa District
- Dzyatlava District
- Hrodna District
- Iwye District
- Karelichy District
- Lida District
- Masty District
- Navahrudak District
- Shchuchyn District
- Slonim District
- Smarhon District
- Svislach District
- Vawkavysk District
- Voranava District
- Zelva District
- Barysaw District
- Byerazino District
- Chervyen District
- Dzyarzhynsk District
- Kapyl District
- Kletsk District
- Krupki District
- Lahoysk District
- Lyuban District
- Maladzyechna District
- Minsk District
- Myadzyel District
- Nyasvizh District
- Pukhavichy District
- Salihorsk District
- Sloutsk District
- Smalyavichy District
- Staryya Darohi District
- Stowbtsy District
- Uzda District
- Valozhyn District
- Vileyka District
- Asipovichy District
- Babruysk District
- Byalynichy District
- Bykhaw District
- Chavusy District
- Cherykaw District
- Drybin District
- Hlusk District
- Horki District
- Kastsyukovichy District
- Khotsimsk District
- Kirawsk District
- Klichaw District
- Klimavichy District
- Krasnapolle District
- Kruhlaye District
- Krychaw District
- Moguilev District
- Mstsislaw District
- Shklow District
- Slawharad District
- Beshankovichy District
- Braslaw District
- Chashniki Quarter
- Dokshytsy District
- Dubrowna District
- Haradok District
- Hlybokaye District
- Lepiel Quarter
- Liozna District
- Myory Quarter
- Orsha Quarter
- Pastavy Quarter
- Polotsk District
- Rasony District
- Sharkawshchyna District
- Shumilina District
- Syanno District
- Talachyn District
- Ushachy Quarter
- Verkhnyadzvinsk District
- Vitebsk District
Demolinguistic Data
Belarus has two main dialects aside from the standardized reading. There is the Northeast dialect and the Southwest dialect. There is also the Middle Belarusian transitional dialect and another Western Polesian dialect.
The difference between the Northeast and Southwest dialects is primarily their geography. Indeed, they are separated by the transect linking Ashmyany, Minsk, Babruysk, and Homyel. Along this transect, there is a central Belarusian dialect zone.
There is also a dialect derived from Western Polish which is also a Ukrainian dialect located along the transect: Peuzhany, Ivatsevichy, Telekhany, Luninyets, Stolin.
