Geography
The Republic of Belarus is located in the center of Europe, is part of Eastern Europe.
Border
Belarus shares border with five countries: Poland in the west, Lithuania in the northwest, Latvia and the Russian Federation in the north, the Russian Federation in the northeast and east, Ukraine in the south.
Total area
Belarus is a medium-sized European state. The total area is 207,600km2, or about 2% of the total area of Europe.
Administrative division
Belarus is divided into six regions: Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk and Mogilev.
Population
According to the National Statistical Committee, as of 1 January 2023 the population of Belarus was 9,200,617.
Minsk
The capital of the Republic of Belarus was first mentioned in the historical chronicle in 1067. Minsk houses most important institutions of the country. As of 1 January 2022, the population of Minsk was 1 995 471, which accounted for 21.6% of the country’s population. Minsk is a major industrial center. The city contributes more than a quarter to the national GDP.
Population of Belarus
People in Belarus are friendly and good-natured. The patience and peacefulness of Belarusians are largely determined by history, overshadowed by countless wars. Moreover, the Belarusians themselves never started them. Belarus is always happy to have guests and is interested in them getting to know the culture and traditions of the country better.
Belarusians make up more than 80% of the population. Due to the historical past, many other nationalities live in Belarus, some of them for several generations: Russians (7.5%), Poles (3.1%), Ukrainians (1.7%) and Jews (0.1% ). Tatars, gypsies, Lithuanians and Latvians also live in Belarus.
Belarus today is a sovereign European state that pursues an independent, peace-loving foreign policy, actively develops cooperation with strategic allies and foreign partners in different parts of the globe, is one of the initiators and an active participant in regional integration structures and projects, and makes a significant contribution to the strengthening of international security and stability. Belarus has established diplomatic relations with 183 countries of the world.
Culture
Belarus has a long, rich history of traditional arts and crafts, many of which still exist today.
Major crafts include weaving, woodworking, pottery and straw weaving.
Traditional folk dances are popular, and folk theaters exist.
Music and art play an important role in the cultural life of Belarus. National and international festivals are regularly held throughout the country. The most famous of them is the Slavic Bazaar in Vitebsk.
The sites most important for national and world culture were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List features: Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park as a natural monument (the date of inclusion – 1992);
Mir Castle Complex in the town of Mir, Korelichi District, Grodno Region (2000); Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh in Minsk Region (2005).
Religion
The Republic of Belarus is a multi-faith state.
The most widespread religion in the Republic is Christianity. Christians in Belarus profess: Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Among other religions, the most common are Islam and Judaism
There are 24 Muslim communities in Belarus that have nine places of worship, including the Cathedral Mosque in Minsk. Its official opening took place on 11 November 2016.