Belarus
Europe Β· Capital: Minsk
How it is run: Belarus is a member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly. Use the research links below to find out exactly who makes the laws there.
Belarus is home to 9.1 million people in Eastern Europe, where people speak Belarusian, Russian.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
9.1 million people
That is 0.1% of everybody alive (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
207,600 kmΒ²
Roughly the size of Italy or the state of Arizona.
ποΈ How crowded
About 44 people per square kilometre β a comfortable mix of cities and open land.
π Size in its region
19th most people in Europe
13th largest by land in Europe.
π£οΈ Official languages
Belarusian, Russian
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Belarusian ruble (Br)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
74.4 years on average
Doctors, clean water and food supply all change this number over time.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$10,279
A lower-middle-income country: incomes are rising, but many families still farm or work informally.
π’ Living in cities
79.5% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
15.9% of the population
An older country β there are more grandparents than schoolchildren.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+375
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.by
π§ People here are called
Belarusian
π·οΈ Name at home
ΠΠ΅Π»Π°ΡΡΜΡΡ Β· ΠΠ΅Π»Π°ΡΡΡΡ
Also written: BielaruΕ, Republic of Belarus, ΠΠ΅Π»ΠΎΡΡΡΡΠΈΡ.
π Coast or inland
Landlocked β no coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Eastern European Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Belarus is landlocked β it has no coastline, so anything arriving by sea must cross a neighbour's border first.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Bielorrusia
French
BiΓ©lorussie
Arabic
Ψ¨ΩΩΨ§Ψ±ΩΨ³ΩΨ§
Chinese
η½δΏη½ζ―
Japanese
γγ©γ«γΌγ·
Russian
ΠΠ΅Π»Π°ΡΡΡΡ
Portuguese
BielorΓΊssia
German
Belarus
Put it in perspective π
- Russia β the most populated country in Europe β has about 15.8Γ as many people as Belarus.
- Belarus covers roughly 1,977 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Belarus lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 4,543 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Belarus shares its part of the world with Ukraine. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
π·οΈ Official name
Republic of Belarus
ποΈ Capital
Minsk
π Region
Europe Β· Eastern Europe
π€ Country code
BY
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Belarus π
π§ Where on the map
53.0Β° N, 28.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+2 β when it is noon in London it is about 14:00 in Minsk.
- Belarus sits in Eastern Europe, in the northern and eastern half of the globe.
- The capital of Belarus is Minsk β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Belarus shares its part of the world with Ukraine. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Belarus is a full member of the United Nations, so it gets one vote in the General Assembly β the same as every other member, big or small.
- π§πΎ is the flag of Belarus. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is BY.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Belarus has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Being landlocked means paying neighbours to move goods to the sea. What deal would you offer a neighbour if you led Belarus?
- If Belarus spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Belarus?
Minsk
Which money do people spend in Belarus?
Belarusian ruble (Br)
How many countries share a land border with Belarus?
5 β Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine.
Roughly how many people live in Belarus?
9.1 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.