The majority (77.9%) of the people of Belarus are of Byelorussian ethnic background. 13.2% are Russian, 4.1% are Polish and 2.9% are Ukrainian and 1.9% belong to other ethnic backgrounds. Byelorusian is the official language of the country.
1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2016 | |
Population, total (millions) | 10.19 | 9.98 | 9.49 | 9.5 |
Population growth (annual %) | 0.2 | -0.5 | -0.2 | 0.1 |
Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) | 207.6 | 207.6 | 207.6 | 207.6 |
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) | 50.2 | 49.2 | 46.8 | 46.8 |
Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) | .. | 41.9 | 5.2 | 5.7 |
Income share held by lowest 20% | .. | 7.9 | 8.8 | 9.6 |
Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 71 | 69 | 70 | 74 |
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.7 |
Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) | 42 | 28 | 22 | 18 |
Contraceptive prevalence, any methods (% of women ages 15-49) | .. | .. | 63 | .. |
Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Mortality rate, under-5 (per 1,000 live births) | 15 | 13 | 6 | 4 |
Prevalence of underweight, weight for age (% of children under 5) | .. | .. | .. | .. |
Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12-23 months) | 94 | 98 | 99 | 98 |
Primary completion rate, total (% of relevant age group) | 95 | 102 | 106 | 97 |
School enrollment, primary (% gross) | 93.6 | 113 | 103.7 | 101.9 |
School enrollment, secondary (% gross) | 97 | 86 | 108 | 104 |
School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) | .. | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
Environment | ||||
Forest area (sq. km) (thousands) | 77.8 | 82.7 | 85.3 | 86.3 |
Terrestrial and marine protected areas (% of total territorial area) | .. | .. | .. | 9.5 |
Annual freshwater withdrawals, total (% of internal resources) | .. | 5.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
Urban population growth (annual %) | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
Energy use (kg of oil equivalent per capita) | 4,465 | 2,462 | 2,900 | 2,929 |
CO2 emissions (metric tons per capita) | 8.56 | 5.39 | 6.64 | 6.7 |