General information about Belarus

Here is some general and detailed information about Belarus:

🌍 General Information

Official Name: Republic of Belarus

Capital: Minsk

Area: Approximately 207,600 km²

Population: Approximately 9.2 million (2025 est.)

Location: Eastern Europe; bordered by Latvia and Lithuania to the north, Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, and Poland to the west.

Official Languages: Belarusian and Russian

Currency: Belarusian Ruble (BYN)

Form of Government: Unitary state, semi-presidential system (government with authoritarian tendencies)

President: Alexander Lukashenko (in office since 1994)

📜 History

9th–13th centuries: Belarusian lands were part of the Kievan Rus and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

1569: Became part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

18th century: Passed under the control of the Russian Empire.

1919–1922: The Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was established within the Soviet Union.

1991: Gained independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Today, it maintains close political, economic, and military relations with Russia.

🌆 Important Cities

Minsk: The capital, the political, cultural, and economic center of the country.

Gomel: A city of industry and culture.

Brest: On the Polish border, famous for the historic Brest Fortress.

Grodno: On the western border, known for its historical buildings.

Vitebsk: A city of art and culture, birthplace of the famous painter Marc Chagall.

🌐 Economy

The Belarusian economy is largely state-controlled.

Important sectors: Agricultural machinery, tractor production (Belarusian tractors), chemicals, petroleum products, and the food industry.

It is dependent on Russia for energy; it imports most of its oil and natural gas from Russia.

It faces difficulties in foreign trade due to EU and US sanctions.

🎭 Culture

Belarusian culture combines East Slavic traditions with Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian influences.

Folk music, dance, and embroidery play a significant role.

Belarusian cuisine: Potato dishes (draniki), meat soups, and dumplings are common.

Marc Chagall stands out among famous artists.

🏰 Tourism

Minsk: Known for its wide boulevards, Soviet-era architecture, and modern museums.

Brest Fortress: Symbol of Soviet resistance in World War II.

Mir Castle: Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Nesvizh Palace: Magnificent palace belonging to the historic Radziwiłł family.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha Forest: Protected area where European bison live, on the UNESCO List.

📊 Interesting Facts

Belarus is one of the few landlocked countries in Europe.

Potatoes are known as the country’s staple food; the people nicknamed it “potato people” (bulba).

Minsk was almost completely destroyed in World War II and subsequently rebuilt in Soviet style.

Belarus has a “Union State” agreement with Russia, aiming for close integration between the two countries.