Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe, one of the 4 entries this site files under that subregion. Treaties and official documents call it Republic of Belarus. Government sits in Minsk.
It covers 207,600 km², which ranks it 87th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Guyana and just ahead of Kyrgyzstan. Put next to a country most people can picture, it is a fraction smaller than Romania.
It is home to roughly 9.1 million people, placing it 100th of 250 by population — between Austria above it and Switzerland below. Among the 4 entries in Eastern Europe it ranks 3rd by area and 3rd by population.
Geography and neighbours of Belarus
Plotted on a globe it falls at 53.0° north, 28.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 5,900 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach Ireland — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
Its land neighbours number 5: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. The largest of them by area is Russia, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 222.7 million people.
Belarus is landlocked. That is true of 45 of the 250 entries here, so all seaborne trade runs through a neighbour's ports. You can see the full picture on the landlocked countries page.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The people of Belarus
Population divided by land area gives roughly 44 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
Officially it is multilingual, listing Belarusian and Russian. Belarusian is listed for no other entry in this dataset, which makes it effectively unique to Belarus.
The demonym is Belarusian, so residents are Belarusians.
Against Europe as a whole it is the 18th most populous of 53 entries, and it accounts for 4.7% of everyone living in Eastern Europe.
Useful reference details
It uses the Belarusian ruble (Br, BYN). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to Belarus.
Minsk is the city to remember for this country.
The top-level domain is .by. The international dialling code is +375. In ISO terms it is by in two letters and BLR in three.
Belarus is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Belarus shares borders with 5 countries:
Fun facts about Belarus
- It is 100th of 250 by population, with about 9.1 million residents.
- It is landlocked, one of 45 entries here with no coastline of its own.
- The Belarusian ruble is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- Population density works out at roughly 44 people per square kilometre.
- Websites based there use the .by domain.
- Belarusian is listed as an official language for no other entry in this dataset.
Belarus — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Belarus?
- The capital of Belarus is Minsk.
- What currency does Belarus use?
- Belarus uses the Belarusian ruble, written Br (currency code BYN). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- What language is spoken in Belarus?
- Belarus lists 2 official languages: Belarusian and Russian. Belarusian does not appear as an official language anywhere else in this dataset.
- Is Belarus a country?
- Yes. Belarus is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- Where is Belarus located?
- Belarus is in Eastern Europe, part of Europe. Its reference coordinates are 53.0° north and 28.0° east, roughly 5,900 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- Is Belarus landlocked?
- Yes. Belarus has no sea coast, which makes it one of 45 landlocked entries in this dataset. Everything it imports or exports by sea has to cross a neighbour's territory first, and that transit dependency is a well-documented drag on trade costs.
- Which countries border Belarus?
- Belarus borders 5 countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. Russia is the largest of them by area.
- How big is Belarus?
- Belarus covers 207,600 km², ranking 87th of 250 by land area. That makes it a fraction smaller than Romania.
- What is the population of Belarus?
- Belarus has a population of about 9.1 million, which makes it the 100th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Austria sits just above it and Switzerland just below.
