Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. For stable country research, separate the fixed identifiers (codes, region, membership) from the figures that change regularly (population, currency value, government composition). The verified baseline appears below, followed by a method for refreshing the numbers yourself from primary sources.

Fixed identifiers

Belarus is assigned the following identifiers by international standards bodies. These do not change from year to year.

• UN M49 code: 112
• ISO alpha-2: BY
• ISO alpha-3: BLR
• UN region: Europe
• UN subregion: Eastern Europe
• UN member state: Yes (since 1945)
• World Bank capital field: Minsk
• IANA country-code top-level domain: .by

These identifiers come from the United Nations Statistics Division’s Methodology for the M49 standard, which is the reference for country codes and regional groupings. The UN M49 overview is available at https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/overview/. M49 is a statistical grouping, not a political or territorial claim. It groups territories by geographic region for data-collection purposes and does not adjudicate sovereignty, borders or naming disputes.

Geography and neighbours

Belarus sits in Eastern Europe and has no coastline. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. It is a member of the United Nations and is grouped by the UN as part of the Eastern Europe subregion within the broader Europe region.

How to verify figures that change

Population estimates, language-use statistics, exchange rates, government rosters and economic indicators all shift. Census data is collected every 5-10 years, and exchange rates, inflation figures and travel rules can move within months. For any figure that changes, name the source and the reference year, and check the primary source before relying on it.

Population and demography

The most recent census data for Belarus comes from the 2019 census conducted by the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat). That census recorded a resident count of approximately 9.41 million people. Official annual estimates since then have fluctuated around 9.2-9.4 million. The United Nations Population Division publishes its own estimates, which may differ from national figures because of different definitions of residence and different adjustment methods.

The World Bank provides an API that returns the latest estimate for Belarus and every other territory. You can call it directly:

https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/BY/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?format=json

The response includes the value and the date of the observation. As of the most recent World Bank release, the estimate for Belarus is around 9.2 million people (World Bank, 2023). For census-based figures, Belstat publishes its own estimates, but those are not always identical to World Bank figures because the two use different source data and adjustment methods. Always note the reference year when citing a number.

For current figures, check:

• UN World Population Prospects: https://population.un.org/wpp/
• Belarusian national statistics: https://www.belstat.gov.by/en/

Population counts are estimates, not fixed facts. The United Nations Population Division publishes biennial revisions; the World Bank provides annual estimates. Always cite the year of the estimate, the source, and whether it is a census count, a projection or a mid-year estimate. Belstat publishes national data, while UN and World Bank figures are internationally harmonized.

Capital

The World Bank capital field lists Minsk. Capital cities are administrative seats, not necessarily the largest or most economically dominant city; for Belarus, Minsk is both the administrative centre and the largest city.

Languages

Belarus has two official languages, Belarusian and Russian, according to the constitution and official government sources. The most recent census (2019) and national surveys provide language-use figures, but official data on language use can lag and may undercount minority languages. For current linguistic statistics, consult Belstat or the UNESCO education and culture data portal. The World Bank and UN do not publish language data directly; language figures come from national censuses and survey programmes. For language policy and minority-language status, refer to the Belarusian national statistical office or the Council of Europe language charter documentation.

Currency

The national currency is the Belarusian ruble (BYN). Exchange rates change daily; for current rates, use the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB) or a major financial data provider. Do not rely on a static rate from a dated article.

Government and economy

Belarus is a presidential republic in legal terms, though international observers (Freedom House, the EU and the US State Department) assess its political rights and civil liberties as severely restricted. The president is Alexander Lukashenko (in office since 1994, as of the 2024 reference year). The economy is state-dominated; the World Bank classifies Belarus as an upper-middle-income economy (as of FY2025). For current GDP, growth, inflation and income grouping, consult the World Bank country API and the IMF Article IV reports. Economic statistics from different sources may use different exchange-rate bases (nominal vs PPP), so always check the definition.

Travel and communications basics

• Driving side: right
• Time zone: UTC+3 (Moscow Time, no DST)
• Internet TLD: .by
• Calling code: +375

Government structure and leadership change over time; verify current officials and administrative divisions from the official portal of Belarus or a current reputable news source. The World Bank API returns the capital field for Belarus as Minsk, along with regional and income groupings; note the reference year for any indicator you cite.

Static profile

• UN M49 code: 112
• ISO alpha-2: BY
• ISO alpha-3: BLR
• UN region: Europe
• UN subregion: Eastern Europe
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank capital field: Minsk

Dynamic facts (verify each year)

• Population: 9,228,000 (2023, World Bank estimate)
• Capital: Minsk
• Official languages: Belarusian and Russian
• Currency: Belarusian ruble (BYN)
• Government: presidential republic (in practice; formally a presidential republic with a prime minister)
• Calling code: +375
• ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: BY
• ISO 3166-1 alpha-3: BLR
• IANA country-code top-level domain: .by
• UN M49 code: 112
• UN region: Europe
• UN subregion: Eastern Europe
• UN member state: Yes
• World Bank income grouping: upper-middle income (as of FY2025)
• World Bank capital: Minsk
• Driving side: right
• Time zone: UTC+3 (Moscow Time, no DST)
• Internet TLD: .by
• Calling code: +375
• ISO 3166-1 numeric code: 112