The Republic of Belarus is in sixth place in the CIS in terms of population and occupies 92nd place in the global list.
According to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the population as of July 1, 2016 was 9498.4 thousand people. The vast majority of the population (almost 80 percent) lives in cities.
Belarus is a state with low density, especially by European standards - approximately 46 people live on one square kilometer of area. The only city with a population of one million is the capital of Belarus, Minsk, with almost two million people living there. All other cities are much smaller.
Belarus is a multinational state; representatives of more than 130 nationalities live on its territory. 81 percent of the population considers themselves Belarusians. Russians are the second largest nation in Belarus. Both languages – Belarusian and Russian – are state languages.
The vast majority of believers profess Orthodox Christianity, while the state is separated from the church and is secular.
According to official statistics, demography in Belarus is experiencing a protracted crisis. The birth rate is falling and there is no natural population growth. Thus, in 1990, the population of the republic was 10,190,000 people. In 1996, this figure was 10,177,000. Currently it does not reach 9 and a half million. All these years, the trend of depopulation (natural population decline) continued.
However, an encouraging circumstance is a slight slowdown in this trend. So, if in the 90s and 2000s the size of the loss was several tens of thousands of people annually, then in recent years this negative phenomenon has somewhat stalled, the loss is already estimated in the thousands. For example, in 2015 it was only one thousand people.
The birth rate in Belarus is low and amounts to only 9.4 people per thousand population, or just under one and a half births per woman. According to this indicator, Belarus is in one of the last places in the world ranking (176th place out of 195 possible). This indicator is not enough for positive natural reproduction of the population.
The slight increase in population size over the past four years has been achieved solely through migration.
The gender ratio is uneven. There are six hundred thousand more women in Belarus than men, while women live almost ten years longer, while the natural difference is considered to be five years. For such a small state, this figure is very significant.
The 2009 census showed that Belarusian families prefer having few children. The vast majority of families have one child (more than 65 percent). Only five percent of families have many children.
The mortality rate in Belarus is high; in the country as a whole it is 12.6 people per thousand population, while it varies greatly by region. The lowest mortality rate is recorded in the capital (9.7 people), the highest in the Vitebsk and Minsk regions (more than 16 people). In terms of mortality, Belarus ranks 24th in the world. However, one cannot fail to note the fairly stable positive dynamics. This indicator, for example, in 2002 was 14.9, in 2012 – 13.4, the decrease is gradual but sustainable, which gives hope for further improvement of the situation in this area.
Also worth noting as a positive aspect is the increase in life expectancy over the past twenty years. So, if in 1995 it was only 68.6 years, in 2005 – 68.8 years, then in 2015 the duration increased significantly and amounted to 73.9 years.
Every year, about 80 thousand marriages are concluded in Belarus, while more than 32 thousand are dissolved, thus, almost every third marriage breaks up.
Against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, the standard of living of the population of Belarus is systematically declining. Thus, the average monthly salary for January-June 2016 amounted to almost 700 denominated Belarusian rubles(7 million non-denominated), which translates to approximately $350. This level of wages is only 96 percent of the level for the same period last year. Real incomes of the population are also declining, and the purchasing power of the national currency is also falling. Against the backdrop of a general decline in income, the standard of living of the population is sharply deteriorating.
State support for socially vulnerable populations is scanty. Thus, the monthly social benefit for low-income families is approximately $15, and one-time targeted assistance is $40.
The situation is much better in the area of state support for motherhood and childhood. Thus, at the birth of the first child, from August 1, 2016, a lump sum benefit is paid in the amount of 1,755 Belarusian rubles, which is equivalent to approximately 880 US dollars. For the second and subsequent children, the state pays a lump sum of 2,457 rubles ($1,234). Child care benefits are paid to a woman up to three years of age, and not up to one and a half years, as in many CIS countries. For the first child, the benefit amount is 35 percent of the average salary for the quarter (about 115 US dollars), for the second and subsequent children - 40 percent of the average salary (about 130 US dollars).
These facts indicate the desire of the state to change better side demographic situation in the country, to achieve population growth due to its natural increase. And in this area it is impossible not to note some successes. Despite the negative growth rates so far, the rate of depopulation, as noted above, has decreased in recent years; Belarus is approaching a positive natural growth rate.
If there is such demographic policy, serious state support for motherhood and childhood, and the adoption of exceptional measures to stimulate the birth rate, one is confident that all the demographic problems of Belarus that have accumulated in recent years will soon be resolved.
The article was prepared by specialists from SoyuzPravoInform LLC.
The population of Belarus today, according to the statistical committee, is almost nine and a half million people. Among the CIS countries this is fifth place after Russian Federation, Ukraine, as well as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, the population of Belarus exceeds the number of citizens of all (1.3 times), as well as Denmark (twice). This figure is lower compared to Sweden, Austria and Bulgaria. The number of residents of Belarus is approximately equal to the number of citizens in Greece, Czech Republic, Portugal, Belgium, Yugoslavia and a number of other countries.
The period lasting from the post-war years until the nineties of the last century was characterized by a tendency towards constant growth of the country's population, as a result of which the population of Belarus increased noticeably. However, in the last decades of the twentieth century, the rate of increase in the country's population began to decline noticeably.
The economic reforms of the perestroika era affected many aspects of people's lives. The transition to market relations, the emergence of informal activities, the flourishing of private business, the growth of unemployment - all these factors played a significant role in changing the living conditions of citizens. This also affected the dynamics of the number, composition, as well as the process of reproduction of people living in the country.
Since nineteen ninety-three, Belarus, whose population began to decline, entered a stage of depopulation. The decrease in the number of citizens occurred due to the excess of the mortality rate over the birth rate. The result of this process is the country’s constant movement towards acquiring the status of a smaller state (in terms of numbers).
The population of Belarus has a multinational composition. Representatives of one hundred and thirty nationalities live in the state. The majority of citizens are Belarusians. Their share of the total population is eighty-one percent.
The largest percentage of Belarusians live in Minsk and currently their number throughout the country is constantly increasing.
The percentage composition of other nationalities has constantly changed throughout the historical period. It was directly dependent on external and internal factors (migration, wars, and so on). However, invariably the representatives of the second largest group of the population were Russian people. of this nation is equal to eleven percent. Many of the landowners, peasants and officials began to live in Belarus after its annexation to the Russian Empire. During the period of Soviet power, this ethnic group outnumbered the Polish and Jewish ones, which corresponded to the geopolitics of the USSR. Currently, the representatives' place of residence is mainly in cities.
The population of Belarus in its northwestern regions is represented by a large proportion of Poles. It makes up almost four percent of the total population of this region. A small level of migration of citizens of Polish nationality was observed in the Middle Ages. Today, most of this representatives live in the Grodno region. They do not have any significant differences from Belarusians in terms of everyday and cultural features.
There are 9,499,804 people living in Belarus, but not everyone is Belarusian.
The population of Belarus includes everyone who permanently resides in the country.
- Population – 9,499,804;
- Male population (48.5%) – 4,977,872;
- Female population (51.5%) – 5,295,665;
- Population growth this year – 160;
According to sociologists, this year the population will increase to 9,500,404 people.
True, natural growth will remain negative. Its figures will be 23,369 people. About 134,610 people are expected to die.
Total number of babies born in 2017
Belarus · Population
will be about 111,241 people. The number of immigrants (those who came to the country for long-term residence) will exceed the number of emigrants (those who leave the country).
National composition of Belarus
More than 80% of the population of Belarus are native Belarusians. After World War II, a large influx of Russians was registered in the country.
The number of Russians in Belarus is 8.2%. Poles came in third place - 3.1% of them live in our country. In fourth place are Ukrainians – 1.7%. In fifth place are Jews – 0.13%. Also living in the country are Tatars, Gypsies, Lithuanians and Latvians.
Religious composition
About 60% of the population of Belarus considers themselves believers.
Of these, 82.5% are Orthodox, 12% are Catholics, 4% are professing Eastern religions (Islam, Hinduism and Baha’is), 2% are Protestants. Also, Old Believers still live on the territory of Belarus.
Lifespan
The latest demographic indicators have established the average life expectancy of a Belarusian at 71.2 years. If we talk separately about women and men, then the weaker sex, according to statistics, lives more than the stronger sexes.
Thus, a Belarusian woman lives on average 77.2 years, and a man – 65.6 years.
Linguistic features of the population
There are two in Belarus state languages: Belarusian and Russian. The majority of the population speaks Russian. According to sociological surveys, the number of people who consider Russian their native language is gradually increasing.
So in 1959 the number of such people was 6.8%, and thirty years later in 1989 it was 19.7%.
Population literacy
In Belarus, almost 100% literacy of the population over 10 years of age is ensured. Higher education About 18% of citizens have secondary education - 26%.
Population migration
According to 2012 data
18,040 migrants arrived in Belarus. Among them are Russians - 8560 people, Ukrainians - 2258, Cossacks - 963, Turks - 800. Citizens of Belarus prefer to emigrate to work in Russia - more than 500 thousand have emigrated.
people, Poland - about 200 thousand people, as well as to other EU countries.
Family
The majority of Belarusian families raise one child – 65.9%.
28.3% of families have two children, only 5.2% have three or more children.
Everything about the inhabitants of Belarus: numbers, national composition, life expectancy
Names of residents of Belarus
The country of Belarus has the full official name of the Republic of Belarus and the letter codes BY and BLR. Another name for the country is also often used - Belarus. Official names citizens of Belarus:
Residents of the masculine gender of the territory of Polesie are called: poleshuk (poleshchuk). There is no name for the feminine gender, so they say: resident of Polesie.
Declension by case
Declension of the name of the country and the names of its inhabitants by case.
Cities of Belarus
List of large and famous cities in Belarus in alphabetical order, indicating the names of citizens.
If a city does not have a feminine name for its residents, use the phrase “resident of the city...”.
| Baranovichi | resident of Baranovichi | Baranovichi resident | Baranavichy residents |
| Bobruisk | Bobruisk resident | Bobruisk woman | Bobruisk residents |
| Borisov | Borisov resident | Borisov resident | Borisov residents |
| Brest | Brest resident | Brest resident | Brest residents |
| Vitebsk | Vitebsk resident | Viteblanka | Vitebsk residents |
| Gomel | Gomel resident | Gomel resident | Gomel residents |
| Grodno | Grodno resident | Grodno | Grodno residents |
| Zhlobin | Zhlobin resident | Zhlobin resident | Zhlobin residents |
| Lida | Lidyanin | Lidyanka | Lidians |
| Minsk | Minsk resident | Minsk resident | Minsk residents |
| Mogilev | Mogilev resident | Mogilev resident | Mogilev residents |
| Pinsk | Pinsk resident | Pinchan woman | Pinsk residents |
| Polotsk | Polovchanian | Polovtsian | Polovtsians |
| Slutsk | random guy | chance | case |
Below are the coefficients of change in the population of Belarus, calculated by us for 2019:
- Birth rate: average 305 children per day (12.70 per hour);
- Death rate: average 369 people per day (15.37 per hour);
- Migration population growth: on average 66 people per day (2.75 per hour).
The population growth rate of Belarus in 2019 will be 2 people per day.
Population of Belarus 2018
According to our estimate, at the end of 2018, the population of Belarus was 9,501,164 people. In 2018, the population of Belarus increased by approximately 760 people. Considering that the population of Belarus at the beginning of the year was estimated at 9,500,404 people, the annual increase was 0.01%.
Here are the main demographic indicators of Belarus for 2018:
- Births: 111,250 people;
- Deaths: 134,621 people;
- Natural population growth: -23,371 people;
- Migration population growth: 24,131 people;
- Men: 4,416,494 (est. 31 December 2018);
- Women: 5,084,670 (est. 31 December 2018).
Population growth 1952 - 2019
| Year | Population growth |
|---|---|
| 1952 | 0,51 |
| 1953 | 0,71 |
| 1954 | 0,86 |
| 1955 | 0,97 |
| 1956 | 1,04 |
| 1957 | 1,06 |
| 1958 | 1,04 |
| 1959 | 1,01 |
| 1960 | 0,99 |
| 1961 | 0,98 |
| 1962 | 0,99 |
| 1963 | 1,02 |
| 1964 | 1,03 |
| 1965 | 1,02 |
| 1966 | 0,99 |
| 1967 | 0,93 |
| 1968 | 0,85 |
| 1969 | 0,78 |
| 1970 | 0,72 |
| 1971 | 0,68 |
| 1972 | 0,65 |
| 1973 | 0,63 |
| 1974 | 0,6 |
| 1975 | 0,59 |
| 1976 | 0,6 |
| 1977 | 0,62 |
| 1978 | 0,66 |
| 1979 | 0,69 |
| 1980 | 0,7 |
| 1981 | 0,7 |
| 1982 | 0,68 |
| 1983 | 0,65 |
| 1984 | 0,61 |
| 1985 | 0,55 |
| 1986 | 0,46 |
| 1987 | 0,33 |
| 1988 | 0,17 |
| 1989 | 0,01 |
| 1990 | -0,12 |
| 1991 | -0,22 |
| 1992 | -0,28 |
| 1993 | -0,31 |
| 1994 | -0,34 |
| 1995 | -0,37 |
| 1996 | -0,43 |
| 1997 | -0,49 |
| 1998 | -0,57 |
| 1999 | -0,64 |
| 2000 | -0,67 |
| 2001 | -0,66 |
| 2002 | -0,61 |
| 2003 | -0,53 |
| 2004 | -0,44 |
| 2005 | -0,35 |
| 2006 | -0,27 |
| 2007 | -0,18 |
| 2008 | -0,09 |
| 2009 | -0,01 |
| 2010 | 0,05 |
| 2011 | 0,05 |
| 2012 | 0,05 |
| 2013 | 0,01 |
| 2014 | 0,01 |
| 2015 | -0,01 |
| 2016 | 0,01 |
| 2017 | 0,01 |
| 2018 | 0,01 |
| 2019 | 0,01 |
Population density of Belarus
According to the United Nations Department of Statistics, the total area of Belarus is 207,600 square kilometers.
The total area means the land area and the area of all water surfaces of the state within international borders. Population density is calculated as the ratio of the total population living in a given territory to total area this territory. According to our calculations, at the beginning of 2019 the population of Belarus was approximately 9,501,164 people.
Thus, the population density of Belarus is 45.8 people per square kilometer.
Religion in Belarus
Population distribution by age groups
According to our calculations, as of the beginning of 2019, the population of Belarus had the following age distribution:
- 1,348,310 people under 15 years of age (men: 693,490 / women: 654,820);
- 6,816,135 people over 14 and under 65 (men: 3,302,035 / women: 3,514,101);
- 1,336,719 people over 64 years of age (men: 423,657 / women: 913,062).
As we see, the age pyramid of Belarus has a regressive or decreasing type. This type of pyramid is usually found in highly developed countries. In such countries there is usually enough high level healthcare, as well as the level of education of citizens. Due to relatively low mortality and birth rates, the population has a high life expectancy. All these factors, along with many others, lead to an aging population (increasing average age population).
Dependency ratio
The dependency ratio shows the burden on society and the economy from the population that is not part of the working population (the dependent part of the population). The population that is not considered to be of working age is understood as the total population under 15 years of age and the population over 64 years of age. The age of the working-age population (the productive part of the population) is, respectively, between 15 and 65 years.
The dependency ratio directly reflects financial expenditures on social policy in the state. For example, if this coefficient increases, expenses for the construction of educational institutions, social protection, healthcare, pension payments, etc. should be increased.
Overall load factor
The overall dependency ratio is calculated as the ratio of the dependent part of the population to the working-age or productive part of the population.
For Belarus, the total dependency ratio is 39.4%.
The value of 39.4% is relatively low. It shows that the working age population is more than twice the size of the non-working age population. This attitude creates a relatively low social burden for society.
Potential replacement rate
The potential replacement rate (child load rate) is calculated as the ratio of the population below working age to the working age population.
The potential replacement rate for Belarus is 19.8%.
Pension load factor
The pension burden coefficient is calculated as the ratio of the population above working age to the working age population.
The pension burden ratio in Belarus is 19.6%.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is one of the most important demographic indicators. It shows the average number of years of a person's life expectancy. That is, the number of years that a person can theoretically live, provided that current fertility and mortality rates remain unchanged throughout the person's life. Typically, “life expectancy” refers to life expectancy at birth, that is, at age 0 years.
Average life expectancy at birth (for both sexes) in Belarus is 71.2 years (years).
This is higher than the global average life expectancy, which stands at around 71 years (according to the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs).
Average life expectancy for men at birth - 65.6 years (years).
Average life expectancy for women at birth - 77.2 years (years).
Population literacy
According to our estimates, about 8,130,783 people in Belarus over 15 years of age can read and write in any language. This represents 99.73% of the total adult population. In this case, the adult population means all people over 15 years of age. Accordingly, about 22,072 people are still illiterate.
The literacy rate among the male adult population is 99.79% (3,717,831 people).
7,861 people are illiterate.
The literacy rate among the female adult population is 99.68% (4,412,952 people).
14,211 people are illiterate.
The youth literacy rate is 99.82% and 99.86% for men and women respectively. The overall youth literacy rate is 99.84%. The concept of youth in this case covers the population aged 15 to 24 years inclusive.
The population in Belarus continues to decline. During the first quarter of this year, the number of people living in our country decreased by 9,912 people, Belstat reports. That is, the natural decline (the excess of mortality over the birth rate) could not be overcome by migration. The population decreased in January–March in all regions, with the exception of the Minsk region (increase due to migration). There are fewer people living even in Minsk. And if you look at the demographic situation by district, the number of births exceeded the number of deaths only in Minsk and Narovlyansky. Most noticeably, the mortality rate exceeded the birth rate in the Orsha, Borisov and Polotsk regions.
The photo is for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Olga Shukaylo, TUT.BY
Migration growth in the country as a whole in the first quarter of this year amounted to 795 people, natural decline - 10,707 people. In January–March, 21,519 children were born in Belarus. This is 2,016, or 8.6%, less than in the same period in 2018. The number of deaths was 32,226 people - 76 people less than a year earlier.
In the first quarter, only the Minsk region managed to achieve a plus in terms of population. However, the “increase” turned out to be insignificant - 69 people. The growth in numbers was ensured in the region due to population migration. At the same time, the natural decline (the excess of the number of deaths over the number of births) in January–March in the region amounted to 1827 people, and the migration increase was 1896.
In some regional centers, population growth was observed in the first quarter. For example, in Brest - by 122 people, in Grodno - by 109. But in Mogilev minus - 178 people, in Gomel - 329, in Vitebsk - 227.
But in Minsk in the first quarter the population decreased by 1,145 people. The natural decline in the capital (the excess of the number of deaths over the number of births) in January–March amounted to 689 people, and the migration decline was 456 people. That is, in Minsk, not only does the mortality rate exceed the birth rate, but people have also begun to leave the capital more often than to come for permanent residence.
Let us remind you that in Minsk as of January 1 of this year there were 1 million 992.8 thousand people. This is 10.4 thousand more than a year ago. This is a record figure. Thus, at the beginning of 2018, there were 1 million 982.4 thousand people in the capital, at the beginning of 2017 - 1 million 974.8 thousand residents, and at the beginning of 2016 - 1 million 959.8 thousand.
| Population of Belarus as of April 1, 2019 | |||
| Region | headcount as of April 1, 2019 | headcount as of January 1, 2019 | how the number changed in January–March 2019 (numbers rounded) |
| Brest | 1 million 379.4 thousand | 1 million 380.3 thousand | -1 thousand |
| Vitebsk | 1 million 168.8 thousand | 1 million 171.6 thousand | -2.7 thousand |
| Gomel | 1 million 408.2 thousand | 1 million 409.9 thousand | -1.7 thousand |
| Grodno | 1 million 37.8 thousand | 1 million 39.3 thousand | -1 442 |
| Minsk | 1 million 991.6 thousand | 1 million 992.7 thousand | -1145 |
| Minsk | 1 million 428.6 thousand | 1 million 428.5 thousand | +69 |
| Mogilevskaya | 1 million 50.9 thousand | 1 million 52.9 thousand | -1967 |
| around the country | 9 million 465.3 thousand | 9 million 475.2 | -9912 |
If you look at the demographic situation by region, the number of births exceeded the number of deaths in the first quarter only in Minsk (+146 people) and Narovlyansky (+19). In other areas during this period, more people died than were born. The mortality rate most noticeably exceeded the birth rate in Orsha district (by 317 people), Borisov district (by 268), Polotsk (by 231), Rechitsa (by 210), Lida (171), Molodechno (167). These statistics for regions do not take into account migration growth, but for regions and Minsk they do.
Let us remind you that at the beginning of this year in Belarus, according to updated data (preliminary data were previously published), there were 9 million 475.2 thousand people. This is 16.6 thousand fewer than a year earlier. For comparison: in 2017 the population decreased by 12.9 thousand, and in 2016 it increased by 6.3 thousand people.
Behind last year the number of Belarusians increased only in Minsk and the Minsk region, in other regions it decreased.
For comparison: at the beginning of 2001, the population of Belarus was 9 million 957 thousand people. Then the number of Belarusians decreased until 2013. During 2013, the population increased by 4 thousand people and amounted to 9 million 468 thousand people at the beginning of 2014.
After this, for three years – from 2015 to 2017 – the number of Belarusians continued to grow. At the beginning of 2017, 9 million 505 thousand people lived in Belarus, and at the beginning of 2018 - 9 million 491.9 thousand (of which 7.4 million lived in cities).
According to demographers, the population of Belarus will continue to decline. As previously stated in the Labor Research Institute of the Ministry of Labor, without taking into account migration processes, the population of Belarus in 2030 could reach 8 million 964 thousand 600 people.
According to calculations by research institute specialists, in accordance with the middle option, the population will decrease to 9 million 458 thousand 700, the lower one - to 9 million 83 thousand 500 people. At the same time, according to the high option, the number will increase to 9 million 543 thousand 600 people.
In Belarus in 2050 the population will be 8 million 571 thousand people. This is 897 thousand less compared to 2017. Such data is contained in the UN World Population Prospects, which is posted on the organization’s website.
