Blr: Which Country Does This Code Represent?

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus covers an area of 207,600 square kilometres and has a population of 9.1 million, with Minsk being the capital and largest city.

Belarus has historically been dominated by different states, including Kievan Rus', the Principality of Polotsk, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Russian Empire. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, Belarus gained independence in 1991 during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The country has since retained close ties with Russia, signing a treaty in 1999 to create a politically integrated confederation with a common currency.

Belarus has a cool continental climate and is known for its flat lowlands, forests, and numerous streams and lakes. The country has a diverse economy, with significant contributions from manufacturing, agriculture, and service sectors.

Belarus is landlocked and bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus has a total of 3,642 km of land borders shared with its neighbours.

Russia shares the longest border with Belarus, at 1,312 km long. The border was established in 1991, and the two countries formed a customs union in 2011, ceasing checks on the border. However, Russia re-established passport controls in 2016 when Belarus introduced visa-free travel to EU citizens. The Belarus-Russia border starts from the BYPLUA tripoint in the west on the River Bug and stretches to BYRUUA in the east.

Ukraine borders Belarus to the south, with a 975.2 km long border, including 325.9 km along rivers. The border starts from the BYPLUA tripoint in the west and ends at the BYRUUA tripoint in the east. This border dates back to 1918 when both countries were part of the Soviet Union. It was formally confirmed in 1990 between the two republics and again in 1993 as independent countries.

Poland borders Belarus to the west, with a 418 km long border. The border begins in the south at the tripoint formed by the Belarus-Poland-Ukraine borders (BYPLUA) and ends in the north at the intersection of the borders of Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus. This border is heavily monitored as an external EU/Schengen border.

Lithuania shares a 679 km long international border with Belarus, which also serves as an outer border of the European Union and the western border of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The border is defined by the treaty of February 6, 1995, between the two countries, with ground demarcation completed in 2007. The border starts at the BTLTLV tripoint and ends at the BYLTPL tripoint, crossing through several physical features such as rivers and lakes.

Latvia has a 172.9 km long border with Belarus, spanning from the tripoint with Lithuania to the tripoint with Russia. This border was established after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and confirmed in 1994 and again in 2013. For about 16.6 km, the border runs along the Daugava River.

Minsk is the capital and largest city

First mentioned in 1067, Minsk became the capital of the Principality of Minsk, an appanage of the Principality of Polotsk, before being annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1242. It received town privileges in 1499 and, from 1569, was the capital of Minsk Voivodeship, an administrative division of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Minsk was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1793 as a consequence of the Second Partition of Poland. From 1919 to 1991, after the Russian Revolution, Minsk was the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a republic of the Soviet Union in 1922. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Minsk became the capital of the newly independent Republic of Belarus.

Minsk is the economic capital of Belarus, contributing nearly 46% of the country's budget. It is the major industrial centre of the country, with companies in the city producing 21.5% of electricity, 76% of trucks, 15.9% of footwear, 89.3% of television sets, 99.3% of washing machines, 30% of chocolate, 27.7% of distilled alcoholic beverages, and 19.7% of tobacco goods in Belarus. Minsk has over 250 factories and plants, with major industrial employers including the Minsk Tractor Plant, Minsk Automobile Plant, Minsk Refrigerator Plant, and Horizont.

Minsk is also the major cultural centre of Belarus, with 11 theatres, 16 museums, 20 cinemas, 139 libraries, and numerous other institutions dedicated to the arts. The city has a rich history that is reflected in its architectural heritage, with landmarks such as the Victory Monument in Victory Square, the white Town Hall in Svobody Square, the National Library of Belarus, the Holy Spirit Cathedral, and the Catholic Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary.

Minsk is located on the southeastern slope of the Minsk Hills, with an average altitude of 220 metres above sea level. The city has a warm summer humid continental climate, with an unpredictable weather pattern influenced by the moist air over the Atlantic Ocean and the dry air over the Eurasian landmass.

The country has a population of 9.1 million

The country of Belarus has a population of 9.1 million people. This figure represents a decline from the pre-World War II population, during which Belarus lost about a quarter of its population. The population of Belarus did not return to pre-war levels until 1971.

Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre. 70% of its total population is concentrated in urban areas. Minsk, the nation's capital and largest city, is home to 1,937,900 residents. Other large cities include Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Grodno, and Brest, with populations of 481,000, 365,100, 342,400, 314,800, and 298,300, respectively.

Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate. In 2007, Belarus's population declined by 0.41%, and its fertility rate was 1.22, well below the replacement rate. The median age of the population is expected to increase from 30-34 to between 60 and 64 by 2050.

The population of Belarus is ageing. In 2025, the proportion of the population under 14 years old is expected to decrease to 14.1%, while the proportion of individuals over 60 years old is projected to rise to 25%. This demographic shift has strained the pension and healthcare systems. In 2022, the average monthly pension in Belarus was BYN 630 ($237), which falls short of ensuring a decent standard of living.

Belarus has a high life expectancy compared to the global average. In 2022, life expectancy at birth was 75.06 years (79.4 years for women and 69.3 years for men). However, Belarus is the only European country that still uses capital punishment.

Belarus has a diverse religious landscape, with Eastern Orthodoxy being the most prevalent, accounting for about 82% of the religious population. Roman Catholicism is practised mostly in the western regions, and there are also different denominations of Protestantism. Additionally, minorities practise Greek Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, and neo-paganism.

Belarus has two official languages: Russian and Belarusian. According to a 2009 census, 53% of the population described Belarusian as their "mother tongue," while 70% reported that they spoke Russian in their homes.

Belarus has a very high human development rank

The country code BLR refers to Belarus, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Belarus has a "very high" human development rank, with a Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.808 in 2021. The HDI is calculated by combining the life expectancy index, the education index, and the Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality.

Belarus has a population of 9.1 million people and is one of the most equal countries in the world. The country has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate, with a fertility rate of 1.22 in 2007. The median age in Belarus is estimated to be between 30 and 34 and is expected to rise to between 60 and 64 by 2050. The country has a high life expectancy of 72.15 years and a low infant mortality rate.

In terms of education, Belarus has a literacy rate of over 99% for people aged 15 and older. The country allocates a significant amount of its expenditures to education, ranking 86th in the world. However, there have been concerns about human rights violations and a lack of freedom of the press and civil liberties in Belarus.

In terms of economic development, Belarus has a GDP per capita of $7,240 and ranks 82nd in GDP per capita. The country has a diverse economy, with manufacturing, agriculture, and trade playing important roles. Belarus has trade relations with over 180 countries, with Russia and the EU being its main trading partners. However, Belarus has faced economic sanctions from the EU and other countries due to political reasons.

Overall, Belarus has made significant progress in human development, achieving a "very high" HDI score and performing well in terms of life expectancy, education, and income equality.

The country has a presidential system of governance

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a presidential system of governance. The country has a semi-presidential or hyper-presidential regime with a highly centralized and authoritarian government.

The country's constitution, adopted in March 1994, grants significant powers to the president, including the authority to appoint the government. The president also has the power to appoint and dismiss key figures such as members of the electoral commission, the cabinet (including the prime minister), and the heads of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Supreme Economic Court. The president appoints all judges in the country, except for six judges in the Constitutional Court, who are elected by the upper house of parliament.

The legislative power in Belarus is exercised by a bicameral parliament, known as the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, which plays a primarily ceremonial role. The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, is composed of 110 members elected in geographic constituencies, while the upper chamber, the Council of the Republic, consists of 56 members, with eight representing each region and an additional eight from the city of Minsk.

The executive power is vested in the government, known as the Council of Ministers, which is accountable to both the president and the parliament. The Council of Ministers operates as a technocratic government, with most political decisions being crafted by the presidential administration.

The judiciary in Belarus is independent but lacks true independence from the executive branch. The judicial system consists of the Constitutional Court and a system of general jurisdiction courts, with the Supreme Court serving as the leading court of general jurisdiction. The president has a significant role in appointing and dismissing judges, and the executive branch often intervenes in cases of economic or political significance.

The concentration of power in the hands of the president and the dominance of the executive over the legislative and judicial branches have led to concerns about the lack of separation of powers and meaningful accountability in the Belarusian political system.

Frequently asked questions