Belarus Population: Understanding The Country's Demographic Trends

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of around 9.1 million people. The country spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres and is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is home to nearly 2 million people. Belarus has a median age of around 40 years and a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre, with 70% of its population living in urban areas.

Belarus's population in 2024

Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. As of Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the current population of Belarus is 9,033,631, with a population density of 45 people per square kilometre. The population is projected to be 9,056,696 at mid-year. Belarus has a total land area of 202,910 square kilometres and ranks 100th in the list of countries by population.

The median age in Belarus is 40.9 years, and 83.6% of the population is urban, which equates to 7,573,523 people. The total fertility rate is 2.1, which is the replacement-level fertility needed for each generation to exactly replace itself without international immigration. Belarus has a negative population growth rate and a negative natural growth rate.

The population of Belarus has been declining since 2020, with a 0.45% decline from 2022 to 2023 and a further 0.39% decline from 2023 to 2024. The country's share of the world population is 0.11%.

Population density

Belarus has a population density of about 50 people per square kilometre (127 per square mile), with an average of 44 people per square kilometre as of January 2023. This figure equates to 45 people per square kilometre (116 people per square mile) according to a different source.

Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. It spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 square miles), or 202,910 square kilometres according to another source. Belarus is a medium-sized European state, the 13th largest country among 44 continental European states, and the world's 84th largest country. It is bigger than Greece, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, and nearly as big as Romania and the UK.

The country has a predominantly flat terrain intersected by hills, flatlands, and lowlands with marshes and lakes. About 40% of Belarus is covered by forests, and the country lies within two ecoregions: Sarmatic mixed forests and Central European mixed forests. Belarus has a hemiboreal climate.

The population of Belarus was over 9 million in 1940 but dropped to 7.7 million in 1951 during World War II. It then resumed its long-term growth, rising to 10 million in 1999. After that, the population began a steady decline, dropping to 9.7 million in 2006–2007. Belarus has been undergoing a process of continuous urbanization. The rural population decreased from 70% in 1959 to less than 30% in the 2000s. As of 2011, 75% of the total population lived in urban areas, and this figure increased to 83.6% in 2024. Minsk, the capital and largest city, is home to nearly 2 million residents. Other large cities include Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Grodno, and Brest.

Urban population

Belarus's urban population has been steadily increasing over the years. In 2024, the urban population of Belarus was estimated to be around 7,573,523, accounting for about 83.6% of the total population. This marks a significant shift from the country's historical roots as a predominantly agrarian society, where nearly 80% of the population resided in rural areas.

The urbanization trend in Belarus is evident in the demographic distribution across its regions. Minsk, the capital and largest city, leads the way with a population of nearly 2 million people. Other major cities, such as Gomel, Mogilev, Vitebsk, Grodno, and Brest, have populations ranging from 340,000 to 500,000. These urban centres serve as the administrative capitals of their respective oblasts (regions) and play a crucial role in the country's overall urbanization.

The urban population of Belarus is predominantly comprised of the country's ethnic majority, the Belarusians, who make up about 84.9% of the total population. However, the urban areas also host significant minority groups, including Russians (7.5%), Poles (3.1%), Ukrainians (1.7%), and smaller communities such as Jews, Lipka Tatars, and Ruska Roma.

The urbanization in Belarus has had a notable impact on the country's economy and social fabric. The concentration of population in urban centres has led to the development of various industries and economic opportunities. Additionally, the urbanization process has influenced the cultural landscape, with Russian becoming the dominant language in these urban areas, spoken by 70% of the urban population.

The urban population in Belarus is expected to continue growing, shaping the country's future in terms of infrastructure development, economic activities, and cultural dynamics. The ongoing urbanization trend reflects the broader global shift towards increased urbanization and has significant implications for Belarus's overall development and societal transformation.

Life expectancy

In Belarus, the current life expectancy for 2024 is 75.34 years, a 0.19% increase from 2023. This continues a trend of gradual increases in life expectancy over the past few years, with a 0.19% increase from 2022 to 2023, and a similar increase from 2021 to 2022.

When considering life expectancy, it is important to look at the differences between genders. In Belarus, in 2022, the life expectancy for women at birth was 78.38 years, while for men, it was 68.09 years. This difference of 10.29 years is significant and highlights a disparity between genders.

Fertility rate

Belarus's total fertility rate (TFR) is currently 1.22, well below the replacement rate. This means that, on average, Belarusian women are giving birth to fewer than two children over the course of their reproductive years (15 to 49 years old). This has contributed to Belarus's negative population growth rate and negative natural growth rate.

The country's TFR has been below the replacement rate for some time. In 2019, the birth rate was 9.5 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 12.5 per 1,000 people, giving a negative rate of natural change of -3 per 1,000 people. The TFR was even lower in 2020, at 1.45.

The population of Belarus has fluctuated over the past few decades. It dropped from over 9 million in 1940 to 7.7 million in 1951 due to the Second World War. It then rose to 10 million in 1999 before beginning a steady decline, dropping to 9.7 million in 2006-2007. As of 2024, the population is estimated to be between 9 million and 9.5 million.

The population structure of Belarus is ageing. In 2022, 17.66% of the population was aged 65 and over, while 16.78% was aged 0-14. The median age has risen from 30-34 in the 1990s to 40.9 years in 2024. It is estimated that, by 2050, the median age will be between 60 and 64 years.

Belarus has been undergoing a process of continuous urbanisation. In the 1950s, nearly 80% of the population lived in rural areas, but this dropped to less than 30% in the 2000s. As of 2024, 75%-83.6% of the population is urban.

Frequently asked questions