The Republic of Belarus is a landlocked nation located in Eastern Europe and a former satellite state of the Soviet Union (USSR). Despite independence and development that came after the USSR’s collapse, Belarus is one of the most repressive countries in Europe. Furthermore, democratic institutions often taken for granted in the West are mostly absent. In the article below, top 10 facts about living conditions in Belarus are presented.
Top 10 Facts about Living Conditions in Belarus
- Belarus’ economy remains largely state-controlled. According to the Heritage Foundation, 70 percent of the state’s economy is managed by the government. A lack of private ownership inhibits innovation and contributes to government inefficiency.
- An aspect of Belarus’ economy that has made its citizens relatively well off is the country’s oil reserves and capacity for refinement. It exports refined petroleum, mainly to Russia, in return for inexpensive natural gas. Trade in fossil fuels contributes to Belarussians having a GDP per capita of $18,100, ranking it 66th out of 214 nations.
- Despite Belarus having an above average standard of living, its people are far from free. The country is run by authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, the man that is in power since 1994. Widely regarded as the “last dictator in Europe,” his crackdown on dissidents, along with widespread human rights violations, are condemned by the West. A particularly appalling fact about Belarus is the lack of press freedom. Reporters Without Borders ranks Belarus 155th out of 180 in this category, and this is partially due to the imprisonment of 100 journalists in 2017.
- Belarus performs reasonably well in major public health indicators. For example, over 99 percent of the country has access to improved drinking water, 94 percent to improved sanitation and its infant mortality rate is a mere 3.6 deaths per 1,000 births. In comparison, the United States has an infant mortality rate of 5.7 per 1,000 births.
- A major public health crisis represents disparity between male and female life expectancy. Male life expectancy sits at 66.5, compared to the female rate of 78. Public health experts cite alcohol abuse as a major factor of low life expectancy for Belarussian men. The average man drinks 27.5 liters per year, compared with the worldwide average of 6.2.
- Unlike some of its post-Soviet counterparts, such as the Baltic States, Belarus is not closely aligned with the European Union (EU). This isolation has a noticeable impact on Belarus’ economy. EU members have access to one of the largest common markets in the world. Furthermore, citizens of EU member states are generally free to live and work throughout the bloc. Millions of people are taking this advantage and bettering themselves, an option Belarussians do not have.
- Overall, the population of Belarus appears to be adequately educated. Adult literacy rates are nearly 100 percent and students spend an average of 15 years in the educational system.
- Belarus’ economy is recovering after years of decline. It experienced 2.9 percent annual GDP growth in 2017, with this trend expected to continue through the decade. However, for sustained growth to occur, experts argue that structural reforms must be implemented. These include reducing the debt to GDP ratio and efficiently allocating Belarus’ rich reserves of capital, both physical and human.
- Belarus’ leader quells dissent by intimidating and censoring the media. Recently, he has been receiving help from Russia, in the form of state-sponsored propaganda dominating Belarus’ airwaves. The goal of Russia’s campaign, according to World Policy magazine, is to mobilize Belarus’ sizeable Russian population against anti-Russian, pro-Belarussian nationalism. As the Baltic States and unoccupied Ukraine are unequivocally pro-democracy, Russia wants to maintain a friendly neighbor in a region increasingly allied with the West.
- The Human Development Index (HDI) ranks nations based on an aggregation of quality of life statistics, including life expectancy, per capita income and education. Based on the quality of these indicators, a country is awarded a score from 0-1. Belarus’ HDI score stands at 0.80, which places the country in 53rd place worldwide. Despite their lack of political freedom, Belarussians have a standard of living well above the world average.
The top 10 facts about living conditions in Belarus presented above show a clear dependence of the country on both European Union and Russia, both economically and politically. Despite having autocratic government and being one of the most repressive countries in Europe, the country has seen an increase in economic development that benefited all citizens of the country.
– Joseph Banish
Photo: Flickr
FAQs
1. Standard of living. Locals and ex-pats, living in Belarus, enjoy an above-average standard of living. The cost of living in Belarus is significantly lower than that of most western European countries.
What are the important facts about Belarus? ›
Belarus is a medium-sized European state. The total area is 207,600km2, or about 2% of the total area of Europe. Belarus is the 13th largest country among 44 continental European states (the world's 84th largest country). It is bigger than Greece, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Czechia.
What are the important things in Belarus culture? ›
General Description. The cultural identity of Belarusians has been shaped by supreme spiritual values celebrating morality and humanity. For centuries these values have been passed over from generation to generation. These are high ideals of good and justice, respect for others, strong rejection of evil and violence.
What are the pros and cons of living in Belarus? ›
Summary: The pros of living in Belarus include its low cost of living, its rich cultural heritage, and its excellent public transportation system. On the other hand, the cons of living in Belarus include its lack of economic and political freedom, its poor human rights record, and its limited access to the internet.
Does Belarus have a high standard of living? ›
As of 2018, Belarus ranks 53rd from 189 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, and appeared in the group of states with "very high development".
Is Belarus a rich or poor country? ›
Belarus, with a GNI per capita of $6,330, finds itself among the poorest countries in Europe. Despite its rich resources, the nation faces economic challenges. The GDP per capita is $6,411.23, and the total GDP stands at 60 billion.
What is the best thing about Belarus? ›
There are many reasons to visit Belarus – its scenery, and sights being just a couple of them. This landlocked country in Eastern Europe is renowned for its Stalinist architecture, stunning primaeval forests, and fascinating natural landscapes.
Why is Belarus unique? ›
Belarus is considered to be one of the world centers of religious tourism for Jews. The unique architecture of Belarusian ancient churches attracts many Christian pilgrims. Foreigners come here to see with their own eyes the places where famous battles, in which their ancestors participated, took place.
What food is Belarus known for? ›
Today's diet of Belarusians includes many traditional dishes. The most popular are pork stew (machanka) and vereshchaka, homemade sausages, draniki (thick potato pancakes), kolduny, kletski (dumplings), babka (baked grated potato pie), cold sorrel soup, mushroom soup...
What is the national animal of Belarus? ›
The European bison, commonly called the wisent, is seen as a symbol of Belarus and the Belavezha Forest. It is also featured on the symbols of Brest Oblast.
Name. During the Soviet era, Belarusians were referred to as Byelorussians or Belorussians (from Byelorussia, derived from Russian "Белоруссия"). Before, they were typically known as White Russians or White Ruthenians (from White Russia or White Ruthenia, based on "Белая Русь").
What is Belarus most famous dish? ›
Draniki (potato pancakes) is the most typical dish found in Belarus cuisine and the most popular. Draniki's main ingredients are grated potatoes and onions though some recipes also include meat, bacon, mushrooms and cheese.
What two things does Belarus depend on Russia for? ›
Traditionally, Russia is both our key trade partner and a major export market for Belarusian manufactures. At the end of 2022 the mutual trade between two countries increased by almost 15 percent. Russia accounts for more than half of the foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus.
What is Belarus main religion? ›
The Belarusian religious landscape is dominated by the Belarusian Orthodox Church. It is represented by 1,709 communities, 15 eparchies, 6 religious schools, 35 monasteries and convents, 15 brotherhoods, 10 sisterhoods and one mission.
Why is Belarus life expectancy so low? ›
Male life expectancy sits at 66.5, compared to the female rate of 78. Public health experts cite alcohol abuse as a major factor of low life expectancy for Belarussian men. The average man drinks 27.5 liters per year, compared with the worldwide average of 6.2.
What is the average income of Belarus citizens? ›
The average salary in Belarus is around 1,684.90 BYN (Belarusian Ruble) per month (as of January 2023), published by the National Statistical Committee. This amount is approximately USD 667 per month, as per April 2023 exchange rates.
Why is Belarus a high risk country? ›
The security environment is volatile and could deteriorate quickly due to the Russian military presence along Belarus' border with Ukraine and the military conflict. Russian forces are conducting military operations from Belarus, which has heightened regional tensions.
