Belarus profile

Demography and Health

Belarus has a population of about 9.13 million in 2024, with life expectancy at birth around 74.2 years. The crude birth rate is 7.14 per 1,000 people and the crude death rate is 13.3 per 1,000, indicating a natural population decline in the short term. Under-5 mortality stands at 2.4 per 1,000 live births, reflecting relatively solid child health outcomes by regional standards. Net migration in 2024 is negative (-3,119), signaling outward movement that can influence the age structure and future labor supply. Unemployment is 3.46% (2023), suggesting a tight labor market, though the quality and allocation of jobs may be affected by migration and structural factors. Poverty in 2022 sits at 3.9% of the population under national poverty lines, and the prevalence of undernourishment is 2.5% (2022), indicating generally strong basic living standards. Health financing shows current health expenditure at 6.66% of GDP (2022), and domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, is about 1,021 international dollars (2022), underscoring robust public health commitments within fiscal constraints. Taken together, Belarus exhibits solid health outcomes and social indicators, but demographic headwinds from emigration and a relatively rapid death rate relative to birth rate point to long‑term aging and labor‑market challenges that may require policy attention.

Economy, Trade and Investment

Belarus’s economy shows a mix of openness and structural constraints. GDP per capita is 8,317 current US$ in 2024, with a GDP per capita at PPP of 33,006 current international US$. The country operates with a high degree of trade openness, as exports of goods and services account for 65.1% of GDP and imports for 66.9% of GDP in 2024, indicating reliance on international trade for growth and inputs. Inflation is 5.79% (2024), signaling moderate price stability. The unemployment rate is 3.46% (2023), suggesting a generally tight labor market, potentially reflecting skill mismatches given the country’s demographic trends. Net foreign direct investment inflows equal 2.27% of GDP (2024), showing ongoing but modest external financing and investment attractiveness. The current account balance stands at -2.53% of GDP (2024), indicating a modest external deficit that needs financing from savings or capital flows. Belarus reports measurable innovation activity: high-technology exports are about 0.92 billion USD (2021), residents filed 276 patent applications (2021), and R&D expenditure is 0.578% of GDP (2023), ranking relatively higher among peers in the region for research intensity but still modest by global standards. These indicators collectively portray an economy with open trade, a competent but constrained investment climate, and a growing, albeit niche, innovation ecosystem that supports productivity gains and export opportunities while balancing macroeconomic stability needs.

Governance and Institutions

Belarus’s governance indicators in 2023 reflect persistent institutional challenges. Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism is -0.729, Regulatory Quality is -1.42, Rule of Law is -1.25, and Control of Corruption is -0.665, with Government Effectiveness at -0.991. On this scale, negative values point to weaknesses in political stability, policy execution, legal certainty, and anti-corruption effectiveness relative to global norms. While these indicators do not capture every aspect of governance, they suggest constraints in policy credibility, law enforcement, judicial independence, and the consistency of public administration. Such conditions can affect the predictability of business environments, contract enforcement, and long‑term investment planning. The data imply a governance landscape that benefits from reforms aimed at strengthening rule of law, reducing corruption, and improving government effectiveness to bolster investor confidence and social resilience.

Infrastructure and Technology

Belarus demonstrates strong digital connectivity alongside mid-range logistics. Internet adoption is high, with 91.5% of the population online in 2023, enabling digital services, e-commerce, and remote work. The Logistics Performance Index for quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure is 2.7 (2022) on a 1–5 scale, indicating decent but improvable logistics and cross-border transport efficiency. The country also displays notable innovation activity for its size: high-technology exports reached about 0.92 billion USD in 2021, and residents filed 276 patent applications in 2021, supported by R&D expenditure of 0.578% of GDP in 2023. These signals point to a developing technology and innovation ecosystem that, with targeted investments in logistics, IP protection, and talent development, could unlock higher productivity and digital economy growth. Overall, Belarus sits on a solid digital foundation but would benefit from strengthening supply chains and innovation financing to translate digital access into broader economic gains.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental indicators reveal a moderate but growing emphasis on sustainability. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita, excluding LULUCF, are 9.18 t CO2e in 2023, reflecting a substantial carbon footprint per person for a middle-income economy. Renewable energy consumption accounts for 8.2% of total final energy consumption in 2021, indicating that fossil fuels still dominate the energy mix but with a meaningful share of renewables in place. The level of water stress is 4.7, indicating some reliance on freshwater resources but not extreme stress in the context of global comparisons. The country reports a relatively low prevalence of undernourishment (2.5%) and a modest poverty rate (3.9%), signaling that social protection and livelihoods support basic needs even as environmental pressures grow. These dynamics suggest Belarus has space to deepen energy diversification, improve efficiency, and invest in climate adaptation while maintaining social welfare commitments and sustainable growth trajectories.