World Factbook
Belarus
Respublika Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: red horizontal band (top), with a green horizontal band below that is half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the left side has traditional Belarusian designs in red meaning: the red stands for past struggles to escape oppression, and the green for hope and the country's forests
Capital
name
Minsk
etymology
the origin of the name is disputed; it may be derived from the Menka River
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
53 54 N, 27 34 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Constitution
note
note: one of several amendments passed in the February 2022 referendum -- the presidential 5-year, two-term limit -- will be imposed after the 2025 election
history
several previous; latest drafted between late 1991 and early 1994, signed 15 March 1994
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic through petition to the National Assembly or by petition of least 150,000 eligible voters; approval required by at least two-thirds majority vote in both chambers or by simple majority of votes cast in a referendum
Country name
former
Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology
the name is a compound of the Slavic words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian
local long form
Respublika Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Respublika Belarus' (Russian)
local short form
Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian)
conventional long form
Republic of Belarus
conventional short form
Belarus
Independence
25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law system
note: nearly all major codes (civil, civil procedure, criminal, criminal procedure, family, and labor) were revised and came into force in 1999 and 2000
Government type
presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chairman and deputy chairman and organized into several specialized panels, including economic and military; number of judges set by the president of the republic and the court chairman); Constitutional Court (consists of 12 judges, including a chairman and deputy chairman)
subordinate courts
oblast courts; Minsk City Court; town courts; Minsk city and oblast economic courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president with the consent of the Council of the Republic; judges initially appointed for 5 years and evaluated for life appointment; Constitutional Court judges - 6 appointed by the president and 6 elected by the Council of the Republic; the presiding judge directly elected by the president and approved by the Council of the Republic; judges can serve for 11 years with an age limit of 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (since 20 July 1994)
election results
2025: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 86.8%, Sergey Syrankov (Communist Party) 3.2%, 3.6% voting against all 2020: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA reelected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 80.1%, Svyatlana TSIKHANOWSKAYA (independent) 10.1%, other 9.8%; note - widespread street protests erupted following announcement of the election results amid allegations of voter fraud 2015: Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA elected president; percent of vote - Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (independent) 84.1%, Tatsyana KARATKEVIC (BSDPH) 4.4%, Sergey GAYDUKEVICH (LDP) 3.3%, other 8.2%.
head of government
Prime Minister Alyaksandr TURCHYN (since 10 March 2025)
most recent election date
first election held on 23 June and 10 July 1994; the 1994 constitution set the next election for 1999, but Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA extended his term to 2001 via a referendum; subsequent election held in 2001; a 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and allowed LUKASHENKA to run and win a third term (19 March 2006), fourth term (19 December 2010), fifth term (11 October 2015), sixth term (9 August 2020), and seventh term (26 January 2025)
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
expected date of next election
2030
National holiday
Independence Day, 3 July (1944)
note: 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
National color(s)
green, red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Białowieża Forest (n); Mir Castle Complex (c); Architectural, Residential, and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (c)
Political parties
Belaya Rus or BR Republican Party of Labour and Justice or RPTS Communist Party of Belarus or CBP Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus or LDPB
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Assembly (Natsionalnoye Sobranie)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians)
history
music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus)
lyrics/music
Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI
National symbol(s)
no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbol
Administrative divisions
6 regions ( voblastsi , singular - voblasts ') and 1 municipality* ( horad ); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Palata Predstaviteley)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
110 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
2/25/2024
expected date of next election
February 2029
percentage of women in chamber
33.9%
parties elected and seats per party
Belaya Rus party (51); Republican Party of Labour and Justice (8); Communist Party of Belarus (7); Non-partisans (40); Other (4)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Council of the Republic (Soviet Respubliki)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
65 (56 indirectly elected; 8 appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/4/2024
expected date of next election
March 2029
percentage of women in chamber
30.5%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 986-1805
chancery
1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 986-1606
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant; recalled by Belarus in 2008); Chargé d'Affaires Pavel SHIDLOWSKI (since 9 August 2022)
email address and website
usa@mfa.gov.by Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States of America (mfa.gov.by)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[375] (17) 334-78-53
embassy
46 Starovilenskaya Street, Minsk 220002
telephone
[375] (17) 210-12-83
mailing address
7010 Minsk Place, Washington DC 20521-7010
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Michael KREIDLER (since July 2025)
email address and website
ConsularMinsk@state.gov https://by.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CEI, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO (dialogue member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), ZC
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt