The Human Truth Foundation

Belarus (Republic of Belarus)

https://www.humantruth.info/belarus.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#belarus

Belarus
Republic of Belarus
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index95th best
CapitalMinsk
Land Area 202 910km21
LocationEurope
Population9.5m2
Life Expectancy72.44yrs (2017)3
GNI$18 849 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesBY, BLR, 1125
Internet Domain.by6
CurrencyRuble (BYR)7
Telephone+3758

1. Overview

#russia

After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion remain in place.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverBelarus allows the chance to visit a Europe with minimal advertising, no litter or graffiti and a generous people who relish life´s simple pleasures. Eastern Europe´s outcast, Belarus lies at the edge of the region and seems determined to avoid integration with the rest of the continent at all costs. Belarus, widely billed as `the last dictatorship in Europe´, is to the uninitiated a country deeply in thrall to the USSR circa 1974. This is the land of Soviet-style architecture, state-run media and a centralised economy that ensures every supermarket carries the same bland assortment of goods. Despite the hardships, Belarusians still find reasons to be cheerful: traditional folk singing and dancing features prominently on the calendar.

Outside the monumental Stalinist capital of Minsk, Belarus offers a simple yet pleasing landscape of cornflower fields, thick forests and picturesque villages. The country also offers two excellent national parks and is home to Europe´s largest mammal, the zoobr (or European bison). While travellers will always be subject to curiosity, they´ll also be on the receiving end of warm hospitality and genuine welcome.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Belarus National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
57Trinidad & Tobago0.810
58=Costa Rica0.809
58=Uruguay0.809
60Belarus0.808
61Panama0.805
62Malaysia0.803
63=Mauritius0.802
63=Georgia0.802
Europe Avg0.87
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
65Montenegro$20 839
66Costa Rica$19 974
67Serbia$19 123
68Belarus$18 849
69Dominican Rep.$17 990
70Mexico$17 896
71Nauru$17 730
72China$17 504
Europe Avg$40 512
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
92Grenada86.3
93El Salvador86.5
94Fiji87.4
95Belarus87.7
96Mongolia87.8
97Bolivia88.4
98Russia88.7
99Cape Verde88.8
Europe Avg55.7
World Avg88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Belarus's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Belarus's population is predicted to fall to 8 883 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 1.50. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
91Hungary9.7m
92UAE9.6m
93Honduras9.6m
94Belarus9.5m
95Tajikistan9.1m
96Austria8.9m
97Serbia8.8m
98Papua New Guinea8.6m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
89Oman72.5
90Belarus72.4
91Bangladesh72.4
92Peru72.4
93Syria72.1
94Armenia72.0
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
86=Hungary1.52
87St Kitts & Nevis1.51
88Kosovo1.51
89Belarus1.50
90Netherlands1.49
91Uruguay1.48
92=Latvia1.47
92=Liechtenstein1.47
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
140Russia29.5
141Georgia29.7
142Montenegro30.0
143Belarus30.3
144Ukraine30.8
145Australia31.3
146Slovakia31.6
147Albania31.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
50Netherlands12.1%
51Slovenia11.8%
52Denmark11.5%
53Belarus11.4%
54Montenegro11.3%
55Ukraine11.2%
56Belgium11.1%
57Greece10.9%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
29Lesotho20.5%
30El Salvador20.5%
31Micronesia19.7%
32Belarus18.4%
33Eritrea18.0%
34Croatia17.1%
35Liechtenstein17.1%
36Cyprus17.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Belarus #belarus_gender #equality #freedom #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
107India93.0
108Nicaragua93.2
109Tunisia95.2
110Belarus95.7
111Kyrgyzstan96.7
112Russia96.8
Europe Avg47.37
World Avg86.55
q=199.
Belarus is very poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world, and it has cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Belarus does better than average for opposing gender inequality19, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)20 (but high for Europe), commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21 (but one of the worst in Europe), its nominal commitment to Human Rights22 (but amongst the lowest in Europe) and in LGBT equality23 (but amongst the lowest in Europe). But, there's bad news too. Belarus does worse than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice24 and in freethought25 (amongst the highest in Europe). And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in eliminating modern slavery26 (amongst the highest in Europe), supporting press freedom27 (one of the worst in Europe) and in its average Freedom in the World rating (one of the worst in Europe).

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Belarus's Health

#alcohol #belarus #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
44Latvia76.0
45Turkey78.6
46Bulgaria82.8
47Belarus83.7
48Romania84.0
49Moldova85.0
50Azerbaijan86.0
51Kosovo86.4
52Ukraine89.6
Europe Avg86.87
q=52.
Health (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
89Costa Rica82.6
90Bahamas82.8
91Bulgaria82.8
92Belarus83.7
93Romania84.0
94Brazil84.6
95Seychelles84.8
96Moldova85.0
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria29.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans29, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia29.

For more, see:

Health:

Belarus is a pretty unhealthy country. Belarus does better than average in its adolescent birth rate30 (but high for Europe), its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance31 (but bad for Europe), its fertility rate14 and in its average life expectancy11 (but bad for Europe). Belarus doesn't do so well in other areas. Belarus does worse than average when it comes to its immunizations take-up32 (one of the lowest in Europe) and in its alcohol consumption rate33. It falls into the worst 20 in its suicide rate34 (amongst the highest in Europe). And finally, it is second-from-the-bottom for its smoking rate35. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Belarus improved by +4.3yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Belarus's peak fertility rate was 2.67 in 1960.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
87Brazil72.8
88Dominican Rep.72.6
89Oman72.5
90Belarus72.4
91Bangladesh72.4
92Peru72.4
93Syria72.1
94Armenia72.0
Europe Avg78.36
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
33
Pos.2016
Per Capita33
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
160=Uruguay10.8
160=Cyprus10.8
162Serbia11.1
163Belarus11.2
164=Andorra11.3
164=Equatorial Guinea11.3
166Hungary11.4
167=UK11.5
Europe Avg10.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
86=Hungary1.52
87St Kitts & Nevis1.51
88Kosovo1.51
89Belarus1.50
90Netherlands1.49
91Uruguay1.48
92=Latvia1.47
92=Liechtenstein1.47
Europe Avg1.53
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
35
Pos.201435
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
175Luxembourg2 284
176Belgium2 353
177Slovenia2 637
178Russia2 690
179Macedonia2 732
180Lebanon3 023
181Belarus3 831
182Montenegro4 125
Europe Avg1 648
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate34
Pos.2013
Per 100k34
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
84Japan49.4
85Hungary50.6
86=Kazakhstan52.4
86=Guyana52.4
88Belarus57.5
89S. Korea62
90Russia63.4
91Lithuania71.7
Europe Avg26.99
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
64Lithuania64
65Cambodia65
66Georgia66
67Belarus67
68Brunei68
69Paraguay69
70Latvia70
71Liberia71
Europe Avg47.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
36
Pos.2016
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
132=Cyprus59.1
132=Iceland59.1
134Montenegro59.4
135=Belarus59.4
136France59.5
137=Belgium59.5
138Lithuania59.6
139=Croatia59.6
Europe Avg58.5
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
30
Pos.2022
Per 100030
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
49UK10.0
50Latvia10.5
51China11.1
52Belarus11.2
53Malta11.5
54Algeria11.6
55Saudi Arabia11.6
56New Zealand11.8
Europe Avg11.4
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
32
Pos.2015
Avg %32
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
138Namibia86.5
139Dominican Rep.86.3
140Panama86.1
141Belarus85.3
142=Canada85.2
142=Guatemala85.2
144Togo84.3
145Zambia84.2
Europe Avg92.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Belarus's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#belarus #biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Europe (2025)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Switzerland45.0
2Denmark50.4
3Liechtenstein56.8
...
40Montenegro97.3
41Azerbaijan101.2
42Bosnia & Herzegovina103.5
43Serbia104.8
44Armenia108.2
45Belarus116.0
46San Marino134.9
47Andorra136.3
48Vatican City138.3
Europe Avg86.45
q=48.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
175Kiribati111.4
176Micronesia114.6
177Bhutan115.3
178Belarus116.0
179Uzbekistan116.1
180Cook Islands119.6
181Libya121.4
182Zimbabwe121.5
World Avg84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Amongst the highest in Europe Belarus comes 178th in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. Belarus comes in the best 20 in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. It does better than average when it comes to its environmental performance38 (but low for Europe) and in its forested percent change 2000-202039. Belarus still has work to do. Belarus does worse than average in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population40, energy to GDP efficiency41 and in reducing annual meat consumption per person42.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
39
Pos.Total39
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
44India6.7%
45Costa Rica6.2%
46Switzerland6.0%
47Belarus5.9%
48Latvia5.2%
49Tunisia5.2%
50Swaziland5.1%
51Thailand4.7%
Europe Avg8.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
38
Pos.201838
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
41Croatia65.5
42Colombia65.2
43Hungary65.0
44Belarus65.0
45Romania64.8
46Dominican Rep.64.7
47Uruguay64.7
48Estonia64.3
Europe Avg69.6
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
41
Pos.2022
Avg41
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
128Kazakhstan1.63
129Bulgaria1.63
130Seychelles1.63
131Belarus1.64
132St Lucia1.65
133S. Korea1.67
134Tajikistan1.67
135Mongolia1.68
Europe Avg1.25
World Avg1.23
q=165.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
9Switzerland78%
10Nigeria78%
11Germany76%
12Belarus76%
13Lithuania75%
14Australia74%
15Uruguay74%
16Macedonia74%
Europe Avg62.7%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
Belarus was one of the 30 who signed the Convention on Biological Diversity on its first day and one of 8 countries who ratified the Vienna Convention on the ozone layer in 1986, encouraging the rest of the world to do so later. It was also amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the Ozone layer in 1988 whilst most others delayed until subsequent years.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
40
Pos.2011
%40
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
113Sweden24.3%
114New Zealand24.2%
115Poland23.8%
116Belarus23.7%
117Afghanistan23.6%
118Russia23.5%
119Algeria23.5%
120Pakistan23.2%
Europe Avg33.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
42
Pos.2021
kg42
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
162Canada86.9
163New Caledonia87.5
164Montenegro88.4
165Belarus88.9
166Poland89.3
167St Lucia89.6
168Taiwan89.8
169Croatia90.8
Europe Avg71.1
World Avg52.5
q=185.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Belarus was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment.42

7. Belarus's Modernity and Learning

#belarus #capitalism #corruption #economics #education #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #it_security #life_expectancy #modernity #peace #politics #religion #religiosity #research #russia #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #the_internet #ukraine

Compared to Europe (2020)43
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank43
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
30Croatia47.8
31Liechtenstein48.8
32Romania51.0
33Belarus51.5
34Cyprus55.6
35Turkey55.9
36Serbia57.1
37Montenegro64.9
38Bosnia & Herzegovina65.6
Europe Avg39.81
q=45.
Modernity & Learning (2020)43
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank43
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
46St Kitts & Nevis48.8
47Chile48.8
48Romania51.0
49Belarus51.5
50Brazil52.8
51Cyprus55.6
52Turkey55.9
53S. Africa56.9
World Avg86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark44. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone44. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots45.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)46

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe44, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia44.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2947
2Israel4.1147
3Japan3.5847
...
47=Hong Kong0.7348
48Tunisia0.6848
49=Egypt0.6849
50Belarus0.6749
51Mali0.6650
52Bulgaria0.6549
53Ethiopia0.6149
54Latvia0.6049
Europe Avg1.32
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
51
Pos.201851
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
33Tajikistan93.1%
34Barbados92.9%
35Albania92.9%
36Belarus92.2%
37Marshall Islands92.1%
38Montenegro91.6%
39Australia90.4%
40Romania90.0%
Europe Avg88.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
52
Pos.2021
Years52
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
55Japan15.2
56Liechtenstein15.2
57Mauritius15.2
58Belarus15.2
59Croatia15.1
60Montenegro15.1
61Hungary15.0
62Mongolia15.0
Europe Avg16.1
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
43Marshall Islands43
44S. Korea44
45Morocco45
46Belarus46
47Moldova47
48Montenegro48
49Norway49
50Fiji50
Europe Avg31.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity
Lower is better
53
Pos.2018
%53
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
23=Norway19
24Netherlands20
25=Italy21
25=Belarus21
27Ireland22
28=Kazakhstan22
28=Spain22
30Slovakia23
Europe Avg25.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better54
Pos.200654
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
31=Hungary98
32Ukraine97
33=Russia97
33=Belarus97
35Moldova96
36=Uruguay96
36=Slovenia96
36=Slovakia96
Europe Avg96.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
55
Pos.201655
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
75Montenegro62%
76Bosnia & Herzegovina62%
77Azerbaijan61%
78Belarus61%
79St Vincent & Grenadines60%
80St Lucia59%
81Bulgaria59%
82=Turkey58%
Europe Avg76.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
56
Pos.201256
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
...
34Egypt59
35Thailand61
36Pakistan63
37Belarus69
38=Bahrain71
38=Saudi Arabia71
40Vietnam73
41=Ethiopia75
Europe Avg31.4
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security
Lower is better
57
Pos.201357
1=Ireland0.11
1=Luxembourg0.11
1=Belize0.11
...
52Nigeria1.18
53Mauritania1.19
54Azerbaijan1.21
55Belarus1.22
56Armenia1.22
57Malawi1.23
58Turkmenistan1.23
59Kazakhstan1.23
Europe Avg0.80
World Avg0.98
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
58
Pos.2017
Ratio58
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
92=Cameroon0.0
92=Kyrgyzstan0.0
94Cambodia0.0
95=Belarus0.0
95=Azerbaijan0.0
95=Angola0.0
95=Armenia0.0
95=Cape Verde0.0
Europe Avg8.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
59
Pos.202459
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
70Mexico44.6%
71Vietnam44.2%
72Armenia43.9%
73Belarus43.5%
74Georgia43.4%
75Dominican Rep.43.4%
76Ecuador43.3%
77Mauritius42.9%
Europe Avg61.0%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

National Culture:

Corruption
Higher is better
60
Pos.2022
Points60
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
88Maldives40.0
89=India40.0
89=Guyana40.0
91Belarus39.0
92=Moldova39.0
92=Colombia39.0
94Ethiopia38.0
95=Brazil38.0
Europe Avg57.61
World Avg42.98
q=180.

Belarus's position on the Corruption Perception Index is in flux. In the 2000s, it suffered the fourth-worst decline in the world, falling to 139th. But in the 2010s, it then (jointly) improved its CPI score more than any other country, rising to 66th in 2019.61

Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
92Haiti92
93Tunisia93
94Papua New Guinea94
95Belarus95
96Mongolia96
97Madagascar97
98Bolivia98
99El Salvador99
Europe Avg35.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
81Romania81
82Costa Rica82
83Kuwait83
84Belarus84
85Saudi Arabia85
86Azerbaijan86
87Uganda87
88Vietnam88
Europe Avg42.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
62
Pos.2023
Score62
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
113Congo, (Brazzaville)2.21
114Mauritania2.23
115Philippines2.23
116Belarus2.25
117Kenya2.25
118Mozambique2.26
119Saudi Arabia2.26
120Honduras2.27
Europe Avg1.70
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
129Dominican Rep.129
130Papua New Guinea130
131Syria131
132Belarus132
133Portugal133
134El Salvador134
135Macedonia135
136Armenia136
Europe Avg84.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
89India89
90Cameroon90
91Venezuela91
92Belarus92
93Ghana93
94Qatar94
95Peru95
96Gabon96
Europe Avg37.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Belarus recorded the largest deterioration [in peacefulness] in the region [up to 2021] and the second largest deterioration globally. Overall peacefulness in the country declined by 8.7 per cent [...]. Violent demonstrations deteriorated as Belarus experienced the largest anti-government protests in its history, organised by the opposition in response to President Lukashenko seeking a sixth term in office.

"Global Peace Index" by Institute for Economics & Peace (2021)63

Once President Lukashenko's position was secured with the hefty support of Russian powers, he subsequently aided Russia in its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better64
Pos.201964
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
31Croatia4.30
32=Poland4.30
32=New Zealand4.30
34Belarus4.40
35=Canada4.60
35=Malta4.60
37Serbia4.90
38Slovakia5.00
Europe Avg4.86
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
65
Pos.2023
%65
1Slovakia24.1%66
2Slovenia24.3%66
3Belarus24.4%67
4Ukraine25.6%67
5=Moldova25.7%66
5=Netherlands25.7%66
7Iceland26.1%68
8Czechia26.2%66
9=Kyrgyzstan26.4%69
9=UAE26.4%70
11Syria26.6%69
12=Azerbaijan26.6%71
Europe Avg30.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

Belarus had the 5th-lowest income inequality in the 2010s.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)53
Pos.Lower is better
%53
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
23=Norway19
24Netherlands20
25=Italy21
25=Belarus21
27Ireland22
28=Kazakhstan22
28=Spain22
30Slovakia23
31=Ukraine23
32Canada27
33=Uzbekistan29
33=Uruguay29
35Poland30
36Serbia34
37=Israel36
37=Portugal36
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)72
Pos.Higher is better
%72
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
27Austria18
28=Slovakia17
28=Switzerland17
28=Belarus17
31Greece16
32=Iceland16
33Spain15
34=Israel15
35Armenia14
36=Lithuania13
36=Singapore13
38Kazakhstan12
39=China12
39=Uruguay12
41USA10
42Trinidad & Tobago9
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below73:

Christian71.2%
Muslim0.2%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated28.6%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 71.8% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 21% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)74.

Links: