Belarus (Republic of Belarus)

Belarus Republic of Belarus
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	87th best
Capital	Minsk
Land Area	202 910km21
Location	Europe
Population	9.5m2
Life Expectancy	72.44yrs (2017)3
GNI	$18 849 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	BY, BLR, 1125
Internet Domain	.by6
Currency	Ruble (BYR)7
Telephone	+3758

1. Overview
2. Belarus National and Social Development
3. Belarus's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Belarus's Health
6. Belarus's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Belarus's Modernity and Learning
8. Belarus's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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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

“Belarus 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
57	Trinidad & Tobago	0.810
58=	Costa Rica	0.809
58=	Uruguay	0.809
60	Belarus	0.808
61	Panama	0.805
62	Malaysia	0.803
63=	Mauritius	0.802
63=	Georgia	0.802
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
65	Montenegro	$20 839
66	Costa Rica	$19 974
67	Serbia	$19 123
68	Belarus	$18 849
69	Dominican Rep.	$17 990
70	Mexico	$17 896
71	Nauru	$17 730
72	China	$17 504
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.5
2	Norway	30.7
3	Switzerland	32.5
	...
84	Cuba	85.6
85	Qatar	85.9
86	El Salvador	86.1
87	Belarus	86.4
88	Armenia	86.4
89	Dominican Rep.	86.4
90	Russia	86.5
91	Kuwait	87.0
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.9
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 Datasets:

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
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
91	Hungary	9.7m
92	UAE	9.6m
93	Honduras	9.6m
94	Belarus	9.5m
95	Tajikistan	9.1m
96	Austria	8.9m
97	Serbia	8.8m
98	Papua New Guinea	8.6m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
87	Brazil	72.8
88	Dominican Rep.	72.6
89	Oman	72.5
90	Belarus	72.4
91	Bangladesh	72.4
92	Peru	72.4
93	Syria	72.1
94	Armenia	72.0
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
86=	Hungary	1.52
87	St Kitts & Nevis	1.51
88	Kosovo	1.51
89	Belarus	1.50
90	Netherlands	1.49
91	Uruguay	1.48
92=	Latvia	1.47
92=	Liechtenstein	1.47
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
140	Russia	29.5
141	Georgia	29.7
142	Montenegro	30.0
143	Belarus	30.3
144	Ukraine	30.8
145	Australia	31.3
146	Slovakia	31.6
147	Albania	31.8
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
50	Netherlands	12.1%
51	Slovenia	11.8%
52	Denmark	11.5%
53	Belarus	11.4%
54	Montenegro	11.3%
55	Ukraine	11.2%
56	Belgium	11.1%
57	Greece	10.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
29	Lesotho	20.5%
30	El Salvador	20.5%
31	Micronesia	19.7%
32	Belarus	18.4%
33	Eritrea	18.0%
34	Croatia	17.1%
35	Liechtenstein	17.1%
36	Cyprus	17.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
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
1	Sweden	6.1
2	Denmark	8.6
3	Norway	9.0
	...
107	India	93.0
108	Nicaragua	93.2
109	Tunisia	95.2
110	Belarus	95.7
111	Kyrgyzstan	96.7
112	Russia	96.8
	Europe Avg	47.37
	World Avg	86.55
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 in 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 one of the lowest in Europe) and in LGBT equality₂₃ (but one of the worst in Europe). But, there's bad news too. Belarus does worse than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₄ and in freethought₂₅ (one of the worst in Europe). And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of eliminating modern slavery₂₆ (amongst the highest in Europe), supporting press freedom₂₇ (amongst the worst in Europe) and in its average Freedom in the World rating (amongst the worst in Europe).

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights, Equality and Freedom in Belarus

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
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
35	Bosnia & Herzegovina	81.5
36	Serbia	82.2
37	Lithuania	82.2
38	Belarus	82.3
39	Bulgaria	83.5
40	Armenia	85.7
41	Latvia	87.8
42	Romania	88.0
43	Ukraine	92.2
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=48.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
67	Uruguay	81.6
68	Serbia	82.2
69	Lithuania	82.2
70	Belarus	82.3
71	Bulgaria	83.5
72	Colombia	84.3
73	Seychelles	84.8
74	Russia	84.8
	World Avg	96.86
q=204.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₉.

36 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Belarus has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Belarus does better than average for childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)₃₀, its adolescent birth rate₃₁ (but bad for Europe), its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂ (but high for Europe), its fertility rate₁₄ and in its average life expectancy₁₁ (but bad for Europe). But, there's bad news too. Belarus does worse than average in terms of its smoking rate₃₃, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₄, its immunizations take-up₃₅ (amongst the worst in Europe) and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₆. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of its suicide rate₃₇ (one of the highest in Europe). The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during 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 better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
87	Brazil	72.8
88	Dominican Rep.	72.6
89	Oman	72.5
90	Belarus	72.4
91	Bangladesh	72.4
92	Peru	72.4
93	Syria	72.1
94	Armenia	72.0
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better36
Pos.		2016 Per Capita36
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
160=	Uruguay	10.8
160=	Cyprus	10.8
162	Serbia	11.1
163	Belarus	11.2
164=	Andorra	11.3
164=	Equatorial Guinea	11.3
166	Hungary	11.4
167=	UK	11.5
	Europe Avg	10.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
86=	Hungary	1.52
87	St Kitts & Nevis	1.51
88	Kosovo	1.51
89	Belarus	1.50
90	Netherlands	1.49
91	Uruguay	1.48
92=	Latvia	1.47
92=	Liechtenstein	1.47
	Europe Avg	1.53
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better33
Pos.		Total %33
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
135	Marshall Islands	29.9%
136	Czechia	30.0%
137	Romania	30.1%
138	Belarus	30.2%
139	Turkey	30.5%
140	Tonga	31.3%
141	Lithuania	31.4%
142	Georgia	31.8%
	Europe Avg	27.0%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Suicide Rate37
Pos.		2013 Per 100k37
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
84	Japan	49.4
85	Hungary	50.6
86=	Kazakhstan	52.4
86=	Guyana	52.4
88	Belarus	57.5
89	S. Korea	62
90	Russia	63.4
91	Lithuania	71.7
	Europe Avg	26.99
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
64	Lithuania	64
65	Cambodia	65
66	Georgia	66
67	Belarus	67
68	Brunei	68
69	Paraguay	69
70	Latvia	70
71	Liberia	71
	Europe Avg	47.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better34
Pos.		1976 %34
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
137	Luxembourg	37.9
138=	Mexico	38.1
138=	Sweden	38.1
140	Belarus	38.2
141=	Croatia	38.2
142	Germany	38.7
143=	Bahamas	38.8
143=	Egypt	38.8
	Europe Avg	38.2
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 %38
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
106	Bosnia & Herzegovina	25.5%
107	Moldova	25.6%
108	Serbia	26.1%
109	Belarus	26.6%
110	Albania	26.6%
111	Estonia	26.7%
112	Ecuador	27.0%
113	Portugal	27.1%
	Europe Avg	25.9%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better31
Pos.		2022 Per 100031
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
49	UK	10.0
50	Latvia	10.5
51	China	11.1
52	Belarus	11.2
53	Malta	11.5
54	Algeria	11.6
55	Saudi Arabia	11.6
56	New Zealand	11.8
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better35
Pos.		2015 Avg %35
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
138	Namibia	86.5
139	Dominican Rep.	86.3
140	Panama	86.1
141	Belarus	85.3
142=	Canada	85.2
142=	Guatemala	85.2
144	Togo	84.3
145	Zambia	84.2
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better30
Pos.		Total Per 100030
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
26=	Greece	4.14
27	France	4.17
28=	Belgium	4.17
29	Belarus	4.27
30	Switzerland	4.29
31	Montenegro	4.53
32	UK	4.62
33	Lithuania	4.97
	Europe Avg	6.30
	World Avg	32.19
q=195.

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)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
40	Montenegro	97.3
41	Azerbaijan	101.2
42	Bosnia & Herzegovina	103.5
43	Serbia	104.8
44	Armenia	108.2
45	Belarus	116.0
46	San Marino	134.9
47	Andorra	136.3
48	Vatican City	138.3
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
175	Kiribati	111.4
176	Micronesia	114.6
177	Bhutan	115.3
178	Belarus	116.0
179	Uzbekistan	116.1
180	Cook Islands	119.6
181	Libya	121.4
182	Zimbabwe	121.5
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₀. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? 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:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Amongst the worst in Europe in terms of its responsibility towards the environment, Belarus comes 178th in the world. This is computed from 21 data sets. Belarus comes in the best 20 when it comes to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. It does better than average when it comes to its environmental performance₄₁ (but bad for Europe) and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂. But, things could still be better. Belarus does worse than average for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₃, energy to GDP efficiency₄₄ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₅.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better42
Pos.		Total42
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
44	India	6.7%
45	Costa Rica	6.2%
46	Switzerland	6.0%
47	Belarus	5.9%
48	Latvia	5.2%
49	Tunisia	5.2%
50	Swaziland	5.1%
51	Thailand	4.7%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better41
Pos.		201841
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
41	Croatia	65.5
42	Colombia	65.2
43	Hungary	65.0
44	Belarus	65.0
45	Romania	64.8
46	Dominican Rep.	64.7
47	Uruguay	64.7
48	Estonia	64.3
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better44
Pos.		2022 Avg44
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
128	Kazakhstan	1.63
129	Bulgaria	1.63
130	Seychelles	1.63
131	Belarus	1.64
132	St Lucia	1.65
133	S. Korea	1.67
134	Tajikistan	1.67
135	Mongolia	1.68
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
9	Switzerland	78%
10	Nigeria	78%
11	Germany	76%
12	Belarus	76%
13	Lithuania	75%
14	Australia	74%
15	Uruguay	74%
16	Macedonia	74%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
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 better43
Pos.		2011 %43
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
113	Sweden	24.3%
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
118	Russia	23.5%
119	Algeria	23.5%
120	Pakistan	23.2%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better45
Pos.		2021 kg45
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
162	Canada	86.9
163	New Caledonia	87.5
164	Montenegro	88.4
165	Belarus	88.9
166	Poland	89.3
167	St Lucia	89.6
168	Taiwan	89.8
169	Croatia	90.8
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
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.₄₅

7. Belarus's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #it_security #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
30	Croatia	47.8
31	Liechtenstein	48.8
32	Romania	51.0
33	Belarus	51.5
34	Cyprus	55.6
35	Turkey	55.9
36	Serbia	57.1
37	Montenegro	64.9
38	Bosnia & Herzegovina	65.6
	Europe Avg	39.81
q=45.

Modernity & Learning (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
46	St Kitts & Nevis	48.8
47	Chile	48.8
48	Romania	51.0
49	Belarus	51.5
50	Brazil	52.8
51	Cyprus	55.6
52	Turkey	55.9
53	S. Africa	56.9
	World Avg	86.31
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 Denmark₄₇. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₇. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₈.

“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)₄₉

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 Europe₄₇, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₇.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2950
2	Israel	4.1150
3	Japan	3.5850
	...
47=	Hong Kong	0.7351
48	Tunisia	0.6851
49=	Egypt	0.6852
50	Belarus	0.6752
51	Mali	0.6653
52	Bulgaria	0.6552
53	Ethiopia	0.6152
54	Latvia	0.6052
	Europe Avg	1.32
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better54
Pos.		201854
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
33	Tajikistan	93.1%
34	Barbados	92.9%
35	Albania	92.9%
36	Belarus	92.2%
37	Marshall Islands	92.1%
38	Montenegro	91.6%
39	Australia	90.4%
40	Romania	90.0%
	Europe Avg	88.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better55
Pos.		2021 Years55
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
55	Japan	15.2
56	Liechtenstein	15.2
57	Mauritius	15.2
58	Belarus	15.2
59	Croatia	15.1
60	Montenegro	15.1
61	Hungary	15.0
62	Mongolia	15.0
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
43	Marshall Islands	43
44	S. Korea	44
45	Morocco	45
46	Belarus	46
47	Moldova	47
48	Montenegro	48
49	Norway	49
50	Fiji	50
	Europe Avg	31.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Religiosity Lower is better56
Pos.		2018 %56
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
23=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27	Ireland	22
28=	Kazakhstan	22
28=	Spain	22
30	Slovakia	23
	Europe Avg	25.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better57
Pos.		200657
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
31=	Hungary	98
32	Ukraine	97
33=	Russia	97
33=	Belarus	97
35	Moldova	96
36=	Uruguay	96
36=	Slovenia	96
36=	Slovakia	96
	Europe Avg	96.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better58
Pos.		201658
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
75	Montenegro	62%
76	Bosnia & Herzegovina	62%
77	Azerbaijan	61%
78	Belarus	61%
79	St Vincent & Grenadines	60%
80	St Lucia	59%
81	Bulgaria	59%
82=	Turkey	58%
	Europe Avg	76.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better59
Pos.		201259
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
	...
34	Egypt	59
35	Thailand	61
36	Pakistan	63
37	Belarus	69
38=	Bahrain	71
38=	Saudi Arabia	71
40	Vietnam	73
41=	Ethiopia	75
	Europe Avg	31.4
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IT Security Lower is better60
Pos.		201360
1=	Ireland	0.11
1=	Luxembourg	0.11
1=	Belize	0.11
	...
52	Nigeria	1.18
53	Mauritania	1.19
54	Azerbaijan	1.21
55	Belarus	1.22
56	Armenia	1.22
57	Malawi	1.23
58	Turkmenistan	1.23
59	Kazakhstan	1.23
	Europe Avg	0.80
	World Avg	0.98

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better61
Pos.		2017 Ratio61
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
92=	Cameroon	0.0
92=	Kyrgyzstan	0.0
94	Cambodia	0.0
95=	Belarus	0.0
95=	Azerbaijan	0.0
95=	Angola	0.0
95=	Armenia	0.0
95=	Cape Verde	0.0
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

Digital Quality of Life Higher is better62
Pos.		202462
1	Germany	77.9%
2	Finland	76.9%
3	France	73.9%
	...
70	Mexico	44.6%
71	Vietnam	44.2%
72	Armenia	43.9%
73	Belarus	43.5%
74	Georgia	43.4%
75	Dominican Rep.	43.4%
76	Ecuador	43.3%
77	Mauritius	42.9%
	Europe Avg	61.0%
	World Avg	48.4%
q=121.

8. Belarus's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#belarus #capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #peace #politics #russia #social_development #ukraine

Compared to Europe (2020)63
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank63
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
	...
36	Montenegro	73.3
37	Macedonia	75.3
38	Ukraine	76.4
39	Belarus	79.0
40	Kosovo	80.1
41	Turkey	80.3
42	Armenia	85.2
43	Georgia	89.3
44	Azerbaijan	99.0
	Europe Avg	48.48
q=44.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)63
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank63
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
	...
77	Indonesia	78.0
78	Vanuatu	78.8
79	Fiji	78.9
80	Belarus	79.0
81	Samoa	79.1
82	St Lucia	79.9
83	Guatemala	80.0
84	Kosovo	80.1
	World Avg	80.34
q=186.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility in the 2020s (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty in the 2020s (so far), Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

Corruption Higher is better64
Pos.		2022 Points64
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
88	Maldives	40.0
89=	India	40.0
89=	Guyana	40.0
91	Belarus	39.0
92=	Moldova	39.0
92=	Colombia	39.0
94	Ethiopia	38.0
95=	Brazil	38.0
	Europe Avg	57.61
	World Avg	42.98
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 2019.₆₅

Creativity & Culture Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
92	Haiti	92
93	Tunisia	93
94	Papua New Guinea	94
95	Belarus	95
96	Mongolia	96
97	Madagascar	97
98	Bolivia	98
99	El Salvador	99
	Europe Avg	35.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better66
Pos.		Total Q66
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
110	Thailand	79.5
111	Bolivia	79.3
112	Namibia	78.7
113	Belarus	78.5
114	Suriname	77.8
115	Lesotho	77.5
116	Kazakhstan	75.7
117	Swaziland	74.8
	Europe Avg	160.7
	World Avg	108.8
q=195.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
81	Romania	81
82	Costa Rica	82
83	Kuwait	83
84	Belarus	84
85	Saudi Arabia	85
86	Azerbaijan	86
87	Uganda	87
88	Vietnam	88
	Europe Avg	42.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better67
Pos.		2023 Score67
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
113	Congo, (Brazzaville)	2.21
114	Mauritania	2.23
115	Philippines	2.23
116	Belarus	2.25
117	Kenya	2.25
118	Mozambique	2.26
119	Saudi Arabia	2.26
120	Honduras	2.27
	Europe Avg	1.70
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
129	Dominican Rep.	129
130	Papua New Guinea	130
131	Syria	131
132	Belarus	132
133	Portugal	133
134	El Salvador	134
135	Macedonia	135
136	Armenia	136
	Europe Avg	84.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
89	India	89
90	Cameroon	90
91	Venezuela	91
92	Belarus	92
93	Ghana	93
94	Qatar	94
95	Peru	95
96	Gabon	96
	Europe Avg	37.8
	World Avg	82.0
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)₆₈

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 Datasets:

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better69
Pos.		201969
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
31	Croatia	4.30
32=	Poland	4.30
32=	New Zealand	4.30
34	Belarus	4.40
35=	Canada	4.60
35=	Malta	4.60
37	Serbia	4.90
38	Slovakia	5.00
	Europe Avg	4.86
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better70
Pos.		2023 %70
1	Slovakia	24.1%71
2	Slovenia	24.3%71
3	Belarus	24.4%72
4	Ukraine	25.6%72
5=	Moldova	25.7%71
5=	Netherlands	25.7%71
7	Iceland	26.1%73
8	Czechia	26.2%71
9=	Kyrgyzstan	26.4%74
9=	UAE	26.4%75
11	Syria	26.6%74
12=	Azerbaijan	26.6%76
	Europe Avg	30.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

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

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Religiosity (2018)56
Pos.		Lower is better %56
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
23=	Norway	19
24	Netherlands	20
25=	Italy	21
25=	Belarus	21
27	Ireland	22
28=	Kazakhstan	22
28=	Spain	22
30	Slovakia	23
31=	Ukraine	23
32	Canada	27
33=	Uzbekistan	29
33=	Uruguay	29
35	Poland	30
36	Serbia	34
37=	Israel	36
37=	Portugal	36
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)77
Pos.		Higher is better %77
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
	...
27	Austria	18
28=	Slovakia	17
28=	Switzerland	17
28=	Belarus	17
31	Greece	16
32=	Iceland	16
33	Spain	15
34=	Israel	15
35	Armenia	14
36=	Lithuania	13
36=	Singapore	13
38	Kazakhstan	12
39=	China	12
39=	Uruguay	12
41	USA	10
42	Trinidad & Tobago	9
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₈:

	2010	2020
Christian	93.8%	85.1%
Unaffiliated	4.98%	13.8%
Other	0.748%	0.717%
Muslim	0.257%	0.262%
Jewish	0.129%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 85.5% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (17%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

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 86.2% 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:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)₇₉.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?