For the second year in a row, the population of Belarus has been increasing. However, experts believe that the reverse process will begin in the next 15 years.

According to Belstat, the population of Belarus as of January 1, 2015, according to preliminary data, amounted to 9 million 481 thousand people and increased by 12.8 thousand people compared to the beginning of 2014.

The natural population decline in 2014 amounted to 2.9 thousand people. The migration increase amounted to 15.7 thousand people and compensated for the natural decline, ensuring an increase in the population.

For the first time since 1993, the population of Belarus according to the results of 2013. The main factors due to which there were more Belarusians both in 2014 and in 2013, despite the still high mortality rate, are an increase in the number of births and migration growth.

According to Belstat, in 2014, 118,697 children were born in Belarus, in 2013 - 118,463 children (in 2012 - 114,999). An increase in the birth rate in the country has been noted since 2004, and in 2007 the number of children born for the first time in many years was 103,626 children.

Migration growth in 2014 increased by 35% compared to the previous year. A significant contribution to this indicator was made by those who left their homes due to hostilities.

And yet, according to the forecast of demographers, in the next 15 years the population of Belarus will decrease. About it website reported in the resource center of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The reduction in the country's population will occur due to negative natural growth. According to forecast estimates, rural areas will suffer the greatest demographic losses, while the situation in cities will be more favorable.

According to the forecast, by 2030 the urban population will increase by 2.6% (from 7.22 million to 7.41 million people), and its share will reach 80%. At the same time, it is expected that the rural population will decrease in the forecast period by almost 400 thousand people and will amount to 1.85 million people in 2030. Moreover, the population will decrease in all regions, with the exception of Minsk, whose population will increase at a slow pace.

At the same time, the Resource Center notes that Belarus is characterized by one of the highest birth rates in its region. The total fertility rate in Belarus is 1.7 per woman. Currently, there is an increase in the total fertility rate. However, as before, it does not ensure the level of simple reproduction of the population in the country.

Experts note that the so-called features of “European” reproductive behavior among the population of Belarus have recently become noticeable. This is manifested in the desire of the population for self-realization, career growth, high standards of consumption.

Like many European countries, Belarus is characterized by a tendency to increase the average age of women at the birth of their first child. In 2013, the average age of a woman at the birth of a child was 28 years (at the birth of her first child - 25.4 years). For comparison: in Italy - 31.4, in Japan - 31.3.

There is also a tendency to increase the average age at first marriage: for women - 25 years, for men - 27.1 years.

In terms of the birth rate in Belarus, there are some territorial features. Thus, there is some difference in the birth rate among the urban and rural population (12.4 and 11.8 per thousand, respectively). There are differences in fertility and by region. Regional differentiation is associated, first of all, with the level of socio-economic development of the regions, the established traditions that determined the corresponding demographic behavior, cultural and religious characteristics.

Thus, the highest value of the total birth rate is typical for the Brest, Gomel, Minsk regions and Minsk.

“In a developed industrial society, children have to study for a long time in order to obtain a qualification that meets modern requirements. To ensure appropriate conditions, adults prefer fewer children, but a better quality of life. In an agrarian society, children, working together with their parents, acquired the necessary labor skills in a natural way.- noted in UNFPA.

Population of Belarus is a community of people permanently residing on the territory of the Republic. The concept of "population of Belarus" will be close in meaning - "the people of Belarus" and "Belarusian nation" (not to be confused with nationality).

If we try to immediately give a short, general description of the population of the Republic of Belarus, we can say the following: the Belarusian nation is aging, with a high number of pensioners and a low birth rate, relatively educated, living mainly in cities, less than half employed in the sphere of material production. According to these relative signs, the inhabitants of Belarus differ little from the population of neighboring states.

Almost 100% literacy of the population older than 10 years is ensured in Belarus. About 18% of citizens have a higher education, another 26% have a specialized secondary education.

The last population census in the Republic took place in 2010. It became the starting point for further statistical research. Earlier data were based to a large extent on the results of the Soviet period censuses and operational information. However, for the analysis and forecast of social changes, it is not absolute accuracy that is more important (even government sources often give inconsistent data), but an understanding of general trends.

The largest regions of Belarus by population in 2019 are:

There are various approaches and methods for studying and classifying the population. Probably the most informative and adequate to the current state of affairs will be an analysis of the structure of society in connection with the economic situation. Of course, the citizens of the Republic of Belarus have their own cultural characteristics, religious affiliation, political views, tastes, etc. However, economic aspects are still determining the behavior of modern Belarusians in the outside world. For the majority, enterprises and jobs remain the organizing principle.

Proceeding from this, we will consider, first of all, the age and sex structure of society, and its changes. Here, the ratio of workers and dependents, at the moment and in the future, is of particular importance. As a result, it will be possible to assess the ability to work and the degree of economic independence of society.

In the past half century, one could observe the following dynamics of changes in the demographic situation:

1) Until 2017, men aged 16-59 and women aged 16-54 were included in the working-age population. Starting from the beginning of 2018, the working-age population includes men and women aged 16 years to the generally established retirement age.

Statistical data in the distribution of urban and rural population looks like this:

It follows from this that in 2019 there was a general decrease in the population of Belarus compared to 2015 by 5.7 thousand people or 0.47%.

Three important social trends are clearly visible in the above statistics.

Over the past decades, the population has moved from the countryside to the cities; the birth rate was declining; mortality increased. This combination of fertility and mortality, in the absence of wars and other cataclysms, means an increase in the number of elderly people in the general population. This, in turn, leads to the aging of the nation and gives rise to new problems, in particular.

One of these problems is increasingly referred to as the increase in the number of pensioners relative to the number of employees.

Based on studies in different states, several coefficients have been derived that characterize the demographic situation in terms of the provision of society with labor resources:

• Child load (replacement) ratio - the ratio of the number of young people to the number of able-bodied people at the moment. In modern Belarus, the ratio is about 28%;
• The pension burden coefficient is the ratio of the number of pensioners and workers. Now in the Republic there are 61 pensioners for every 100 employees.

The last two ratios make the economic outlook very bleak. It is obvious that every year some of the workers will move into the category of pensioners. However, there will be no one to take their place in the economic system.

Thus, the issue of increase will have to be considered not from the point of view of social justice, but as an inevitable result of the demographic trends of recent decades.

Another important characteristic of the social system is the distribution of income by population groups and regions of the country. The capital significantly outperforms the provinces in terms of wealth. The regions differ little from each other. A general pattern can be considered a slight decrease in income as the number of inhabitants in a settlement decreases.

It is impossible not to mention that the real incomes of citizens can significantly exceed the declared ones. There are several reasons for this, one of which is a significant (but not precisely defined) number of our compatriots working abroad, as a rule, without the required registration.

The next most important classifier for the economic system will be the distribution of the working population by type of economic activity. According to the National Statistical Committee, the situation can be represented as follows:

It is obvious that only the first three categories from those given in the table are engaged in the production of material goods. Almost the entire export potential of the country is concentrated in these industries. Looking at the situation from this point of view, one can come to the conclusion that 42% of the economically active population or one and a half million workers “feed” the nine millionth republic. Such a ratio would be acceptable for a state with high labor productivity, or a powerful financial sector, or reserves of highly liquid natural resources.

However, for modern Belarus, the current situation is close to critical.

From November 5 to November 30, 2018, the Republic will host the first stage of the 2020 round of the population census of the Republic of Belarus in order to compile lists of houses and premises in them in cities, urban-type settlements and large rural settlements. Employees of organizations operating the housing stock and (or) providing housing and communal services are involved as registrars. Thus, 187 people were involved in the Gomel region, 181 in Minsk, 164 in Brest, 158 in Vitebsk, 151 in Mogilev, 116 in Grodno, and 44 in Minsk. Registrars survey all buildings, both existing and under construction, that are or may be inhabited by the population at the time of the October 2019 census, as well as non-residential buildings occupied by organizations.

Population of Belarus is a community of people permanently residing on the territory of the Republic. The concept of "population of Belarus" will be close in meaning - "the people of Belarus" and "Belarusian nation". If we try to immediately give a short, general description of the population of the Republic of Belarus, we can say the following: the Belarusian nation is aging, with a high number of pensioners and a low birth rate, relatively educated, living mainly in cities, less than half employed in the sphere of material production. According to these relative signs, the inhabitants of Belarus differ little from the population of neighboring states.

Almost 100% literacy of the population older than 10 years is ensured in Belarus. About 18% of citizens have higher education, another 26% have specialized secondary education.

• Population – 9 499 804
• Male population(48.5%) – 4 977 872
• Female population(51.5%) – 5 295 665
• Population growth this year – 160

Population of Belarus 2016

At the end of 2016, the population of Belarus was estimated at 9,499,644. In 2016, the population of Belarus increased by approximately 760 people. Given that the population of Belarus at the beginning of the year was estimated at 9,498,884 people, the annual increase was 0.01%.

Population of Belarus in 2017

In 2017, the population of Belarus will increase by 760 people, and at the end of the year it will be 9,500,404 people. Natural population growth will be negative and will amount to 23,369 people. For the entire year, approximately 111,241 children will be born and 134,610 people will die. If the level of external migration remains at the level of the previous year, then due to migration reasons, the population will change by 24,129 people. That is, the total number of people entering the country for the purpose of long-term stay (immigrants) will be greater than the number of people leaving the country (emigrants).

Belarus population density

According to the United Nations Department of Statistics, the total area of ​​Belarus is 207,600 square kilometers. Population density is calculated as the ratio of the total population living in a given territory to the total area of ​​this territory. According to estimates at the beginning of 2017, the population of Belarus was approximately 9,499,644 people. Thus, the population density of Belarus is 45.8 people per square kilometer.

Life expectancy

Life expectancy is one of the most important demographic indicators. It shows the average number of years of a person's life ahead. That is, the number of years that a person can theoretically live, provided that the current birth and death rates remain unchanged throughout a person's life. As a rule, “life expectancy” refers to life expectancy at birth, i.e. at the age of 0 years.

Average life expectancy at birth (for both sexes) in Belarus is 71.2 years. This is above the world average life expectancy, which is around 71 years. The average life expectancy for men at birth is 65.6 years. The average life expectancy of women at birth is 77.2 years.

The national composition of the population of Belarus

Belarusians make up more than 80% of the population. Due to the historical past, many other nationalities also live in Belarus, some of them for several generations:

• Russians (8.2%) have long lived on the territory of Belarus. A large influx is recorded after World War II;
• Poles (3.1%) have lived in the western part of the country for centuries;
• Ukrainians (1.7%) - the largest influx was registered in the XVIII-XIX centuries;
• Jews (0.13%): The first Jews settled in Belarus in the 15th century. Since the beginning of the 1980s, due to emigration to Israel and other countries, the Jewish population of Belarus has decreased and amounted to less than 30 thousand people.

Tatars, Gypsies, Lithuanians and Latvians also live in Belarus.

Linguistic features of the population

In Belarus, to a greater extent than in any other state of the post-Soviet space, linguistic assimilation and bilingualism of the population are expressed. Almost the entire population of Belarus is fluent in two languages: Belarusian and Russian.

Linguistic assimilation is expressed in the fact that population groups of one nationality, being in close socio-economic and cultural contact with another nationality, master its language and, through the transitional stage of bilingualism, begin to consider this new language as their mother tongue. For Belarusians, as well as for all national minorities living on the territory of Belarus, the transition to the Russian language is typical. It should be noted that usually this process proceeds rather slowly, it requires a long period of time. But on the territory of Belarus there were and are factors that significantly accelerate this process: the proximity of the Russian and Belarusian languages, the common economic, social and political space in the former Soviet Union, close labor, business, scientific contacts, etc.

Throughout the post-war period, the proportion of those who called Russian their native language was growing in the republic. If in 1959 only 6.8% of Belarusians called Russian their native language, in 1970 - 9.8, in 1979 - 16, then the 1989 census showed that this figure rose to 19.7%, that is, every fifth Belarusian considered Russian as his native language. Now this trend continues to increase.

Literacy of the population

It is estimated that about 8,129,480 people over the age of 15 in Belarus can read and write in any language. This is 99.73% of the total adult population. The adult population in this case refers to all people over 15 years of age. Accordingly, about 22,069 people are still illiterate.

Population migration

Immigration in Belarus

Increasing the migration growth rate is part of the country's demographic security program. Immigration plays an important role in the current demographic processes taking place on the territory of Belarus, since it is thanks to it that the overall decline in the country's population is smoothed out even in the context of a continuing, albeit decreasing, natural population decline.

According to official data, in 2012 18,040 citizens of other states arrived in Belarus as migrants (in 2000 - 25,943), of which 13,455 people came from the CIS countries. Most people came from Russia (8560 people), Ukraine (2258), Kazakhstan (963) and Turkmenistan (800).

Emigration from Belarus

According to Russian official and unofficial sources, about 500 thousand citizens of Belarus work in the Russian Federation. But most of them almost always return home. Although it is almost impossible to track the exact number of people working in Russia, since they do not need any additional documents to work in the Russian Federation.

Also, about 200 thousand citizens of Belarus work in Poland and other EU countries. Most of them also return home, as it is much more profitable to spend the money earned at home.

Family

The 2009 census showed that the population of the republic is characterized by small families (as a rule, 1 child per family): 65.9% of the total number of families with children had only one child, 28.3% - two, and only 5.2% - three and more. The total fertility rate in the early 2010s is gradually growing, and in rural areas it is much higher than in cities: in 2012 it amounted to 1,629 births per woman in the whole country, for the urban population - 1,476 births, for the rural population - 2,664 births.

Religious composition

According to a study by the Gallup Center, 27% of Belarusian citizens admitted that religion plays an important role in their daily lives. According to this indicator, the Republic of Belarus is among the 11 least religious countries in the world.

At the same time, the total number of believers can reach 50%. According to the results of a survey conducted in 1997, 49.4% of the population chose the option "Yes, I believe in God." According to individual estimates, the number of people visiting places of worship is 6%.

According to data for July 2010, provided by the Office of the Commissioner for Religious and National Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, 58.9% of the population consider themselves believers. Of these, 82.5% belong to the Russian Orthodox Church (Belarusian Exarchate), 12% identify themselves with the Roman Catholic Church, 4% of the population belongs to Eastern religions (primarily Islam, as well as Hinduism (Krishnaism) and Bahai) , 2% to Protestant denominations (Pentecostals, Baptists, Seventh Day Adventists, Lutherans, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.), as well as to Old Believers. According to the same data, about 18% of Orthodox and 50% of Catholics regularly attend services. There are also Greek Catholics, in addition, there are groups of Orthodox, whose communities are not included in the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. According to the Catholic Church itself in Belarus, about 1.4 million believers (about 15% of the country's population) belong to it.

Traditions and customs of the inhabitants of Belarus

Rituals and traditions, which are perfectly preserved on the Belarusian land, characterize the people who live here. Careful and respectful attitude to their ancestors, to their origins makes modern Belarusians adhere to certain rules. Belarusian culture occupies its own - special - place among other Eastern European cultures. Here, despite the centuries of Christian domination, ancient pagan rituals have been preserved. Maslenitsa, Kupalle, Kolyada, Dozhinki - in each of these holidays, as in a thousand others, elements of ancient pagan beliefs can be traced. These beliefs were very organically woven into the Christian faith, and as a result, a unique and colorful Belarusian culture was obtained.

The pride of the country is the well-preserved folklore - songs, dances, games, fairy tales, legends, riddles, proverbs and sayings of the ancestors have survived to the present, practically unchanged. The same can be said about folk crafts: pottery, wicker and straw weaving, weaving, embroidery, glass painting and other activities are based on the same artistic laws as hundreds of years ago. Of course, now these classes are acquiring an exhibition, souvenir character, but this only helps to preserve the wonderful examples of Belarusian folk art.

The people of Belarus are open and hospitable. Local hospitality is one of the best traditions of this country. In addition, people here care about their reputation. Communication can be characterized by such words as mutual courtesy and respect for elders.

Video

Sources

http://probelarus.by/belarus/information/tradition/tradicii_i_obychai_belaru.html

There are 9,499,804 people living in Belarus, but not everyone is Belarusian.

The population of Belarus includes all those who permanently reside in the country.

• Population - 9 499 804;
• Male population (48.5%) - 4,977,872;
• Female population (51.5%) - 5,295,665;
• Population growth this year - 160;

According to sociologists' forecasts, this year the population will increase to 9,500,404 people.

True, natural growth will retain a negative position. Its figures will be 23,369 people. About 134,610 people are expected to die.

Total number of babies born in 2017

Belarus Population

will be about 111,241 people. The number of immigrants (those who come to the country for long-term residence) will exceed the number of emigrants (those who leave the country).

National composition of Belarus

More than 80% of the population of Belarus are indigenous Belarusians. After the Second World War, a large influx of Russians was registered in the country.

The number of Russians in Belarus is 8.2%. Poles are in third place - 3.1% of them live in our country. On the fourth - Ukrainians - 1.7%. On the fifth - Jews - 0.13%. Tatars, Gypsies, Lithuanians and Latvians also live in the country.

Religious composition

About 60% of the population of Belarus consider themselves believers.

Of these, 82.5% are Orthodox, 12% are Catholics, 4% are professing Eastern religions (Islam, Hinduism and Baha'is), 2% are Protestants. Also, Old Believers still live on the territory of Belarus.

Lifespan

The latest demographic indicators set the average life expectancy of a Belarusian at 71.2 years. If we talk separately about women and men, then according to statistics, the weaker sex lives more than the strong representatives of the sex.

So a Belarusian woman lives on average 77.2 years, and a man - 65.6 years.

Linguistic features of the population

Belarus has two official languages: Belarusian and Russian. The majority of the population speaks Russian. According to sociological polls, the number of people who consider Russian as their native language is gradually increasing.

So in 1959 the number of such people was 6.8%, and thirty years later in 1989 - 19.7%.

Literacy of the population

Almost 100% literacy of the population older than 10 years is ensured in Belarus. About 18% of citizens have higher education, 26% have specialized secondary education.

Population migration

Based on 2012 data

18,040 migrants arrived in Belarus. Among them are Russians - 8560 people, Ukrainians - 2258, Cossacks - 963, Turks - 800. Citizens of Belarus prefer to emigrate in order to work in Russia - more than 500 thousand emigrated.

people, Poland - about 200 thousand people, as well as to other EU countries.

Family

Most Belarusian families bring up one child – 65.9%.

Two children have 28.3% of families, three or more - only 5.2%.

All about the inhabitants of Belarus: number, national composition, life expectancy

Names of inhabitants of Belarus

The country of Belarus has the full official name of the Republic of Belarus and the letter codes BY and BLR. Another name for the country, Belarus, is also often used. Official names of citizens of Belarus:

Residents of the masculine gender of the territory of Polissya are called: poleshuk (poleschuk). There is no name for the feminine, so they say: a resident of Polissya.

Case declension

Declination of the name of the country and the names of inhabitants by cases.

Cities of Belarus

List of large and famous cities of Belarus in alphabetical order, indicating the names of citizens.

If the city does not have the name of the female residents, use the turnover of the form "resident of the city ...".

The Republic of Belarus in terms of population is in sixth place in the CIS and ranks 92nd in the global list.

According to the data of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the population as of July 1, 2016 amounted to 9498.4 thousand people. The vast majority of the population (almost 80 percent) lives in cities.

Belarus is a state with a low density, especially by the standards of Europe - about 46 people live on one square kilometer of area. The only city with a million inhabitants is the capital of Belarus, Minsk, which is home to almost two million people. All other cities are much smaller.

Belarus is a multinational state, representatives of more than 130 nationalities live on its territory. 81 percent of the population consider themselves Belarusians. Russians are the second largest nation in Belarus. Both languages ​​- Belarusian and Russian - are state languages.

The vast majority of believers profess Orthodox Christianity, while the state is separated from the church and is secular.

According to official statistics, demography in Belarus is going through a protracted crisis. The birth rate is falling, there is no natural increase in the population. Thus, in 1990 the population of the republic was 10,190,000 people. In 1996, this figure was 10,177,000. Currently, it does not even reach 9 and a half million. All these years, the trend of depopulation (natural population decline) has persisted.

However, an encouraging circumstance is a slight slowdown in this trend. So, if in the 1990s and 2000s the size of the decline was several tens of thousands of people annually, then in recent years this negative phenomenon has somewhat stalled, the decline is already in the thousands. For example, in 2015 it amounted to only one thousand people.

The birth rate in Belarus is low at only 9.4 per thousand population, or slightly less than one and a half births per woman. According to this indicator, Belarus is one of the last places in the world ranking (176 out of 195 possible). This indicator is not enough for a positive natural reproduction of the population.

Insignificant profit in the population in the last four years has been provided solely by migration.

The gender ratio is uneven. There are six hundred thousand more women in Belarus than men, while women live almost ten years longer, while a five-year period is considered a natural difference. For such a small state, this figure is very significant.

The 2009 census showed that Belarusian families prefer having few children. One child is present in the vast majority of families (more than 65 percent). Only five percent of families have many children.

The mortality rate is high in Belarus, in the country as a whole it is 12.6 people per thousand of the population, while it varies greatly by region. The lowest death rate is recorded in the capital (9.7 people), the highest - in the Vitebsk and Minsk regions (more than 16 people). In terms of mortality, Belarus ranks 24th in the world. However, one cannot fail to note a fairly stable positive trend. This indicator, for example, in 2002 was 14.9, in 2012 - 13.4, the decline is gradual, but stable, which gives hope for further improvement in the situation in this area.

Also, one of the positive aspects should be noted and the increase in life expectancy over the past twenty years. So, if in 1995 it was only 68.6 years, in 2005 - 68.8 years, then in 2015 the duration increased significantly and amounted to 73.9 years.

Every year about 80,000 marriages are concluded in Belarus, while more than 32,000 are dissolved, thus, almost every third marriage breaks up.

Against the backdrop of the global economic crisis, the standard of living of the population of Belarus is systematically decreasing. Thus, the average monthly salary for January-June 2016 amounted to almost 700 denominated Belarusian rubles (7 million non-denominated), which is approximately 350 US dollars. This level of wages is only 96 percent of the level for the same period last year. The real incomes of the population are also declining, the purchasing power of the national currency is also falling. Against the background of a general decline in income, the standard of living of the population is also deteriorating sharply.

State support for the socially unprotected population is scanty. Thus, the amount of monthly social allowance for low-income families is approximately 15 US dollars, one-time targeted assistance - 40 US dollars.

The situation is much better in the area of ​​state support for motherhood and childhood. Thus, at the birth of the first child from August 1, 2016, a lump-sum benefit in the amount of 1,755 Belarusian rubles is paid, which is equivalent to about 880 US dollars. For the second and subsequent children, the state pays a lump sum of 2,457 rubles ($1,234). Child care allowance is paid to a woman up to three years, and not up to one and a half, as in many CIS countries. For the first child, the allowance is 35 percent of the average quarterly wage (approximately $115), for the second and subsequent children it is 40 percent of the average wage (approximately $130).

These facts testify to the desire of the state to change for the better the demographic situation in the country, to achieve population growth due to its natural increase. And in this area it is impossible not to note some successes. Despite the negative values ​​of growth so far, the rate of depopulation, as noted above, has decreased in recent years, Belarus is approaching a positive value of natural growth.

In the presence of such a demographic policy, serious state support for motherhood and childhood, and the adoption of exceptional measures to stimulate the birth rate, there is confidence that all the demographic problems that have accumulated in Belarus in recent years will be resolved soon.

The article was prepared by specialists of SoyuzPravoInform LLC.