All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.
Change in per capita GDP of Belarus, 1973–2018. Figures are inflation-adjusted to 2011 International dollars.
The economy of Belarus is an upper-middle income mixed economy.[2] As a post-Soviettransition economy, Belarus rejected most privatisation efforts in favour of retaining centralised political and economic controls by the state.[19] The highly centralized Belarusian economy emphasizes full employment and a dominant public sector. It has been described as a welfare state[20] or market socialist.[21] Belarus is the world's 74th-largest economy by GDP.
As of 2018[update], Belarus ranks 53rd from 189 countries on the United Nations Human Development Index, and appeared in the group of states with "very high development". With an efficient health system, it has a very low infant-mortality rate of 2.9 (compared to 6.6 in Russia or 3.7 in the United Kingdom). The rate of doctors per capita is 40.7 per 10,000 inhabitants (the figure is 26.7 in Romania, 32 in Finland, 41.9 in Sweden) and the literacy rate is estimated[by whom?] at 99%. According to the United Nations Development Program, the Gini coefficient (inequality indicator) is one of the lowest in Europe.[22]
Economic background
Before the October Revolution, Belarus was a relatively backward and underdeveloped country, heavily reliant on agriculture and with rural overpopulation,[23] although it experienced a rapid economic and industrial growth after the construction of railways in the late 19th century (with Minsk, Vitsebsk, Hrodna, Pinsk and Homel becoming significant industrial centres.[24]The Second World War devastated Belarus, which lost about a quarter of its population and suffered immense destruction of infrastructure.[23] In the post-war years, Belarus rapidly industrialised[25] and became an important trade hub between the Soviet Union and Europe. Manufacturing became a pillar of its economy emphasising tractors, heavy trucks, oil processing, metal-cutting lathes, synthetic fibres, TV sets, semi-conductors and microchips.[23] In the 1980s, more than half of the industrial personnel of Belarus worked for enterprises with over 500 employees. Among the Soviet republics, it had an unusually high export rate of its products, about 80%, and was the most technologically advanced.[23] Because of its role as a producer of products made from raw materials imported from the Soviet Union, Belarus was called "the Soviet assembly shop".[26]
Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union and under Lukashenko's leadership, Belarus has maintained government control over key industries and eschewed the large-scale privatizations seen in other former Soviet republics.[27]
The period between 1996 and 2000 was also characterised by significant financial distress, in particular in 1998 and 1999 as a result of the financial and economic crisis in Russia. This resulted primarily in a sharp increase in prices and the devaluation of the national currency, a decline in trade with Russia and other CIS countries, growth in inter-enterprise arrears, and overall deterioration of the country's balance of payments. Extreme tension within the foreign exchange market was the key factor that destabilized the economy in 1998 and 1999. In 1999, consumer prices grew by 294%.[citation needed]
Between 2001 and 2005, the national economy demonstrated steady and dynamic growth. The GDP grew at an average rate of 7.4 percent, peaking in 2005 at 9.2 percent. This growth was mainly a result of the performance of the industrial sector, which grew on average more than 8.7 percent per year, with a high of 10.4 percent in 2005. Potatoes, flax, hemp, sugarbeets, rye, oats, and wheat are the chief agricultural products. Dairy and beef cattle, pigs, and chickens are raised. Belarus has only small reserves of petroleum and natural gas and imports most of its oil and gas from Russia. The main branches of industry produce tractors and trucks, earth movers for use in construction and mining, metal-cutting machine tools, agricultural equipment, motorcycles, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, and consumer goods. The chief trading partners are Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Germany.
The Belarus GDP grew 9.9% in 2006.[28] In the first quarter of 2007, GDP grew 8.2%.[29] GDP further grew in 2008 by 10%.[30]
Analysis of foreign direct investment to Belarus between 2002 and 2007 shows that nearly 80% of FDI was geared into the service sector, while industrial concerns accounted for 20%. Agricultural FDI was negligible at 1%.[31]
Shortly before the 2010 presidential election, average salaries in Belarus were increased by the government to $500 per month. It is believed to be one of the main reasons for the crisis in 2011.[32] Other reasons for the crisis were strong governmental control in the economy, a discount rate lower than inflation and the budget deficit.[33]
In January 2011, Belarusians started to convert their savings from Belarusian rubles to dollars and euros. The situation was influenced by rumors of possible devaluation of the ruble.[34] Exchange rates in Belarus are centralized by the government-controlled National Bank of Belarus.[35] The National Bank was forced to spend $1 billion of the foreign reserves to balance the supply and demand of currency[34] On March 22, it stopped the support to banks.[34] The National Bank also didn't change the exchange rate significantly (3,000 BYR per dollar on January 1 and 3,045 BYR on April 1), so the increased demand of dollars and euro exhausted cash reserves of banks. In April and May 2011, many people had to wait for several days in queues to buy dollars in the exchange booths.[35] In April, Belarusian banks were given informal permission of government to increase the exchange rate to 4,000 BYR for 1 dollar (later 4,500 BYR), but few people started to sell dollars and euro. On May 24, the ruble was officially devalued by 36% (from 3,155 to 4,931 BYR per 1 dollar).[36] But the shortage of the currency retained. As a result of the shortage, a black market of currency was created. In July 2011, the black market exchange rate was nearly 6,350 BYR per 1 dollar,[37] in August, it reached 9,000 BYR per 1 dollar.[38]
In September 2011, National Bank of Belarus introduced a free exchange market session to determine a market value of the ruble.[39] From November 2011 to March 2012, the exchange rate was Br8,000—8,150 per dollar, but it started to rise in April 2012 and reached Br8,360 per dollar on 10 July 2012.[40]
Recovery from the crisis was difficult due to isolation of the Belarusian government from the EU and US.[35]
The crisis strongly affected the economy. Inflation reached 108.7% in 2011.[41] Average salary (counted in dollars) decreased from $530 in December 2010 to $330 in May 2011.[42] In May 2012, the average salary reached $436 (3,559,600 with 8,165 per dollar).[43] Refinancing rate (analogue of discount rate) rose from 10.5% in December 2010 to 45% in December 2011[44] and fell to 32% in June 2012.[45] In November 2011, interest rates of several banks reached 120% in rubles.[46]
2015 unemployment regulation
In April 2015, Alexander Lukashenko signed a bill on "preventing freeloading practices" which introduced a fine on unemployed population. This law obliges all citizens who are paying direct taxes less than 183 days every year to pay a fee in the size of 20 basic amounts (BYN 360 ≈ $250).[47][48][49] Mass media compared the bill with a struggle with "тунеядцы", or social parasites, in Soviet Union.[48][49] Several groups of people are exempt from paying the fee: parents with a child under 7 years old, disabled persons, students, etc. Avoiding of payment is going to be punished by fines, administrative arrests and compulsory public works.[47]
In April 2022, as a result of its facilitation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU imposed trade sanctions on Belarus.[52] The sanctions were extended and expanded in August 2023.[53] These sanctions are in addition to those imposed following the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was widely criticized by western observers.[54]
Wages and labour market
Nominal accrued wages in Belarus by raions in 2017 (in rubels).
The Belarusian labour market is highly regulated. Important elements of the central-planning system are still in place. In principle, the decision to determine wages is left to firms, but the Government can affect the structure of wages through the so-called tariff system, a type of centrally determined wage grid. The tariff system is binding in the budget sector, including enterprises and organisations mainly financed and subsidised within the state and/or the local budgets. The private (so-called self-financing sector) sector, representing, as already noted, only a small share of employment, has little autonomy.[55]
Unemployment
Official unemployment rate is lower than 1%.[56] Methods of International Labour Organization (international standard) also include job-seekers who are not registered officially.[57] Many unemployed people in Belarus are trying to avoid registration, because of obligatory public works.[citation needed]
There are no official statistics of unemployment using the ILO methods. 6.1% Belarusians of economically active population called themselves unemployed during the 2009 census.[58] In July 2012, World Bank concluded that the real unemployment rate is seven times higher than the official rate.[59] Former labour minister Alexander Sosnov estimates that the unemployment rate is 10% of the economically active population[60] According to Charter 97 estimate, the real unemployment in Belarus may be 15% or even 24%.[57][61]
Labour rights
In 2021, International Trade Union Confederation listed Belarus among top 10 worst countries for working people in the world (Global Rights Index).[62] Reasons for worsening of the situation included state repression of independent union activity, arbitrary arrests and severe cases of limited or no access to justice.[63]
During the 2020 Belarusian protests, some activists attempted to start a strike and were met with repression.[63] In 2021, three employees of Belarusian Steel Works were imprisoned for attempting to organize a strike.[64]
Share of output selected industries in total industrial output in 2008
Machinery and metalworking (23.2%)
Fuel (21.3%)
Food (14.6%)
Chemical and petrochemical (13.4%)
Electric power (5.5%)
Building materials (5.1%)
Wood-working, paper (4.4%)
Light (3.6%)
Other (8.9%)
Sector-focused structure of Gross Domestic Product in 2008
Industry (28.1%)
Agriculture (8.4%)
Construction (9.4%)
Transport and communications (8%)
Trade and catering (10.6%)
Net taxes on products (14.4%)
Other (21.1%)
In the Soviet period, Belarus specialized mainly in machine building and instrument building (especially tractors, large trucks, machine tools, and automation equipment), in computers and electronics industry and in agricultural production. In 1992, industry in Belarus accounted for approximately 38 percent of GDP, down from 51 percent in 1991. This figure reflects a decline in the availability of imported inputs (especially crude oil and deliveries from Russia), a drop in investments, and decreased demand from Belarus's traditional export markets among the former Soviet republics. Belarus's economy was also affected by decreased demand for military equipment, traditionally an important sector.[citation needed]
In 1994, gross industrial output declined by 19 percent. At the beginning of 1995, every industrial sector had decreased output, including fuel and energy extracting (down by 27 percent); chemical and oil refining (18 percent); ferrous metallurgy (13 percent); machine building and metal working (17 percent); truck production (31 percent); tractor production (48 percent); light industry (33 percent); wood, paper, and pulp production (14 percent); construction materials (32 percent); and consumer goods (16 percent).[citation needed]
In 1996, a Free Economic Zone (FEZ) area was set up in Brest. The programme has been expanded to Minsk, Gomel, Vitebsk, Grodno, and Mogilev. As of 2020, more than 270 foreign organizations have benefited from the opportunity. Membership in a FEZ confers substantial benefits:[65]
* Tax free profits on all goods and services for five years, then a 50% discount
50% discount on VAT on import substitution goods manufactured within an FEZ
No taxes on real estate owned or leased in the FEZ
Exempt from payments to National Agriculture Support Fund
No tax on purchasing vehicles
No customs duty on raw materials and equipment imported from outside Belarus
A guarantee that legislation governing firms will not change for seven years
As of 2013, some of Belarusian industry was inflicted with overproduction: its unsold goods stocks were estimated to be worth at least US$3.8 billion, including 20,000 unsold Belarus-brand tractors.[66]
Land ownership is tightly regulated in Belarus. The Land Code and Presidential Decree 667 was issued in 2007, and follows strict guidelines according to its targeted use. Approximately 90% of the land is dedicated by this means to agricultural or forestry use.[31]
The cumulative decline of value-added reached 30 percent since 1991, and 15 percent since 1995. The share of agriculture in GDP declined by over 10-percentage point to 14 percent in 1997. This happened, irrespective to the president's economic strategy of self-sufficiency in food production in 2001. The decline in overall agriculture production partly could be attributed to unfavorable weather conditions (like floods), but declines in the harvests of potatoes, vegetables, and other crops that grow mostly in private plots were smaller than in produce grown by collective farms. Also, animal breeding has been in decline and it is concentrated in the state sector. Subsidization of agricultural sector in Belarus amounted to 1–2 percent of GDP in the form of direct government credits, advanced payments for the realization of state orders of major crops, at strongly negative interest rates. Additionally, a state budget fund, Agriculture Support Fund provides funds to compensate food producers for the costs of inputs (fertilizers and equipment) that amounted to another 1–2 percent of GDP in 1996–1997. Finally, the Central Bank of Belarus issued subsidized credits to the agriculture sector at an interest rate of half the refinance rate. However, in spite of the fact that state-owned and collective farms cultivate about 83 percent of agricultural land and benefited the most from the government subsidies, privately run farms and private plots produce more than 40 percent of gross output.[citation needed]
Belarus can be divided into three agricultural regions: north (flax, fodder, grasses, and cattle), central (potatoes and pigs), and south (pastureland, hemp, and cattle). Belarus' cool climate and dense soil are well suited to fodder crops, which support herds of cattle and pigs, and temperate-zone crops (wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat, potatoes, flax, and sugar beets). Belarus' soils are generally fertile, especially in the river valleys, except in the southern marshy regions.[citation needed]
The greatest changes in agriculture in the first half of the 1990s were a decline in the amount of land under cultivation and a significant shift from livestock to crop production because crops had become a great deal more profitable than before. The sales price for crops generally increased more than production costs, while inputs for livestock (such as imported fodder) have increased in price beyond livestock sales prices.[citation needed]
The food processing industry in the country is led primarily by state concern Belgospischeprom and local municipal or regional owned production facilities.[citation needed]
Textiles
The Orsha Linen Mill, which is a part of the Belarusian State Concern Bellegprom, processes from flax a number of linen fabrics, which necessitates "spinning, weaving, dyeing, mechanical, chemical softening, shrinkage and other textile processings." The linen mill was projected from 1928; the first factory was completed in 1930, the second in 1961 and the third in 1972. In 2008, the plant supplied 8% of the global market for linen fabrics, when 5,000 workers processed 25,000 tonnes of flax fiber.[67]
The OJSC Slavianka plant in Babruisk houses modern textile equipment.[68] The first trousers were commissioned in 1930, and today the firm produces of the most modern fabrics:
Beneficial terms of Russian oil and gas deliveries are behind a degree of economic dependence on Russia, Belarus' EAEU neighbour.[70] According to some estimates, profits stemming from the low prices the country pays for Russian gas and oil -either consumed locally or processed and then re-exported- has occasionally accounted to up to 10% of national GDP.[70] Besides, the main export market for the Belarusian agricultural and industrial produce lies in its Russian neighbour.[70]
The electric power sector of the country is amalgamated into the state-owned production union of the power sector "Belenergo", which consists, apart from the central dispatch unit ODU, of six republican unitary regional power system enterprises (RUP-Oblenergo) and of entities of all kinds of ownership that carry out repair, maintenance and rehabilitation of facilities, research and development, service activities, and construction of new power sector facilities. RUP-Oblenergo are set up on particular territory (the regional power systems cover the relevant geographic administrative units of Belarus). RUP-Oblenergo are vertically integrated companies that perform generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity.[citation needed]
Oil
All the activities related to prospecting, exploration and production of oil and associated gas in the country are carried out by the government-controlled concern Belneftekhim via its subsidiary, the unitary republic enterprise Belorusneft. Belorusneft exports about 50% of its oil output. Oil deposits on the territory of Belarus are located in a single oil and gas basin, the Pripyat depression, which covers approximately 30,000km2 (12,000sqmi). About 50 out of total of 70 known fields are currently under production[vague]. Belarus' own production covers only about 30% of domestic oil consumption. For this reason, the Government is seeking ways to access oil and gas resources on the territory of the Russia and other countries, so that oil produced there could be delivered to refineries in Belarus and refined products would be sold domestically and on export markets.[citation needed]
Belarus has two state-owned oil pipeline operating companies, both inherited from Glavtransneft in 1991. Gomel Oil Transportation Enterprise (RUP Gomeltransneft Druzhba) operates pipelines to the west and southwest directions, and Novopolotsk Oil Transportation Enterprise (NRUPTN "Druzhba") for the north (Belarus-Lithuania) direction. All decisions concerning plans to increase capacity or build new capacity are taken by these two state-owned companies.[citation needed]
The activities of oil pipeline operating companies are regulated in accordance with the Law on Natural Monopolies, which explicitly prescribes a mechanism for their regulation by a state regulator. The Law on Natural Monopolies considers oil pipeline transport operators to be natural monopolies (Article 3). The Law also has certain requirements for transparency of their activities. Domestic oil transportation via pipelines is primarily regulated by the Law on Trunk Pipelines (2002), n 87–3. Article 27 of the Law regulates pipeline transport service in accordance with the capacity of the pipelines and actual throughput, based on the principle of equal access and non-discrimination.[citation needed]
Natural gas
Almost all of the natural gas used in Belarus is imported from Russia (about 99% of consumption). Domestic gas prices continue to be regulated by the government and in many instances cover only a fraction of the actual cost. Belarus has a well-developed gas transportation and gas distribution networks that ensure reliable supplies of natural gas to the consumers in the country. Beltransgaz, 100% state-owned joint stock company, owns and operates the system of main natural gas pipelines. In November 2002, the Belarusian parliament passed a law allowing for the privatization of Beltransgaz. An agreement was reached in 2006 with Gazprom about the acquisition of a 50% plus a share stake in Beltransgaz at a price of $2.5 billion.[citation needed]
Belarus contains large, but undeveloped reserves of oil shale, estimated at 8.8 billion tonnes. As of 2010, Belarus seeks to start exploiting the reserves to reduce its dependence on the Russian hydrocarbons.[72]
The OJSC Spartak (paper mill) is located in Škloŭ and produces 20 kinds of paper.[76] In 2017, the state-owned timber and paper industries concern, Bellesbumprom, put up for sale an 85.14% stake in Spartak for $7.393m.[77]
Mining
Although not rich in minerals, Belarus has been found to have small deposits of iron ore, nonferrous metal ores, dolomite, potash (for fertilizer production), rock salt, phosphorites, refractory clay, molding sand, sand for glass production, and various building materials.[citation needed]
Belarus also has deposits of industrial diamonds, titanium, copper ore, lead, mercury, bauxite, nickel, vanadium, and amber.[citation needed]
Belarus is a major producer of potash: as of 2024, the third most potash-producing country.[78]:12
In 2019 Belarus was the 20th largest world producer of salt.[79]
In 1982, the Soviet Union decreed a steel works should be erected and the Byelorussian Steel Works was born two years later in order primarily to process local scrap steel. The major items of production consist of rebar, billet, channel, wire rod and cold heading wire rod. More than 50 alloyed and low-alloyed structural and carbon steel grades are produced by the plant. Two BSW shops produce steel cord, brass bead wire and hose wire.[80][81]
Aluminum and stainless steel are sourced for the domestic market in Russia and Serbia.[82]
Tsvetmet casts as many as 5,000 tons per annum of non-ferrous metal like copper, bronze and brass;[83] while cast iron and steel parts as large as 8,000kg are produced by the Universal-Lit company.[84][85] The latter company is a part of Sergey Romanovich's Niva-Holding empire of integrated engineering solutions for the mining industry, which employs 2,100 people in Soligorsk, Minsk, Mogilev and Urechye across several subsidiary organizations.[86]
Belarus is home to several domestic automotive manufacturers such as BelAZ, which makes haulage and earthmoving equipment, MZKT, which makes heavy off-road vehicles, especially military trucks, Neman, which makes public transport buses, and MoAZ, which makes anything else industrial with wheels. Most vehicles manufactured in Belarus are commercial vehicles. Belarus has been seeing foreign automotive companies setting up partnerships and automotive factories in the country. Belarusian company MAZ and German company MAN have been in partnership since 1997. Belkommunmash makes electric urban transit vehicles.
The Мотавела[be] plant was located in the city of Minsk between 1945 and 2018, but beginning in 2013, the government started to question the will of ATEK Holdings, who had managed the company for a number of years. ATEK was not fulfilling its investment programme, and eventually declared bankruptcy in 2017. The premises have become a sort of multi-tenant light industrial facility.[88]
The Belarusian chemical industry specializes in extracting value from the Russian oil products which transit through the country's pipelines to Germany and the west. Synthetic polymers like nylon, viscose, acrylic, polyester and polyethylene are produced from this stream as well as household chemical products.[91] Oil refineries are located in Navapolacak (Naftan) and in Mazyr (Mozyr Oil Refinery).
More than 500 kinds of chemical and petrochemical products are produced in Belarus by one firm: the Belneftekhim Concern, which is "among the largest and most strategically important" businesses in the country, and was created in 1997, unites most important chemical industries under one umbrella. It provides about 30 percent of all industrial output in Belarus and half of exports, which go to over 120 countries worldwide. More than 70 percent of petrochemical products are sold abroad.[92][93]
During Soviet times, Belarus' radio-electronic industry was primarily oriented towards military applications. With the break-up of the Soviet military and the reduction in size of the new state's military establishments, the Belarus defense sector desperately needs to export to survive. Currently, under Belarusian law, its weapons exports are required to be carried out through one of four licensed weapons trade exporters: Belspetsvneshtekhnika, Beltekhexport, Belvneshpromservis and Belorusintorg. Certain other enterprises are permitted to sell products that they developed or control.[citation needed]
Six commercial banks, four formerly state-owned specialized banks Belagroprombank (agricultural sector), Promstroybank (industrial sector), Vneshekonombank (foreign trade), and Belarusbank (savings bank) and two universal banks (Priorbank and Belbusinessbank) dominated the banking system. These former state-owned specialized banks accounts for over 80 percent of the banking system outstanding loans, over 70 percent of domestic currency deposits, and all the NBB's refinancing credit. Many commercial banks are subject to direct and personal influence of the government since many officials at the ministerial level participate in chairing and managing banks. Commercial banks act as agents of the central bank distributing state financial resources. Therefore, also the Central Bank of Belarus fulfills mostly technical functions as the president and government are permanently interfering in the operation of the whole banking sector by decrees and resolutions.[96]
Luxury goods
Spirits and liquors are produced at the eight distilleries of the Joint Stock Company «Minsk kristall»,[97] which in turn is managed by the state-run Belgospishcheprom concern.[98]
Belyuvelirtorg, which was organized in 1948, is a chain of 64 jewelry stores present all over Belarus. The chain retails items made of gold, silver and natural stones as well as watches and the like. The chain produces precious metal decorative chain and its own line of rings, bracelets and earrings in its Gomel factory.[99]
Information technology was a growing sector of Belarus economy. In the early 2000s, a propitious climate was created in the country: IT companies received a 0% rate on taxes and state subsidies, income tax for tech workers was also reduced.[100] Launched in 2006, the Hi-Tech Park on the northeastern outskirts of Minsk was meant to become Belarusian Silicon Valley. In 2019 Lukashenko visited the HTP and called it his favorite project.[101] By 2020, it hosted more than 750 start-ups and outsourcing companies that employed 58,000 workers.[102][103][104] Overall, more than 100,000 citizens worked in IT.[105]
In the last two decades Belarusian IT turned into a major tech hub in Europe, it made up 5.5% of the country's GDP and exported up to $2 billion (€1.69bn) worth of software.[106]
The nation-wide opposition crackdown led by the authorities after 2020 protests resulted in significant decline of the previously booming IT sector because most tech specialists fled the country.[107][108][109] Most Minsk-born start-ups relocated to other European countries, only in 2021 more than 15,000 IT workers left the country. More than 3000 tech workers had gone to Ukraine, 1800 employees of 30 companies with total investments of $76.8 million moved to Poland, at least 41 companies went to Lithuania.[110][111] Such giants as Viber and Wargaming joined the exodus.[112][103]
2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine provoked the second wave of IT brain drain in Belarus. According to Dev.by, it was even bigger than the first one.[113] Almost 40% of companies faced refuses in new contracts due to sanctions, imposed on Belarus.[114]
In August 2021 Lukashenko accused HTP companies of working 'for the USA for half prices'.[115] On April 4, 2022, he commanded to 'deal with the tech workers' and return the IT sector into equal terms with other industries. In March 2022 taxes for IT companies were raised.[100]
Tourism
Foreign tourists received by organisations engaged in tourist activities in the Republic of Belarus in 2014 by countries (percent of total)
Russia (82.3%)
Latvia (1.7%)
Lithuania (1.5%)
Ukraine (1.3%)
Germany (1.2%)
Poland (1.2%)
Turkey (0.7%)
United Kingdom (0.7%)
Italy (0.6%)
Australia (0.6%)
Israel (0.6%)
United States (0.5%)
Finland (0.5%)
Switzerland (0.5%)
France (0.4%)
Slovakia (0.1%)
Other (5.6%)
Because of its position, Belarus is actively visited with transit purposes: about 1,500,000 arrivals per year.[116]
Belarusian health resorts and sanatoriums are popular with Russian tourists because of relatively lower prices. In 2010, Belarus had 334 sanatoria, health resorts and health-improving organizations and other specialized accommodation facilities.[117]
The number of arrivals of foreign visitors to Belarus in 2000 was 2,029,800. Since 2005, this number fluctuates between 4,737,800 and 5,673,800. Private arrivals are the most popular purpose of the travel. In all these indicators, crossings of Russian-Belarusian border are excluded, though they are likely to be significant.[116]
As in 2010, the number of tourist departures abroad was 7,464,200.[118] There were 783 travel agencies (in 2010) in the country and they serve small part of all arrivals of foreign citizens and departures of Belarusians.[119] This also leads to the widespread opinion that tourism in Belarus is negligible. Most of the travel agencies are private,[120] more than 50% of them are situated in Minsk.[121]
The profit from foreign tourism amounts to less than US$200 per each tourist. The volume of tourism in total export makes up 1%. The most popular among the visitors are: Minsk City (40% of visitors), Grodno Oblast (32%), Brest Oblast (22%), Vitebsk Oblast (5%).[citation needed]
The number of hotels has grown from 256 to 359 in 2010.[117] The intensive construction of new hotels is organized in Minsk because of the planned Ice Hockey World Championships in 2014. But the average rate of use of the hotels does not exceed 40%.[citation needed]
The number of employees in tourism and recreation areas in 2010 were 9,900.[117]
Belarus became a member of ICSID in 1992 and UNCITRAL in 2004.[31] As of 2009, there had been no cases involving Belarus in ICSID arbitration.[31] As of June 2008, Belarus had concluded 54 Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs); of these BITs more than 20 were with first-world countries.[31] As of April 2009, Belarus had signed Double Taxation Treaties (DTTs) with 61 countries.[31] As of 2009, the corporate tax rate was 24%.[31] In 2009, a flat tax rate of 12% was imposed on personal incomes, and the standard rate of VAT was 18%.[31] Import and export duties are mostly ad valorem.[31] An environmental tax is imposed on the release of contaminants and the extraction of natural resources.[31] Belarus is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union.[31] Belarus accepted in 2001 the IMF Agreement that the foreign exchange rate be free of restrictions on payments and transfers.[31] Residents of Belarus need a permit from the National Bank of Belarus to open bank accounts in foreign countries.[31] As of 2009, the social insurance rate payable by the employer was 35%.[31] In 2009, the average monthly wage was $500, and "a rigid wage determination process" was in place.[31] The labour market, which is governed by the Republican Labour Arbitration body, is inflexible and strict limitations apply to severance and termination.[31] The right to strike is allowed for all employees except those of the state, and succeeds on a two-thirds majority.[31] Corporations which wish to hire a foreign labourer are subject to a permit process determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[31] Entrepreneurship "is subject to prolific legislative activity" and "very high number of administrative controls", and although the country signed on to the UN Convention against Corruption in 1995, the Corruption Perception Index had Belarus ranked high in the league tables.[31]
Belarus has established ministries of energy, forestry, land reclamation, and water resources and state committees to deal with ecology and safety procedures in the nuclear power industry.[citation needed]
The most serious environmental issue in Belarus results from the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant across the border in the Ukrainian SSR, had a devastating effect on Belarus. As a result of the radioactivity release, many villages were abandoned. About 70% of the nuclear fallout from the plant landed on Belarusian territory, and about 25% of that land is considered uninhabitable. Resettlement and medical costs were substantial and long-term. Government restrictions on residence and use of contaminated land are not strictly enforced.
Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)
Belarus regions by Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP)
A number of state-owned Belarusian companies were sanctioned by the EU, USA, UK, Canada following 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2020 elections. In 2020 and 2021, the EU imposed sanctions on several companies, including MAZ, MZKT, BelAZ (automotive industry), Dana Holdings real estate company, trading companies Bremino Group, Sohra, Logex, Globalcastcom Management, NNK, and other companies.[125] On 24 June 2021, the EU introduced the sectoral sanctions that affected petroleum and fertilizer production, tobacco industry, supply of dual-purpose equipment, and access to the EU financial markets by the Belarusian government.[125] In 2007, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Belneftekhim concern and its subordinated companies. They were later suspended, but not cancelled.[125] In 2021, USA renewed them and imposed new sanctions on several companies.[125] In 2021, UK and Canada imposed similar sanctions on several companies.[125]
In 2020–2021, Belarusian authorities made different efforts to circumvent the Western sanctions. They also hid the statistics to prevent revealing the ways used to circumvent them and track their effects.[126][127] In particular, access to data regarding production and exports of the sanctioned goods became restricted to public.[126] In October 2021, Belstat started to hide data regarding exports of tractors and trucks.[128] Overall classified exports in January–August 2021 is estimated at US$8.2 billion.[128] In September 2021, Alexander Lukashenko mentioned minister of industry Petr Parkhomchik[ru] and vice prime minister Yuri Nazarov (politician)[ru] as the people who organized the circumvention of sanctions.[129] He also accused several workers of state factories of gathering information about the ways used to circumvent the sanctions, and he threatened them with imprisonment.[129][130] 13 workers from Grodno Azot fertilizer factory, Naftan oil refinery, BMZ steel mill and Belarusian Railway were arrested by the Belarusian KGB in a possible connection with this statement. It was reported that some of them were accused of state treason.[129] At least two of them were later released.[131] In June 2021, Belorusneft was removed from subordination of Belneftekhim. This move was believed to be connected with the sanctions.[132]
The economy of Azerbaijan is highly dependent on oil and gas exports, in particular since the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline. The transition to oil production in the late 1990s led to rapid economic growth over the period 1995–2014. Since 2014, GDP growth has slowed down substantially.
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an area of 207,600 square kilometres (80,200 sq mi) with a population of 9.1 million. The country has a hemiboreal climate and is administratively divided into six regions. Minsk is the capital and largest city; it is administered separately as a city with special status.
The economy of Bulgaria functions on the principles of the free market, having a large private sector and a smaller public one. Bulgaria is an industrialised high-income country according to the World Bank, and is a member of the European Union (EU), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). The Bulgarian economy has experienced significant growth (538%), starting from $13.15 billion and reaching estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of $107 billion or $229 billion, GDP per capita of $36,000, average gross monthly salary of 2,310 leva, and average net monthly salary of $2,191. The national currency is the lev, pegged to the euro at 1.95583 leva for 1 euro. The lev is the strongest and most stable currency in Eastern Europe.
The economy of the Dominican Republic is the seventh largest in Latin America, and is the largest in the Caribbean and Central American region. The Dominican Republic is an upper-middle income developing country with important sectors including mining, tourism, manufacturing, energy, real estate, infrastructure, telecommunications and agriculture. The Dominican Republic is on track to achieve its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2030, and is expected to grow 79% in this decade. The country is the site of the single largest gold mine in Latin America, the Pueblo Viejo mine. Although the service sector is currently the leading employer of Dominicans, agriculture remains an important sector in terms of the domestic market and is in second place in terms of export earnings. Tourism accounts for more than $7.4 billion in annual earnings in 2019. Free-trade zone earnings and tourism are the fastest-growing export sectors. A leading growth engine in the Free-trade zone sector is the production of medical equipment for export having a value-added per employee of US$20,000, total revenue of US$1.5 billion, and a growth rate of 7.7% in 2019. The medical instrument export sector represents one of the highest-value added sectors of the country's economy, a true growth engine for the country's emerging market. Remittances are an important sector of the economy, contributing US$8.2 billion in 2020. Most of these funds are used to cover household expenses, such as housing, food, clothing, health care and education. Secondarily, remittances have financed businesses and productive activities. Thirdly, this combined effect has induced investment by the private sector and helps fund the public sector through its value-added tax. The combined import market including the free-trade-zones amounts to a market of $20 billion a year in 2019. The combined export sector had revenues totaling $11 billion in 2019. The consumer market is equivalent to $61 billion in 2019. An important indicator is the average commercial loan interest rate, which directs short-term investment and stimulates long-term investment in the economy. It is currently 8.30%, as of June 2021.
The economy of Kazakhstan is the largest in Central Asia in both absolute and per capita terms. In 2021, Kazakhstan attracted more than US$370 billion of foreign investments since becoming an independent republic after the dissolution of the former Soviet Union.
The economy of Kyrgyzstan is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. According to Healy Consultants, Kyrgyzstan's economy relies heavily on the strength of industrial exports, with plentiful reserves of gold, mercury and uranium. The economy also relies heavily on remittances from foreign workers. Following independence, Kyrgyzstan was progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. In 1998, Kyrgyzstan was the first Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Kyrgyzstan's economic performance has been hindered by widespread corruption, low foreign investment and general regional instability. Despite those issues, Kyrgyzstan is ranked 70th on the ease of doing business index.
The economy of Libya depends primarily on revenues from the petroleum sector, which represents over 95% of export earnings and 60% of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population have given Libya one of the highest nominal per capita GDP in Africa.
The economy of Paraguay is a market economy that is highly dependent on agriculture products. In recent years, Paraguay's economy has grown as a result of increased agricultural exports, especially soybeans. Paraguay has the economic advantages of a young population and vast hydroelectric power. Its disadvantages include the few available mineral resources, and political instability. The government welcomes foreign investment.
The economy of the Republic of the Congo is a mixture of subsistence hunting and agriculture, an industrial sector based largely on petroleum extraction and support services. Government spending is characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Petroleum has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. Nowadays the Republic of the Congo is increasingly converting natural gas to electricity rather than burning it, greatly improving energy prospects.
The economy of Russia is a high-income, industrialized, mixed market-oriented emerging economy. It has the eleventh-largest economy in the world by nominal GDP and the fourth-largest economy by GDP (PPP). Due to a volatile currency exchange rate, its GDP measured in nominal terms fluctuates sharply. Russia was the last major economy to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), becoming a member in 2012.
Syria's economic situation has been turbulent and their economy has deteriorated considerably since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, which erupted in March 2011.
The economy of Uzbekistan, formerly a Soviet-style command economy, has undergone changes that align more with a market economy. Under the administration of Islam Karimov currency conversion capacity was restricted, imports were controlled and Uzbekistan's borders with neighboring Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan were sporadically closed. Since the election of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan economic and social reforms have been implemented to boost growth and modernize the country. International Financial Institutions, including EBRD, Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, are supportive of the reform process and increased their presence in the country.
The economy of Guyana is one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 19.9% in 2021. In 2024, Guyana had a per capita gross domestic product of Int$80,137 and an average GDP growth of 4.2% over the previous decade. Guyana's economy was transformed in 2015 with the discovery of an offshore oil field in the country's waters about 190 km from Georgetown, making the first commercial-grade crude oil draw in December 2019, sending it abroad for refining.
The economy of Mozambique is $14.396 billion by gross domestic product as of 2018, and has developed since the end of the Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992). In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms, which were designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation was brought to single digits during the late 1990s, although it returned to double digits in 2000–02. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities.
Iran is a mixed economy with a large public sector. Some 60% of Iran's economy is centrally planned. Iran's economy is characterized by its hydrocarbon, agricultural, and service sectors, in addition to manufacturing and financial services, with over 40 industries directly involved in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The stock exchange has been one of the best performing exchanges in the world over the past decade. With 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves, Iran is considered an "energy superpower".
The politics of Belarus takes place in a framework of a presidential republic with a bicameral parliament. The President of Belarus is the head of state. Executive power is nominally exercised by the government, at its top sits a ceremonial prime minister, appointed directly by the President. Legislative power is de jure vested in the bicameral parliament, the National Assembly, however the president may enact decrees that are executed the same way as laws, for undisputed time.
Belarus Hi-Tech Park (HTP) is a tax and legal regime in Belarus, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of Eastern Europe". Established in 2005, the Park operates under the provisions of the Belarusian Decree No. 8 "On the Development of the Digital Economy" and offers its resident companies a significant amount of preferences: until January 1, 2049, residents of the Park are exempt from most taxes, including value-added tax and income tax. Their employees have a 30% reduction in personal income tax. HTP operates on the principle of extraterritoriality: the companies registered in it can enjoy all the advantages provided, regardless of the location of their Belarusian office. As of 22 September 2023, 1000 resident companies with over 60,000 employees were registered in the HTP.
Belneftekhim is an association of petrochemical companies in Belarus, subordinated to the Council of Ministers. It manages these companies and regulates several aspects of the petrochemical sector, including setting retail prices for gasoline.
Industry plays an important role in the economy of Belarus. In 2020, industry accounted for 25.5% of Belarusian GDP. Share of manufacturing in Belarusian GDP was 21.3% in 2019. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe described Belarus as having "a well-developed industrial sector and highly skilled workforce". In 2020, 23.5% of the Belarusian workforce was employed in industry. In 2019, total industrial production amounted to 115.7 billion Belarusian rubles ; in 2020, it rose to Br 116.5 billion. Belarusian industry is export-oriented: in 2020, 61.2% of industrial output was exported. The most important sector is food industry. Other well-developed sectors of industry include chemical industry, automotive industry and manufacturing of other machinery equipment.
The economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in late February 2022, in the days after Russia recognized two breakaway Ukrainian republics and launched an invasion of Ukraine. The subsequent economic sanctions have targeted large parts of the Russian economy, Russian oligarchs, and members of the Russian government. Russia responded in kind. A wave of protests and strikes occurred across Europe against the rising cost of living.
↑ Le Bélarus, l'Etat miraculé. (28 April 2019) - "Sur le plan des inégalités, selon le Programme des Nations unies pour le développement, le coefficient de Gini (qui est un indicateur de la répartition des revenus, 0 étant l'égalité parfaite et 1 ou 100 étant l'inégalité la plus extrême) du Bélarus est l'un des plus bas du continent: 27 (Alors qu'il est de 37,2 en Estonie, 34 en Italie, 31,8 en Pologne et 23,2 en Slovaquie... mais 25,6 en Islande)."
↑ Экономика Белорусии в Эпоху Империализма 1900-1917. Под редакцией Г. Ковалевского и др. Минск 1963, стр. 85-88, 413
↑ Wilson, Andrew (2011). Belarus: The Last European Dictatorship (Newed.). New Haven, London: Yale University Press. pp.237–239. ISBN978-0-300-25921-6.
↑ Nuti, D. (2000). "Belarus: A Command Economy without Central Planning". Russian & East European Finance and Trade. 36 (4). M.E. Sharpe: 45–79. ISSN1061-2009. JSTOR27749538.
↑ Massot, Pascale (2024). China's Vulnerability Paradox: How the World's Largest Consumer Transformed Global Commodity Markets. New York, NY, United States of America: Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-777140-2.
1 2 3 State Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus. (2011). "Tourism development indicators of Belarus". Land of Ancestors. National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
↑ State Border Committee and Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. (2011). "Main indicators of organizations engaged in tourist activities". Land of Ancestors. National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
↑ «Но посмотрите на своих сотрудников на предприятиях. У меня есть информация, что мерзавцев несколько там еще кое-где осталось, и они ставят перед собой цель проинформировать коллективный Запад о том, как Пархомчик с Назаровым пытаются обойти санкции. Шпионят фактически и сдают информацию туда... — Сядут, и надолго. Это я прямо говорю» = "But look on your employees at your enterprises. I have the information that several scoundrels are still there, and they set themselves the goal of informing the collective West about how Parkhomchik and Nazarov are trying to circumvent the sanctions. They actually spy and pass information there... They will go to prison for a long time. I am speaking directly."
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9,408,350 (1 January 2020) [3] 
25.2 low (2018) [8] 
$28.65 billion (2017 est.) [5] 
$39.92 billion (31 December 2017 est.) [5] 
