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Belarus Population and Religion Percentage
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Belarus is the thirteenth-largest and the twentieth-most populous country in Europe. According to the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, As of January 1, 2024, Belarus had a total population of 9,155,978 (9.1 million), with 7.2 million living in urban areas and 1.96 million in rural regions.
The largest city, Minsk, had 1.99 million residents, followed by Gomel (501K), Vitebsk (358K), and Grodno (361K). The average population in 2023 was slightly higher at 9.18 million, reflecting minor demographic shifts.
| Belarus | Population 2024 |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 9,155,978 |
| Global Rank | 100 |
| Share of World Pop. | 0.12% |
| Land Area | 202,900 sq. km (78,300 sq. mi) |
| Area Rank | 84 |
| Pop. Density | 45 people/sq. km |
| Growth Rate | -0.25% |
| Fertility Rate | 1.23 |
| Infant Mortality Rate | 2.5 |
| Median Age | 41.3 |
| Life Expectancy | 74.6 |
| Urban Population | 78.6% |
Population by Regions
Belarus is divided into 6 regions (oblasts) and 1 capital city (Minsk).
| Rank | Region (Oblast) | Population | Urban Population | Rural Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minsk City | 1,992,862 | 1,992,862 | — |
| 2 | Minsk Region | 1,460,289 | 799,105 | 661,184 |
| 3 | Gomel Region | 1,338,617 | 1,044,886 | 293,731 |
| 4 | Brest Region | 1,308,569 | 945,604 | 362,965 |
| 5 | Vitebsk Region | 1,081,911 | 852,477 | 229,434 |
| 6 | Grodno Region | 992,556 | 768,898 | 223,658 |
| 7 | Mogilev Region | 981,174 | 794,453 | 186,721 |
| Total | Belarus | 9,155,978 | 7,198,285 | 1,957,693 |
Religion in Belarus
Christianity is the main religion in Belarus, with Eastern Orthodoxy being the largest denomination. 83.30% of the Belarusians are Orthodox Christians, 6.70% are Catholic Christians (either Roman Catholic or Belarusian Greek Catholic), and 1% are members of other Christians.
Other religions are in very few numbers and only make up 0.20% of the population. About 7.80% of the population are irreligious (atheists and agnostics). Some surveys put the irreligious population at a much higher percentage.
Religion percentage in Belarus (2020)
| Religion | Percent% |
| Christianity | |
| – Eastern Orthodoxy | – 83.30% |
| – Catholicism | – 6.70% |
| – Other Christians | – 1.00% |
| No religion | 7.80% |
| Other religions | 0.20% |
read about the Christian population in the World
Largest Cities in Belarus by Population
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minsk | 1,992,862 |
| 2 | Gomel | 501,102 |
| 3 | Grodno | 361,115 |
| 4 | Vitebsk | 358,395 |
| 5 | Mogilev | 353,110 |
| 6 | Brest | 344,470 |
| 7 | Bobruisk | 207,351 |
| 8 | Baranovichi | 171,361 |
| 9 | Borisov | 135,696 |
| 10 | Pinsk | 124,295 |
| 11 | Mozyr | 105,152 |
| 12 | Lida | 103,916 |
| 13 | Orsha | 102,759 |
| 14 | Soligorsk | 97,818 |
| 15 | Novopolotsk | 95,717 |
| 16 | Rechitsa | 65,213 |
| 17 | Zhodino | 63,744 |
| 18 | Svetlogorsk | 62,602 |
| 19 | Slutsk | 60,056 |
| 20 | Kobrin | 52,635 |
Source: National Statistical Committee 2024