| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | BYISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | BLRISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | MinskGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | EuropeGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | BelarusCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Republic of BelarusCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | Byelarus' (Belarusian)/ Belarus' (Russian)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | the name is a compound of the Slavic words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White RuthenianCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | presidential republic in name, although in fact a dictatorshipCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note: 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet UnionCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | Alyaksandr LUKASHENKA (Pres.)CIA World Leaders [2025] |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | BYNISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | Belarusian RubleISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 7ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | Bresckaja voblasć / Homieĺskaja voblasć / Horad Minsk / Hrodzienskaja voblasć / Mahilioŭskaja voblasć / Minskaja voblasć / Viciebskaja voblasćISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | "Research completed May 1995." Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-223) and index. Also available in digital form.LoC FRD Country Studies [2026] |
| National symbols | no official symbol; the mounted knight known as Pahonia (the Chaser) is the traditional symbolCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "My, Bielarusy" (We Belarusians); lyrics/music: Mikhas KLIMKOVICH and Uladzimir KARYZNA/Nester SAKALOUSKI; history: music adopted 1955, lyrics adopted 2002; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Belarus kept the music of its Soviet-era anthem but adopted new lyrics; also known as "Dziarzauny himn Respubliki Bielarus" (State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | green, red, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: no; citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus; dual citizenship recognized: no; residency requirement for naturalization: 7 yearsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
the name is a compound of the Slavic words "bel" (white) and "Rus" (the Old East Slavic ethnic designation) to form the meaning White Rusian or White Ruthenian
description: red horizontal band (top), with a green horizontal band below that is half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the left side has traditional Belarusian designs in red meaning: the red stands for past struggles to escape oppression, and the green for hope and the country's forests
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
