Belarus today

Official name: Republic of Belarus

Government type: presidential republic

Area: 207,600 sq km

Border countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine.

Longest distance: 560 km (350 miles) from North to South, 650 km (350 miles) from West to East.

Population: 10.1 million people (1999)

Capital: Minsk 1.68 million people (2000)

Largest cities:

• Gomel – 506,600 people
• Mogilev – 368,200 people
• Vitebsk – 359,100 people
• Grodno – 301,000 people

Official languages: Belarusian and Russian

Religions:

• Orthodox Christian: 82.9%
• Roman Catholic: 3.8%
• Jewish:12.9%
• Other: 0.4%

Climate: cool and moist winters, warm summers; transitional between continental and maritime

National currency: Belarusian ruble

Local time: GMT+2

Terrain: flatland, covered with forest, landlocked