Capital city: Minsk
Nationality: Belarusian
Population:10,322,151 (July 2003 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: Total population: 68.43 years; Male: 62.54 years; Female: 74.6 years (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups that make up the population: Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish, Ukrainian, and other 7.4%

Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

Languages: Belarusian, Russian, other

Literacy rate (Definition: age 15 and over can read and write): total population: 99.6%, Male: 99.8%, Female: 99.5% (2003 est.)

Legal system: Based on civil law system. President has greatly expanded powers.

Industries:Machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, fabrics, and consumer goods.

Agriculture: The basis of agricultural production of the Republic of Belarus is kolhkozes and sovkhozes. They are large mechanized, diversified and at the same time specialized units. They are holders of the main share of material resources. Products include grain, potatoes and other vegetables, meat, milk.

GDP: $90.19 billion (2002 est.)

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $8,700 (2002 est.)

Currency: Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)

School system: School education falls into three levels: primary (4 years), basic (9 years) and secondary (11 years). A child can be admitted to school at 6 or 7 years of age. Primary education is given in primary schools, 1-4 grades in secondary schools and 1-4 grades in gymnasiums. Basic education is compulsory for all children. It is provided in basic schools, 5-9 classes of secondary schools and 5-9 classes of gymnasiums. At the end of basic education, a Certificate of Basic Education is awarded. 9th grade graduates have three possibilities: 1) Third stage of school education (10-11th grades); 2) Vocational/technical establishments; 3) Technicums.

Family unit (role of women and children): Small families are the norm and connections between the generations are strong. Under Communism, it was customary for both parents in the family to work. Recently, with the scarcity of jobs in Belarus ’s troubled economy, some men have been encouraging women to stay at home.

Misc. interesting facts: Important components of the Belarus economy consist of such industrial activities as the manufacturing of agricultural machinery, fertilizers, textiles, electrical goods and glass.
Although the people of Belarus were taken over by Russia in the 18th century, they did not fall under their influence.

The highest point of Europe 's Pripet Marshes region is in Belarus.

After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR , Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place.

Handicrafts: Handicrafts include w ooden caskets, trinket boxes, straw items, decorative plates. Typical Russian souvenirs like the wooden matreshka dolls and original samovars are also part of handicraft materials.

References: CIA Fact book http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
World’s Flag Database: http://www.flags.net/