11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)
Religions
Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages
Belarusian, Russian, other
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Exports
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)
External Debt
$33,730,000,000 $
$31,030,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Belarusian rubles (BYB/BYR) per US dollar - 2,130 (2008 est.), 2,145 (2007), 2,144.6 (2006), 2,150 (2005), 2,160.26 (2004)
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.3251 (2008 est.), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.400%
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
19
5
Location
Eastern Europe, east of Poland
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Area
207,600 km sq
65,300 km sq
Coastline
0 km
90 km
Climate
cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
