At the top level of administration, Belarus is divided into six regions and one capital city. The six regions are oblasts (also known as voblastsi), while the city of Minsk has a special status as the capital of Belarus. Minsk also serves as the administrative center of Minsk Region.
| Regions of Belarus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | First-level subdivision of a unitary state |
| Location | Belarus |
| Created |
|
| Number | 6 regions 1 capital city |
| Populations | (Regions only): 981,174 (Mogilev) – 1,992,862 (Minsk) |
| Areas | (Provinces only): 25,118.1 km2 (9,698.14 sq mi) (Grodno) – 40,361.6 km2 (15,583.72 sq mi) (Gomel) |
| Government |
|
| Subdivisions |
|
At the second level, the regions are divided into districts (raions).
The layout and extent of the regions were set in 1960 when Belarus (then the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic) was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.
History
At the start of the 20th century, the boundaries of the Belarusian lands within the Russian Empire were still being defined. In 1900 it was contained within all of the Minsk and Mogilev governorates, most of Grodno Governorate, parts of Vitebsk Governorate, and parts of Vilna Governorate. World War I, the independence of Poland, as well as the 1920–1921 Polish–Soviet War affected the boundaries. In 1921, Belarus had what is now all of Minsk Governorate except for the western fringe, the western part of Gomel Region, a western slice of Mogilev, and a small part of Vitebsk Region. In 1926, the eastern part of Gomel region was added.
In the Byelorussian SSR, new administrative units, called oblasts or voblastsi (cognate of Russian word oblast with prothetic v-) were introduced in 1938. During World War II, Belarus gained territory to the west, with the Baranavichy, Belastok (Białystok), Brest, Pinsk, and Vileyka oblasts. In 1944, Belastok was eliminated and the new oblasts of Babruysk, Grodno, and Polotsk were created. At that same time, Vileika oblast was renamed Molodechno Oblast.
At different times between 1938 and 1960, the following oblasts existed:
- Babruysk Oblast, created 1944, eliminated 1954
- Baranavichy Oblast, created 1939, eliminated 1954
- Belastok Oblast, created 1939, eliminated 1944 (now Białystok in Poland)
- Brest Region, created 1939
- Gomel Oblast, created 1938
- Grodno Oblast, created 1944
- Maladzyechna Oblast renamed from Vileyka Oblast 1944, eliminated 1960
- Mogilev Oblast, created 1938
- Minsk Oblast, created 1938
- Navahrudak Oblast, created 1939, renamed Baranavichy Oblast December 1939
- Pinsk Oblast, created 1939, eliminated 1954
- Polatsk Oblast, created 1944, eliminated 1954
- Polesia Oblast, created 1938, eliminated 1954
- Vitebsk Oblast, created 1938
- Vileyka Oblast, created 1939, renamed to Maladzyechna Oblast 1944
Regions
| Flag | Region | Capital | Russian | Belarusian | Population (2024) | Area (km2) | Density | % of population | GDP | Average monthly gross wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | City of Minsk | Минск | Мінск | 1,992,862 | 305.50 | 6,606.48 | 21.44% | US$ 22.6 billion | US$ 953 | |
| 2 |  | Brest | Brest | Брестская | Брэсцкая | 1,308,569 | 32,790.68 | 41.11 | 14.32% | US$ 8.4 billion | US$ 639 |
| 3 |  | Gomel | Gomel | Гомельская | Гомельская | 1,338,617 | 40,361.66 | 34.40 | 14.75% | US$ 8.8 billion | US$ 643 |
| 4 |  | Grodno | Grodno | Гродненская | Гродзенская | 992,556 | 25,118.07 | 40.88 | 10.91% | US$ 8.1 billion | US$ 643 |
| 5 |  | Mogilev | Mogilev | Могилёвская | Магілёўская | 981,174 | 29,079.01 | 35.24 | 10.89% | US$ 5.7 billion | US$ 600 |
| 6 |  | Minsk | Minsk | Минская | Мінская | 1,460,289 | 39,912.35 | 36.86 | 15.63% | US$ 14.1 billion | US$ 720 |
| 7 |  | Vitebsk | Vitebsk | Витебская | Вiцебская | 1,081,911 | 40,049.99 | 28.36 | 12.06% | US$ 6.8 billion | US$ 602 |
| Belarus | Minsk | Беларусь | 9,155,978 | 207,617.26 | 45.34 | 100.00% | US$ 74.5 billion | US$ 714 | |||
Historical division
See also
- ISO 3166-2:BY, the ISO codes of the oblasts of Belarus.
- List of regions of Belarus by Human Development Index
References
- Belarus Regions
- Minsk summary, at the website of the Belarus embassy in Russia.
- "Regions of Belarus". Statoids.
- "Belarus: Government and society". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
- [1]
- "Gross domestic product and gross regional product by regions and Minsk city in 2023". www.belstat.gov.by.
- "Nominal gross average earnings in the Republic of Belarus". www.belstat.gov.by.
External links
- Interactive map of Belarus
- Regions (oblasts) of Belarus, The official President's website
- Geography of Belarus, The official website of Belarus
- Belarusian regions, towns and villages
- Current Status of United Nations Romanization Systems for Geographical Names of Belarus
At the top level of administration Belarus is divided into six regions and one capital city The six regions are oblasts also known as voblastsi while the city of Minsk has a special status as the capital of Belarus Minsk also serves as the administrative center of Minsk Region Regions of BelarusCategoryFirst level subdivision of a unitary stateLocationBelarusCreated1960Number6 regions 1 capital cityPopulations Regions only 981 174 Mogilev 1 992 862 Minsk Areas Provinces only 25 118 1 km2 9 698 14 sq mi Grodno 40 361 6 km2 15 583 72 sq mi Gomel GovernmentProvince governmentSubdivisionsRaion At the second level the regions are divided into districts raions The layout and extent of the regions were set in 1960 when Belarus then the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union HistoryAt the start of the 20th century the boundaries of the Belarusian lands within the Russian Empire were still being defined In 1900 it was contained within all of the Minsk and Mogilev governorates most of Grodno Governorate parts of Vitebsk Governorate and parts of Vilna Governorate World War I the independence of Poland as well as the 1920 1921 Polish Soviet War affected the boundaries In 1921 Belarus had what is now all of Minsk Governorate except for the western fringe the western part of Gomel Region a western slice of Mogilev and a small part of Vitebsk Region In 1926 the eastern part of Gomel region was added In the Byelorussian SSR new administrative units called oblasts or voblastsi cognate of Russian word oblast with prothetic v were introduced in 1938 During World War II Belarus gained territory to the west with the Baranavichy Belastok Bialystok Brest Pinsk and Vileyka oblasts In 1944 Belastok was eliminated and the new oblasts of Babruysk Grodno and Polotsk were created At that same time Vileika oblast was renamed Molodechno Oblast At different times between 1938 and 1960 the following oblasts existed Babruysk Oblast created 1944 eliminated 1954 Baranavichy Oblast created 1939 eliminated 1954 Belastok Oblast created 1939 eliminated 1944 now Bialystok in Poland Brest Region created 1939 Gomel Oblast created 1938 Grodno Oblast created 1944 Maladzyechna Oblast renamed from Vileyka Oblast 1944 eliminated 1960 Mogilev Oblast created 1938 Minsk Oblast created 1938 Navahrudak Oblast created 1939 renamed Baranavichy Oblast December 1939 Pinsk Oblast created 1939 eliminated 1954 Polatsk Oblast created 1944 eliminated 1954 Polesia Oblast created 1938 eliminated 1954 Vitebsk Oblast created 1938 Vileyka Oblast created 1939 renamed to Maladzyechna Oblast 1944RegionsRegions of Belarus Flag Region Capital Russian Belarusian Population 2024 Area km2 Density of population GDP Average monthly gross wage1 City of Minsk Minsk Minsk 1 992 862 305 50 6 606 48 21 44 US 22 6 billion US 9532 Brest Brest Brestskaya Bresckaya 1 308 569 32 790 68 41 11 14 32 US 8 4 billion US 6393 Gomel Gomel Gomelskaya Gomelskaya 1 338 617 40 361 66 34 40 14 75 US 8 8 billion US 6434 Grodno Grodno Grodnenskaya Grodzenskaya 992 556 25 118 07 40 88 10 91 US 8 1 billion US 6435 Mogilev Mogilev Mogilyovskaya Magilyoyskaya 981 174 29 079 01 35 24 10 89 US 5 7 billion US 6006 Minsk Minsk Minskaya Minskaya 1 460 289 39 912 35 36 86 15 63 US 14 1 billion US 7207 Vitebsk Vitebsk Vitebskaya Vicebskaya 1 081 911 40 049 99 28 36 12 06 US 6 8 billion US 602Belarus Minsk Belarus 9 155 978 207 617 26 45 34 100 00 US 74 5 billion US 714Historical divisionAdministrative division of Byelorussian SSR by year19261927194019451955See alsoISO 3166 2 BY the ISO codes of the oblasts of Belarus List of regions of Belarus by Human Development IndexReferencesBelarus Regions Minsk summary at the website of the Belarus embassy in Russia Regions of Belarus Statoids Belarus Government and society Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 6 August 2023 1 Gross domestic product and gross regional product by regions and Minsk city in 2023 www belstat gov by Nominal gross average earnings in the Republic of Belarus www belstat gov by External linksInteractive map of Belarus Regions oblasts of Belarus The official President s website Geography of Belarus The official website of Belarus Belarusian regions towns and villages Current Status of United Nations Romanization Systems for Geographical Names of Belarus
