Ethnicity: Belarusian 77.9%, Russian 13.2%, Polish 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.9%
Other (includes Jews, Tartars and Lithuanians) 1.9%.

Languages: The official languages are Belarusian and (since May 14, 1995) Russian
Each ethnic minority also has its own language.

Religions: Eastern Orthodox Christians 59%, Roman Catholic 38%
Other (includes Protestants, Jews, Moslems, other religious minorities and atheists) 3%.

Education: Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write

Age 25 or over and having attained:
• primary or no formal schooling 23.0%
• incomplete secondary 16.8%
• completed secondary 49.4%
• higher 10.8%

Demogaphics: Population: 10,415,973 (July 1996 est.) 67.6% Urban, 32.4% Rural
Average Density: 49.6 persons per sq km (127 persons per sq mi).

Sex Distribution: Overall: 47.0% male, 53.0% female.
Age Structure:
• 0-14 years: 21% (male 1,136,499; female 1,090,101)
• 15-64 years: 66% (male 3,334,077; female 3,536,982)
• 65 years and over: 13% (male 429,574; female 888,740) (July 1996 est.)