Belarus is a country in Europe, with about 9.09 million people (2025) and an area of 207,629 square kilometres. Its capital is Minsk, and it shares land borders with 5 countries.
By Team Geography·Last reviewed
Flag of BelarusBelarus in solid, land neighbours outlined, capital marked.
The app teaches each country through short hand written lenses: PLACE for physical geography, STORY for history and identity, NOW for the news, and THREAD for the ties between countries. Here is one of Belarus's 5, in full.
PLACELens 1 of 5
The flat crossroads between Russia and Poland
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The terrain is overwhelmingly flat, composed of glacial plains and the vast Pripyat Marshes in the south, one of Europe's largest wetland systems. The Dnieper River flows through the eastern part of the country toward Ukraine, while the Western Dvina crosses the north toward Latvia. This flat, open geography has made Belarus a corridor for invading armies throughout history, from Napoleon to the Wehrmacht.
More on Pripyat Marshes
The Pripyat Marshes cover roughly 39,000 square kilometers across southern Belarus and northwestern Ukraine, forming Europe's largest natural wetland. Known locally as "Polesye," the marshes historically made the region nearly impassable, influencing military strategy and keeping local communities isolated well into the twentieth century.
4 more lenses on Belarus in the app
STORY Europe's last primeval forest
NOW Authoritarian holdout in the heart of Europe
THREAD The buffer zone between NATO and Russia
STORY Chernobyl's forgotten neighbor
Titles only. The app brings each lens back on a spaced repetition schedule set by how well you knew it: New, Hazy or Clear.
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Common questions
What is the capital of Belarus?
The capital of Belarus is Minsk. Minsk lies at about 53.9 degrees north and 27.6 degrees east. Belarus is in Europe. It is home to about 9.09 million people. The world capitals quiz on this site tests every capital, and the printable capitals sheets cover each continent.
What is the population of Belarus?
About 9.09 million people live in Belarus, according to the World Bank figures for 2025. That makes it the 99th most populous of the 195 countries. With an area of 207,629 square kilometres, that is about 44 people per square kilometre.
What countries border Belarus?
Belarus shares land borders with 5 countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Ukraine. The map on this page outlines each of them around Belarus. The count includes only borders on land, not neighbours across a sea or a lake. Borders here follow Natural Earth at the 1:50 million scale, with Crimea shown as part of Ukraine and Western Sahara as a separate territory.
How big is Belarus?
Belarus covers 207,629 square kilometres, or about 80,166 square miles. That makes it the 84th largest of the 195 countries. The figure is total surface area, which includes inland water such as lakes and rivers. Its population of about 9.09 million gives a density of 44 people per square kilometre.
Belarus is a country in Europe, with about 9.09 million people (2025) and an area of 207,629 square kilometres. Its capital is Minsk, and it shares land borders with 5 countries.
Capital
Minsk
Continent
Europe
Population
9,085,991 2025, World Bank. 99th of 195.
Area
207,629 km² (80,166 sq mi) World Bank, surface area. 84th largest of 195.
Population density
44 people per km²
Land neighbours
5: Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine
Official name
Republic of Belarus
UN status
Member state
PLACE · from the Geography app
The flat crossroads between Russia and Poland
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The terrain is overwhelmingly flat, composed of glacial plains and the vast Pripyat Marshes in the south, one of Europe's largest wetland systems. The Dnieper River flows through the eastern part of the country toward Ukraine, while the Western Dvina crosses the north toward Latvia. This flat, open geography has made Belarus a corridor for invading armies throughout history, from Napoleon to the Wehrmacht.
Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/belarus/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
Geography · Country report
Belarus
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Colour Belarus on the map, then fill in what you find.
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Keep going on your iPhone. Scan for Geography: the world, one country at a time, about five minutes a day. No quizzes and no streaks. playgeography.app/countries/belarus/ · Map data: Natural Earth. Figures: World Bank and national sources, as listed on the page.
