Belarus flag information
Description flag of Belarus
red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamentation in red
Related country flags
Related continent flag
Official country name
Republic of Belarus
Local names
Respublika Byelarus' (long)
Byelarus' (short)
Former name
Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Nationality
Belarusian(s) (noun) Byelarus' (adjective)
Languages spoken
Belarusian, Russian, other
Government type
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship
Population
9,685,768 ranked 86, (data 2008)
Geography
glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes. The lowest point is Nyoman River 90 m.
Land borders
3,306km, Latvia 171 km, Lithuania 680 km, Poland 605 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km.
Administrative divisions
6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk
administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers
Independence
25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)