Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Belarus: Minsk β€” Facts & 5-Question Quiz

The capital of Belarus is Minsk. Belarus sits in Europe, has a population of 9,534,954, and uses the BYN. Official languages include Belarusian, Russian.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Minsk
  • Continent: Europe
  • Population: ~9,534,954
  • Area: 207,600 kmΒ²
  • Population density: 45.9 people per kmΒ²
  • Official languages: Belarusian, Russian
  • Currency: BYN
  • ISO code: BY

How big is Belarus?

By population, Belarus ranks 96th in the world, holding roughly 0.12% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 84th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Belarus has 45.9 people per square kilometre, which is about 1.3 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Europe, Belarus is the 17th most populous country of 46.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Belarus in population are United Arab Emirates (9,441,129) and Tajikistan (9,952,787).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Guyana (214,969 kmΒ²) and Kyrgyzstan (199,951 kmΒ²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Belarusian is listed as an official language of Belarus alone, which is unusual β€” most official languages are shared across borders.

Belarus uses the BYN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Belarus

Minsk, the capital and largest city, stands on the Svislach River and was first mentioned in 1067. For the flag, look for the folk-art pattern down the left side.

The flag of Belarus: red, green and white

πŸ‡§πŸ‡Ύ The flag is a wide red stripe above a narrower green one, with a white vertical strip on the left decorated with a traditional red Belarusian pattern. Red stands for past struggles against oppression, and green for hope and the country's forests.

Region and neighbours

Belarus is a landlocked, mostly flat country in Eastern Europe, between Russia to the east and Poland to the west. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Belarus is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.

Three facts about Belarus

  1. About 40% of Belarus is covered by forest, and the country has about 11,000 lakes.
  2. Belarus is so flat that its highest point, Dzyarzhynskaya Hara, is only 345 m high.
  3. Belarus has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Mir Castle Complex and Nesvizh Castle.

Sources: Wikipedia: Belarus, Wikipedia: Flag of Belarus, Wikipedia: Minsk, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Belarus

Belarus capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Belarus πŸ‡§πŸ‡Ύ?

    • Vilnius
    • Bucharest
    • Minsk
    • Tirana
    Show answer

    Minsk

  2. What is the capital of Hungary πŸ‡­πŸ‡Ί?

    • Skopje
    • Bern
    • Budapest
    • Valletta
    Show answer

    Budapest

  3. What is the capital of Austria πŸ‡¦πŸ‡Ή?

    • ChiΘ™inΔƒu
    • Andorra la Vella
    • Vienna
    • Vatican City
    Show answer

    Vienna

  4. What is the capital of Portugal πŸ‡΅πŸ‡Ή?

    • Lisbon
    • Madrid
    • Sofia
    • Helsinki
    Show answer

    Lisbon

  5. What is the capital of Greece πŸ‡¬πŸ‡·?

    • Helsinki
    • San Marino
    • Belgrade
    • Athens
    Show answer

    Athens

Belarus in Europe

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.

If you are learning capitals region by region β€” far more effective than working alphabetically β€” Europe is the block Belarus belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Belarus.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Belarus?

The capital of Belarus is Minsk.

What is the population of Belarus?

About 9,534,954, making it the 96th most populous country in the world.

How big is Belarus?

207,600 square kilometres, ranking 84th by land area, at a density of 45.9 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Belarus use?

The BYN, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Belarus flag?

The flag of Belarus is a wide red stripe above a narrower green one, with a white vertical strip on the left decorated with a traditional red Belarusian pattern. Red stands for past struggles against oppression, and green for hope and the country's forests.

Which countries border Belarus?

Belarus shares land borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

How can I remember the capital of Belarus?

Minsk, the capital and largest city, stands on the Svislach River and was first mentioned in 1067. For the flag, look for the folk-art pattern down the left side.

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