Belarus  

Unemployment in Belarus is the lowest of all countries, at just 1.1%. However, inflation is high at 8%, ranking the country in the bottom quartile of the Index on this variable. Belarusian workers have a high physical capital stock per worker, which increases their productivity, and the domestic savings rate is about average at 27% of GDP. Less than 1% of Belarusian loans are non-performing, ninth in the international ranking, and the net interest margin between borrowers and lenders is about average at six percentage points, indicating limited overall efficiency and competition in the banking sector. Household expenditure is low in Belarus, pointing towards a limited domestic market. Rising prices of imports relative to exports mean that Belarus’s terms of trade are comparatively weak, and the percentage of foreign direct investment is also low at just 4%.

High barriers to entry in Belarus discourage entrepreneurship, with 16 start up procedures required to start a new business. Value added in the service industry is low at just 49% of GDP, indicating an economy still reliant on agriculture and manufacturing. Belarus has a moderate amount of internet bandwidth, and a very low number of internet servers, ranking the country in the bottom quartile worldwide. The level of ICT exports as a percentage of total exports is extremely low, as is the number of high-tech exports at 0.75% and 3% respectively. The number of personal computers per person is ranked in the lowest 10% of countries, at eight personal computers per 1,000 people. Although the amount spent on R&D is just 0.8% of GDP, Belarus ranks within the top 40 countries according to this variable. Further, royalty receipts are high, indicating the country is able to strongly capitalise on its intellectual property.

Belarus is an autocracy with very few democratic institutions and Belarusians have limited freedom to express their beliefs and engage in political processes. There are no checks and balances on the power of the executive, so ruling parties can take decision without fear of veto. There is some competition among political parties within the executive branch. However, electoral processes are far from free, open, or well regulated, especially in regards to executive appointments. There is no independent legislative branch within the Belarusian political system, and the judiciary is entirely dependent on the executive office. The country has thus far exhibited a low level of political stability, with less than 10 years since the last fundamental regime change.

Primary school enrolment rates are at 89%, ranking Belarus below the global average, but students who are enrolled benefit from a very high proportion of teachers to students. Retention rates are also high as enrolment rates at the secondary and tertiary level are both among the 30 highest, worldwide. There is also a high level of gender equality, with 101 girls for every 100 boys in primary and secondary education. The average Belarusian worker has 5.3 years of secondary education, while human capital as measured by tertiary education is also very high at 4.4 years per worker. Educational spending per head, despite being very low relative to the rest of Europe, is still well within the top third, globally, at $3,747 per student.

With 46 doctors per 10,000 people, Belarus has the second highest number of doctors per capita as well as high numbers of hospital beds per person. However, at just 61 years, health-adjusted life expectancy places Belarus below the global average on this variable. Undernourishment is not a significant problem at 4% and infant mortality is relatively low at 12 deaths per 1,000 births. A very high 93% of all citizens have access to improved sanitation facilities. Despite this, only 57% of respondents were satisfied with their overall health and just over half of Belarusians felt well rested, both variables ranking the country in the third lowest proportion worldwide.* In regards to water quality 60% of citizens were satisfied, and one in four reported physical pain the previous day, percentages that are comparatively average.*

Though crime rates are low, tensions between domestic groups pose a challenge to national security. Belarus has some security challenges related to refugees, social groups with a history of discrimination or other grievance, human flight, and state-sponsored violence and political imprisonment. Belarus reported no deaths due to civil conflict in 2007, and the homicide rate is below the global average at approximately nine deaths per 100,000 persons, per year. Crime, however, is minimal, with only 10% of respondents indicating that they had their property stolen, and only 2% reported having been mugged or assaulted during 2008.* Despite this, just over half feel safe walking the streets at night, a low number by international standards.*

In Belarus, the rule of law is often applied unequally. The quality of regulation with respect to investment and competition is very low. In addition, the policy and institutional framework of government is underdeveloped and ineffective and Belarus ranks within the bottom 10 countries with respect to these factors. Nonetheless, 84% of Belarusians have confidence in their military’s ability.* While citizens do have the right to self determination in the political process, this is limited to some degree.* Among Belarusian citizens, confidence in both the judicial system and the integrity of the electoral process is about average compared to international standards.* However, 70% of citizens think there is widespread corruption in both local businesses and government.*

Belarusian citizens do not have the freedom to practise their religious beliefs, speak freely without fear of government censorship, and travel freely within and out of their own country. Further, only twothirds of Belarusians are happy with their levels of freedom of choice.* However, the country is tolerant of ethnic minorities, with 78% seeing their neighbourhood as a good place for both immigrants and minorities to live.*

Only 24% of Belarusians have trust in their fellow citizens, which is in line with the global average.* Contrastingly, however, 90% of all citizens feel they can rely on their family and friends in times of need, placing Belarus in the top third worldwide for this measure.* Memberships of environmental, arts, religious, and sports groups are among the 15 lowest worldwide. Belarus is also one of the least religious countries, placing it in the bottom 15 nations surveyed and suggesting very limited access to religious support networks.* Only 8% of citizens donated to charity in the previous month, and 28% reported helping a stranger and volunteering.*

* Data taken from the Gallup World Poll

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