Geography
Area: 207,595 square kilometers

Situated to the north of Ukraine and east of Poland, landlocked with no coastline

Status
Republic since January 1, 1919 (sovereignty obtained August 2, 1990)

Government
Republic, with a President and Prime Minister

Capital: Minsk

Currency: Bielorussian ruble

Languages spoken
Bielorussian, Russian

Principal industries
minimal

Agriculture
typical of northern countries: particularly potatoes (8th largest producer in the world); barley and flax