Belarus

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Belarus
Population: 9,380,000
Principal Languages: Russian
Literacy Rate: 100% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Belarus is 8. Of these, 7 are living and 1 is extinct. Of the living languages, 2 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 3 are developing, 2 are vigorous, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 6 unestablished languages.

Languages

Belarusian bel: Users: 3,510,000 in Belarus, all users. L1 users: 1,120,000 in Belarus (2020 census), decreasing. The majority of Belarusans speak Russian [rus] as their L1. L2 users: 2,390,000 (2020). Ethnic population: 7,990,000 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 3,923,450 (as L1: 1,533,450; as L2: 2,390,000). Status: 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (1994, Constitution, Article 17(1)), largely symbolic use. Alternate Names: Belarusan, Belorussian, Bielorussian, Byelorussian, White Russian, White Ruthenian Autonym: беларуская мова‎ (Biełaruskaja mova) Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
English eng: Users: 1,000,000 in Belarus (2020), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Erzya myv: Users: 2,600 in Belarus. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Mordvin
German, Standard deu: Users: 300,000 in Belarus (2020), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Korean kor: Users: 1,000 in Belarus (2012 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Koreanic
Latvian, Standard lvs: Users: 1,000 in Belarus. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Polish pol: Users: 4,510 in Belarus (2021 UNSD). Most Poles in Belarus speak Belarusan [bel] or Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 288,000 (2019 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Baltic rml: Gomel and Vitebsk regions; Minsk City. Users: 12,000 in Belarus (2015 L. Jouve). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Balt Romani, Balt Slavic Romani, Baltic Slavic Romani Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Russian rus: Users: 7,028,000 in Belarus, all users. L1 users: 6,720,000 in Belarus (2021 UNSD). Russian [rus] is spoken by most of the population in Belarus as their L1. L2 users: 308,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 707,000 (2019 census). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1998, Languages Act, Article 2(1)). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Scattered. Users: 28,000 in Belarus (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 19,000–38,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: RSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Sudovian xsv: Grodno region: Grodno district. Users: No known L1 speakers in Belarus. Last speaker died by the 1600s. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Jatvingian, Yatvingian, Yotvingian Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Western
Tatar tat: Users: 12,000 in Belarus. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 8,060 in Belarus (2021 UNSD). Most Ukrainians in Belarus speak Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 160,000 (2019 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Widespread. Users: 7,000 in Belarus (2017). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Russian

[rus] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1998, Languages Act, Article 2(1)). 7,028,000 in Belarus, all users. L1 users: 6,720,000 in Belarus (2021 UNSD). Russian [rus] is spoken by most of the population in Belarus as their L1. L2 users: 308,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 707,000 (2019 census).

5 (Dispersed)

English

[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 1,000,000 in Belarus (2020), L2 users.

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 300,000 in Belarus (2020), L2 users.

5 (Developing)

Romani, Baltic

[rml] 5* (Developing). 12,000 in Belarus (2015 L. Jouve).

6a (Vigorous)

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 6a (Vigorous). 28,000 in Belarus (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimated 19,000–38,000 deaf signers, assuming 0.2%–0.4% of total population.

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 6a* (Vigorous). 7,000 in Belarus (2017).

7 (Shifting)

Belarusian

[bel] 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of national identity (1994, Constitution, Article 17(1)), largely symbolic use. 3,510,000 in Belarus, all users. L1 users: 1,120,000 in Belarus (2020 census), decreasing. The majority of Belarusans speak Russian [rus] as their L1. L2 users: 2,390,000 (2020). Ethnic population: 7,990,000 (2019 census). Total users in all countries: 3,923,450 (as L1: 1,533,450; as L2: 2,390,000).

10 (Extinct)

Sudovian

[xsv] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers in Belarus. Last speaker died by the 1600s.

Unestablished

Erzya

[myv] Unestablished. 2,600 in Belarus.

Korean

[kor] Unestablished. 1,000 in Belarus (2012 census).

Latvian, Standard

[lvs] Unestablished. 1,000 in Belarus.

Polish

[pol] Unestablished. 4,510 in Belarus (2021 UNSD). Most Poles in Belarus speak Belarusan [bel] or Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 288,000 (2019 census).

Tatar

[tat] Unestablished. 12,000 in Belarus.

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 8,060 in Belarus (2021 UNSD). Most Ukrainians in Belarus speak Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 160,000 (2019 census).

Maps

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Belarus with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Belarus is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Belarus with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Belarus is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Belarus in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Belarus ($149.95, 20 page PDF)

Belarus

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action