Russian population down by one third in Belarus, but Chinese people increased twentyfold

Striking results of the national composition of the population of Belarus have been released.

As “Salidarnasts” reports, the results of population census held in October 2009 the top ten of nationalities living in Belarus looks as follows:

1. Belarusians (83.7%)

2. Russians (8.3%)

3. Poles (3.1%)

4. Ukrainians (1.7%)

5. Jews (0.1%)

6. Armenians (0.1%)

7. Tatars (0.1%)

8. Roma (0.1%)

9. Azerbaijanis (0.1%)

10. Lithuanians (0.1%)

In comparison with the previous census in 1999, the share of Belarusians in the country’s total population increased by 2.5%, but their number fell by 200,000 persons. Only 7,957,252 country’s residents call themselves native-born Belarusians against 8,159,073 in 1999.

The share of Russians in Belarus has decreased by 3%, over ten years, which is 365,000 persons, or almost a third of the Russian ethnic group. The National Statistics Committee supposes it is caused both by the natural decline of the population and migration flow. So, a process of emigration to Russia goes on, in spite of repeated statements by Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who stated Russians had the best conditions in Belarus than anywhere, including Russia. But why are they leaving our oasis?

However, Russians are not alone. The number of Jews in Belarus has decreased 2.2-fold, Ukrainians – by one third, Roma people – by 29 per cent.

But the number of Chinese people who are residents of Belarus went up more than twentyfold, Arabs – 2.7-fold, Turkmen people ¬– 2.3-fold.