BY
Republic of Belarus
Belarus
Summary
Official Name
Republic of Belarus
International Conventions
CDE (1962), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2005), ICCPR (1973), UNCRPD (2016), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
9,408,000
Principal Languages
Russian
Literacy Rate
100% (2018 UNESCO)
General References
Campbell and King 2011
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Belarus is 7. All are living languages. Of these, 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 (2009 census), decreasing. The majority of Belarusans speak Russian [rus] as their L1. L2 users: 2,390,000 (2020). Ethnic population: 7,960,000 (2009 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: 4,220 in Belarus (2011 census). Most Poles in Belarus speak Belarusan [bel] or Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 295,000 (2009 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: 6,978,000 in Belarus, all users. L1 users: 6,670,000 in Belarus (2011 census). Russian [rus] is spoken by most of the population in Belarus as their L1. L2 users: 308,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 785,000 (2009 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
- Tatar tat
- Users: 12,000 in Belarus. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
- Ukrainian ukr
- Users: 6,300 in Belarus (2011 census). Most Ukrainians in Belarus speak Russian [rus] as their L1. Ethnic population: 159,000 (2009 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Yiddish, Eastern ydd
- Widespread. Users: 7,000 in Belarus (2017). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish
Languages by Status
Russian
[rus] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1998, Languages Act, Article 2(1)). 6,978,000 in Belarus, all users. L1 users: 6,670,000 in Belarus (2011 census). Russian [rus] is spoken by most of the population in Belarus as their L1. L2 users: 308,000 (Arefyev 2012). Ethnic population: 785,000 (2009 census).
Yiddish, Eastern
[ydd] 4 (Educational). 7,000 in Belarus (2017).
German, Standard
[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 300,000 in Belarus (2020), L2 users.
English
[eng] 5* (Dispersed). 1,000,000 in Belarus (2020), L2 users.
Romani, Baltic
[rml] 5* (Developing). 12,000 in Belarus (2015 L. Jouve).
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.
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 (2009 census), decreasing. The majority of Belarusans speak Russian [rus] as their L1. L2 users: 2,390,000 (2020). Ethnic population: 7,960,000 (2009 census). Total users in all countries: 3,923,450 (as L1: 1,533,450; as L2: 2,390,000).
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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