Lithuanians in Belarus

Lithuanians in Belarus (Lithuanian: Baltarusijos lietuviai; Belarusian: Беларускія літоўцы, Bielaruskija litoŭcy; Russian: Белорусские литовцы, Byelorusskiye litovtsy) have a long history, and the two groups were for many centuries part of the same country. As of the 2019 census, there were 5,287 ethnic Lithuanians in Belarus, making them 0.06% of the total population. Lithuanians are most significantly concentrated in Grodno and western Vitebsk Regions, which border Lithuania, but concentrations of Lithuanians can also be found in the eastern regions of Belarus.

Not to be confused with Belarusians in Lithuania.
Lithuanians in Belarus
Baltarusijos lietuviai
Total population
5,287 (2019, census)
Regions with significant populations
Grodno Region, Vitebsk Region
Languages
Lithuanian, Belarusian, Russian
Religion
Christianity (Roman Catholicism)
Related ethnic groups
Lithuanians

Current situation

Population

The population of Lithuanians in Belarus has steadily declined since it was first recorded in censuses in 1959.[1]

Year of census Population % of total population
1959 8,363 0.10%
1970 8,092 0.09%
1979 6,993 0.07%
1989 7,606 0.07%
1999 6,387 0.06%
2009 5,087 0.05%
2019 5,287 0.06%

Language

The usage of the Lithuanian language in Belarus has declined significantly from a peak in 1959. Originally at 77%, the number of Belarusians who considered Lithuanian their native language had declined to 52% by the 1999 census, and to 31% by the 2009 census. The Russian language (and, to an extent, the Belarusian language) have filled the gap to replace Lithuanian, with 39% of Lithuanians speaking Russian natively and 26% speaking Belarusian natively.[2]

Only 5% of Lithuanians in Belarus spoke the Lithuanian language at home according to the 2009 census, but a significant divide exists between rural and urban Lithuanian populations; roughly 13% of rural Belarusian Lithuanians use Lithuanian at home, versus only 2% of urban Belarusian Lithuanians. A plurality of the rural population (42%) uses the Belarusian language at home, while most of the urban population (79%) speaks Russian.[2]

References
  1. "Statistical Publications". National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  2. Gurko, Aleksandr (2012). Who Lives in Belarus (in Russian). Minsk: Belarusian Science. p. 799. ISBN 9789850812636.
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