Editing Belarusians

{{Short description|East Slavic ethnic group}}
{{Too short|date=August 2023}}
{{expand Belarusian|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Belarusians
| native_name      = {{langx|be|Беларусы}}
| native_name_lang = be
| pop              = c. 9 million
| image            = File:Map of the Belarusian Diaspora in the World.svg
| caption          = 
| popplace         = '''{{flag|Belarus}}{{nbsp|2}} 7.99 million'''<ref name="2019census">{{cite web|url=http://www.belstat.gov.by/en/perepis-naseleniya/perepis-naseleniya-2009-goda/main-demographic-and-social-characteristics-of-population-of-the-republic-of-belarus/changes-in-the-populations-of-the-majority-ethnic-groups/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728160107/http://www.belstat.gov.by/en/perepis-naseleniya/perepis-naseleniya-2009-goda/main-demographic-and-social-characteristics-of-population-of-the-republic-of-belarus/changes-in-the-populations-of-the-majority-ethnic-groups/|archive-date=28 July 2016 |title=Changes in the populations of the majority ethnic groups |website=belstat.gov.by|access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{cite web|title=Demographic situation in 2015|url=http://belstat.gov.by/en/ofitsialnaya-statistika/otrasli-statistiki/naselenie/demografiya_2/current-data/demographic-situation/demographic-situation-in-2015/|publisher=Belarus Statistical Office|date=27 January 2016|access-date=27 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203093043/http://belstat.gov.by/en/ofitsialnaya-statistika/otrasli-statistiki/naselenie/demografiya_2/current-data/demographic-situation/demographic-situation-in-2015/|archive-date=3 February 2016}}</ref>
| region1          = {{flag|United States}}<br>{{small|(Belarusian ancestry)}}
| pop1             = 155,000<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=https://joshuaproject.net/countries/US|title=Country: United States: Belarusians|work=Joshua Project|date=2016|access-date=23 May 2016|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082826/https://joshuaproject.net/countries/US|url-status=live}}</ref>
600,000<ref name="auto2">{{cite book |title=Belarus at the Crossroads |isbn=978-0-87-003172-4|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] |year=1999|author=Garnett, Sherman W.}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.everyculture.com/multi/A-Br/Belarusan|encyclopedia=World Culture Encyclopedia|title=Belarusan americans|first=Vituat|last=Kipel|access-date=July 28, 2016}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| region2          = {{flag|Russia}}
| pop2             = 521,443 {{small|(2010)}}<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_etn_10.php|title=All-Russian population census 2010 population by nationality, sex and subjects of the Russian Federation|access-date=July 28, 2016|work=Demoscope Weekly|language=ru|archive-date=December 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228031909/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_etn_10.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region3          = {{flag|Ukraine}}
| pop3             = 275,763 {{small|(2001)}}<ref name="Національний склад населення">{{cite web|url=http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/results/general/nationality/|title=Всеукраїнський перепис населення 2001 - Результати - Основні підсумки - Національний склад населення|website=2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua|access-date=2 August 2017|archive-date=2 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102074706/http://2001.ukrcensus.gov.ua/results/general/nationality/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region4          = {{flag|Poland}}
| pop4             = 170,000 {{small|(2020)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stat.gov.pl/statystyki-eksperymentalne/kapital-ludzki/populacja-cudzoziemcow-w-polsce-w-czasie-covid-19,12,1.html|title=Populacja cudzoziemców w Polsce w czasie COVID-19|access-date=2022-01-20|archive-date=2022-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120135627/https://stat.gov.pl/statystyki-eksperymentalne/kapital-ludzki/populacja-cudzoziemcow-w-polsce-w-czasie-covid-19,12,1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region5          = {{flag|Latvia}}
| pop5             = 55,929–60,445 {{small|(2023)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/table/tableViewLayout1/|title=Population by ethnicity at the beginning of year – Time period and Ethnicity &#124; National Statistical System of Latvia|website=data.stat.gov.lv|access-date=2023-06-10|archive-date=2023-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811144926/https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/media/9756/download?attachment|title=Latvijas iedzīvotāju sadalījums pēc nacionālā sastāva un valstiskās piederības, 01.01.2023. - PMLP|access-date=2023-06-10|archive-date=2023-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610222723/https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/media/9756/download?attachment|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region6          = {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
| pop6             = 66,476 {{small|(2010)}}<ref name="KazakhstanCensus2009">{{cite web |script-title=ru:Перепись населения Республики Казахстан 2009 года. Краткие итоги. (Census for the Republic of Kazakhstan 2009. Short Summary) |url=http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8C%20%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81.pdf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191219215005/http://www.stat.kz/p_perepis/Documents/%D0%9F%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8C%20%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81.pdf |archive-date=19 December 2019 |publisher=Republic of Kazakhstan Statistical Agency |access-date=10 December 2010 |language=ru |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| region7          = {{Flaglist|Germany}}
| pop7             = 61,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Tabellen/migrationshintergrund-staatsangehoerigkeit-staaten.html|title=Bevölkerung in Privathaushalten nach Migrationshintergrund im weiteren Sinn nach ausgewählten Geburtsstaaten|website=Statistisches Bundesamt|access-date=2022-03-14|archive-date=2022-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531100141/https://www.destatis.de/DE/Themen/Gesellschaft-Umwelt/Bevoelkerung/Migration-Integration/Tabellen/migrationshintergrund-staatsangehoerigkeit-staaten.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region8          = {{flag|Lithuania}}
| pop8             = 31,000<ref>{{cite web |url=http://db1.stat.gov.lt/statbank/selectvarval/saveselections.asp?MainTable=M3010215&PLanguage=0&TableStyle=&Buttons=&PXSId=3236&IQY=&TC=&ST=ST&rvar0=&rvar1=&rvar2=&rvar3=&rvar4=&rvar5=&rvar6=&rvar7=&rvar8=&rvar9=&rvar10=&rvar11=&rvar12=&rvar13=&rvar14= |title=Gyventojų skaičius metų pradžioje. Požymiai: Tautybė - Rodiklių duomenų bazėje |access-date=2011-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906042802/http://db1.stat.gov.lt/statbank/selectvarval/saveselections.asp?MainTable=M3010215&PLanguage=0&TableStyle=&Buttons=&PXSId=3236&IQY=&TC=&ST=ST&rvar0=&rvar1=&rvar2=&rvar3=&rvar4=&rvar5=&rvar6=&rvar7=&rvar8=&rvar9=&rvar10=&rvar11=&rvar12=&rvar13=&rvar14= |archive-date=2012-09-06 }}</ref>
| region9          = {{flag|Czech Republic}}
| pop9             = 31,000<ref name="belarustime">{{cite web|work=Belarus Time|language=be|title=Как живешь, белорусская диаспора?|url=http://www.belarustime.ru/belarus/culture/diaspore/c6420f28d9870602.html|date=March 13, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313031154/http://www.belarustime.ru/belarus/culture/diaspore/c6420f28d9870602.html|archive-date=March 13, 2012}}</ref>
| region10         = {{flag|Moldova}}
| pop10            = 20,000<ref name=belarustime/>
| region11         = {{flag|Canada}}
| pop11            = 15,565<ref name="Statistics Canada">{{cite web|title=Ethnic Origin (264), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey|url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=0&PID=105396&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=|website=12.statcan.gc.ca|date=8 May 2013|access-date=2017-08-02|archive-date=2018-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224183256/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=0&GK=0&GRP=0&PID=105396&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region12         = {{flag|Brazil}}
| pop12            = 12,100<ref name=belarustime/>
| region13         = {{flag|Estonia}}
| pop13            = 11,828 {{small|(2017)}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.ee/34267|title=Rahvaarv rahvuse järgi, 1. jaanuar, aasta - Eesti Statistika|website=Stat.ee|access-date=2 August 2017|archive-date=4 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104172617/http://www.stat.ee/34267|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| region15         = {{flag|Italy}}
| pop15            = 8,529<ref name=belarustime/>
| region16         = {{flag|France}}
| pop16            = 7,500<ref name=belarustime/>
| region17         = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| pop17            = 7,000<ref name=belarustime/>
| region18         = {{flag|Uruguay}}
| pop18            = 7,000<ref name="belarustime"/>
| region19         = {{flag|Spain}}
| pop19            = 5,828<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=/t20/e245/p08/l0/&file=03005.px|title=Población extranjera por Nacionalidad, provincias, Sexo y Año|access-date=2021-04-12|archive-date=2021-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302180322/https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=/t20/e245/p08/l0/&file=03005.px|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region20         = {{flag|Sweden}}
| pop20            = 2,833<ref name="Statistics Sweden">{{cite web|format=XLS|title=Utrikes födda efter födelseland och invandringsår|trans-title=Foreign-born by country of birth and year of immigration|language=sv|url=http://www.scb.se/sv_/Hitta-statistik/Statistik-efter-amne/Befolkning/Befolkningens-sammansattning/Befolkningsstatistik/25788/25795/Helarsstatistik---Riket/385479/|work=Statistics Sweden|date=31 December 2015|access-date=23 October 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
| region21         = {{flag|Norway}}
| pop21            = 2,015<ref name="Statistics Norway">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/list/innvbef|title=Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents}}</ref>
| region22         = {{flag|Turkmenistan}}
| pop22            = 2,000
| region23         = {{flag|Belgium}}
| pop23            = 2,000<ref name=belarustime/>
| region24         = {{flag|Australia}}
| pop24            = 1,560 {{small|(2006)}}<ref name="ABS Ancestry">{{cite web |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?breadcrumb=POLTD&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&subaction=-1&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&documentproductno=0&textversion=false&documenttype=Details&collection=Census&javascript=true&topic=Ancestry&action=404&productlabel=Ancestry%20(full%20classification%20list)%20by%20Sex&order=1&period=2006&tabname=Details&areacode=0&navmapdisplayed=true& |title=20680-Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex - Australia |format=Microsoft Excel download |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |work=2006 Census |access-date=2008-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310121707/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/download?format=xls&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Ancestry%20%28full%20classification%20list%29%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&areacode=0 |archive-date=March 10, 2008 }}</ref>
| region25         = {{flag|Greece}}
| pop25            = 1,168<ref>{{cite web |title=Usually resident population by citizenship and age on 1 January - Both sexes |url=http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/A1605/Other/A1605_SPO15_TB_AN_00_2006_07_F_EN.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605162741/http://www.statistics.gr/portal/page/portal/ESYE/BUCKET/A1605/Other/A1605_SPO15_TB_AN_00_2006_07_F_EN.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2011|date=5 June 2011}}</ref>
| region26         = {{flag|Portugal}}
| pop26            = 1,002 {{small|(2009)}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sefstat.sef.pt/Docs/Distritos_2009.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826235116/http://sefstat.sef.pt/Docs/Distritos_2009.pdf |archive-date=2011-08-26 |url-status=live |title=POPULAÇÃO ESTRANGEIRA RESIDENTE EM TERRITÓRIO NACIONAL - 2009|work=Statistics Portugal|language=pt |access-date=July 28, 2016|date=January 1, 2011}}</ref>
| region27         = {{Flag|Bulgaria}}
| pop27            = 1,000
| region28         = {{Flag|Netherlands}}
| pop28            = 973 ({{small|2016}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLEN&PA=03743eng&D1=0&D2=0&D3=25&D4=14,18-20&LA=EN&VW=T|title=CBS StatLine - Population; sex, age and nationality, 1 January|website=Statline.cbs.nl|access-date=2 August 2017|archive-date=2 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802205959/http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLEN&PA=03743eng&D1=0&D2=0&D3=25&D4=14,18-20&LA=EN&VW=T|url-status=live}}</ref>
| region29         = {{flag|Slovakia}}
| pop29            = c. 500 {{small|2021}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=There are more and more economic migrants from Belarus in Central Europe |url=https://www.sav.sk/?lang=en&doc=services-news&source_no=73&news_no=9506 |url-status=live |access-date=25 April 2025 |website=[[Slovak Academy of Sciences]]}}</ref>
| region30         = {{flag|Austria}}
| pop30            = below 500<ref name=belarustime/>
| langs            = {{ubl|[[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] (historical and native)|[[Russian language|Russian]] (dominant)}}
| rels             = [[Belarusian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] (majority), [[Roman Catholicism in Belarus|Roman Catholicism]], [[Belarusian Greek Catholic Church|Belarusian Greek Catholicism]], [[Irreligion]] (minority)
| related          = Other [[East Slavs]]<br>([[Poleshuks]], [[Podlashuks]], [[Russians]], [[Ukrainians]]) and [[Polish people|Poles]].
}} 

'''Belarusians''' ({{langx|be|беларусы|biełarusy}} {{IPA|be|bʲeɫaˈrusɨ|}}) are an [[East Slavs|East Slavic]] [[ethnic group]] native to [[Belarus]]. They natively speak [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]], an [[East Slavic language]]. More than 9&nbsp;million people proclaim Belarusian ethnicity worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Belarusian Diaspora Awakens {{!}} German Marshall Fund of the United States |url=https://www.gmfus.org/news/belarusian-diaspora-awakens |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=www.gmfus.org |language=en |archive-date=2023-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811144922/https://www.gmfus.org/news/belarusian-diaspora-awakens |url-status=live }}</ref> Nearly 7.99&nbsp;million Belarusians reside in Belarus,<ref name="2019census"/><ref name="auto4"/> with the [[United States]]<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto3"/> and [[Russia]]<ref name="auto"/> being home to more than 500,000 Belarusians each. The majority of Belarusians adhere to [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].

==Name==
During the Soviet era, Belarusians were referred to as ''Byelorussians'' or ''Belorussians'' (from [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic|Byelorussia]], derived from Russian "Белоруссия"). Before, they were typically known as ''White Russians'' or ''White Ruthenians'' (from White Russia or White Ruthenia, based on "Белая Русь"). Upon Belarusian independence in 1991, they became known as ''Belarusians'' (from [[Belarus]], derived from "Беларусь"), sometimes spelled as ''Belarusans'',<ref name="Як нас заве сьвет — «Беларашэн» ці Belarus(i)an?">{{cite web|url=https://www.svaboda.org/a/27189235.html/|title="Як нас заве сьвет — "Беларашэн" ці Belarus(i)an?"|website=www.svaboda.org|access-date=2016-07-28|archive-date=2016-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728025339/http://www.svaboda.org/a/27189235.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Belarussians''<ref name=":0" /> or ''Belorusians''.<ref name=":0" />

The term ''[[White Ruthenia|White Rus']]'' ({{Langx|be|Белая Русь|translit=Bielaja Ruś|label=none}}), also known as ''White Ruthenia'' or ''White Russia'' (as the term ''Rus' '' is often conflated with its Latin forms ''Russia'' and ''Ruthenia''), was first used in the [[Middle Ages]] to refer to the area of [[Principality of Polotsk|Polotsk]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Kovalenya |first=A. A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UDIVEAAAQBAJ |title=Belarus: pages of history |date=2022-05-15 |publisher=Litres |isbn=978-5-04-162594-8 |pages=20–21 |language=en |access-date=2023-03-21 |archive-date=2023-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519093808/https://books.google.com/books?id=UDIVEAAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The name ''Rus' '' itself is derived from the [[Rus' people]] which gave the name to the territories of [[Kievan Rus']].<ref>{{cite book|title=Viking Rus|last=Duczko|first=Wladyslaw|year=2004|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|isbn=978-90-04-13874-2|pages=10–11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hEawXSP4AVwC&pg=PA10|access-date=29 June 2021|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414014750/https://books.google.com/books?id=hEawXSP4AVwC&pg=PA10|url-status=live}}</ref> The chronicles of [[Jan of Czarnków]] mention the imprisonment of Lithuanian grand duke [[Jogaila]] and his mother at "{{lang|la|Albae Russiae, Poloczk dicto}}" in 1381.<ref name="vauchez">{{Harvnb|Vauchez|Dobson|Lapidge|2001|p=163}}</ref> During the 17th century, the Russian [[tsar]]s used the term to describe the lands added from the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Plokhy|2001|p=327}}</ref> However, during the [[Russian Civil War]], the term ''White Russian'' became associated with the [[White movement]].<ref name=":0" />

==Geographic distribution==
{{See also|Belarusian diaspora}}

Belarusians are an East Slavic ethnic group, who constitute the majority of Belarus' population.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Cole|first=Jeffrey E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M9fDifnkMJMC|title=Ethnic Groups of Europe: An Encyclopedia: An Encyclopedia|date=2011-05-25|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-303-3|pages=43|access-date=2023-03-21|archive-date=2023-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116024419/https://books.google.com/books?id=M9fDifnkMJMC|url-status=live}}</ref> Belarusian minority populations live in countries neighboring Belarus: Ukraine, Poland (especially in the [[Podlaskie Voivodeship]]), the Russian Federation and Lithuania.<ref name=":0" /> At the beginning of the 20th century, Belarusians constituted a minority in the regions around the city of [[Smolensk]] in Russia.

Significant numbers of Belarusians emigrated to the United States, Brazil and Canada in the early 20th century. During Soviet times (1917–1991), many Belarusians were [[Population transfer in the Soviet Union|deported or migrated]] to various regions of the USSR, including [[Siberia]], Kazakhstan and Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belarus: Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union - EuroDocs |url=https://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Belarus:_Russian_Revolution_and_the_Soviet_Union |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=eudocs.lib.byu.edu |archive-date=2023-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115181756/https://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Belarus:_Russian_Revolution_and_the_Soviet_Union |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the 1991 breakup of the [[USSR]], several hundred thousand Belarusians have emigrated to the [[Baltic states]], the United States, Canada, Russia, and [[European Union|EU countries]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heleniak |first=Timothy |date=2002-10-01 |title=Migration Dilemmas Haunt Post-Soviet Russia |url=https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/migration-dilemmas-haunt-post-soviet-russia |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=migrationpolicy.org |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708090202/https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/migration-dilemmas-haunt-post-soviet-russia |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Languages==
The two official languages of Belarus are [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]] and [[Russian language|Russian]]. Russian was made co-official with Belarusian after the [[1995 Belarusian referendum]], which also established that the [[Flag of Belarus|flag]] (with the [[hammer and sickle]] removed), [[My Belarusy|anthem]], and [[National emblem of Belarus|coat of arms]] would be those of the [[BSSR]]. The [[OSCE Parliamentary Assembly]] stated that the referendum violated international standards. Members of the opposition claimed that the organization of the referendum involved several serious violations of legislation, including a violation of the constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bielarus.net/archives/2009/06/04/1615 |title=› Беларуская Салідарнасьць » Сяргей Навумчык: Парушэньні ў часе рэфэрэндуму - 1995 |website=Bielarus.net |date= |accessdate=2017-01-10 |archive-date=2020-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016201638/http://www.bielarus.net/archives/2009/06/04/1615 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Genetics==
{{Further|Genetic history of Europe}}
Belarusians, like most Europeans, largely descend from three distinct lineages:<ref name="Indo-European"/> Mesolithic [[hunter-gatherer]]s, descended from a [[Early European modern humans|Cro-Magnon]] population that arrived in Europe about 45,000 years ago;<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Curry |title=The first Europeans weren't who you might think |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/first-europeans-immigrants-genetic-testing-feature |work=National Geographic |date=August 2019 |access-date=2023-03-05 |archive-date=2023-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306235330/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/first-europeans-immigrants-genetic-testing-feature |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Early European Farmers|Neolithic farmers]] who migrated from Asia Minor during the [[Neolithic Revolution]] 9,000 years ago;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gibbons |first1=Ann |title=Thousands of horsemen may have swept into Bronze Age Europe, transforming the local population |journal=Science |date=21 February 2017 |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/thousands-horsemen-may-have-swept-bronze-age-europe-transforming-local-population |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925154535/https://www.science.org/content/article/thousands-horsemen-may-have-swept-bronze-age-europe-transforming-local-population |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Yamnaya culture|Yamnaya]] [[Western Steppe Herders|steppe pastoralists]] who expanded into Europe from the [[Pontic–Caspian steppe]] in the context of [[Indo-European migrations]] 5,000 years ago.<ref name="Indo-European">{{Cite journal|last1=Haak |first1=Wolfgang |last2=Lazaridis |first2=Iosif |last3=Patterson |first3=Nick |last4=Rohland |first4=Nadin |last5=Mallick |first5=Swapan |last6=Llamas |first6=Bastien |last7=Brandt |first7=Guido |last8=Nordenfelt |first8=Susanne |last9=Harney |first9=Eadaoin |last10=Stewardson |first10=Kristin |last11=Fu |first11=Qiaomei |date=11 June 2015 |title=Massive migration from the steppe was a source for Indo-European languages in Europe |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=522 |issue=7555 |pages=207–211 |doi=10.1038/nature14317 |issn=0028-0836 |pmc=5048219 |pmid=25731166 |bibcode=2015Natur.522..207H |arxiv=1502.02783}}</ref>

==History==
=== The Neolithic and the Bronze Age ===
{{Seealso|Comb Ceramic culture}}
In the Neolithic most of present-day Belarus was inhabited by Finno-Ugrians. Indo-European population appeared in the Bronze Age.<ref>История Беларуси. С древнейших времен до 2012 г. / под ред. Е. К. Новика. — 3-е изд. — Минск: Вышэйшая школа, 2012. — С. 12, 13, 20. — 542 с.</ref><ref>Гісторыя Беларусі: У 2 ч. Частка 1. Са старажытных часоў да канца XVIII ст. / І. П. Крэнь і інш. — Мінск: РІВШ БДУ, 2000. — С. 303—304. — 656 с.</ref>

=== Early Middle Ages ===
[[File:Slavic tribes in the 7th to 9th century.svg|thumb|Slavic tribes in the 7th-9th century]]In the [[Iron Age]], the south of present-day Belarus was inhabited by tribes belonging to the [[Milograd culture]] (7th–3rd century BC) and later [[Zarubintsy culture]]. Some considered them to be Balts.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=54}} Since the beginning of [[Common Era|common era]], these lands were penetrated by the Slavs, a process that intensified during the [[Migration Period|migration period]] (4th century).{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=54}} A peculiar symbiosis of Baltic and Slavic cultures took place in the area, but it was not a fully peaceful process, as evidenced by numerous fires in Balts' settlements in the 7th-8th centuries.{{Sfn|Pankowicz|2004|p=90}} According to Russian archaeologist {{Ill|Valentin Sedov|ru|Седов, Валентин Васильевич}}, it was intensive contacts with the Balts that contributed to the distinctiveness of the Belarusian tribes from the other [[East Slavs|Eastern Slavs]].{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=55}}

The Baltic population gradually [[Slavicisation|became Slavic]], undergoing assimilation, a process that for eastern and central Belarus ended around the 12th century.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=55}} Belarusian lands in the 8th-9th centuries were inhabited by 3 tribal unions: the [[Krivichs]], [[Dregoviches]] and [[Radimichs]]. Of these, the Krivichs played the most important role; [[Polotsk]], founded by them, was the most important cultural and political center during this period. The principalities formed at that time on the territory of Belarus were part of [[Kievan Rus']]. The process of the beginning of the East Slavic linguistic community and the separation of Belarusian dialects slowly took place.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=55}}

=== In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania ===
[[File:21. Litvin.jpg|thumb|Litvin man in the 18th century]]
As a result of Lithuanian expansion, the lands of Belarus became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This fact accelerated the Slavicization of the Baltic population. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, a distinct [[Ruthenian language]] was formed.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=57-58}} It is called  "Old Belarusian language" by Belausian researchers and "Old Ukrainian" by the Ukrainian ones. The rulers and the elite of the Grand Duchy adopted elements of Ruthenian culture, primarily Ruthenian language, which became the main language of writing. Belarusians began to emerge as a nationality during the 13th and 14th centuries in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] mostly on the lands of the upper basins of [[Neman River]], [[Dnieper River]], and the [[Daugava River|Western Dvina River]].<ref>Беларусы : у 10 т. / Рэдкал.: В. К. Бандарчык [і інш.]. — Мінск : Беларус. навука, 1994–2007. — Т. 4 : Вытокі і этнічнае развіццё... С. 36, 49.</ref> The Belarusian people trace their distinct culture to the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], earlier [[Kievan Rus']] and the [[Principality of Polotsk]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belarus - Culture, Traditions, Arts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Belarus/Cultural-life |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715090912/https://www.britannica.com/place/Belarus/Cultural-life |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Litvin]] was a term used to describe all residents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, primarily those belonging to the [[Lithuanian nobility|noble state]], without distinction of ethnicity or religion. At the same time, the term Ruthenian (''Rusyn'') was in use, referring primarily to all persons professing Orthodoxy; later since the end of the 16th century it took on a broader meaning, and also referred to all the persons of Eastern Slavic origin, regardless of their religion. At the same time, there was a geographical division within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania between [[Lithuania proper]] and Rus'. However, it did not correspond to an ethnic or confessional division, as Lithuania proper included a large part of central and western Belarus with cities such as [[Polotsk]], [[Vitebsk]], [[Orsha]], [[Minsk]], [[Barysaw]] and [[Slutsk]], while the remaining lands inhabited by Slavs were called Rus.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=57}} From the 17th century onward, the name [[White Ruthenia]] ({{langx|be|Белая Русь|Biełaja Ruś}}) spread, which initially referred to the territory of today's Eastern Belarus ([[Polotsk]], [[Vitebsk]]). The term "Belarusians", "Belarusian faith" and "Belarusian speech" also appeared at that time.{{Sfn|Shved|Grzybowski|2020|p=57}}<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |last1=Fishman |first1=Joshua |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUydX_3rG0AC |title=Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity: The Success-Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts (Volume 2) |last2=Garcia |first2=Ofelia |date=2011-04-21 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-983799-1 |pages=385 |language=en}}</ref> As stated by historian [[Andrej Kotljarchuk]], the first person who called himself "Belarusian" was Calvinist writer [[Salomon Rysinski]] (Solomo Pantherus Leucorussus). According to his words, he was born "in richly endowed with forests and animals Ruthenia near the border to frigid Muscovy" and doctorated at the [[University of Altdorf]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Orthodoxy in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Protestants of Belarus |url=https://belreform.org/eng/katlarchuk_prat_i_pravasl_eng.php |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.belreform.org |language=en |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status= }}</ref>
[[File:Lićviny. Ліцьвіны (1907).jpg|thumb|Belarusians in the 19th century]]
From the 1630s, Old Belarusian (Ruthenian) started to be replaced by the [[Polish language]], as a result of the [[Polish people|Polish]] high culture acquiring increasing prestige in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1697, Ruthenian was removed as one of the Grand Duchy's official languages.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Kamusella |first=Tomasz |title=The Politics of Language and Nationalism in Modern Central Europe |year=2009 |pages=153, 156, 180}}</ref> By the 17th century, Muscovites began encouraging the use of the word Belarusian and viewed the Belarusians as Russians and their language as a [[Russian dialects|Russian dialect]].<ref name=":32" /> This was done to legitimize Russian attempts of conquering the eastern lands of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth under the pretense of unifying all Russian lands.<ref name=":32" /> During three [[Partitions of Poland|partitions of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (1772, 1793 and 1795) most of the territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were annexed by the [[Russian Empire]].
[[File:Historical borders of Belarusians.png|thumb|
Ethnic territory of Belarusians<br />
{{Legend|#000000|Modern state boundaries}}
{{Legend|#F0C500|According to the linguistic map by [[Yefim Karsky]] (1903)}}
{{Legend|#F00000|According to [[Mitrofan Dovnar-Zapolsky]] (1919)}}
The major discrepancy between Karsky and Dovnar-Zapolsky is due to Karsky's identification of transitional Ukrainian-Belarusian dialects
]]
=== In the Russian Empire ===
Following the destruction of Poland–Lithuania with the [[Third Partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|Third Partition]] in 1795, [[Empress Catherine of Russia]] created the [[Belarusian Governorate]] from the {{Ill|Polotsk Governorate|lt=Polotsk|ru|Полоцкая губерния}} and [[Mogilev Governorate]]s.<ref name=":2" /> However, Tsar [[Nicholas I of Russia]] banned the use of the word Belarus in 1839, replacing it with the designation [[Northwestern Krai]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iVRuDwAAQBAJ |title=The Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names |date=2018-09-13 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-256243-2 |language=en |access-date=2023-03-21 |archive-date=2023-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811144922/https://books.google.com/books?id=iVRuDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the ban, various different names were used for naming the inhabitants of those territories.<ref name=":32" /> It was part of the [[Pale of Settlement]], which was the region where Jews were allowed permanent residency.

=== 20th century ===
During World War I and the fall of [[Russian Empire]], a short-lived [[Belarusian Democratic Republic]] was declared in March 1918. Thereafter, modern Belarus' territory was split between the [[Second Polish Republic]] and [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Soviet Russia]] during the [[Peace of Riga]] in 1921. The latter created the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic]], which was reunited with [[Western Belarus]] during [[World War 2]] and lasted until the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], which was ended by the [[Belovezh Accords]] in 1991. The modern [[Republic of Belarus]] exists since then.

More than two million people were [[World War II casualties of the Soviet Union|killed in Belarus]] during the three years of [[German occupation of Belarus during World War II|German occupation]] in 1941–44, around a quarter of the region's population,<ref>{{cite web|year=2005|title=The tragedy of Khatyn - Genocide policy|url=https://www.khatyn.by/en/genocide/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310201916/https://www.khatyn.by/en/genocide/|archive-date=2015-03-10|url-status=live|publisher=SMC Khatyn}}</ref> or even as high as three million killed or thirty percent of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donovan |first=Jeffrey |date=2005-05-04 |title=World War II -- 60 Years After: Legacy Still Casts Shadow Across Belarus |url=https://www.rferl.org/amp/1058728.html |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=www.rferl.org}}</ref>

==Cuisine==
{{main|Belarusian cuisine}}
Belarusian cuisine shares the same roots as the cuisines of other Eastern and Northern European countries.{{cn|date=March 2023}}

==See also==
{{portal|Belarus}}
* [[List of Belarusians (ethnic group)]]
* [[Demographics of Belarus]]
* [[Dregovichs]]
* [[Krivichs]]
* [[Litvin]]
* [[Radimichs]]
* [[History of Belarus]]
* [[Belarusian Americans]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{Cite journal |last=Pankowicz |first=Andrzej |date=2004 |title=Spór o genezę narodu białoruskiego. Perspektywa historyczna |trans-title=The dispute over the genesis of the Belarusian nation. A historical perspective |journal=Krakowskie Studia Międzynarodowe |language=pl |volume=4 |pages=89–106}}
* {{Cite book |last=Plokhy |first=Serhii |title=The Cossacks and Religion in Early Modern Ukraine |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NCzzxNisc1MC&q=white+rus+commonwealth&pg=PA327 |isbn=0-19-924739-0}}
*{{Cite book |last=Savchenko |first=Andrew |title=Belarus - A Perpetual Borderland |publisher=Brill |year=2009 |location=Leiden-Boston}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Shved |first1=Viachaslau |title=Historia Białorusi. Od czasów najdawniejszych do roku 1991 |last2=Grzybowski |first2=Jerzy |publisher=WUW |year=2020 |location=Warsaw |language=pl |trans-title=History of Belarus. From the earliest times to 1991}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Vauchez |first1=André |first2=Richard Barrie |last2=Dobson |first3=Michael |last3=Lapidge |title=Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages |publisher=Routledge |year=2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qtgotOF0MKQC&q=White+Ruthenia&pg=PA163|isbn=1-57958-282-6}}

==External links==
* {{wikiquote-inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050802104630/http://www.pravapis.org/art_belarus_ethnographic_map1953.asp Ethnographic Map (New York, 1953)]
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/belarus/ CIA World Fact Book 2005]

{{Belarus topics}}
{{Slavic ethnic groups}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Belarusian people|*]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Belarus]]
[[Category:East Slavs]]