Belarus: Overview

Country Rating  » Not Rated

Home  ›  Europe  ›  Belarus  ›  Overview

Overview

Russia’s best friend, Belarus (pop. 9,647,000; GDP/cap US$3,552), is in Eastern Europe, east of Poland. Belarus is a lower middle-income country, with a GDP per capita of US$6,800.

The country has been run by its dictator president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, since 1994. Private business is virtually non-existent. In 2005, the government re-nationalized a number of private companies. In that year, Belarus was listed by the US as Europe's only remaining outpost of tyranny.

The government does not permit foreigners to own land. 90 percent of agricultural land is state owned. Private ownership of land by a Belarusian is limited to one hectare of agricultural land in a household plot and 0.25 hectares of agricultural land under and around a private house. Leasing non-agricultural land is open to foreigners, for a term of up to 99 years.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AROUND THE WORLD

Europe
UK house prices softening

• France housing market slowing substantially
• Warsaw catches cold

Asia & Pacific
Bubble fears prompt foreign ownership limits in China

• Singapore condos in full swing
• New Zealand just carries on

America & Caribbean
The slowdown of the U.S. housing market

• Canada ignores the US blues
• Costa Rica at the centre of all

Middle East and Africa
Bahrain is open to foreigners and sizzling hot

• Dubai: Heading for a fall?
• Tourists flood Morocco