Vitebsk Region

Vitebsk Region, also known as Vitebsk Oblast or Vitsyebsk Voblasts[4] (Belarusian: Віцебская вобласць, romanized: Viciebskaja voblasć, IPA: [ˈvʲit͡sʲɛpskaja ˈvɔblast͡sʲ]; Russian: Витебская область, romanized: Vitebskaya oblast, IPA: [ˈvʲitʲɪpskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ]), is one of the regions of Belarus. Its administrative center is Vitebsk. It is located near the border with Russia.

Vitebsk Region
Віцебская вобласць (Belarusian)
Витебская область (Russian)
Region
From the top to bottom-right: Majak Hill, The Assumption Cathedral, Akuniova Lake, Syanno District, Jesuit Collegium
Flag of Vitebsk Region
Flag
Coat of arms of Vitebsk Region
Coat of arms
Location of Vitebsk Region
CountryBelarus
Administrative centerVitebsk
Largest citiesVitebsk - 369,933
Orsha - 115,938
Novopolotsk - 102,288
Districts21
Cities - 19
Urban localities - 26
City districts5
Area
 • Total40,049.99 km2 (15,463.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)[1]
 • Total1,091,948
 • Density27/km2 (71/sq mi)
Gross Regional Product
[2]
 • TotalBr 16.6 billion
(€5.7 billion)
 • Per capitaBr 14,800
(€5,000)
ISO 3166 codeBY-VI
HDI (2018)0.799[3]
high · 5th
Websitewww.vitebsk-region.gov.by

As of 2019, the region has a population of 1,135,731.[5] It has the lowest population density in Belarus at 30.6 p/km².

Important cities within the region include Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk.

Geography
Map of the administrative subdivisions of the Vitebsk Oblast

Vitebsk Region covers an area of 40,000 km²,[5] which is about 19.4% of the national total. It is bordered on the north by Pskov Oblast of Russia, by Smolensk Oblast of Russia on the east, on the south by Minsk Region and by Mogilev Region, on the southwest by Minsk Region and Grodno Region, and on the west and northwest by Vilnius and Utena counties of Lithuania and Augšdaugava, Krāslava and Ludza municipalities of Latvia.

The northern extreme point of Belarus is situated in Verkhnyadzvinsk District of Vitebsk Region, north of Lake Osveya.[6]

In 2000 Belarusian scientists Alexey Solomonov and Valery Anoshko published a report in which they stated that the geographic centre of Europe was located near Lake Sho (Belarusian: Шо) in the Vitebsk Region.

The region is known for its numerous lakes. The largest lakes of the Vitebsk Region are: Osveyskoye (2nd largest in Belarus), Lukomskoye (4th largest), Drivyaty (5th largest in Belarus and the largest of Braslav Lakes), Nescherdo, Snudy, Lisno, Ezerische, Strusto, Richi, Losvido, Lepelskoye.[7]

The region has more national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife preserves of national importance than any other region of Belarus. Braslav Lakes and Naroch National Parks and Berezinski Biosphere Reserve comprise 3,4% of the whole region's territory, and 22 wildlife preserves of national importance make up 4,1% of the region.[8]

Economy

The main industry of the region is petrochemical. "Naftan" (Navapolatsk) is one of the biggest oil refineries in Belarus and a major polymer manufacturer, "LLK-Naftan" (Navapolatsk) produces oil additives. Share of the food industry in the regional industrial output is estimated at 14-15%. Share of textile, garment and shoe factories (light industry) is estimated at 5-6%, the major factories are "Belvest" (shoes), "Marko" (shoes; both in Vitebsk), Orsha flax factory, "Vitebsk carpets", "Znamya industrializacyi" garment factory in Vitebsk, "Bell Bimbo" (baby clothes manufacturer). The biggest electrical and machinery plants (5-6% of the regional industrial output) are "Vityas" in Vitebsk (TV sets and household appliances), "Vistan" machine tool factory, Vitebsk factory of electrical measuring instruments, Vitebsk factory of tractor spare parts, "Red fighter" machine tool factory in Orsha.[9]

Lukoml power station is the biggest power plant in Belarus.

Vitebsk Region has a number of important transport connections with Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic countries, and Poland.

Tourism

The number of travel agencies in Vitebsk Region has been growing from 25 in 2000 to 83 in 2010; most agencies provide both agent and operator services.[10][11] The numerous lake resorts attract tourists for several-night stays. Polotsk and Vitebsk are the most popular cultural tourism destinations of the region.

Administrative subdivisions

The Vitebsk Region is subdivided into 21 districts, 2 cities of oblast subordinance, 19 additional cities, 249 selsovets, and 26 urban-type settlements.

Districts of Vitebsk Region

Cities and towns

Population of cities and towns in Vitebsk Region

English Belarusian Russian Pop.
VitebskВіцебскВитебск342,400
OrshaОршаОрша125,300
NovopolotskНаваполацкНовополоцк101,300
PolotskПолацкПолоцк82,800
PastavyПаставыПоставы20,500
HlybokayeГлыбокаеГлубокое19,600
LyepyelЛепельЛепель18,800
NovolukomlНовалукомльНоволукомль14,900
HaradokГарадокГородок14,000
BaranБараньБарань12,300
TalachynТалачынТолочин10,500
BraslawБраслаўБраслав10,100
ChashnikiЧашнікіЧашники9,800
DubrownaДуброўнаДубровно9,100
MioryМёрыМиоры9,000
SyannoСянноСенно8,400
BeshankovichyБешанковічыБешенковичи8,200
VerkhnyadzvinskВерхнядзвінскВерхнедвинск7,300
DokshytsyДокшыцыДокшицы7,000
Ushachyu.t.s.УшачыУшачи5,600
DzisnaДзіснаДисна2,400
SurazhСуражСураж818

Notes:

u.t.s. - urban-type settlement

Demographics

As of 2008, the birth rate was 9.7 per 1000, while the death rate was 15.5 per 1000.[12] As of 2017, the birth rate was 9.6 and the death rate was 14.4. Rasony District, Shumilina District, Verkhnyadzvinsk District had the highest birth rates (over 11), while the city of Navapolatsk (Novopolotsk), Beshankovichy District, Haradok District had the lowests birth rates (less than 9).[13] 16.1% of the population were under working age, 56.6% in working age, 27.3% over working age (averages in Belarus — 17.7%, 57.2%, 25.1%).[14]

In 2017, the region had negative net migration rates for both internal and international migrations (-2,102 and -63 respectively). 5,227 of those who departed from the region in 2017 arrived in Minsk, 2,021 in the Minsk Region, 1,630 in the Mahilioŭ (Mogilev) Region, less than 700 — in each of the other regions. 3,858 people arrived in the region from Minsk, 1,731 from the Mahilioŭ (Mogilev) Region, 1,355 from the Minsk Region, less than 750 — from each of the other regions.[15]

As of 2018, 53.7% of the region's population were female, 46.3% were male (averages in Belarus — 53.4% and 46.6% respectively).[16]

Share of urban population in the region is increasing continuously since 1950 (21.5% in 1950, 77.4% in 2018).[17]

Year193919501955196019651970197519801985
Population (thousands)[17]1,702.51,256.21,243.31,289.91,313.51,368.81,384.11,386.11,402.3
Year199019952000200520062007200820092010
Population (thousands)[17]1,415.71,426.31,366.41,289.51,273.81,259.41,247.31,237.51,229.4
Year201120122013201420152016201720182019
Population (thousands)[17][18]1,221.81,214.11,2081,202.11,198.51,193.51,1881,180.21,171.5
Birth & death rates19501960197019801985199019952000200520102011201220132014201520162017
Birth rate[19]2421.614.614.214.813.29.18.58.410.110.110.911.111.111.211.19.6
Death rate[19]7.878.511.312.312.514.915.116.516.716.215.415.414.714.714.614.4
Life expectancy at birth19901995200020052010201520162017
Overall[20]716868.468.169.572.973.373.3
female[20]76.374.975.675.77778.979.479.3
male[20]67.364.464.263.365.169.269.469.4
Marriages and divorces195019601970198019901995200020052010201520162017
Marriages (total)[21]11,58915,27512,64513,90813,48010,5717,9369,0379,5429,8037,5367,582
Marriages (per 1000 population)[21]9.211.99.2109.57.45.87.17.88.26.36.4
Divorces (total)[21]1598722,8354,6415,0066,4656,3394,2094,8004,0074,2053,983
Divorces (per 1000 population)[21]0.10.72.13.33.54.54.73.33.93.43.53.4
  • Belarusians in the region  >90%  85—90%  80–85%  <80% (64.59%)
    Belarusians in the region
      >90%
      85—90%
      80–85%
      <80% (64.59%)
  • Russians in the region  >15% (15.51%)  10–15%  8–10%  5–8%  <5%
    Russians in the region
      >15% (15.51%)
      10–15%
      8–10%
      5–8%
      <5%
  • Poles in the region  >5% (18.66%)  2–5%  1–2%  0.5–1%  <0.5%
    Poles in the region
      >5% (18.66%)
      2–5%
      1–2%
      0.5–1%
      <0.5%
  • Birth rate by district (2017)
    Birth rate by district (2017)

Notable people

People from Vitebsk Region:

References
  1. "Численность населения на 1 января 2023 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2022 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа". belsat.gov.by. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  2. "Gross domestic product and gross regional product by regions and Minsk city in 2022".
  3. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  4. "Vitsyebsk". www.britannica.com.
  5. "Main Geographic Characteristics of the Republic of Belarus. Territory and population density of Belarus by region as of January 1, 2011". Land of Ancestors. The Scientific and Production State Republican Unitary Enterprise “National Cadastre Agency” of the State Property Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  6. "Coordinates of the extreme points of the state frontier". Land of Ancestors. 2012. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  7. "Main characteristics of the largest lakes of Belarus". Land of Ancestors. Data of the Research Laboratory for Lake Study of the Belarus State University. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  8. "Nature reserves and national parks, wildlife preserves and nature sanctuaries". Land of Ancestors. Data of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  9. Промышленность (in Russian)
  10. Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. (2011). "Number of organizations engaged in tourist activities in 2010 in Belarus". Land of Ancestors. National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  11. Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus. (2011). "Number of organisations engaged in tourist activities in Belarus by region". Land of Ancestors. National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  12. "Новости". Archived from the original on 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  13. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographic Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. pp. 160–162.
  14. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographic Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. p. 81.
  15. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographic Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. pp. 415–416.
  16. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographic Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. p. 42.
  17. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographic Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. p. 30.
  18. Population by cities and districts (in Russian)
  19. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographical Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. p. 145.
  20. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographical Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. p. 179.
  21. Демографический ежегодник Республики Беларусь [Demographical Yearbook of the Republic of Belarus]. Minsk: National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus. 2018. p. 188.
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