Administrative and Territorial

The Republic of Belarus consists of 6 Regions comprising 118 administrative Districts and the city of Minsk. The country numbers 110 towns, and 101 urban-type settlements.

Not strongly expressed regional differentiation is characteristic of Belarus, nevertheless, the Regions and Minsk City differ in the level of socioeconomic development and economy structure. The distinctive features of socioeconomic, natural and geographical and environmental components are as follows:

• a higher level of industrial development of western regions, with energy and material-intensive production facilities prevailing there;
• availability of large-sized chemical and petrochemical complexes in Vitebsk, Grodno, Gomel, Minsk and Mogilev Regions creating a heavy burden on the environment;
• a high level of concentration of the industries in the capital and cities;
• difference between the Districts in the level of the agribusiness development defined by soil, climatic, ecological and other local specifics and distribution of main subsectors of agricultural specialization;
• predominant concentration of social infrastructure complexes in Minsk, Regional and District centers and other towns.

Of 211 towns and urban-type settlements, 7 cities are with the population size from 100 to 200 thousand residents and 6 cities — with the population size from 200 to 500 thousand residents.

The city of Minsk is located in the middle of Belarus and is the Capital of the Republic of Belarus and the center of the Region and District bearing the same name. The city of Minsk is entitled to a special status of an independent administrative and territorial unit. It is the largest political, economic, scientific and cultural center of the republic. It has a resident population of 1,726 thousand (as of 01.01.2003). It occupies an area of 255.8 km². Administratively, it is subdivided into 9 urban districts.

For the first time Minsk was mentioned in 1067 (referred to as Mensk, Menesk in chronicles).

The industrial, science and scientific servicing, transportation management and financial sectors are developed in the city.

Among the regions of Belarus, Minsk ranks first in the industrial output. Its share in the republic’s industry accounts for over 23%. About 300 large-sized and medium-sized industrial enterprises operate here. Minsk exceeds other regions in the output of machine-building, power-engineering, nonferrous, medical and printing industries. The distinguished feature of the capital’s industry development is that machine-building products prevail in its structure. Machine-building and metalworking enterprises manufacture more than half of the city’s industrial products. Such large-sized enterprises as the Production Associations BelavtoMAZ, Minsk Tractor Works, Minsk Engine Plant, Joint-Stock Company Atlant and others operate in Minsk. Power engineering and food industries also make up a large share. The city’s industrial complex is characterized by a high export potential and a number of enterprises export over 80% of the total output.