MINSK, 28 January (BelTA) – As of 1 January 2017 Belarus' population stood at 9,504,700 people, BelTA learned from the National Statistics Committee of Belarus.
The country's population has been growing over the last years. As of 1 January 2013 Belarus' population made up 9,464,000. It was 9,468,000 as of 1 January 2014; 9,481,000 as of 1 January 2015; and 9,498,000 as of 1 January 2016.
Minsk population increased by 15,000 over 2016 and totaled 1,974,800. Minsk Oblast is second with a population of 1,423,000, Gomel Oblast is third with 1,420,600. The least populated Belarusian region is Grodno Oblast (1,047,500).
As of 1 January 2017 Belarus' male population was estimated to account for 4,427,000, the female population – 5,078,000.
Urbanization of the country continues: the share of urban population increased from 77.6% to 77.9% over the last year, the share of rural population went down from 22.4% to 22.1%.
The birthrate in 2016 made up 12.4 births per 1000 (12.5 per 1000 in 2015). The mortality rate remained at the same level – 12.6 per 1000.