Names preferred for newborn Belarusian babies have been disclosed.
In Belarus, one out of every five residents is a child, according to a review prepared by Belstat for International Children's Day, celebrated on June 1.
The data shows that, as of January 1, 2025, there were 1,764,309 children under the age of 18 in the country, accounting for 19.4% of the total population in the nation.
A majority (81.2%) of these children reside in urban areas, while a smaller percentage (18.8%) live in rural areas. The gender ratio currently indicates a slightly higher birth rate among boys, with 950 girls for every 1,000 boys.
When it comes to popular names, Mikhail, Matvey, and Timofey are the most common choices for boys, while girls are often named Sophia, Anna, and Eva.
Regarding vaccinations, 98.3% of children have been made immune to measles, mumps, and rubella; 97.7% against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus; and 97.5% against tuberculosis.
The study also points out that Belarusian children are active technology users. In 2024, 97.1% of children aged 6-17 were internet users, with 85.3% using personal computers daily. A considerable proportion (90.9%) of these children access the internet on a daily basis.
The main reasons for their internet usage are entertainment-related activities such as watching movies, listening to music, and playing games, as well as educational purposes (81.2% of boys and 78.9% of girls), sending emails and making calls, and social networking.
The data on free time distribution for children aged 10-17 over weekends reveals that boys have an average of 7 hours and 42 minutes of free time, while girls have 6 hours and 57 minutes. Furthermore, boys tend to spend more time on hobbies, games, and sports, dedicating 2 hours and 32 minutes while girls are engaged for about an hour and a half on average.
Belarus continues facing demographic challenges, including a low birth rate and a declining population, with the total fertility rate (TFR) predicted to dip below 1.3 in 2024-2025, indicating a decrease in birth numbers. Additionally, there has been a significant wave of emigration from Belarus since 2020, which might affect the population figures.
A family in urban Belarus might find their lifestyle heavily influenced by home-and-garden trends, considering that a majority (81.2%) of the country's children reside in cities, spending an average of 7 hours and 42 minutes on hobbies, games, and the internet over weekends. As technology continues to play a significant role in children's daily lives (97.1% of children aged 6-17 are internet users), homes equipped with personal computers may become more popular to accommodate this digital lifestyle.
