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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Vitebsk Oblast
Vitebsk region, also known as Vitebsk oblast or Vitsyebsk voblasts, is one of the regions of Belarus. Its administrative center is Vitebsk. It is located in the north of the country, and borders on Russia.

As of 2019 the region had a population of 1,135,731 and the lowest population-density for any region in Belarus: 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, 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.

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. [1]

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). Other lakes are Beloye, Nescherdo, Snudy, Lisno, Ezerische, Strusto, Richi, Losvido and Lepelskoye.

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.

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.

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. 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 according to 2023 estimates:

English Belarusian Russian Pop. (2023)
Vitebsk Віцебск Витебск 359,148
Orsha Орша Орша 103,658
Novopolotsk Наваполацк Новополоцк 96,320
Polotsk Полацк Полоцк 79,960
Pastavy Паставы Поставы 18,772
Hlybokaye Глыбокае Глубокое 17,707
Lyepyel Лепель Лепель 17,182
Novolukoml Новалукомль Новолукомль 12,048
Haradok Гарадок Городок 11,570
Baran Барань Барань 10,301
Talachyn Талачын Толочин 9,691
Braslaw Браслаў Браслав 9,426
Chashniki Чашнікі Чашники 7,843
Miory Мёры Миоры 7,815
Syanno Сянно Сенно 7,158
Dubrowna Дуброўна Дубровно 6,909
Beshankovichy Бешанковічы Бешенковичи 6,884
Vyerkhnyadzvinsk Верхнядзвінск Верхнедвинск 6,883
Dokshytsy Докшыцы Докшицы 6,759
Dzisna Дзісна Дисна 1,417

Demographics

As of 2008, the birth rate was 9.7 per 1000, while the death rate was 15.5 per 1000. 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). 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%).

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.

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).

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

Year 1939 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985
Population (thousands) 1,702.5 1,256.2 1,243.3 1,289.9 1,313.5 1,368.8 1,384.1 1,386.1 1,402.3
Year 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Population (thousands) 1,415.7 1,426.3 1,366.4 1,289.5 1,273.8 1,259.4 1,247.3 1,237.5 1,229.4
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Population (thousands) 1,221.8 1,214.1 1,208 1,202.1 1,198.5 1,193.5 1,188 1,180.2 1,171.5
Birth & death rates 1950 1960 1970 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Birth rate 24 21.6 14.6 14.2 14.8 13.2 9.1 8.5 8.4 10.1 10.1 10.9 11.1 11.1 11.2 11.1 9.6
Death rate 7.8 7 8.5 11.3 12.3 12.5 14.9 15.1 16.5 16.7 16.2 15.4 15.4 14.7 14.7 14.6 14.4
Life expectancy at birth 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017
Overall 71 68 68.4 68.1 69.5 72.9 73.3 73.3
female 76.3 74.9 75.6 75.7 77 78.9 79.4 79.3
male 67.3 64.4 64.2 63.3 65.1 69.2 69.4 69.4
Marriages and divorces 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2016 2017
Marriages (total) 11,589 15,275 12,645 13,908 13,480 10,571 7,936 9,037 9,542 9,803 7,536 7,582
Marriages (per 1000 population) 9.2 11.9 9.2 10 9.5 7.4 5.8 7.1 7.8 8.2 6.3 6.4
Divorces (total) 159 872 2,835 4,641 5,006 6,465 6,339 4,209 4,800 4,007 4,205 3,983
Divorces (per 1000 population) 0.1 0.7 2.1 3.3 3.5 4.5 4.7 3.3 3.9 3.4 3.5 3.4
  • 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:

Notes

  1. ^ Russian: Витебская область, romanized: Vitebskaya oblast', IPA: [ˈvʲitʲɪpskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ].
  2. ^ Belarusian: Віцебская вобласць, romanized: Viciebskaja voblasć, IPA: [ˈvʲit͡sʲɛpskaja ˈvɔblasʲt͡sʲ].

References

  1. ^ "Gross domestic product and gross regional product by regions and Minsk city in 2023". www.belstat.gov.by.
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org.
  3. ^ "Vitsyebsk". www.britannica.com.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Промышленность (in Russian)
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "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 4 January 2024.
  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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