The population of Belarus totaled 9,467,700 people as of August 1, 2010, or 12,500 less than on January 1, according to the National Statistics Committee.
These data are based on current statistics and preliminary findings of the 2009 General Census, the Committee noted.
The nation's population reportedly decreased by 13,000 to 9,480,200 people in 2009. As of August 1, 1,836,200 people resided in the city of Minsk, up from 1,834,200 on January 1, the Committee said.
The population of each of Belarus' six regions decreased in the first seven months of the year: from 1,438,300 to 1,436,200 in the Homyel region, from 1,418,900 to 1,417,600 in the Minsk region, from 1,398,700 to 1,398,100 in the Brest region, from 1,228,600 to 1,224,200 in the Vitsyebsk region, from 1,091,900 to 1,087,800 in the Mahilyow region and from 1,069,600 to 1,067,600 in the Hrodna region. As many as 62,517 babies were born, 1,215 less than in the first seven months of 2009. A total of 80,270 people died, 548 less. Migration-related population growth totaled 5,307 persons, with 9,098 people moving to Belarus and 3,791 emigrating from it.
The number of divorces reportedly increased by 0.6 percent to 19,756 and of new marriages by 0.8 percent to 39,616. There were 499 divorces per 1000 marriages in the first seven months of 2010, up from 492 in the same period of the previous year.
