Belarus spent Br4.1 trillion (or 0.52 percent of GDP) on scientific research and developments: less than the optimal level (globally) of 1 percent of GDP

Science is known to drive progress, as few would disagree.  The National Statistical Committee of Belarus has studied the financing of science, finding that, last year, Belarus spent Br4.1 trillion (or 0.52 percent of GDP) on scientific research and developments: less than the optimal level (globally) of 1 percent of GDP.


Last year, around Br150m was spent on research per scientist. The sum has risen five-fold over the recent five year period. However, even in 2014, less than a half of research conducted within the country was financed from the Republican budget: of 457 organisations involved in scientific work, 64.3 percent are commercially run.

Belarusian science is ‘getting younger’, with around 25 percent of the 17,400 scientific workers aged under 30 years. Meanwhile, 20 percent have a scientific degree. Women account for 39.3 percent of candidates of science and 17.7 of doctorate degrees. Unsurprisingly, technical disciplines lead, with 60.1 percent of scientific workers having a technical education.