According to preliminary data, as of the beginning of the current year, there were almost 5.1 million women in Belarus, accounting for 53.5% of the total population of the republic, BelTA was informed by the National Statistical Committee.
According to preliminary data, as of the beginning of the current year, there were almost 5.1 million women in Belarus, accounting for 53.5% of the total population of the republic, BelTA was informed by the National Statistical Committee.
The number of women in the country has decreased over five years: if at the beginning of 2010 there were 5 million 81.7 thousand, then at the beginning of 2016 - 5 million 77.6 thousand.
The majority of women (78.2%) live in cities and urban-type settlements, while every fifth resident of the republic lives in rural settlements. Over five years, the number of urban women increased from 3 million 800.9 thousand to 3 million 969.3 thousand, and the number of rural women decreased from 1 million 280.8 thousand to 1 million 108.3 thousand.
On average across the republic, there are 871 men per 1000 women.
The average age of women in Belarus is 42.4 years, with the average age of urban women being 40.9 years and rural women 47.7 years. Life expectancy for women is increasing: in 2010 this figure was 76.5 years, and in 2014 - 78.4 years.
Currently, it is impossible to imagine any sphere of society and state life without women. Every second person employed in the economy of the republic is a woman. Among women working in organisations, 22.6% have linked their labour activity with industry, 18.5% with education, 14.5% with trade, 13.3% with healthcare and social services, and 7.6% with agriculture and forestry. Predominantly "female" economic activities in Belarus include healthcare and social services, education, financial activities, hotels and restaurants, trade; repair of motor vehicles, domestic goods and personal items.
Among women working in organisations in the country, every third woman had higher education, every fourth had secondary vocational education, and 17% had vocational-technical education. Among researchers engaged in scientific development, women accounted for over 40%.
According to a sample survey of households, women are active internet users. Last year, every second woman (58.2%) aged 16 and over used the internet, with two-thirds (66.8%) accessing the web daily. The most active internet users are young women aged 16-24. Among them, 87.7% accessed the World Wide Web daily. The most popular reason for using the internet among women is information search – 93.1% of them go online specifically for this purpose. 78.1% of women use the internet for interactive communication on social networks, and 74% for watching and downloading films, listening to and downloading music, etc.
In their free time, women do not forget about sports. According to the survey, at the beginning of this year, almost 27.3% of women aged 16 and over were engaged in physical culture and sports, with one in five of them dedicating time to sports activities daily, and 37% engaging in physical culture and sports 2-3 times a week.
The statistical review was prepared by Belstat for International Women's Day.