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In this article, the author has attempted to investigate briefly the major nationality population trends and patterns in Belarus during the intercensal period of 1989-1999. At the nationwide level, results revealed that of the major nationalities, only the ethnic Belarusians experienced a total population increase, although it was only a slight one. In contrast, the ethnic Russian and Ukrainian populations declined especially sharply. As a result, the Belarusian share of the total population increased to over 80 percent in 1999 and the second-ranking Russian share dropped to barely more than 10 percent. The Belarusian share of the urban population increased appreciably, although their corresponding share of the rural population declined slightly. This study provides some initial observations on the general nationality population trends and patterns that have emerged from first census of post-Soviet Belarus.

Presents a study that analyzed the urban and rural population change within 1989-2002 in Belarus. Urbanization trends between 1989 and 1999; Impact of the Chernobyl' nuclear power plant disaster on the population of the country; Factors affecting the increase of urban population in the country.