Capital

Belarus

name: Minsk

geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the origin of the name is disputed; Minsk may originally have been located 16 km to the southwest, on the banks of Menka River; remnants of a 10th-century settlement on the banks of the Menka have been found

Oman

name: Muscat

geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E

time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name, whose meaning is uncertain, traces back almost two millennia; two 2nd century A.D. scholars, the geographer PTOLEMY and the historian ARRIAN, both mention an Arabian Sea coastal town of Moscha, which most likely referred to Muscat

Israel

name: Jerusalem; note - the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty

geographic coordinates: 31 46 N, 35 14 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, Friday before the last Sunday in March; ends the last Sunday in October

etymology: Jerusalem's settlement may date back to 2800 B.C.; it is named Urushalim in Egyptian texts of the 14th century B.C.; uru-shalim likely means "foundation of [by] the god Shalim", and derives from Hebrew/Semitic yry, "to found or lay a cornerstone", and Shalim, the Canaanite god of dusk and the nether world; Shalim was associated with sunset and peace and the name is based on the same S-L-M root from which Semitic words for "peace" are derived (Salam or Shalom in modern Arabic and Hebrew); this confluence has thus led to naming interpretations such as "The City of Peace" or "The Abode of Peace"

Citizenship

Belarus

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Belarus

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Oman

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Oman

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: unknown

Israel

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Israel

dual citizenship recognized: yes, but naturalized citizens are not allowed to maintain dual citizenship

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 out of the 5 years preceding the application for naturalization

note: Israeli law (Law of Return, 5 July 1950) provides for the granting of citizenship to any Jew - defined as a person being born to a Jewish mother or having converted to Judaism while renouncing any other religion - who immigrates to and expresses a desire to settle in Israel on the basis of the Right of aliyah; the 1970 amendment of this act extended the right to family members including the spouse of a Jew, any child or grandchild, and the spouses of children and grandchildren

Legal system

Belarus

civil law system; note - nearly all major codes (civil, civil procedure, criminal, criminal procedure, family, and labor) were revised and came into force in 1999 and 2000

Oman

mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

Israel

mixed legal system of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religious laws

Suffrage

Belarus

18 years of age; universal

Oman

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

Israel

18 years of age; universal; 17 years of age for municipal elections

Area

Belarus

total: 207,600 sq km

land: 202,900 sq km

water: 4,700 sq km

Oman

total: 309,500 sq km

land: 309,500 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Israel

total: 21,937 sq km

land: 21,497 sq km

water: 440 sq km

Land use

Belarus

agricultural land: 43.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 27.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 42.7% (2018 est.)

other: 13.6% (2018 est.)

Oman

agricultural land: 4.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 0% (2018 est.)

other: 95.3% (2018 est.)

Israel

agricultural land: 23.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 13.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 3.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 6.3% (2018 est.)

forest: 7.1% (2018 est.)

other: 69.1% (2018 est.)

Location

Belarus

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Oman

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE

Israel

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Age structure

Belarus

0-14 years: 15.83% (male 764,281/female 721,632)

15-64 years: 66.81% (male 3,055,606/female 3,213,751)

65 years and over: 17.36% (2023 est.) (male 544,270/female 1,084,313)

Oman

0-14 years: 29.88% (male 586,608/female 558,770)

15-64 years: 66.17% (male 1,404,289/female 1,132,250)

65 years and over: 3.95% (2023 est.) (male 70,976/female 80,572)

Israel

0-14 years: 25.96% (male 1,200,721/female 1,146,556)

15-64 years: 61.66% (male 2,839,124/female 2,737,054)

65 years and over: 12.38% (2023 est.) (male 506,536/female 613,396)

Birth rate

Belarus

8.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Oman

21.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Israel

19.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Belarus

13.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Oman

3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Israel

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Belarus

Russian (official) 71.4%, Belarusian (official) 26%, other 0.3% (includes small Polish- and Ukrainian-speaking minorities), unspecified 2.3% (2009 est.)

major-language sample(s):
Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Oman

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects

major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Israel

Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language)

major-language sample(s):
ספר עובדות העולם, המקור החיוני למידע בסיסי (Hebrew)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Belarus

total population: 74.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 69.6 years

female: 79.9 years

Oman

total population: 77.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 75.2 years

female: 79.2 years

Israel

total population: 82.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 80.2 years

female: 84.3 years

Major urban areas - population

Belarus

2.057 million MINSK (capital) (2023)

Oman

1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)

Israel

4.421 million Tel Aviv-Yafo, 1.174 million Haifa, 970,000 JERUSALEM (capital) (2023)

Median age

Belarus

total: 41.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 39.1 years

female: 44.6 years

Oman

total: 27.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 27.9 years

female: 26 years

Israel

total: 30.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 29.5 years

female: 30.7 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Belarus

26.8 years (2019 est.)

Israel

27.7 years (2019 est.)

Net migration rate

Belarus

0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Oman

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Israel

1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Belarus

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Oman

the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated

Israel

population concentrated in and around Tel-Aviv, as well as around the Sea of Galilee; the south remains sparsely populated with the exception of the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba

Population growth rate

Belarus

-0.39% (2023 est.)

Oman

1.8% (2023 est.)

Israel

1.56% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Belarus

1.45 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Oman

2.67 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Israel

2.94 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Belarus

urban population: 80.7% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.28% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Oman

urban population: 88.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Israel

urban population: 92.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.51% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Belarus

4.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Oman

5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Israel

7.1% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Belarus

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2021)

Oman

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2021)

Israel

total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 17 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Belarus

2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Oman

-13.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Israel

-2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Belarus

6.7% (2021 est.)

Oman

1.05% (2021 est.)

Israel

6.05% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Belarus

4.95 million (2021 est.)

Oman

2.259 million (2021 est.)

note: about 60% of the labor force is non-national

Israel

4.186 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Belarus

5% (2019 est.)

Oman

NA

Israel

22% (2014 est.)

note: Israel's poverty line is $7.30 per person per day

Unemployment rate

Belarus

4.74% (2021 est.)

4.77% (2020 est.)

4.16% (2019 est.)

note: official registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers

Oman

3.12% (2021 est.)

2.94% (2020 est.)

1.85% (2019 est.)

NA

Israel

5.05% (2021 est.)

4.33% (2020 est.)

3.8% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Belarus

33.24% of GDP (2019 est.)

37.1% of GDP (2018 est.)

39.88% of GDP (2017 est.)

Oman

46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises

Israel

72.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

59.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

60.4% of GDP (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Belarus

9.46% (2021 est.)

5.55% (2020 est.)

5.6% (2019 est.)

Oman

1.55% (2021 est.)

-0.9% (2020 est.)

0.13% (2019 est.)

Israel

1.49% (2021 est.)

-0.59% (2020 est.)

0.84% (2019 est.)

Exports

Belarus

$49.425 billion (2021 est.)

$37.183 billion (2020 est.)

$41.975 billion (2019 est.)

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Oman

$46.324 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$35.72 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$43.584 billion (2019 est.)

Israel

$143.884 billion (2021 est.)

$114.422 billion (2020 est.)

$117.779 billion (2019 est.)

note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Belarus

Russia 42%, Ukraine 13%, United Kingdom 7% (2019)

Oman

China 46%, India 8%, Japan 6%, South Korea 6%, United Arab Emirates 6%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019)

Israel

United States 27%, China 8%, India 4%, Germany 3%, Ireland 3% (2021)

note: Approximately, 6% of Israel's exports went to the Gaza Strip and West Bank, but official data are not available individually for the Palestinian territories.

Imports

Belarus

$45.459 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$35.236 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$42.378 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Oman

$36.502 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$34.022 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$32.569 billion (2019 est.)

Israel

$124.578 billion (2021 est.)

$95.977 billion (2020 est.)

$108.784 billion (2019 est.)

note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Belarus

Russia 57%, China 7%, Poland 5%, Germany 5%, Ukraine 5% (2019)

Oman

United Arab Emirates 36%, China 10%, Japan 7%, India 7%, United States 5% (2019)

Israel

China 14%, United States 11%, Turkey 7%, Germany 7%, Switzerland 5% (2021)

Airports

Belarus

65 (2021)

Oman

132 (2021)

Israel

42 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Belarus

total: 3,255,552 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)

Oman

total: 508,949 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)

Israel

total: 2,602,079 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Belarus

total: 8.352 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 87% (2021 est.)

Oman

total: 4.32 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 96% (2021 est.)

Israel

total: 8.01 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 90% (2021 est.)

Railways

Belarus

total: 5,528 km (2014)

standard gauge: 25 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

broad gauge: 5,503 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)

Israel

total: 1,497 km (2021) (2019)

standard gauge: 1,497 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge

Roadways

Belarus

total: 86,600 km (2017)

Oman

total: 60,230 km (2012)

paved: 29,685 km (2012) (includes 1,943 km of expressways)

unpaved: 30,545 km (2012)

Israel

total: 20,391 km (2021)

paved: 20,391 km (2021) (includes 449 km of expressways)

Telephones - fixed lines

Belarus

total subscriptions: 4,332,754 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2021 est.)

Oman

total subscriptions: 572,166 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)

Israel

total subscriptions: 3.5 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Belarus

total subscriptions: 11,760,087 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2021 est.)

Oman

total subscriptions: 6,115,537 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2021 est.)

Israel

total subscriptions: 12.5 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Belarus

2,500 km (2011) (major rivers are the west-flowing Western Dvina and Neman Rivers and the south-flowing Dnepr River and its tributaries, the Berezina, Sozh, and Pripyat Rivers)

Disputes - international

Belarus

Belarus-Latvia: boundary demarcated with Latvia

Belarus-Lithuania: boundary demarcated with Lithuania.

Belarus-Poland: as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus.

Oman

Oman-Saudi Arabia: none identified

Oman-UAE: boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public; Oman and UAE signed the final demarcation of their land border in 2008

Oman-Yemen: Oman and Yemen signed a border agreement in 1992; demarcation of their border was completed in 1995

 

Israel

Israel-Gaza Strip: Israel withdrew its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the West Bank in August 2005

Israel-Syria: Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); in March 2019, the US Government recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Israel-West Bank: West Bank is Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; in 2002, Israel began construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; as of mid-2020, plans were to continue barrier construction