Religion

The Republic of Belarus is a multi-faith state with no religious conflicts.

The country's legislation ensures and guarantees everyone's rights to freedom of conscience and freedom of religion, social justice, equality, protection of rights and interests regardless of religion and religious affiliation, freedom of association into religious organizations.

Government bodies of all levels support initiatives of religious organizations to promote dialogue between religions based on respect for human rights and religious tolerance. Work is also underway to prevent the activities of destructive religious organizations.

Freedom of religion in Belarus is guaranteed by the Constitution. The rights and freedoms of believers are also enshrined in the law on freedom of conscience and religious organizations.

There were 3,592 registered religious institutions in Belarus as of 1 January 2024. They represent 25 religious denominations and movements and include 173 religious organizations (religious associations, monasteries and convents, missions, brotherhoods and sisterhoods, religious educational facilities), and 3,419 religious communities.

In its relations with religious institutions the state proceeds from the principle of legal egalitarianism of all religions, which is enshrined in the Belarusian law. The state also has regard to the influence of the religion on the formation of spiritual and cultural values and traditions of statehood of the Belarusian people.

The Belarusian religious landscape is dominated by the Belarusian Orthodox Church. It is represented by 1,737 communities, 15 eparchies, six religious schools, 36 monasteries and convents, 15 brotherhoods, nine sisterhoods and one mission.

The Roman Catholic Church in Belarus includes four dioceses, 500 communities, six educational institutions, 11 missions and nine monasteries and convents.

Protestant religious organizations are represented by 1,038 communities, 21 associations, 21 missions and five educational institutions of 13 denominations.

The largest Protestant denominations are associations of Evangelical Christians (524 communities), Evangelical Baptist Christians (281 communities), Seventh-Day Adventists (73 communities). Lutheranism has 25 communities in the country.

Three Jewish associations unite 51 communities in Belarus. They have ten places of worship and one educational institution.

There are 24 Muslim communities in Belarus, including six mosques and two places of worship.

In 2015, Belarus registered a Buddhist community Shen Chen Ling of the Bon tradition.

Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Belarus pays close attention to activities of religious organizations. The President regularly meets with members of the Synod of the Belarusian Orthodox Church and representatives of the Roman Catholic Church in Belarus.

In 2008, the Consultative Interfaith Council was set up at the commissioner for religions and nationalities to encourage an interfaith dialogue, preserve the traditions of tolerance, and enhance interaction between government agencies and religious organizations in addressing important social issues.