Lithuanians in Belarus
Baltarusijos lietuviai | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 19,091 (2009, census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Grodno Region, Vitebsk Region | |
| Languages | |
| Lithuanian, Belarusian, Russian | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity (Roman Catholicism) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Lithuanians |
Lithuanians in Belarus (Lithuanian: Baltarusijos lietuviai; Belarusian: Беларускія літоўцы, romanized: Bielaruskija litoŭcy; Russian: Белорусские литовцы, romanized: Belorusskiye litovtsy) have a long history, as the lands of what is now Belarus was part of Lithuania for more than half a millennium from the 13th century onwards. The land of what is now Belarus was originally inhabited by Balts, while Slavs arrived in those lands during the late Early Middle Ages.
According to the 2009 census in Belarus, there were 19,091 ethnic Lithuanians in Belarus. Lithuanians are most significantly concentrated in the Grodno Region (specifically Voranava and Astravyets districts) and the western Vitebsk Region (Braslaw district). Smaller settlements and communities also exist in the eastern regions of the country and in major cities.