The economic results of the Republic of Belarus in 2005 indicate sustainable development of the national economy and confirm the effectiveness of he chosen socio-economic model.

Compared to the year 2004:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 9.2%. According to the UN Report "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2006" this is one of the highest rates in the world after only Azerbaijan (18.5%) and Armenia (10%);

Industrial production increased by 10.4%;

Agricultural production increased by 2.1%;

Production of consumer goods increased by 10.4%;

Foreign trade turnover in January-November 2005 increased by 11.5% compared to the same period of 2004, including export increase of 17%, and import increase of 5.6%;

Foreign trade surplus (USD 234 million) was achieved for the first time;

Unemployment level as of the 1st of January 2006 was 1.5% of the economically active population - the lowest among the members of Commonwealth of Independent States (C.I.S.) and Eastern European Countries;

Inflation level of 8% - the best figure during the last 15 year of monitoring inflation in Belarus;

The growth of construction of dwelling buildings amounted to about 8%.

According to many socio-economic indicators the Republic of Belarus has a considerably favourable position compared to many other C.I.S. countries and transitional economies in general.

The Country Economic Memorandum of the World Bank "Belarus: Window of Opportunity to Enhance Competitiveness and Sustain Economic Growth" (November 2005) notes, that the experience of Belarus contradicts to the standard paradigm of transition period. Unlike many C.I.S. countries, where economic reforms were fragmentary and not always successful, Belarus, due to slow restructuring, managed to avoid making some serious mistakes at the initial stage of the transition period. The existing situation in Belarus and current global economic trends are favourable enough to continue structural reforms. The following is also noted in the Memorandum:

Starting from 1996 the Belarusian economy demonstrates sustainable growth: in 1996-2004 the GDP increase amounted to 77.4%, (annual average of 6.6%);

Diverse economic growth of Belarus has a broad economic and social background;

Belarus reached the lowest level of poverty among economies in transition.

According to "Transition Report 2005" of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, in Belarus:

Compared to other C.I.S. countries the business environment and economic governance has improved most dramatically in Belarus;

The level of losses due to crime is the lowest among other C.I.S. countries;

Comparatively low level of average time spent by senior management in dealing with public officials;

Compared to neighbouring countries - the smallest part of population living below the poverty line - less than 2% (11.5% - in Latvia, 6.9% - in Lithuania, less than 2% - in Poland, 7.5% - in Russia, 31.4% - in Ukraine);

The highest healthcare spending - 4.9% of the GDP;

One of the highest spending on education - 6.1% of the GDP.

According to "Global Industrial Development Report 2005" by UNIDO in the recent years the Republic of Belarus is:

Consistently leading among C.I.S. countries and many other countries of Europe and the world in terms of the volume of industrial exports per capita. In 2002 (respectful volumes for 1990-2002 are taken as base values) the Belarusian industrial export per capita amounted to USD713, Russia - 257, China - 234, Ukraine - 289, Turkey - 388, Romania - 450, Bulgaria - 475, Argentina - 334, Chile - 398.

Holding the leading position among C.I.S. countries in terms of industry share in the total GDP volume (31%). Respective figures are: 22% for Russia, 30% - Ukraine, 20% - Kazakhstan, 16% - Georgia;

The share of industrial products within the total volume of Belarusian exports (94%) in considerably higher compared to other C.I.S. countries. Respective figures are: 53% in Russia, 62% - in Armenia, 79% - in Ukraine. As for this indicator, Belarus is ahead of leading industrially developed countries including United Kingdom (85%), France (87%), United States (88%), Germany (90%), and Switzerland (92%).

According to the 2005 UN Statistical Yearbook (49th issue):

In 1996-2003 the number of mobile phone users in Belarus increased 170 times (from 6.5 thousand to 1.1 million);

Belarus is ahead of C.I.S. countries (Russia - 25.3, Ukraine - 23.3, Kazakhstan - 14.1) in terms of the number of land-line phones per 100 people (31.1);

Belarus is ahead of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan which have significantly bigger population in terms of the number of Internet users (more than 1.3 million people), and is only slightly behind such developed European countries as Slovakia and Norway;

Belarus holds the 11th place in the world in terms of production of TV sets, 12th - production of refrigerators, 14th - production of commercial vehicles (lorries).

According to 2005 data of the C.I.S. Statistical Committee, compared to other C.I.S. countries, Belarus has:

The highest expenditures from consolidated budget on education and professional training (6.1% of the GDP). In Azerbaijan this indicator amounted to 3.5%, in Armenia - 2.3%, in Kazakhstan - 3.4%, in Kyrgyzstan - 4.6%, in Moldova - 5.4%, in Russia - 3.5%, in Tajikistan - 2.7%, in Ukraine - 5.3%;

The lowest coefficient of infant mortality (6.9 infants died in their first year of living on every 1000 newborn children). In Azerbaijan this coefficient is 9.8, in Armenia - 11.6, in Kazakhstan - 14.5, in Moldova - 12.2, in Russia - 11.6, in Ukraine - 9.5.