International Day of Families is observed annually on 15 May in accordance with a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. Belarus also celebrates this holiday.
A close-knit family is the foundation of a country's development. According to the 2019 census, there were 2,612,413 families in Belarus. In 2024, 46,242 marriages were registered in the country.
The number of large families in Belarus is steadily increasing. There are currently more than 2.6 million of such families in Belarus. Among them, 9.2% are raising three or more children.
Belarus continues to support families with children. The country has increased childcare benefits, introduced additional types of financial assistance, and provides a wide range of social services. According to the Labor Ministry, state benefits for families raising children amounted to Br3.38 billion in 2024, while maternity benefits totaled Br277.4 million.
A range of guarantees and support measures are also provided for families raising orphans and children left without parental care. Currently, there are about 16,000 orphans and children left without parental care in Belarus. As of the first quarter of 2025, more than 12,800 of them are being raised in substitute families or family-type orphanages. The government ensures financial assistance for these children, including monthly cash payments to foster parents, guardians, and caregivers, as well as compensation for utility costs associated with caring for orphans.
One of the most significant measures to support families at the birth of third and subsequent children in Belarus is the Family Capital program. A lump non-cash sum in the amount of Br33,275 (from 1 January to 31 December 2025. As of 1 May 2025, a total of 145,880 large families have opened deposit accounts in Belarus under the family capital program, including 82,600 deposit accounts to the total amount of $826 million and 63,200 deposit accounts to the total amount of Br1.65 billion. Every year large families also receive one-time financial back-to-school assistance.
The most important area of the Belarusian state family policy is the protection of motherhood and childhood. State support for the family is aimed not only at raising the birthrate and increasing the financial welfare of families but also at strengthening the family as a social institution and the moral basis for the sustainable development of society.
The national campaign “Together for a Strong and Healthy Family” timed to coincide with Family Day is running in Belarus from 12 to 17 May. The campaign events span all regions of the country and include educational, cultural, sports and social initiatives.
