On 1 January 2016 Minsk had a population of 1 959 000 people, according to the Minsk General Department for Statistics. Thus, one-fifth of the Belarusians resides in Minsk; also, one-fifth of Minsk population is pensioners. Within a year the Minsk population has increased by 21 000 people because of immigration (15k) and high birth rate (5.5k).
According to the data of the National Statistics Committee, 19.5 per cent of Minsk residents are employed in the industrial sector, 9.4 per cent - in constructions, 19.3 - in the service industry, 8.6 per cent - in education, while other sectors of the economy employ about 29 per cent of the capital's population.
Real average salary in Minsk in 2016 is BYN 915, in Brest - BYN 579, which partially explains the migration into the capital.
Over 20 per cent of the city's population are pensioners.