“Going up in the rankings all the time.” The Belarusian radio station’s flattering reporting on sustainable development in Belarus was misleading

Context: In January 2026, Belarus’s GDP decreased by 1.2%. Throughout 2025, the figure increased by around 1.3%, which is three times lower than the official plan.

Can one say that the Belarusian economy is sustainable? The question by a viewer was read on February 17, 2026 by the host of the Aktualny Mikrofon show, Elena Davidovich. The show is broadcast on the First National Channel of the Belarusian Radio. 

“Belarus’s economy is sustainable. Moreover, there is an indicator, such as progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, where the Republic of Belarus demonstrates very strong results. This shows that GDP is no longer the most important metric today. In the rankings for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, we continue to move upward,” said economic analyst Yulya Abukhovich, a guest in the studio.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals rankings show how well countries are meeting targets across 17 areas, ranging from eradicating hunger and poverty to improving access to education and achieving sustainable economic growth. Indeed, Belarus is relatively high on the list: in 2025, the country was ranked 32nd out of 167. However, it is not true that it is constantly moving upward.

Ten years ago, Belarus ranked 23rd in this rating. In 2020, it climbed to 18th place, but subsequently fell to 34th. It then rose to 30th in 2024, but lost ground the following year.