Context: CS Global Partners ranked Belarus higher than Russia in terms of quality of life. The ranking combines data from two global indices: the UN Human Development Index and the Environmental Performance Index. It considers not only economic growth but also education, life expectancy, and environmental health. Although the authors do not disclose the weighting of each indicator, Belarus outperformed Russia in the indices they relied on, likely due to environmental factors. Ultimately, Belarus ranked 44th out of 152, while Russia ranked six places lower.
On July 6, 2026, the program Aktualny Mikrafon on the First National Channel of Belarusian Radio discussed the quality-of-life index. Host Dzmitry Rubashny asked economist Yulya Abukhovich to compare Belarus not only with Russia but also with countries with similar potential. In response, she cited Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as negative examples of development after joining the European Union.
“Take Pribaltika*, for example — countries that were also members of the Soviet Union, Soviet countries. We always developed side by side; there was industry. <...> But today, after joining the European Union, they’ve given all that up. There’s no industry, literally no railroads, and no transportation system,” said Abukhovich.
The data do not support the claim that the Baltic States lack railways and a transportation system. Railway density — measured as the length of railway lines per 1,000 square kilometers of territory — has decreased during the period of EU membership only in Latvia. In contrast, it has increased in Lithuania and Estonia. According to the latest data, this figure is the same in Estonia as in Belarus. In Lithuania and Latvia, however, it is slightly higher. In 2024, railway density stood at 26 kilometers per 1,000 square kilometers in Belarus and Estonia, compared with 28 kilometers in Latvia and 29 kilometers in Lithuania.
The World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index also does not support the claim that transportation infrastructure in the Baltic States has been destroyed. It was compiled from surveys of logistics experts in 115 countries worldwide. The experts evaluated six indicators, including the quality of trade and transport infrastructure. On this component,, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and neighboring Poland scored higher than Belarus.
In the quality-of-life ranking discussed on Belarusian Radio’s First National Channel, all three Baltic countries also rank significantly higher than Belarus. Therefore, Yulya Abukhovich’s statements are contradicted rather than confirmed by the example of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
*The term “Pribaltika” came into widespread use during the Soviet era. Since Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia regained their independence, the term is no longer used in official terminology. Its use can be compared to using the name “Belorussia” instead of “Belarus.” While “Belorussia” is still used in Russian, it does not correspond to the country’s official name and may be perceived as outdated. The term “Pribaltika” is only used in direct quotes in this article. The editorial team uses the term “Baltic States” throughout the rest of the text.
