Belarusian DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Belarus · Eastern Europe
Belarus lies in the forests and marshes between Poland, Lithuania, Russia and Ukraine. For centuries it was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and river names of Baltic origin show that Baltic-speaking peoples lived here before Slavic languages spread. In our model, the Belarusian average is 42.2% steppe-related, 32.2% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 13.9% Western hunter-gatherer and 11.7% Eastern hunter-gatherer, between Lithuanians and Ukrainians for both early farmer ancestry (28.7% and 35.2%) and Western hunter-gatherer ancestry (17.5% and 11.7%). The neighbours tell the same story: the nearest modern averages are Russians from Smolensk, just across the eastern border (distance 0.0088), and Lithuanians from southern Aukstaitija (0.0117), then Russians from Saint Petersburg and Ukrainians from Chernihiv. The closest ancient groups carry a Balto-Slavic profile, led by early medieval people from Avar-period Austria (0.0107) and Viking Age Langeland in Denmark. As for other East Slavic populations, the model fit is rough here (0.071).
- Largest ancient components in our model: Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 42.2%, Anatolian Neolithic farmers 32.2%, Western hunter-gatherers 13.9%
- Closest modern population in our data: Russian (Smolensk), distance 0.0088
- Closest ancient group in our data: Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (Balto-Slavic Profile), distance 0.0107
This page sums up what the DNA of the Belarusian sample tells us about deep origins. It is built from the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of individuals sampled in Belarus, and it is one of 335 populations in our atlas. An average describes the group as a whole, not any single person in it.
Ancient make-up of the Belarusian average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Belarusian average, 42.2%, goes to Steppe herders (Yamnaya), ahead of Anatolian Neolithic farmers (32.2%) and Western hunter-gatherers (13.9%). The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) component reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC. The Anatolian Neolithic farmers share (32.2%) reflects the Neolithic farmers of Anatolia, who carried agriculture into Europe from about 6500 BC.
The fit is loose (fit distance 0.071), which usually means that none of the available reference populations is a close stand-in for part of this ancestry, so read the percentages as rough. The model draws on West Eurasian ancient genomes, with modern West African and East Asian stand-ins.
Sarmatia – Balto-Slavic Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Belarusian
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Belarusian average is Russian (Smolensk), at a distance of 0.009 (very close). Next come Lithuanian (South Aukstaitija) at 0.012 and Lithuanian (PA) at 0.013. Even the tenth closest, Ukrainian, is only 0.017 away: Belarusian belongs to a dense cluster of related populations, so small differences inside that cluster should not be over-interpreted.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian (Smolensk) | 0.0088 | Very close |
| 2 | Lithuanian (South Aukstaitija) | 0.0117 | Very close |
| 3 | Lithuanian (PA) | 0.0132 | Very close |
| 4 | Russian (Saint Petersburg) | 0.0132 | Very close |
| 5 | Ukrainian (Chernihiv) | 0.0143 | Very close |
| 6 | Ukrainian (Sumy) | 0.0151 | Very close |
| 7 | Russian (Voronez) | 0.0152 | Very close |
| 8 | Ukrainian (Rivne) | 0.0161 | Very close |
| 9 | Polish (Mazovia Warsaw) | 0.0163 | Very close |
| 10 | Ukrainian | 0.0173 | Very close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Belarusian
Looking back in time, the ancient sample that most resembles the Belarusian average is Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (Balto-Slavic Profile) (Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD), at 0.011. Denmark Early Medieval Viking Age Langeland (Balto-Slavic Profile) and Germany High-Late Medieval Krakauer Berg (Balto-Slavic Profile) come next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (Balto-Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0107 |
| 2 | Denmark Early Medieval Viking Age Langeland (Balto-Slavic Profile) | Viking Age, c. 800-1050 AD | 0.0136 |
| 3 | Germany High-Late Medieval Krakauer Berg (Balto-Slavic Profile) | High to Late Medieval, c. 1000-1500 AD | 0.0146 |
| 4 | Czechia Early Medieval Early Slav Pohansko (Balto-Slavic Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0150 |
| 5 | Poland High Medieval Plonsk (Balto-Slavic Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0157 |
| 6 | Germany Early-High Medieval Elbe Slav Obermollern | Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD | 0.0159 |
| 7 | Poland High Medieval Grodek (Balto-Slavic Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0178 |
| 8 | Poland High Medieval Ostrow Lednicki (Balto-Slavic Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0184 |
| 9 | Poland High Medieval Lad (Balto-Slavic Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0188 |
| 10 | Ukraine High Medieval Kievan Rus'-Golden Horde Pidhirtsi (Balto-Slavic Profile) | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0191 |
Ancient DNA from Belarus
Our ancient DNA database holds 1 individual excavated in present-day Belarus. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are J2b (1). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Belarusian population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
| Haplogroup | Individuals | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| J2b | 1 | BEL024 |
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 1 from Belarus.
Compare yourself with Belarusian
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Belarusian average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Belarusian and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Belarusian individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Belarusian. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Belarusian average. Your own DNA has its own story: Sarmatia – Balto-Slavic Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people from Eastern and Central-Eastern Europe of Balto-Slavic ancestry: ancient regional core (Corded Ware, Bronze Age cultures, Scythian, Sarmatian and Baltic Iron Age, Przeworsk, Wielbark and Chernyakhiv, Early Slavs...
More populations from Eastern Europe
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Belarusian?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Belarusian average is about 42.2% Steppe herders (Yamnaya), 32.2% Anatolian Neolithic farmers and 13.9% Western hunter-gatherers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Belarusian?
In the G25 data, the closest modern populations to the Belarusian average are Russian (Smolensk), Lithuanian (South Aukstaitija) and Lithuanian (PA). The closest ancient matches are Austria Early Medieval Avar Period (Balto-Slavic Profile), Denmark Early Medieval Viking Age Langeland (Balto-Slavic Profile) and Germany High-Late Medieval Krakauer Berg (Balto-Slavic Profile).
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Belarusian?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Belarusian average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Belarusian ancestry?
For the Belarusian average, the regional report to choose is Sarmatia – Balto-Slavic Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.