"In truth, no one receives such compensation."
In the heart of Eastern Europe, Belarus has seen a growing interest in understanding the country's salary statistics. A recent video explanation on YouTube, garnering almost 250,000 views and over 4,400 likes, has shed light on the intricacies of calculating average and median salaries.
The National Statistical Committee of Belarus (Belstat) publishes a monthly statistic on the nominal, accrued average wage. However, data from small and micro-organizations is not included in these official statistics, leading to a gap in comprehensive salary information.
The average salary in Belarus is calculated as the sum of all individual salaries divided by the total number of earners. This figure, known as the "gross" wage, includes mandatory taxes and social protection fund contributions. On the other hand, the median salary is the middle value when all salaries are arranged in order, separating the higher half from the lower half.
The median salary is considered more representative because it is less affected by extreme values such as very high or very low salaries, which can skew the average. For example, a few very high incomes will raise the average salary disproportionately, but the median will remain the midpoint, reflecting the typical salary more accurately for most people.
In Belarus, salaries vary significantly across professions and regions, and some jobs have much higher incomes than others. Using the median helps to present a more realistic view of what a "typical" worker earns, avoiding the distortion caused by the upper salary extremes which affect the average more strongly.
In June, the average "net" wage in Belarus was 2337.3 rubles, and in Minsk, it was 3094.5 rubles. After mandatory deductions and taxes, the median salary in Belarus in May amounts to 1732 rubles. The highest recorded figure was in Minsk, at 3598.2 rubles.
To find the "net" wage, one must subtract 14% from the gross wage (13% income tax and 1% mandatory contributions to the social protection fund). Benefits such as paid meals, travel, accommodation, and sanatorium vouchers are included in the salary when calculating the average wage.
Many viewers found the video helpful in understanding how statistical organs calculate the average salary and how it differs from the median. One viewer commented, "Now it's all clear." Another wrote, "Finally, someone explained it simply and in detail for the average person! Thank you!"
In June 2023, the nominal, accrued average wage in Belarus increased to 2717.8 rubles. The median salary in Belarus in the same month was 2014 rubles. Despite the differences between the average and median salaries, both figures provide valuable insights into the country's economic landscape.
[1] https://www.belstat.gov.by/ru/statistics/wages-and-salaries/average-wages/ [3] https://www.belstat.gov.by/ru/statistics/wages-and-salaries/median-wages/ [5] https://www.belstat.gov.by/ru/statistics/wages-and-salaries/wages-and-salaries-by-professions/
In the realm of economics, the National Statistical Committee of Belarus (Belstat) publishes monthly statistics, including the accrued average wage and median wage. However, small and micro-organizations' data is excluded from these official statistics, leading to a gap in comprehensive salary information.
Technology, specifically video explanations on platforms like YouTube, can bridge this gap as they help demystify the process of calculating average and median salaries, bringing clarity to the intricacies of Belarus' salary statistics for businesses and finance. For example, a recent video generated close to 250,000 views and over 4,400 likes, offering helpful insights to viewers.
