How long has Belarus been a country?

The country of Belarus (also called Belorussia) has existed in various forms throughout history, with its modern territorial borders being relatively new. The Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic (BSSR) was established as one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union in 1922. The BSSR formally declared its independence from the USSR on July 27, 1990, and became known as the Republic of Belarus. However, the country's independence was only internationally recognized after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. Therefore, Belarus has been an independent country for over 31 years since the declaration of its independence.