Since Belarus has become independent, the living conditions of the Romani community has remained poor, and education remains minimal; in 2009, only 28 Roma had graduated from higher education, as per the census. As of the 2009 census, 7,079 Roma live in Belarus, but it has been commonly claimed that the population is higher, with some estimates going as high as 60,000. The largest number of Roma is in Gomel Region, at 2,501 people.
