Map of Lithuania | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


Background: Independent between the two World Wars Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. In March of 1990 Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence but this proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.


top of page


Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 65,200 km²
Land: 65,200 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,273 km
Border countries: (3) Belarus 502 km; , Latvia 453 km; , Poland 91 km; , Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline: 99 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea:12 nm

Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Natural resources: peat

Land use
Arable land: 35%
Permanent crops: 12%
Permanent pastures: 7%
Forests and woodland: 31%
Other: 15% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 430 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography


top of page


Population: 3,600,158 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: -0.45% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Lithuanian(s)
Adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%

Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 376,034; female 360,446)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,155,733; female 1,238,671)
65 years and over: 13% (male 159,526; female 309,748) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: -0.45% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 10.57 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 12.94 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.09 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 14.75 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 68.83 years
Male: 62.76 years
Female: 75.21 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 98% (1989 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
Conventional short form: Lithuania
Local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Local short form: Lietuva
Former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Vilnius

Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular_rajonas) and 11 municipalities*:Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Dependent areas

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Valdes ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998): ead of
Government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
Election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote_Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_TS 69, LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS (appointed 30 September 1997)
In the us chancery: 2,622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-5,860
In the us fax: [1] (202) 328-0466
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
From the us embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2,600
From the us mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 9,723
From the us telephone: [370] (2) 223-031, 227-224
From the us fax: [370] 670-6,084

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 8.6%, and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997. Inflation is expected to fall in 1998 to 6% and GDP to grow at close to 7%. Foreign direct investment in 1997 of some $430 million pushed the country over the $1 billion mark, the first Baltic state to reach this milestone. However, the current account deficit has hovered around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995_the result of greater demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $4,230 (1997 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9%
Industry: 28%
Services: 63% (1995 est.)

Agriculture products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish; flax fiber

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber

Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1996)

Labor force
Total: 1.8 million
By occupation industry and construction: 42%
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 20%
By occupation other: 38% (1997)

Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.5 billion
Expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value:$3.3 billion (1996)
Commodoties: agricultural products 16.9%, mineral products 15.7%, textiles 15.2%, machinery 11.4%, live animals 7.7% (1996)
Partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine (1996)

Imports: total value:$4.4 billion (1996)
Commodoties: mineral production 20%, machinery 16%, transport equipment 10%, chemicals 10%, textiles 8%, foodstuff 6% (1996)
Partners: Russia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark (1996)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $895 million

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: litai per US$1_4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)


top of page


Electricity
Capacity: 5.463 million kW (1995)
Production: 14.33 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Consumption per capita: 2,398 kWh (1995)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones: 1.012 million (1995)

Telephone system: telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
Domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Vilnius and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay connect switching centers
International: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; satellite earth stations_1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); cellular network linked internationally through Copenhagen by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available; landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $81.2 million (1997)
Percent of gdp: 0.9% (1997)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
With paved runways total: 25
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 71
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)

Railways
Total: 2,002 km
Broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Roadways

Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable

Merchant marine
Total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,947 GRT/341,733 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 25, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: ongoing talks over boundary dispute with Latvia (primary concern oil exploration rights; demarcation has begun on border with Belarus; 1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia