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

top of page


Background: Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century through alliances and conquest Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569 Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. On 11 March 1990 Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.


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: NA km²
Water: NA km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,613 km
Border countries: (3) Belarus 653.5 km; , Latvia 588 km; , Poland 103.7 km; , Russia (Kaliningrad) 267.8 km

Coastline: 90 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 293.6 m

Natural resources: peat arable land: amber

Land use
Arable land: 44.81%
Permanent crops: 0.9%
Other: 54.29% (2005)

Irrigated land: 70 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits


top of page


Population: 3,575,439 (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: -0.289% (2007 est.)
Below poverty line: 4% (2003)

Nationality
Noun: Lithuanian
Adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 83.4% Polish 6.7% Russian 6.3% other or unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)

Languages: Lithuanian (official) 82% Russian 8% Polish 5.6% other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Religions: Roman Catholic 79% Russian Orthodox 4.1% Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9% other or unspecified 5.5% none 9.5% (2001 census)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.9% (male 273,573/female 259,570)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 1,213,011/female 1,264,996)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 194,500/female 369,789) (2007 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 38.6 years
Male: 36.1 years
Female: 41.2 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.289% (2007 est.)

Birth rate: 8.87 births/1000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate: 11.05 deaths/1000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.72 migrant(s)/1000 population (2007 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: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.054 male/female
15-64 years: 0.959 male/female
65 years and over: 0.526 male/female
Total population: 0.887 male/female (2007 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.68 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 7.99 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.29 deaths/1000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.44 years
Male: 69.46 years
Female: 79.69 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 1300 (2003 est.)
Deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

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: 99.6%
Male: 99.6%
Female: 99.6% (2001 census)

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
Name: Vilnius
Geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 10 counties (apskritys singular - apskritis); Alytaus Kauno Klaipedos Marijampoles Panevezio Siauliu Taurages Telsiu Utenos Vilniaus

Dependent areas

Independence: 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)
Head of government: Prime Minister Gediminas KIRKILAS (since 4 July 2006)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009); prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
Election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; Gediminas KIRKILAS approved by Parliament 85-13, with five abstentions

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2008)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, TS 14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Farmers and New Democracy Union 6.6%, other 9%; seats by faction - Labor 29, Homeland Union 26, Social Democrats 23, Civil Democracy (split from Labor) 11, Liberal Movement (formerly Liberal Political Group) 11, National Farmer's Union (formerly Farmers and New Democracy Union) 11, Social Liberal 10, Liberal Democrats 9, Liberal and Center Union 8, independents 3 (as of late-July 2006)

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all courts appointed by the President

Political parties and leaders: Civil Democracy Party [Viktor MUNTIANAS]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; National Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS]; Labor Party [Kestutis DAUKSYS]; Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS]; Liberal Democratic Party [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Liberal Movement [Petras AUSTREVICIUS]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania [Julius VESELKA]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS]; Social Liberal/New Union [Arturas PAULAUSKAS]; Social Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Young Lithuania and New Nationalists [Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]

International organization participation: ACCT (observer) Australia Group BA BIS CBSS CE EAPC EBRD EIB EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICRM IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITU ITUC MIGA NATO NIB NSG OIF (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCL WCO WEU (associate partner) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA
In the us chancery: 4,590 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 234-5,860
In the us fax: [1] (202) 328-0466
In the us consulates general: Chicago, New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD
From the us embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-3,106
From the us mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-3,106
From the us telephone: [370] (5) 266 5,500
From the us fax: [370] (5) 266 5,510

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: Lithuania the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.7% in 2006 while wages grew 17.6% contributing to rising inflation. Exports and imports continue to grow strongly and the current account deficit rose to nearly 10% of GDP in 2006. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large state-owned utilities is nearly complete. Foreign government and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy but foreign direct investment declined in 2006.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $54.9 billion (2006 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 7.5% (2006 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $15,300 (2006 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.5%
Industry: 35%
Services: 59.6% (2006 est.)

Agriculture products: grain potatoes sugar beets flax vegetables; beef milk eggs; fish

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 jewelry

Industrial production growth rate: 7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.588 million (2006 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 15.8%
By occupation industry: 28.2%
By occupation services: 56% (2004)

Unemployment rate
Note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7% (2006 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 4% (2003)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.7%
Highest 10: 27.7% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 36 (2003)

Budget
Revenues: $10.05 billion
Expenditures: $10.12 billion (2006 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.8% (2006 est.)

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: $10.19 billion (2006)

Current account balance: $-3.244 billion (2006 est.)

Exports: $14.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: mineral products 23% textiles and clothing 16% machinery and equipment 11% chemicals 6% wood and wood products 5% foodstuffs 5% (2001)
Partners: Russia 12.8% Latvia 11.1% Germany 8.6% Estonia 6.5% Poland 6.1% Netherlands 4.8% Sweden 4.5% UK 4.4% US 4.3% Denmark 4.2% France 4.2% (2006)

Imports: $18.29 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: mineral products machinery and equipment transport equipment chemicals textiles and clothing metals
Partners: Russia 24.3% Germany 14.9% Poland 9.5% Latvia 4.8% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $5.773 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external: $16.2 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $10.94 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $1.183 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates: litai per US dollar - 2.7498 (2006) 2.774 (2005) 2.7806 (2004) 3.0609 (2003) 3.677 (2002)


top of page


Electricity
Production: 13.48 billion kWh (2005)
Consumption: 9.296 billion kWh (2005)
Exports: 8.607 billion kWh (2005)
Imports: 5.641 billion kWh (2005)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2005)
Consumption: 2.916 billion m³ (2005 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Imports: 2.916 billion m³ (2005)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Main lines in use: 792,400 (2006)
Mobile cellular: 4.718 million (2006)

Telephone system
General assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an improved international capability and better residential access
Domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded; mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber applications
International: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .lt
Hosts: 1.301 million (2007)
Users: 1.083 million (2006)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (2006; 1.23% 2007 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation (2006)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 87 (2007)
With paved runways total: 30
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 17 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 57
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 53 (2007)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 1696 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 1,771 km
Broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
Standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways
Total: 79,497 km
Paved: 70,549 km (includes 417 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)

Waterways: 425 km (2005)

Merchant marine
Total: 50 ships (1000 GRT or over) 363,795 GRT/366,624 DWT
By type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 22, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 16
Foreign owned: 9 (Denmark 9)
Registered in other countries: 20 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, North Korea 1, Norway 1, Panama 5, St Vincent and The Grenadines 7, unknown 3) (2007)

Ports and terminals: Klaipeda


top of page


Disputes international: Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia while still conforming as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member to strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania primarily due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007 ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment and destination point for cannabis cocaine ecstasy and opiates from Southwest Asia Latin America Western Europe and neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality amphetamines but limited production of cannabis methamphetamines; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation