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

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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. In January 2014 Lithuania assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term.


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

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N 24 00 E

Map reference

Area
Rank: 123
Land: 62,680 km²
Water: 2,620 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Border countries: (3) Belarus 680 km; Latvia 576 km; Poland 91 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline: 90 km

Maritime claims

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

Terrain: lowland many scattered small lakes fertile soil

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Aukstojas 294 m

Natural resources: peat arable land: amber

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.47%
Other: 66.05% (2011)

Irrigated land: 13.4 km² (2007)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 24.9 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: NA

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


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Population: 3,505,738
Rank: 134
Growth rate: -0.29% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 218
Below poverty line: 4% (2008)

Nationality
Adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 84.1% Polish 6.6% Russian 5.8% Belarusian 1.2% other 1.1% unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)

Languages: Lithuanian (official) 82% Russian 8% Polish 5.6% other 0.9% unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)

Religions: Roman Catholic 77.2% Russian Orthodox 4.1% Old Believer 0.8% Evangelical Lutheran 0.6% Evangelical Reformist 0.2% other (including Sunni Muslim Jewish Greek Catholic and Karaite) 0.8% none 6.1% unspecified 10.1% (2011 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
15-24 years: 12.5% (male 224,584/female 214,184)
25-54 years: 44.7% (male 782,238/female 785,521)
55-64 years: 12.2% (male 193,374/female 235,595)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 207,222/female 389,345) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 22.1 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 22.7 %
Potential support ratio: 4.4 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 38.5 years
Female: 43.7 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.29% (2014 est.)
Rank: 218

Birth rate: 9.36 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 205

Death rate: 11.55 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 30

Net migration rate: -0.73 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 143

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: -0.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: VILNIUS (capital) 546,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 26.7 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 171
Male: 7.14 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 4.78 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 87
Male: 71.2 years
Female: 81.02 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 217

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 62.9%

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 3.64 physicians/1000 population (2010)

Hospital bed density: 6.8 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 157
People living with hivaids: 1200 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 142
Deaths: fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 145

Major infectious diseases
Vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 27.6% (2008)
Rank: 38

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2010)
Rank: 61

Literacy
Total population: 99.7%
Male: 99.7%
Female: 99.7% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2011)

Youth unemployment


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

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital
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: 60 municipalities (savivaldybe singular - savivaldybe); Akmene Alytaus Miestas Alytus Ankšciai Birštono Biržai Druskininkai Elektrénai Ignalina Jonava Joniškis Jurbarkas Kaišiadorys Kalvarijos Kauno Miestas Kaunas Kazlu Rudos Kedainiai Kelme Klaipedos Miestas Klaipeda Kretinga Kupiškis Lazdijai Marijampole Mažeikiai Moletai Neringa Pagégiai Pakruojis Palangos Miestas Panevežys Pasvalys Plunge Prienai Radviliškis Raseiniai Rietavo Rokiškis Šakiai Šalcininkai Šiauliu Miestas Šiauliai Šilale Šilute Širvintos Skuodas Švencionys Taurage Telšiai Trakai Ukmerge Utena Varena Vilkaviškis Vilniaus Vilnius Visaginas Zarasai

Dependent areas

Independence: 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS traditional founding date) 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

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: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992 entered into force 2 November 1992; amended 2003 (2012)

Legal system: civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: Prime Minister Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS (since 22 November 2012)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister and approval of the Parliament
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 11 and 25 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019); prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
Election results: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE reelected president; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE 59% Zigmantas BALCYTIS 41%; Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS approved by Parliament 90-40

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members elected in single-member districts 70 elected by proportional representation; members to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 14 and 28 October 2012 (next to be held in October 2016)
Election results: percent of vote by party (proportional vote) - DP 19.8% LSDP 18.4% TS-LKD 15.1% LS 8.6% DK 8% TT 7.3% LLRA 5.8% LVZS 3.9% other parties 13.1%; seats by party - LSDP 38 TS-LKD 33 DP 29 TT 11 LS 10 LLRA 8 DK 7 unaffiliated 4 vacant 1

Judicial branch
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges selected by Seimas from among nominations by the president by the Seimas chairperson and Supreme Court chairperson; judges serve 9-year nonrenewable terms; note - one-third of court judges reconstituted every 3 years
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: Australia Group BA BIS CBSS CD CE EAPC EBRD EIB EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO ITU ITUC (NGOs) MIGA NATO NIB NSG OAS (observer) OIF (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA Schengen Convention UN UN Security Council (temporary) UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
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 consulate general: Chicago New York
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; yellow symbolizes golden fields as well as the sun light and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside in addition to nature freedom and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland

National symbols: mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser)

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Vincas KUDIRKA

National heritage


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Economy overview: Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Despite its EU accession Lithuania's trade with its Central and Eastern European neighbors and Russia in particular accounts for a significant share of total trade. Foreign investment and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy. The three former Soviet Baltic republics were among the hardest hit by the 2008-09 financial crisis. The government's efforts to attract foreign investment to develop export markets and to pursue broad economic reforms has been key to Lithuania's quick recovery from a deep recession making Lithuania one of the fastest growing economies in the EU. Lithuania is committed to meeting the Maastricht criteria to join the euro zone which the government expects to achieve by 2015. Under the Conservative Party's leadership Lithuania raised the monthly minimum wage in January 2012 nearly 25% over 2011. In January 2013 the new Social Democrat-led government increased the minimum wage another 25% over January 2012. Despite government effo

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 86

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 100

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 65

Gross national saving:
Rank: 100

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 17.2%
Investment in fixed capital: 16.8%
Investment in inventories: 0.9%
Exports of goods and services: 85.4%
Imports of goods and services: -84.7%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 28.3%
Services: 68% (2013 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 textiles food processing fertilizers agricultural machinery optical equipment electronic components computers amber jewelry

Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2013 est.)
Rank: 126

Labor force: 1.452 million (2013 est.)
Rank: 131
By occupation industry: 19.6%
By occupation services: 72.5% (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate: 13.2% (2012 est.)
Rank: 126

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 4% (2008)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: 29.1% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index: 34 (1999)
Rank: 88

Budget
Expenditures: $15.43 billion (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 87

Taxes and other revenues: 31% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 88

Public debt: 41% of GDP (2012 est.)
Rank: 89

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.1% (2012 est.)
Rank: 32

Central bank discount rate: 2.06% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 112

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 5.28% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 148

Stock of narrow money: $13.77 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 70

Stock of broad money: $20.58 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 84

Stock of domestic credit: $22.69 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 79

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 80

Current account balance: -$231 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 104

Exports: $28.76 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 64
Commodities: mineral products machinery and equipment chemicals textiles foodstuffs plastics
Partners: Russia 19.8% Latvia 9.9% Estonia 7.5% Poland 7.3% Germany 7.1% Belarus 5.1% United Kingdom 4.9% Netherlands 4.3% (2013 est.)

Imports: $30.44 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 66
Commodities: mineral products machinery and equipment transport equipment chemicals textiles and clothing metals
Partners: Russia 29.3% Germany 10.3% Poland 9.3% Latvia 6.1% (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $8.529 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 75

Debt external: $32.84 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 73

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $15.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 78

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $2.729 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 68

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 12.27 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Production rank: 90
Consumption: 10.3 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 88
Exports: 186 million kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 71
Imports: 1.17 billion kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 64
Installed generating capacity: 3.82 million kW (2011 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 82
Generation sources fossil fuels: 70.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 106
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 125
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 129
Generation sources other renewable sources: 5% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 47

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 9,111 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 93
Crude oil exports: 2,181 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 67
Crude oil imports: 190,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 33
Crude oil proven reserves: 12 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 89

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 197,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 54
Products consumption: 70,390 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 91
Products exports: 155,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 36
Products imports: 16,110 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 117

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 154
Consumption: 3.3 billion m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 68
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 135
Imports: 3.4 billion m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 40
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2013 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 159

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 16.05 million Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 667,300 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 89
Mobile cellular: 5 million (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 110

Telephone system
Domestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 140 per 100 persons
International: country code - 370; major international connections to Denmark Sweden and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2010)

Broadcast media: public broadcaster operates 3 channels with the third channel - a satellite channel - introduced in 2007; various privately owned commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional channels; many privately owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters many with repeater stations in various regions throughout the country (2007)

Internet
Country code: .lt
Hosts: 1.205 million (2012)
Hosts rank: 43
Users: 1.964 million (2009)
Users rank: 75

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 104

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; service obligation 1 year; Lithuania converted to a professional military in the fall of 2008 although the decision continues under judicial review (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 61 (2013)
Rank: 81
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: 9 (2013)
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways: 36 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 1921 km; refined products 121 km (2013)

Railways
Rank: 76
Broad gauge: 1745 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
Standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2011)

Roadways
Rank: 56
Paved: 72,297 km (includes 312 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 11,869 km (2012)

Waterways: 441 km (navigable year round) (2007)
Rank: 87

Merchant marine
Rank: 76
By type: cargo 20 container 1 passenger/cargo 6 refrigerated cargo 9 roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 8 (Denmark 8)
Registered in other countries: 22 (Antigua and Barbuda 3 Belize 1 Comoros 1 Cook Islands 1 Norway 1 Panama 3 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9 unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals
Oil terminals: Butinge oil terminal


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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; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; 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