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, Lithuania extended its territory through alliances and conquest 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 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 surrounding countries partitioned its remnants. Lithuania regained its independence after World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. In 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until 1991. The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into West European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 65,300 km²
Land: 62,680 km²
Water: 2,620 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,545 km
Border countries (4): (3) Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 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
Highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 110 m

Natural resources

Land use
Agricultural land: 45.9% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 36.8% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 8.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 35.3% (2023 est.)
Other: 18.8% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 61 km² (2020)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: occasional floods, droughts

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


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Population
Total: 2,628,186 (2024 est.)
Male: 1,214,994
Female: 1,413,192
Distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as the western port of Klaipeda
Growth rate: -1.05% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

Languages: Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7% (2021 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 205,154/female 194,386)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 808,435/female 837,908)
65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 201,405/female 380,898)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 55.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 23.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 45.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 40.9 years
Female: 49.2 years

Population growth rate: -1.05% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 8.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 15.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, as well as the western port of Klaipeda

Urbanization
Urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2023)

Environment

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 70.8 years
Female: 81.7 years

Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 6.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 2% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 8.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 3.3% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.1% (2021 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7.6% (2024 est.); 6.9% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

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
Etymology: named after the Vilnia River; the river name is said to derive from the Lithuanian word vilnis, meaning 'wave'

Administrative divisions: 60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system: civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)
Head of government: Prime Minister Inga RUGINIENE (since 25 September 2025)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
Most recent election date: 26 May 2024
2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4%
2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%
Expected date of next election: 2,029

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Seimas)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 141 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: mixed system
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 10/13/2024 to 10/27/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) (52); Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) (28); Political Party 'The Dawn of Nemunas' (PPNA) (20); Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” (DSVL) (14); Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LS) (12); Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) (8); Other (7)
Percentage of women in chamber: 28.4%
Expected date of next election: October 2,028

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

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

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Tautiska giesme' (The National Song)
Lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
History: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 when Lithuania was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 5 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 2.8% (2024 est.); 0.3% (2023 est.); 2.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.8% (2024 est.); 0.3% (2023 est.); 2.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 57.3% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 17.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 23.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -1.8% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 76.5% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -72.6% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.6% (2024 est.)
Industry: 23.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 63.6% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology

Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 1.548 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 7.6% (2024 est.); 6.9% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7.6% (2024 est.); 6.9% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $28.011 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $28.68 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal 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: $62.896 billion (2024 est.); $61.02 billion (2023 est.); $61.448 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, furniture, plastic products, wheat, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $58.491 billion (2024 est.); $57.899 billion (2023 est.); $62.916 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: crude petroleum, cars, natural gas, packaged medicine, plastic products (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 5.426 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 10.992 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 3.98 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 10.91 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 829.9 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 16.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 14.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 51% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 13.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 166,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 78,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 149,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 67,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Consumption: 1.49 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.867 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 3.282 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 12.877 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 380,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 9.61 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 2.887 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 83.7 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 224,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 3.92 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 89% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 806,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures: 4% of GDP (2025 est.); 3.1% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 64 (2025)

Heliports: 2 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 1,911 km (2020) 152 km electrified

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 59 (2023)
By type: container ship 3, general cargo 19, oil tanker 2, other 35

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs