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.

Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N 24 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 65,300 km²
Rank: 122
Land: 62,680 km²
Water: 2,620 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1574 km
Border countries: (3) Belarus 680 km; Latvia 576 km; Poland 91 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 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: Aukstojas 294 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)

Total renewable water resources: 24.5 km³ (2005)

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 3,545,319 (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 130
Growth rate: -0.276% (2010 est.)
Growth rate rank: 217
Below poverty line: 4% (2003)

Nationality
Noun: Lithuanian
Adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 84% Polish 6.1% Russian 4.9% Belarusian 1.1% other or unspecified 3.9% (2009)

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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.2%
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 1,214,743/female 1,261,413)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 198,714/female 376,771) (2010 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.7 years
Male: 37.1 years
Female: 42.3 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.276% (2010 est.)
Rank: 217

Birth rate: 9.21 births/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 207

Death rate: 11.25 deaths/1000 population (July 2010 est.)
Rank: 39

Net migration rate: -0.72 migrant(s)/1000 population (2010 est.)
Rank: 150

Urbanization
Urban population: 67% of total population
Rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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 Air Pollution-Sulphur 85 Air Pollution-Sulphur 94 Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Environmental Modification Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.057 male/female
Under 15 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: 0.89 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.37 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 173
Male: 7.61 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.06 deaths/1000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.12 years
Rank: 87
Male: 70.23 years
Female: 80.29 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Rank: 218

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 118
People living with hivaids: 2,200 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 138
Deaths: fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 108

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)

Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2007)
Rank: 85

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
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2008)

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

Independence: 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the 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; last amended 13 July 2004

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE
Head of government: Prime Minister Andrius KUBILIUS (since 27 November 2008)
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 on 17 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014); prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
Election results: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE 69.1% Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8% Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2% others 12.9%; Andrius KUBILIUS' government approved by Parliament 83-40 with 5 abstentions

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members elected by popular vote 70 elected by proportional representation; members to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - TS-LKD 19.7% TPP 15.1% TT 12.7% LSDP 11.7% KDP+J 9% LRLS 5.7% LCS 5.3% LLRA 4.8% LVLS 3.7% NS 3.6% other 8.7%; seats by faction - TS-LKD 44 LSDP 26 TPP 16 TT 15 LRLS 11 KDP+J 10 LCS 8 LLRA 3 LVLS 3 NS 1 independent 4; note - seats by faction as of 15 March 2010 - TS-LKD 46 LSDP 25 TT 18 Christian Party 12 LS 11 DP 10 LCS 7 TPP 7 unaffiliated 5; note - TS-LKD LS LCS and TPP form the ruling coalition

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

Political parties and leaders: Christian party [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Algimantas MATULEVICIUS]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS]; Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]; Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Gintautas BABRAVICIUS]; Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]; Lithuanian Farmers' Union or LVLS or VLS [ Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]; Lithuanian People's Party (not yet officially established) [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE]; National Revival or TPP [Arunas VALINSKAS]; New Union (Social Liberal) or NS [Arturas PAULAUSKAS]; Order and Justice Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Zygimantas PAVILIONIS
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 chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
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 anthem
Name: 'Tautiska giesme'
Lyricsmusic: Vincas KUDIRKA
Note: adopted 1918 restored 1990; the anthem was written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; it was banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

Economy overview: Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Despite Lithuania's EU accession Lithuania's trade with its Central and Eastern European neighbors and Russia in particular accounts for a growing percentage of total trade. 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. Lithuania's economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years prior to 2008 driven by exports and domestic demand. However GDP plunged nearly 15% in 2009 - during the 2008-09 crisis the three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst economic declines. In 2009 the government launched a high-profile campaign led by Prime Minister KUBILIUS to attract foreign investment and to develop export markets. The current account deficit which had risen to roughly 15% of GDP in 2007-08 recovered to a surplus of 4% 2009 and 3.5% in 2010 in the wake of a cutback in imports to almost half the 2008 level. Nevertheless economic growth was flat and unemployment continued upward to 16% in 2010.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 89
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 188

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 70
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.3%
Industry: 27.6%
Services: 68.2% (2010 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: 2.5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 121

Labor force: 1.633 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 128
By occupation agriculture: 14%
By occupation industry: 29.1%
By occupation services: 56.9% (2005)

Unemployment rate: 13.7% (2009 est.)
Rank: 154

Population below poverty line: 4% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.7%
Highest 10: 27.4% (2004)

Distribution of family income gini index: 34 (1999)
Rank: 85

Public debt: 29.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 81

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.5% (2009 est.)
Rank: 19

Central bank discount rate: 4.73% (31 December 2008)
Rank: 105

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 8.41% (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 113

Stock of narrow money: $8.896 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Rank: 73

Stock of broad money: $17.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 86

Stock of domestic credit: $25.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 73

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 84

Current account balance: $1.492 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 43

Exports: $16.48 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 70
Commodities: mineral products 22% machinery and equipment 10% chemicals 9% textiles 7% foodstuffs 7% plastics 7%
Partners: Russia 13.2% Latvia 10% Germany 9.6% Poland 7.1% Estonia 7.1% Belarus 4.7% UK 4.3% (2009)

Imports: $17.56 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 71
Commodities: mineral products machinery and equipment transport equipment chemicals textiles and clothing metals
Partners: Russia 30.1% Germany 11.1% Poland 9.9% Latvia 6.3% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $6.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 61

Debt external: $28.69 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 66

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $13.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 75

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $2.307 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 64

Exchange rates: litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.6637 (2010) 2.4787 (2009) 2.3251 (2008) 2.5362 (2007) 2.7498 (2006)

Electricity
Production: 12.09 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 86
Consumption: 9.612 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 89
Exports: 6.606 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 5.649 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 163
Consumption: 3.53 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 67
Exports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Exports rank: 160
Imports: 3.53 billion m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 37
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2010 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 166

Telephones
Main lines in use: 747,400 (2009)
Main lines in use rank: 89
Mobile cellular: 4.962 million (2009)
Mobile cellular rank: 96

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate; being modernized to provide improved international capability and better residential access
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 (2008)

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; large number of privately-owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available; publicly-owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; large number of privately-owned commercial broadcasters many with repeater stations in various regions throughout the country (2007)

Internet
Country code: .lt
Hosts: 1.17 million (2010)
Hosts rank: 40
Users: 1.964 million (2009)
Users rank: 75

Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Rank: 125

Military service age and obligation: 19-26 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation; male registration required at age 16 (2009)

Airports: 81 (2010)
Rank: 69
With paved runways total: 26
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: 13 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 55
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 51 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 1695 km; refined products 114 km (2009)

Railways
Total: 1768 km
Rank: 78
Broad gauge: 1746 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
Standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2009)

Roadways
Total: 81,030 km
Rank: 58
Paved: 71,563 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 9,467 km (2008)

Waterways: 441 km (navigable year round) (2007)
Rank: 88

Merchant marine
Total: 42
Rank: 75
By type: cargo 22 container 1 passenger/cargo 6 refrigerated cargo 11 roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 8 (Denmark 8)
Registered in other countries: 29 (Antigua and Barbuda 4 Belize 2 Comoros 3 Cook Islands 2 Norway 1 Panama 4 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10 unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Butinge Klaipeda

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

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