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; in January 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone.
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Europe
total: 65,300 sq km
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
slightly larger than West Virginia
total: 1,549 km
border countries (4): Belarus 640 km, Latvia 544 km, Poland 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km
90 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
mean elevation: 110 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
peat, arable land, amber
agricultural land: 44.8%
arable land 34.9%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.4%
forest: 34.6%
other: 20.6% (2011 est.)
44 sq km (2012)
NA
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits
Lithuanian 84.1%, Polish 6.6%, Russian 5.8%, Belarusian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)
2,854,235 (July 2016 est.)
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other 0.9%, unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)
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.)
total dependency ratio: 50.1%
youth dependency ratio: 21.8%
elderly dependency ratio: 28.3%
potential support ratio: 3.5% (2015 est.)
0-14 years: 14.93% (male 218,453/female 207,643)
15-24 years: 11.55% (male 170,494/female 159,283)
25-54 years: 40.36% (male 566,159/female 585,862)
55-64 years: 13.73% (male 172,987/female 218,955)
65 years and over: 19.42% (male 187,340/female 367,059) (2016 est.)
total: 43.4 years
male: 39.5 years
female: 46.7 years (2016 est.)
-1.06% (2016 est.)
10 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
14.5 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
-6.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda
urban population: 66.5% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: -0.53% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
VILNIUS (capital) 517,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
total population: 74.9 years
male: 69.5 years
female: 80.6 years (2016 est.)
1.59 children born/woman (2016 est.)
62.9%
note: percent of women aged 18-49 (2006)
6.6% of GDP (2014)
4.12 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 90.4% of population
total: 96.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 9.6% of population
total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 97.2% of population
rural: 82.8% of population
total: 92.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.8% of population
rural: 17.2% of population
total: 7.6% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
degree of risk: intermediate
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)
27.5% (2014)
4.6% of GDP (2013)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015 est.)
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2014)
26.8 (2013 est.)
total: 19.3%
male: 19.6%
female: 18.7% (2014 est.)
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
etymology: meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania
semi-presidential republic
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
60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstono, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarijos, 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, Rietavo, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
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), 16 February 1918 (independence from Soviet Russia)
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992
amendments: proposed by at least one-fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum; amended 1996, 2003, 2006 (2016)
civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Saulius SKVERNELIS (since 13 December 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 and 25 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
election results: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE reelected president; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (independent) 59%, Zigmantas BALCYTIS (LSDP) 41%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 90 to 4
description: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote and 70 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 and 23 October 2016 (next to be held in October 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - LVLS 22.5%, TS-LKD 22.6%, LSDP 15%, LS 9.5%, LCP-LPP 6.3%, LLRA 5.7%, TT 5.6%, DP 4.9%, LZP 2%, Lithuanian List 1.8%, other 4.1%; seats by party - LVLS 54, TS-LKD 31, LSDP 17, LS 14, LLRA 8, TT 8, DP 2, LCP-LPP 1, LZP 1, Lithuanian List 1, independent 4
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
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 the Seimas from among nominations by the president, by the Seimas chairperson, and Supreme Court chairperson; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts
Anti-Corruption Coalition or LCP-LPP
Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]
Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]
Labor Party or DP [Valentinas MAZURONIS]
Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]
Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Linas BALSYS]
Lithuanian List
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS]
Order and Justice Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]
Peasant and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]
Way of Courage or DK [Jonas VARKALA]
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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 (non-permanent), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Rolandas KRISCIUNAS (since 17 September 2015)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah A. MCCARTHY (since 5 February 2013)
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510
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
mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red
name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Lithuania gained membership in the WTO in May 2001 and joined the EU in May 2004. Lithuania's trade with the EU and CIS countries accounts for approximately 87.3% of total trade. Foreign investment and EU funding have aided in the transition from the form
$85.79 billion (2016 est.)
$83.62 billion (2015 est.)
$82.29 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
$42.78 billion (2015 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
1.6% (2015 est.)
3% (2014 est.)
$29,900 (2016 est.)
$28,800 (2015 est.)
$28,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
16.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
16.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
21.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
household consumption: 65.7%
government consumption: 17.3%
investment in fixed capital: 19.3%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 72.9%
imports of goods and services: -75.2% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 30.4%
services: 66.4% (2016 est.)
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs, pork, cheese; fish
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, lasers, electronic com
3.3% (2016 est.)
1.459 million (2016 est.)
agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 19.6%
services: 72.5% (2012 est.)
8.2% (2016 est.)
9.1% (2015 est.)
4% (2008 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 29.1% (2008)
35.5 (2009)
34 (1999)
revenues: $14.68 billion
expenditures: $15.12 billion (2016 est.)
34.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
-1% of GDP (2016 est.)
41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
45.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
note: official data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as int
calendar year
1.5% (2016 est.)
-0.7% (2015 est.)
0.05% (31 December 2013)
0.3% (31 December 2012)
3.1% (31 December 2016 est.)
3.1% (31 December 2015 est.)
$21.38 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$19.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$25.08 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$23.94 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$27.58 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$24.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.964 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
$4.075 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
$5.661 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
-$676 million (2016 est.)
-$710 million (2015 est.)
$23.52 billion (2016 est.)
$24.81 billion (2015 est.)
refined fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles, foodstuffs, plastics
Russia 13.7%, Latvia 9.8%, Poland 9.7%, Germany 7.8%, Estonia 5.3%, Belarus 4.6%, UK 4.5%, US 4.4%, Netherlands 4% (2015)
$25.92 billion (2016 est.)
$26.93 billion (2015 est.)
oil, natural gas, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Russia 16.9%, Germany 11.5%, Poland 10.3%, Latvia 7.6%, Netherlands 5.1%, Italy 4.5% (2015)
$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$8.728 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$34.48 billion (31 March 2016 est.)
$31.6 billion (31 March 2015 est.)
$16.33 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$15.63 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.727 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$3.427 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
litai (LTL) per US dollar -
0.9129 (2016 est.)
0.9012 (2015 est.)
0.9012 (2014 est.)
0.7525 (2013 est.)
2.69 (2012 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
3.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
9.9 billion kWh (2014 est.)
900 million kWh (2014 est.)
8.5 billion kWh (2014 est.)
3.9 million kW (2014 est.)
68.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
3.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
7.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
2,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
1,316 bbl/day (2013 est.)
191,100 bbl/day (2013 est.)
12 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
202,300 bbl/day (2013 est.)
54,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
173,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)
23,960 bbl/day (2013 est.)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
2.78 billion cu m (2014 est.)
0 cu m (2013 est.)
2.78 billion cu m (2014 est.)
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
17 million Mt (2013 est.)
total subscriptions: 561,919
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (July 2015 est.)
total: 4.184 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 145 (July 2015 est.)
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 145 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 (2015)
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-cha (2007)
.lt
total: 2.059 million
percent of population: 71.4% (July 2015 est.)
number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 52
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,363,950
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 565,642 mt-km (2015)
LY (2016)
61 (2013)
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 9 (2013)
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 36 (2013)
gas 1,921 km; refined products 121 km (2013)
total: 1,768 km
broad gauge: 1,746 km 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
total: 84,166 km
paved: 72,297 km (includes 312 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,869 km (2012)
441 km (navigable year round) (2007)
total: 38
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)
major seaport(s): Klaipeda
oil terminals: Butinge oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda
Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); Volunteer Forces (Savanoriu Pajegos) (2015)
18 years of age for military service; 9-month service obligation; Lithuania converted to a professional military in the fall of 2008, although the decision continues under judicial review; a new law passed in March 2015 restored conscription on a limited, 5-year basis; in March 2016, Lithuania's National Security and Defense Council recommended permanently restoring conscription service (2016)
1.48% of GDP (2016)
1.11% of GDP (2015)
0.9% of GDP (2014)
0.8% of GDP (2013)
0.97% of GDP (2012)
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
stateless persons: 3,466 (2015)
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
