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Introduction - Lithuania
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.
Geography - Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 122
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,574 km
border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km, Russia
(Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
90 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
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
highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 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 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
24.5 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%)
per capita: 971 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at
military bases
Environment - 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial
deposits
People - Lithuania
Population:
3,545,319 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 253,753/female 240,590)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 1,213,921/female 1,258,587)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 199,822/female 378,646) (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.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Birth rate:
9.21 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
Death rate:
11.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 male(s)/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/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.12 years
country comparison to the world: 88
male: 70.23 years
female: 80.29 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified 3.6% (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)
Languages:
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4%
(2001 census)
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 (2006)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 73
Government - Lithuania
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 (since 12 July 2009)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
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, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
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
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
Economy - Lithuania
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 15% in 2009 - the three former Soviet
Baltic republics had the world's worst economic declines last year. The current
account deficit rose to roughly 15% of GDP in 2007-08, but fell sharply in 2009
in the wake of a cutback in imports to almost half the 2008 level. Unemployment
reached 13.7% in 2009, up from 5.8% in 2008. In 2009 the government launched a
high-profile campaign, led by Prime Minister KUBILIUS, to attract foreign
investment and to develop export markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$54.84 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$64.52 billion (2008 est.)
$62.76 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$36.39 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-15% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
2.8% (2008 est.)
9.8% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$18,100 (2008 est.)
$17,600 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 26.7%
services: 69.1% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
1.641 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 29.1%
services: 56.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
13.7% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
5.8% (2008 est.)
note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7%
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:
36 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 85
34 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Budget:
revenues: $13.1 billion
expenditures: $16.16 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
31.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
15.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
10.9% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (February 2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
4.73% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.27% (February 2010)
country comparison to the world: 87
10.15% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$8.55 billion (January 2010)
country comparison to the world: 56
$9.519 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of quasi money:
$8.731 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$8.419 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$29.21 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
$25.05 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.619 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
$3.625 billion (31 December 2008)
$10.13 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
-21.6% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Electricity - production:
12.09 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - consumption:
9.612 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Electricity - exports:
6.606 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.649 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
6,333 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - consumption:
74,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - exports:
137,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - imports:
204,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Natural gas - consumption:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - imports:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Current account balance:
$1.422 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
-$5.627 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$16.42 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$23.77 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 22%, machinery and equipment 10%, chemicals 9%, textiles 7%,
foodstuffs 7%, plastics 7%
Exports - partners:
Russia 13.27%, Latvia 10.03%, Germany 9.69%, Poland 7.21%, Estonia 7.17%,
Netherlands 5.09%, Belarus 4.73%, UK 4.4% (2009)
Imports:
$17.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$29.51 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals,
textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 30.16%, Germany 11.16%, Poland 9.96%, Latvia 6.35%, Netherlands 4.06%
(2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$6.441 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$36.43 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$32.47 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$13.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$12.89 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.307 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$1.99 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.5337 (2009), 2.3251 (2008), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498
(2006), 2.774 (2005)
Communications - Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
784,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.023 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
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 has
increased to about 140 per 100 persons while fixed-line teledensity has dropped
to 22 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
44 (may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations) (2008)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet hosts:
885,064 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Internet users:
1.777 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transportation - Lithuania
Airports:
87 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
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: 19 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 55
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 51 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,695 km; refined products 114 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,765 km
country comparison to the world: 78
broad gauge: 1,743 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 81,030 km
country comparison to the world: 58
paved: 71,563 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,467 km (2008)
Waterways:
441 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 86
Merchant marine:
total: 45
country comparison to the world: 73
by type: cargo 23, container 2, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 13
foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 5, Ukraine 1)
registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Cook Islands 1, North
Korea 1, Malta 1, Norway 1, Panama 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9,
unknown 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Klaipeda
Military - Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP), National
Defense Volunteer Forces (2010)
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)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 900,746
females age 16-49: 887,843 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 674,265
females age 16-49: 734,806 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 21,606
female: 20,536 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Transnational Issues - Lithuania
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
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