Lithuania

Republic of LithuaniaLietuvos Respublika

republicIndependence 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Lithuania as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 82 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalVilnius

Area65,200 sq km

LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and

Populationas each edition published it

3.88 million July 1995 est. · 3.79m in 1992

Population growth% a year

0.71% 1995 est. · 0.76% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 36.6 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.37 years 1995 est. · 71.12 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.1 in 1992

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

16.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 18 in 1992

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,500 1994 est. · $3,240 in 1994

GDP real growth% a year

-0.5% 1994 est. · -30% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and | Russia

13 fields

Land useshare of 65,200 sq km

arable land 49.1%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 22.2%forest and woodland 16.3%other 12.4%irrigated 430 sq km (1990)

Area

65,200sq km

land area: 65,200 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Coastline

108km

territorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,273km

total · Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

International disputes

dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Environment

current issues:: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

People

15 fields

Population

3,876,396

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.71% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

14.46Death

10.95Net migration

3.62

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years71.37

66.68 · 76.3

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy98%

99% · 98%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1989)

Ethnic divisions

Lithuanian 80.1%Russian 8.6%Polish 7.7%Byelorussian 1.5%other 2.1%

Labor force

1.836million

by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (female 426,616; male 444,556)
15-64 years:: 65% (female 1,299,052; male 1,227,420)
65 years and over:: 12% (female 313,217; male 165,535) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Lithuanian(s)
adjective:: Lithuanian

Government

Republic; President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25 November 1992; Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since 10 March 1993)

22 fields

Legislature, 141 seatsone dot, one seat

LDDP 73Conservative Party 30LKDP 17LTS 8Farmers' Union 4LLS 4Center Union 2others 3

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form:: Lithuania
local long form:: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form:: Lietuva
former:: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 February (1918)

Constitution

adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25 November 1992; elected acting president by Parliament 25 November 1992 and elected by direct vote 15 February 1993);
election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1997);
results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS was elected;
note - on 25 November 1992 BRAZAUSKAS was elected chairman of Parliament and, as such, acting president of the Republic;
he was confirmed in office by direct balloting 15 February 1993
head of government:: Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since 10 March 1993)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister

Legislative branch

unicameral

Seimas (parliament)

elections last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA 1996);
results - LDDP 51%;
seats - (141 total) LDDP 73, Conservative Party 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers' Union 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2, others 3

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party (LKDP), Povilas KATILIUS, chairman;
Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP), Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS, chairman;
Lithuanian Nationalist Union (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA, chairman;
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman;
Farmers' Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman;
Center Union, Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman;
Conservative Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman;
Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS), Rytardas MACIKIANEC, chairman

Other political or pressure groups

Homeland Union;
Lithuanian Future Forum;
Farmers Union

Member of

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
chancery:: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: [1] (202) 234-5860, 2639

FAX

[1] (202) 328-0466; consulate(s) general: New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr.
embassy:: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
mailing address:: APO AE 09723
telephone:: [370] (2) 223-031

FAX

[370] (2) 222-779

Flag

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

Economy

Since independence in September 1991, Lithuania has made | steady progress in developing a market economy.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$3,500

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

-0.5%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate -52% (1992); accounts for 35% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

3.1%

(monthly average 1994)

Unemployment rate

4.5%

(January 1995)

Budget

Revenues

$258.5 millionExpenditures

$270.2 million (1992 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 6,190,000 kW

Electricity production

18.9 billionElectricity consumption per capita

4,608 (1993)

Overview

Since independence in September 1991, Lithuania has made steady progress in developing a market economy. Almost 50% of state property has been privatized and trade is diversifying with a gradual shift away from the former Soviet Union to Western markets. In addition, the Lithuanian government has adhered to a disciplined budgetary and financial policy which has brought inflation down from a monthly average of around 14% in first half 1993 to an average of 3.1% in 1994.

Nevertheless, the process has been painful with industrial output in 1993 less than half the 1991 level. The economy appeared to have bottomed out in 1994, and Vilnius's policies have laid the groundwork for vigorous recovery over the next few years. Recovery will build on Lithuanian's strategic location with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, and on its agriculture potential, highly skilled labor force, and diversified industrial sector. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.5 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

Exports

$2.2 billion (1994)

commodities:: electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%, chemicals 6% (1989)
partners:: Russia, Ukraine, Germany

Imports

$2.7 billion (1994)

commodities:: oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989)
partners:: Russia, Germany, Belarus

External debt

$NA

Industries

industry's share in the economy has been declining substantially over the past year, due to the economic crisis and the growth of services in the economy; among branches which are still

important:: metal-cutting machine tools 6.6%, electric motors 4.6%, television sets 6.2%, refrigerators and freezers 5.4%;
other branches: petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, and amber

Agriculture

employs around 18% of labor force;
accounts for 25% of GDP;
sugar, grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, meat, milk, dairy products, eggs, fish;
most developed are the livestock and dairy branches, which depend on imported grain;
net exporter of meat, milk, and eggs

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe;
limited producer of illicit opium;
mostly for domestic consumption

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million

Currency

introduced the convertible litas in June 1993

Exchange rates

litai per US$1 - 4 (fixed rate 1 May 1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 96 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

44,200Railroads

2,010Inland waterways

600

Highways: paved: 35,500 km · unpaved: earth 8,700 km (1990) · Railroads: broad gauge: 2,010 km 1.524-m gauge (120 km electrified) (1990)

Railroads

total:: 2,010 km
broad gauge:: 2,010 km 1.524-m gauge (120 km electrified) (1990)

Highways

total:: 44,200 km
paved:: 35,500 km
unpaved:: earth 8,700 km (1990)

Pipelines

crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)

Ports

Kaunas, Klaipeda

Merchant marine

total:: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 275,893 GRT/321,440 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 1, cargo 28, combination bulk 11, railcar carrier 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

900,000 telephones;
240 telephones/1,000 persons;
telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics

local:: NA
intercity:: land lines and microwave radio relay
international:: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas;
1 EUTELSAT and 1 INTELSAT earth station;
an NMT-450 analog cellular network operates in Vilnius and other cities and is linked internationally through Copenhagen by EUTELSAT;
international electronic mail is available;
land lines or microwave to former USSR republics

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 3
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security | Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)

3 fields

Branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 949,663;
males fit for military service 750,386;
males reach military age (18) annually 27,630 (1995 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2% of GDP (1994); note - for 1995 defense expenditures were $54 million at exchange rate conversion LUXEMBOURG

Central Intelligence Agency. “Lithuania.” The World Factbook 1995. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/lithuania/1995.

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