Lithuania

Republic of LithuaniaLietuvos Respublika

parliamentary democracyIndependence 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Lithuania as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 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
Position56 00 N, 24 00 E
Area65,200 sq km
LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between
1999

Every edition of Lithuania

Populationas each edition published it
3.58 million July 1999 est. · 3.79m in 1992
Population growth% a year
-0.4% 1999 est. · 0.76% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 36.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
68.96 years 1999 est. · 71.12 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.45 children per woman 1999 est. · 2.1 in 1992
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
14.71 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 18 in 1992
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,900 1998 est. · $3,240 in 1994
GDP real growth% a year
4.5% 1998 est. · -30% in 1993

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 65,200 sq km

arable land 35%permanent crops 12%permanent pastures 7%forests and woodland 31%other 15% (1993 est.)irrigated 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
65,200sq km
land: 65,200 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly larger than West Virginia
Coastline
99km
territorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
292m
Juozapines/Kalnaslowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
1,273km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Climate

transitional, between maritime and continental; 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

Environment--international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

15 fields
Population
3,584,966
(July 1999 est.)growth rate: -0.4% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth
10.52Death
12.93Net migration
-1.58

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)68.96
62.91 · 75.31
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1989 est.)98%
99% · 98%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Lithuanian 80.6%Russian 8.7%Polish 7%Byelorussian 1.6%other 2.1%

Age structure

0-14 years:
20% (male 365,149; female 350,070)
15-64 years:
67% (male 1,156,161; female 1,239,145)
65 years and over:
13% (male 160,963; female 313,478) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.51 male(s)/female
total population:
0.88 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Lithuanian(s)
adjective:
Lithuanian

Religions

primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism

Languages

Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998); Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

50.37%
-Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003)

Parliament or Seimas, 141 seats, elected 20 October and 10 November 1996one dot, one seat

-TS 69LKDP 15LCS 15LDDP 12LSDP 10DP 2independents 12others 6

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

Vilnius

Administrative divisions

44 regions (rajonai, singular--rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, 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, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday

Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)

Constitution

adopted 25 October 1992

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
head of government:
Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier
elections:
  • president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
  • election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003);
  • premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
election results:
Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote--Valdas ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)
election results:
percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--TS 69, LKDP 15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or LKDP

International organization participation

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS
chancery:
2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
consulate(s) general:
Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
embassy:
Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius
mailing address:
American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723

Flag description

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

Economy

31 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$4,900
purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)
Real growth rate
4.5%
(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 4.7% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.7%
(January 1998)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 13%industry 32%services 55% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$1.5 billionExpenditures
$1.7 billion (1997 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 9.65%hydro 3.03%nuclear 87.32%other 0%
Electricity production
14.51 billion (1996)Electricity consumption
9.58 billion (1996)Electricity exports
5.23 billion (1996)Electricity imports
300 million (1996)

Economy--overview

Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 5.1%, and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997 and 4.5% in 1998.

Foreign direct investment and the privatization program maintained their momentum in 1998. However, the current account deficit has hovered around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995--the result of greater demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports. Reducing this deficit is the immediate economic challenge for 1999.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$17.6 billion (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3.4%
highest 10%:
28% (1993)

Labor force

1.8 million

Labor force--by occupation

industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)

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

Agriculture--products

  • grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables;
  • beef, milk, eggs;
  • fish

Exports

$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports--commodities

machinery and equipment 19%, mineral products 16%, textiles 15%, chemicals 8%, foodstuffs 8% (1997)

Exports--partners

Russia 24%, Germany 11%, Belarus 10%, Latvia 9%, Ukraine 9% (1997)

Imports

$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports--commodities

machinery and equipment 30%, mineral products 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 8%, foodstuffs (1997)

Imports--partners

Russia 24%, Germany 19%, Poland, Denmark, Finland (1997)

Economic aid--recipient

$228.5 million (1995)

Currency

1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas

Exchange rates

litai per US$1--4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
1.08 million
(1998)

Telephone system

  • the Ministry of Communications and Informatics, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Internal Affairs oversee Lithuania's telecommunications;
  • the national operator is Lietuvos Telomas;
  • Internet is available
domestic:
  • local--three cellular service providers;
  • NMT-450 and GSM standards provide services nationwide;
  • 80% of customers are on the two GSM networks;
  • 157,000 cellular customers;
  • intercity--Lithuania is close to completing its fiber-optic backbone consisting of two small rings inside a larger ring
international:
Lithuania has international fiber-optic connectivity to Latvia, Poland, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1

Radios

1.42 million (1993 est.)

Televisions

NA; note--93% of the population have TV, 30% have cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 54 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

cargo 26combination bulk 11oil tanker 2railcar carrier 1refrigerated cargo 10roll-on/roll-off cargo 1short-sea passenger 3

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
14
over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m
63
total: 71 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6

Networkskm

Highways
68,161Railways
2,002Waterways
600
Highways: paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways) · unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Railways

total:
2,002 km
broad gauge:
2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Highways

total:
68,161 km
paved:
60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways)
unpaved:
7,634 km (1997 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

Kaunas, Klaipeda

Airports

96 (1994 est.)

Military

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

7 fields

Military branches

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

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 906,687 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 713,436 (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes--international

ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); 1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia

Central Intelligence Agency. “Lithuania.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/lithuania/1999.

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