Lithuania

Republic of LithuaniaLietuvos Respublika

parliamentary democracyIndependence 11 March 1990 (declared)

Lithuania as the 2009 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 138 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, UTC+2
Position56 00 N, 24 00 E
Area65,300 sq km
LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Populationas each edition published it
3.56 million July 2009 est. · 3.79m in 1992
Population growth% a year
-0.279% 2009 est. · 0.76% in 1993
Median ageyears
39.3 years 2009 est. · 36.6 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
74.9 years 2009 est. · 71.12 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.23 children per woman 2009 est. · 2.1 in 1992
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
6.47 deaths per 1,000 live births 2009 est. · 18 in 1992
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$17,800 2008 est. · $3,240 in 1994
GDP real growth% a year
3% 2008 est. · -30% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 65,300 sq km

arable land 44.81%permanent crops 0.9%other 54.29% (2005)irrigated 70 sq km (2003)
Area
65,300sq km
country comparison to the world: 122land: 62,680 sq kmwater: 2,620 sq kmslightly larger than West Virginia
Coastline
90km
territorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
294m
Juozapines Kalnaslowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
1,574km
border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 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

Natural resources

peat, arable land, amber

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%)
per capita:
971 cu m/yr (2003)

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

23 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2009 est.)

198,714
65 and over16.2%
376,771
1,214,743
15-6469.6%
1,261,413
258,423
0-1414.2%
245,115
MaleFemale
Population
3,555,179
(July 2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 130growth rate: -0.279% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 221

Per 1,000 population

Birth
9.11 (2009 est.)Death
11.18 (July 2009 est.)Net migration
-0.72 (2009 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2009 est.)74.9
69.98 · 80.1Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)6.47
7.73 · 5.13Literacy (2001 census)99.6%
99.6% · 99.6%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2009 est.)39.3
36.8 · 41.9School life expectancy years (2006)16
15 · 17
MaleFemaleLife expectancy country comparison to the world: 86 · Infant mortality country comparison to the world: 176 · Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2001 census)

Lithuanian 83.4%Polish 6.7%Russian 6.3%other or unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)

Religions(2001 census)

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)
Urban population
67%of total population
(2008)rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.1%
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 117

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 215

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: 109

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:
tickborne encephalitis (2009)

Nationality

noun:
Lithuanian(s)
adjective:
Lithuanian

Languages

Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 72

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009); Prime Minister Andrius KUBILIUS (since 27 November 2008)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

19.7%
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%last held 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held October 2012)

Parliament or Seimas, elected 12 and 26 October 2008percent of vote

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%

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

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
elections:
  • president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
  • election last held 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 are elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held 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

Judicial branch

  • Constitutional Court;
  • Supreme Court;
  • Court of Appeal;
  • judges for all courts appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

  • Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Viktor MUNTIANAS];
  • Coalition of Labor Party and Youth or KDP+J [Viktor USPASKICH];
  • Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI];
  • Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS];
  • Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union or LVLS [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE];
  • Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Arturas ZUOKAS];
  • Liberal Movement or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS];
  • 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 [Gediminas KIRKILAS];
  • Young Lithuania and New Nationalists [Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Europe House (promotes the EU);
  • European Movement (promotes the EU);
  • Lithuanian Future Forum (promotes the EU)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, 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, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), 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 John A. CLOUD
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

Economy

Lithuania's economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years prior to 2008, driven by exports and domestic consumer demand.

51 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$63.37billion
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 83$61.52 billion (2007 est.) · $56.49 billion (2006 est.)note: data are in 2008 US dollarsofficial exchange rate: $47.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$17,800
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 69$17,200 (2007 est.) · $15,800 (2006 est.)note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Real growth rate
3%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 1288.9% (2007 est.) · 7.8% (2006 est.)industrial production growth: 1.5% (2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 116
Inflation, consumer prices
10.9%
(2008 est.)country comparison to the world: 1605.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2008 est.)

agriculture 4.5%industry 32.2%services 63.3% (2008 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

16%
Russia
30.1%
7.2%
Germany
11.8%
11.6%
Latvia
5.2%
5.8%
Poland
10%
5.7%
Estonia
4.9%
France
4.7%
UK
4.7%
Denmark
4.5%
Belarus
Exports $23.74 billion (2008 est.)Imports $29.3 billion (2008 est.)(2008)

Budget

Revenues
$15.15 billionExpenditures
$16.66 billion (2008 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
12.09 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption
9.612 billion (2007 est.)Electricity exports
6.606 billion (2008 est.)Electricity imports
5.649 billion (2008 est.)

Economy - overview

Lithuania's economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years prior to 2008, driven by exports and domestic consumer demand. Unemployment stood at 4.8% in 2008, while wages grew at double digit rates. The current account deficit rose to roughly 15% of GDP in 2007-08. Lithuania has 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.

Labor force

1.614 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
14%
industry:
29.1%
services:
56.9% (2005)

Unemployment rate

5.8% (2008 est.) · 3.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.7%
highest 10%:
27.4% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36 (2005) · 34 (1999) country comparison to the world: 85

Investment (gross fixed)

24.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Public debt

15.6% of GDP (2008 est.) · 25.2% of GDP (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Central bank discount rate

4.73% (31 December 2008) · 4.85% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 109

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.29% (31 December 2008) · 6.86% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 122

Stock of money

$9.519 billion (31 December 2008) · $11.84 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 45

Stock of quasi money

$8.419 billion (31 December 2008) · $6.917 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 57

Stock of domestic credit

$29.21 billion (31 December 2008) · $25.05 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 53

Market value of publicly traded shares

$3.625 billion (31 December 2008) · $10.13 billion (31 December 2007) · $10.19 billion (31 December 2006) country comparison to the world: 74

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

Oil - production

8,247 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Oil - consumption

73,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

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: 48

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: 167

Natural gas - consumption

3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 75

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: 159

Current account balance

-$5.629 billion (2008 est.) · -$5.692 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Exports

$23.74 billion (2008 est.) · $17.16 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Exports - commodities

mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Imports

$29.3 billion (2008 est.) · $23.04 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Imports - commodities

mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.441 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $7.721 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Debt - external

$32.47 billion (31 December 2008) · $30.1 billion (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 63

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$12.85 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $15.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.985 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $1.65 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Exchange rates

litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.3251 (2008 est.), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
5.023 million
(2008)
Internet users
885,064
(2009)
Fixed lines
784,900
(2008) · country code .lt

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 main line subscriptions;
  • 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 users

1.777 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 72

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

3
over 3,047 m
1
19
under 914 m
51
Paved 32Unpaved 55

Networkskm

Roadways
80,715Railways
1,765Waterways
441 (2007)
Roadways: paved: 71,301 km (includes 309 km of expressways) · unpaved: 9,414 km (2007) · Railways: broad gauge: 1,743 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) · standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Airports

87 (2009) country comparison to the world: 67

Pipelines

gas 1,695 km; refined products 114 km (2008)

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:
80,715 km

country comparison to the world: 57

paved:
71,301 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved:
9,414 km (2007)

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)

Military

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP), National Defense Volunteer Forces (2009)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.2%of GDP
(2007 est.)country comparison to the world: 131

Military branches

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP), National Defense Volunteer Forces (2009)

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:
915,187
females age 16-49:
906,097 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
677,689
females age 16-49:
743,468 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
23,556
female:
22,404 (2009 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

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

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Lithuania.” The World Factbook 2009. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/lithuania/2009.