Lithuania

Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, Lithuania extended its territory through alliances and conquest 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 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 surrounding countries partitioned its remnants. Lithuania regained its independence after World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. In 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until 1991. The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into West European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.

land

62,680 sq km

total

65,300 sq km

water

2,620 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia

transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

90 km

highest point

Aukstojas 294 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation

110 m

56 00 N, 24 00 E

fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits

16 sq km (2013)

border countries

Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km

total

1,545 km

agricultural land

44.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)

forest

34.6% (2018 est.)

other

20.6% (2018 est.)

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus

salt water lake(s)

Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km

Europe

territorial sea

12 nm

occasional floods, droughts

peat, arable land, amber

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

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

0-14 years

15.2% (male 205,154/female 194,386)

15-64 years

62.6% (male 808,435/female 837,908)

65 years and over

22.2% (2024 est.) (male 201,405/female 380,898)

beer

4.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

1.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

11.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.88 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

8.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

women married by age 18

0.3% (2021 est.)

2.5% (2021) NA

NA

7.5% of GDP (2020)

53.4% (2023 est.)

15.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

32.1

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.7

youth dependency ratio

23.6

improved: rural

rural: 93.8% of population

improved: total

total: 98% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 6.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.)

0.79 (2024 est.)

6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)

female

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7% (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s)

Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

female

81.7 years

male

70.8 years

total population

76.1 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2021)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2023)

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

49.2 years

male

40.9 years

total

45.1 years (2024 est.)

28.2 years (2020 est.)

adjective

Lithuanian

noun

Lithuanian(s)

-4.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

26.3% (2016)

5.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

1,413,192 (2024 est.)

male

1,214,994

total

2,628,186

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

-1.05% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 88.7% of population

improved: total

total: 96% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 11.3% of population

unimproved: total

total: 4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.5% of population

female

17 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

16 years

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.53 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

21.8% (2020 est.)

male

42.1% (2020 est.)

total

32% (2020 est.)

1.62 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, 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, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology

named after the Vilnia River, which flows into the Neris River at Vilnius; the river name derives from the Lithuanian word "vilnis" meaning "a surge"

geographic coordinates

54 41 N, 25 19 E

name

Vilnius

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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 many times, last in 2022

history

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992

conventional long form

Republic of Lithuania

conventional short form

Lithuania

etymology

meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear and is debated by scholars; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania

former

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

local long form

Lietuvos Respublika

local short form

Lietuva

chief of mission

Ambassador Kara C. McDONALD (since 26 January 2024)

email address and website

consec@state.govhttps://lt.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106

FAX

[370] (5) 266-5510

mailing address

4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC  20521-4510

telephone

[370] (5) 266-5500

chancery

2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Audra PLEPYTĖ (since 7 July 2021)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

info@usa.mfa.lthttps://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/

FAX

[1] (202) 328-0466

telephone

[1] (202) 234-5860

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament

chief of state

President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)

election results

2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4%2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%

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); first round held on 12 May 2024 (runoff held on 12 May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020)

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

semi-presidential republic

16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 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)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas speaker, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years

subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; district and local courts

civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court

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)

election results

preliminary first-round results percent of vote by party - LSDP 19.4%, TS-LKD 18%, NA 15%, DSVL 9.2%, LRLS 7.7%, LVZS 7%, LLRA-KSS 6%; seats by party - LSDP 20, TS-LKD 18, NA 15, DSVL 8, LRLS 8, LVZS 6, LLRA-KSS 2, Independents 1

elections

last held on 13 October 2024 first round (next to be held on 27 October 2024 - second round)

lyrics/music

Vincas KUDIRKA

name

"Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)

note

note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

selected World Heritage Site locales

Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc; Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939

total World Heritage Sites

5 (all cultural)

Independence Day (or National 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

mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red

Dawn of Nemunas or NAElectoral Action of Poles in Lithuania or LLRA–KŠSFreedom and Justice Party or LT (formerly Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals))Freedom Party or LPHomeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKDLabour Party or DPLithuanian Center Party or LCPLithuanian Christian Democracy Party or LKDPLithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVZSLithuanian Green Party or LZPLiberals' Movement or LRLSLithuanian List or LLLithuanian Regions Party or LRPSocial Democratic Party of Lithuania or LSDPUnion of Democrats for Lithuania or DSVL

18 years of age; universal

wheat, milk, rapeseed, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, beans, triticale, oats, peas (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

5.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

19.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$24.219 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$24.347 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

A (2020)

Moody's rating

A3 (2015)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

A+ (2020)

Current account balance 2021

$766.788 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$3.874 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.506 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income EU and eurozone member, largest Baltic economy; growth stalled due to Ukraine war impact on energy, exports, and fiscal spending for defense and refugee support; rebound supported by EU fund-driven investments and reduced inflation; structural challenges include pension reform, labor market inefficiencies, health care, and education spending

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$53.397 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$61.444 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$61.101 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, furniture, plastic products, natural gas, wheat (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Latvia 13%, Poland 8%, Germany 8%, Russia 6%, US 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

78.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption

17.7% (2023 est.)

household consumption

58.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-74.7% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-3.6% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

3% (2023 est.)

industry

24.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

63.1% (2023 est.)

$77.836 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

36.7 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

29.1% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$50.377 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$62.853 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$58.104 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, cars, plastic products (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Poland 12%, Germany 11%, Latvia 8%, US 6%, Russia 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-2.17% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.68% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

19.71% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.12% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

1.51 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

20.9% (2021 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

36.05% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$129.987 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$133.159 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$132.712 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

6.28% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

2.44% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-0.34% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$46,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$47,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$46,200 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.16% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.04% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.25% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$5.58 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$5.365 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$6.168 billion (2023 est.)

21.1% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

7.11% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.96% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.96% (2023 est.)

female

11.3% (2023 est.)

male

16.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

13.9% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

586,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

3.102 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

9.115 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

12.803 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

263,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

154,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

496,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

11.227 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

2.652 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

11.22 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

4.258 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

855.476 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

17.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

28.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

6.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

4.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

42.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

85.201 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

1.601 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

1.921 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

3.53 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

2 (2023)

crude oil estimated reserves

12 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

68,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

29 (2020 est.)

total

796,814 (2020 est.)

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-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters, with repeater stations in various regions throughout the country

.lt

percent of population

87% (2021 est.)

total

2.436 million (2021 est.)

domestic

nearly 9 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular subscriptions at 139 per 100 persons (2022)

general assessment

Lithuania’s small telecoms market is among the more advanced in Europe, particularly given the universal access to long-term evolution (LTE) infrastructure and the extensive fiber footprint; Operator investment has been focused on fiber broadband and mobile network upgrades; Fiber is now by far the dominant fixed broadband platform, with the number of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable connections in steady decline; LTE services are available nationally, operators have made steady investments in 5G (2024)

international

country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia ; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

9 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

250,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

139 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

3.826 million (2022 est.)

65 (2024)

LY

2 (2024)

by type

container ship 3, general cargo 19, oil tanker 2, other 35

total

59 (2023)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

26,031 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

50

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

1,921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013)

key ports

Butinge Oil Terminal, Klaipeda

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

2

total ports

2 (2024)

very small

1

total

1,911 km (2020) 152 km electrified

total

83,821 km (2022)

441 km (2007) (navigable year-round)

the Lithuanian Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s interests, sovereignty, and territory, fulfilling Lithuania’s commitments to NATO and European security, and contributing to UN international peacekeeping efforts; Russia is Lithuania’s primary security focus, which has only increased since the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022; Lithuania has been a member of NATO since 2004 and is reliant on the Alliance as the country’s security guarantor; it is actively engaged in both NATO and EU security, as well as bilaterally with allies such as the other Baltic States, Germany, Poland, the UK, Ukraine, and the US; the Lithuanian military has participated in NATO and EU missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with NATO and EU partner forces; it hosts NATO forces, is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, and contributes troops to a multinational brigade with Poland and Ukraine; Lithuania participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission in 1994since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO has also provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2024)

Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Operations Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); National Defense Volunteer Forces (Krašto Apsaugos Savanorių Pajegos or KASP); National Riflemen's Union (Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga) (2024)

note

note 1: the National Rifleman's Union is a civilian paramilitary organization supported by the Lithuanian Government that cooperates with the military but is not part of it; however, in a state of war, its armed formations would fall under the armed forcesnote 2: the Lithuanian Police and State Border Guard Service are under the Ministry of Interior; in wartime, the State Border Guard Service becomes part of the armed forces

approximately 18,000 active-duty personnel (14,000 Army, including about 5,000 active National Defense Voluntary Forces); 500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,500 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc) (2024)

note: contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units; units affiliated with the multinational brigade remain within the structures of the armed forces of their respective countries until the brigade is activated for participation in an international operation

the military's inventory is a mix of mostly European and US weapons and equipment (2024)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.1% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.5% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.8% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

19-26 years of age for conscripted military service for men; 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; 18-38 for voluntary service for men and women (2024)

note

note 1: Lithuania conscripts up to 4,000 males each year; conscripts are selected using an automated lottery systemnote 2: as of 2020, women comprised about 12% of the military's full-time personnel

source country for amphetamine tablets

refugees (country of origin)

41,490 (Ukraine) (as of 11 March 2024)

stateless persons

2,720 (2022)

carbon dioxide emissions

12.96 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

3.15 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

10.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; threatened animal and plant species; chemicals and waste materials released into the environment contaminate soil and groundwater; soil degradation and erosion

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

agricultural land

44.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)

forest

34.6% (2018 est.)

other

20.6% (2018 est.)

salt water lake(s)

Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.31% of GDP (2018 est.)

24.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

1.3 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

297,960 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

22.9% (2015 est.)