1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 65,200 sq km land: 65,200 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Climate
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Coastline
99 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
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
Geographic coordinates
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Irrigated land
430 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 1,273 km border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Land use
arable land: 35% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 31% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
peat
Terrain
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
People and Society
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.)
Birth rate
10.52 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
12.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%
Infant mortality rate
14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 68.96 years male: 62.91 years female: 75.31 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)
Nationality
noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian
Net migration rate
-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
3,584,966 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.4% (1999 est.)
Religions
primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism
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.)
Total fertility rate
1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Vilnius
Constitution
adopted 25 October 1992
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
Data code
LH
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%
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Independence
6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
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
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 Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
Legal system
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
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
National holiday
Statehood Day, 16 February (1918)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Budget
revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Currency
1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Debt--external
$NA
Economic aid--recipient
$228.5 million (1995)
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.
Electricity--consumption
9.58 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
5.23 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
14.51 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 9.65% hydro: 3.03% nuclear: 87.32% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
litai per US$1--4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)
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)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$17.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$4,900 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
4.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 28% (1993)
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)
Industrial production growth rate
4.7% (1998 est.)
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
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.1% (1998 est.)
Labor force
1.8 million
Labor force--by occupation
industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1997)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
6.7% (January 1998)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1
Radios
1.42 million (1993 est.)
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
Telephones
1.08 million (1998)
Television broadcast stations
3
Televisions
NA; note--93% of the population have TV, 30% have cable or satellite dish, and 16% own VCRs (1996)
Transportation
Airports
96 (1994 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 25 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 under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 71 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
Highways
total: 68,161 km paved: 60,527 km (including 410 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,634 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 316,616 GRT/353,683 DWT ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Railways
total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Waterways
600 km perennially navigable
Military and Security
Military branches
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$181 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.5% (1999)
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.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 26,168 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
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