2008 Edition

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.

Area

total: 65,300 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

90 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m

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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

70 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,574 km border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Land use

arable land: 44.81% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 54.29% (2005)

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, arable land, amber

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Total renewable water resources

24.5 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.5% (male 264,668/female 250,997) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,214,236/female 1,263,198) 65 years and over: 16% (male 197,498/female 374,608) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

11.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,300 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.67 years male: 69.72 years female: 79.89 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.6% female: 99.6% (2001 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Median age

total: 39 years male: 36.4 years female: 41.6 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian

Net migration rate

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

3,565,205 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.284% (2008 est.)

Religions

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2006)

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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA chancery: temporary address: 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 302, Arlington, VA 22201 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860

Executive branch

chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004) 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 13 and 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2009); prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%; Andrius KUBILIUS approved by Parliament 89-27 with 16 abstentions

FAX

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

[370] (5) 266 5510

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 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 44, LSDP 26, TPP 16, TT 15, LRLS 11, KDP+J 10, LCS 8, LLRA 3, LVLS 3, NS 1, independent 4

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

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 [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)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $13.28 billion expenditures: $13.75 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.85% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.86% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

litas (LTL)

Currency code

LTL

Current account balance

-$5.26 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$27.19 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

36 (2005)

Economic aid - recipient

$249.7 million (2004)

Economy - overview

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.2% in 2007 while wages continued to grow at double digit rates, contributing to rising inflation. Exports and imports also grew strongly, and the current account deficit rose to nearly 15% of GDP in 2007. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. 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.

Electricity - consumption

10.4 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

7.217 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

5.846 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

11.91 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 77.7% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003)

Exports

$17.18 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Russia 15%, Latvia 12.9%, Germany 10.5%, Poland 6.3%, Estonia 5.8%, UK 4.6%, Denmark 4.1%, Belarus 4% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 5.3% industry: 33.3% services: 61.4% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,800 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

8.8% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.35 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$59.98 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.7% (2003)

Imports

$22.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 18%, Germany 15%, Poland 10.6%, Latvia 5.5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

7.4% (2007 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 jewelry

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

1.603 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 15.8% industry: 28.2% services: 56% (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$10.19 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

3.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.44 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

57,170 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

148,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

206,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

8,250 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

4% (2003)

Public debt

17.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.721 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$1.642 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$14.63 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.05 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$11.84 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$6.917 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

3.5% note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.lt

Internet hosts

812,083 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

32 (2001)

Internet users

1.333 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

1.9 million (1997)

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 135 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 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

799,400 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.912 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

27 (may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations) (2001)

Televisions

1.7 million (1997)

Airports

87 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 30 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 17 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 45 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)

Pipelines

gas 1,695 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Klaipeda

Railways

total: 1,771 km broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 79,984 km paved: 70,997 km (includes 309 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,987 km (2006)

Waterways

441 km (2006)

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: 678,434 females age 16-49: 749,483 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 25,907 female: 24,735 (2008 est.)

Military branches

Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces, National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2006; 1.23% 2007 est.)

Military service age and obligation

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation (2006)

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008