2018 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. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it will join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.

Area

land

62,680 sq km

total

65,300 sq km

water

2,620 sq km

Area Comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

90 km

Elevation

elevation extremes

0 m lowest point: Baltic Sea

mean elevation

110 m

note

294 highest point: Aukstojas

Environment Current Issues

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

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

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

44 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

border countries (4)

Belarus 640 km, Latvia 544 km, Poland 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km

total

1,549 km

Land Use

arable land: 34.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.5% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 9.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

44.8% (2011 est.)

forest

34.6% (2011 est.)

other

20.6% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural Hazards

occasional floods, droughts

Natural Resources

peat, arable land, amber

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Age Structure

0-14 years

15.11% (male 216,519 /female 205,624)

15-24 years

10.7% (male 154,708 /female 144,244)

25-54 years

39.72% (male 548,586 /female 561,007)

55-64 years

14.55% (male 180,294 /female 226,250)

65 years and over

19.91% (male 188,269 /female 367,783) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

9.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

14.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

elderly dependency ratio

28 (2015 est.)

potential support ratio

3.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.9 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio

21.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 90.4% of population

total: 96.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 9.6% of population

total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic Groups

Lithuanian 84.1%, Polish 6.6%, Russian 5.8%, Belarusian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)

Health Expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2014)

Hiv Aids Adult Prevalence Rate

0.2% (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids Deaths

<100 (2017 est.)

Hiv Aids People Living With Hiv Aids

2,800 (2017 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

7.3 beds/1,000 population (2013)

Infant Mortality Rate

female

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

male

4.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

total

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other 0.9%, unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)

Life Expectancy At Birth

female

80.8 years (2018 est.)

male

69.9 years (2018 est.)

total population

75.2 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

female

99.8% (2015 est.)

male

99.8% (2015 est.)

total population

99.8% (2015 est.)

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2016)

vectorborne diseases

tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

536,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2018)

Maternal Mortality Rate

10 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median Age

female

47.4 years (2018 est.)

male

39.8 years

total

44 years

Mother S Mean Age At First Birth

27 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Lithuanian

noun

Lithuanian(s)

Net Migration Rate

-6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

26.3% (2016)

Physicians Density

4.38 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

2,793,284 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-1.1% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.8%, none 6.1%, unspecified 10.1% (2011 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 97.2% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 82.8% of population (2015 est.)

total: 92.4% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban: 2.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural: 17.2% of population (2015 est.)

total: 7.6% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

female

17 years (2014)

male

16 years (2014)

total

17 years (2014)

Sex Ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

25-54 years

0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

55-64 years

0.79 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

65 years and over

0.51 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.6 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

female

12.6% (2016 est.)

male

15.9% (2016 est.)

total

14.4% (2016 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.31% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

67.7% of total population (2018)

Administrative Divisions

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

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

54 41 N, 25 19 E

name

Vilnius

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

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 1996, 2003, 2006 (2016)

history

several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992 (2016)

Country Name

conventional long form

Republic of Lithuania

conventional short form

Lithuania

etymology

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

former

Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Lietuvos Respublika

local short form

Lietuva

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

chief of mission

Ambassador Anne HALL (since 7 October 2016)

embassy

Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106

FAX

[370] (5) 266-5510

mailing address

American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106

telephone

[370] (5) 266-5500

Diplomatic Representation In The Us

chancery

2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Rolandas KRISCIUNAS (since 17 September 2015)

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 328-0466

telephone

[1] (202) 234-5860

Executive Branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)

election results

Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (independent) 57.9%, Zigmantas BALCYTIS (LSDP) 40.1%, invalid 2%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 90 to 4

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); election last held on 11 and 25 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Saulius SKVERNELIS (since 13 December 2016)

Flag Description

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

Government Type

semi-presidential republic

Independence

11 March 1990 (declared independence 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); 16 February 1918 (independence from Soviet Russia)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

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

Judicial Branch

highest courts

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 - three each by the president of the republic, by the Seimas chairperson, and by 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

Legal System

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

Legislative Branch

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

percent of vote by party - TS-LKD 22.6%, LVLS 22.5%, LSDP 15%, LS 9.5%, LCP-LPP 6.3%, LLRA 5.7%, TT 5.6%, DP 4.9%, LZP 2%, Lithuanian List 1.8%, other 4.1%; seats by party - LVLS 54, TS-LKD 31, LSDP 17, LS 14, LLRA 8, TT 8, DP 2, LCP-LPP 1, LZP 1, Lithuanian List 1, independent 4; composition - men 111, women 30, percent of women 21.3%

elections

last held on 9 and 23 October 2016 (next to be held in October 2020)

National Anthem

lyrics/music

Vincas KUDIRKA

name

"Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)

note

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

National Holiday

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

National Symbol S

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

Political Parties And Leaders

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS (Eugenijus GENTVILAS)Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Linas BALSYS]Lithuanian People's Party or LPP [Rolandas PAULAUSKAS]Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS]Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party [Gediminas KIRKILAS]Order and Justice Party or TT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS]Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]Way of Courage or DK [Jonas VARKALA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

expenditures

15.7 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

15.92 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

0% (31 December 2017 est.)

0.05% (31 December 2015 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

2.8% (31 December 2017 est.)

2.83% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current Account Balance

$364 million (2017 est.)

-$479 million (2016 est.)

Debt External

$34.48 billion (31 March 2016 est.)

$31.6 billion (31 March 2015 est.)

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

37.9 (2015)

35 (2014)

Economy Overview

After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working to complete the OECD accession roadmap it received in July 2015. In 2017, joined the OECD Working Group on Bribery, an important step in the OECD accession process.The Lithuanian economy was severely hit by the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but it has rebounded and become one of the fastest growing in the EU. Increases in exports, investment, and wage growth that supported consumption helped the economy grow by 3.6% in 2017. In 2015, Russia was Lithuania’s largest trading partner, followed by Poland, Germany, and Latvia; goods and services trade between the US and Lithuania totaled $2.2 billion. Lithuania opened a self-financed liquefied natural gas terminal in January 2015, providing the first non-Russian supply of natural gas to the Baltic States and reducing Lithuania’s dependence on Russian gas from 100% to approximately 30% in 2016.Lithuania’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter hampered by economic slowdowns in the EU and Russia. In addition, a steady outflow of young and highly educated people is causing a shortage of skilled labor, which, combined with a rapidly aging population, could stress public finances and constrain long-term growth.

Exchange Rates

litai (LTL) per US dollar -

0.884 (2017 est.)

0.9037 (2016 est.)

0.9037 (2015 est.)

0.9012 (2014 est.)

0.7525 (2013 est.)

Exports

$29.12 billion (2017 est.)

$24.23 billion (2016 est.)

Exports Commodities

refined fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles, foodstuffs, plastics

Exports Partners

Russia 15%, Latvia 9.9%, Poland 8.1%, Germany 7.3%, US 5.2%, Estonia 5%, Sweden 4.8% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Gdp Composition By End Use

exports of goods and services

81.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

16.6% (2017 est.)

household consumption

63.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-79.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

18.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

-1.3% (2017 est.)

Gdp Composition By Sector Of Origin

agriculture

3.5% (2017 est.)

industry

29.4% (2017 est.)

services

67.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp Official Exchange Rate

$47.26 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)

Gdp Per Capita Ppp

$32,400 (2017 est.)

$30,700 (2016 est.)

$29,600 (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Purchasing Power Parity

$91.47 billion (2017 est.)

$88.07 billion (2016 est.)

$86.05 billion (2015 est.)

note

data are in 2017 dollars

Gdp Real Growth Rate

3.9% (2017 est.)

2.3% (2016 est.)

2% (2015 est.)

Gross National Saving

18% of GDP (2017 est.)

16.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

17.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

highest 10%

28.8% (2015)

lowest 10%

28.8% (2015)

Imports

$31.56 billion (2017 est.)

$26.21 billion (2016 est.)

Imports Commodities

oil, natural gas, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Imports Partners

Russia 13%, Germany 12.3%, Poland 10.6%, Latvia 7.1%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands 5.1%, Sweden 4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

5.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

3.7% (2017 est.)

0.7% (2016 est.)

Labor Force

1.467 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

agriculture

9.1%

industry

25.2%

services

65.8% (2015 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

$6.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$6.799 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$7.127 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line

22.2% (2015 est.)

Public Debt

39.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

40.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

note

official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

$4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock Of Broad Money

$25.61 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$20.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

$6.268 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$4.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment At Home

$20.43 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$15.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Domestic Credit

$36.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$28.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock Of Narrow Money

$25.61 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$20.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes And Other Revenues

33.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

7.1% (2017 est.)

7.9% (2016 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

13.49 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

1,002 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

182,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

2,000 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

12 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

10.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

730 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

73% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

11.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

3.71 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

3.131 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

2.492 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

2.492 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

58,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

174,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

42,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2017 est.)

total

798,769 (2017 est.)

Broadcast Media

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 (2007)

Internet Country Code

.lt

Internet Users

percent of population

74.4% (July 2016 est.)

total

2,122,884 (July 2016 est.)

Telephone System

domestic

17 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 154 per 100 persons (2017)

general assessment

adequate; being modernized to provide improved international capability and better residential access; SIM card penetration is high for the region; prepaid sector accounts for most subscribers; postpaid subscribers is increasing; LTE networks available to more than 99% of the population; Lithuanian FttP (fiber to the home cable connections for Internet) penetration ranked third highest in Europe (2017)

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 (2016)

Telephones Fixed Lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

486,895 (2017 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

154 (2017 est.)

total subscriptions

4,361,329 (2017 est.)

Airports

61 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

7 (2017)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2017)

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2017)

over 3,047 m

3 (2017)

total

22 (2017)

under 914 m

9 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 to 1,523 m

2 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

39 (2013)

under 914 m

36 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

LY (2016)

Merchant Marine

by type

container ship 2, general cargo 27, oil tanker 2, other 29 (2017)

total

60 (2017)

National Air Transport System

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

565,642 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

1,363,950 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

52 (2015)

number of registered air carriers

2 (2015)

Pipelines

1921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013)

Ports And Terminals

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Klaipeda

major seaport(s)

Klaipeda

oil terminal(s)

Butinge oil terminal

Railways

broad gauge

1,746 km 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified) (2014)

standard gauge

22 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)

total

1,768 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

72,297 km (includes 312 km of expressways) (2012)

total

84,166 km (2012)

unpaved

11,869 km (2012)

Waterways

441 km (navigable year-round) (2007)

Military Branches

Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); Volunteer Forces (Savanoriu Pajegos) (2016)

Military Expenditures

2% of GDP (2018)

1.8% of GDP (2017)

1.49% of GDP (2016)

1.14% of GDP (2015)

0.88% of GDP (2014)

Military Service Age And Obligation

18 years of age for military service; 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in the fall of 2008 (2016)

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 1999Lithuania 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 rulesboundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuaniaas 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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

stateless persons

3,193 (2017)