2023 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 West European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined 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

highest point

Aukstojas 294 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation

110 m

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

16 sq km (2013)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,545 km

Land use

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.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

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

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

15.3% (male 208,669/female 197,728)

15-64 years

63.11% (male 821,319/female 854,763)

65 years and over

21.59% (2023 est.) (male 197,217/female 376,059)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

9.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 18

0.3% (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.5% (2021) NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

7.5% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

15.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.1

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.7

youth dependency ratio

23.6

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.78 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

4.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.6 years

male

70.6 years

total population

76 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2021)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2023)

vectorborne diseases

tickborne encephalitis

Major urban areas - population

541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

49 years

male

40.6 years

total

45 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.2 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Lithuanian

noun

Lithuanian(s)

Net migration rate

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.3% (2016)

Physicians density

5.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

2,655,755 (2023 est.)

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

Population growth rate

-1.04% (2023 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation facility access

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.52 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

21.8% (2020 est.)

male

42.1% (2020 est.)

total

32% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.61 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

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

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 many times, last in 2019

history

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

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Tamir WASER (since 12 August 2023)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Audra PLEPYTE (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

Executive branch

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

2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%2014: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (independent) 59.1%, Zigmantas BALCYTIS (Social Democratic Party) 40.9%

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 12 and 26 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020)

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

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)

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

Judicial branch

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 chairperson, 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

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 - NA; seats by party - TS-LKD 50, LVZS 32, LSDP 13, LRLS 13, LP 11, DP 10, LLRA-KSS 3, LSDDP 3, LT 1, LZP 1, independent 4; composition as of April 2023 - men 101, women 40, women 28 percent

elections

last held on 11 and 25 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)

National anthem

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

National heritage

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)

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

Democrats for Lithuania [Saulius SKVERNELIS]Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]Freedom and Justice Party or LT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS] (formerly Lithuanian Freedom Union (Liberals))Freedom Party or LP [Ausrine ARMONAITE]Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]Labor Party or DP [Andrius MAZURONIS]Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Remigijus LAPINSKAS]Lithuanian Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Viktorija CMILYTE-NIELSEN]Lithuanian List or LL [Darius KUOLYS]Lithuanian Regions Party or LRP [Jonas PINSKUS] (formerly Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party or LSDDP)Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Vilija BLINKEVICIUTE]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, sugar beets, rapeseeds, barley, triticale, potatoes, oats, peas, beans

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

5.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

21.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$18.491 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$18.636 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

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

Current account balance 2019

$1.929 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$4.165 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$756.476 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$41.999 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$37.859 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, EU-member, largest Baltic economy; privatized most state-owned enterprises; unmoved youth emigration; systemic corruption; issued Europe’s first bank-backed digital coin (LBCOIN); highly educated workforce; lowest EU household debt

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

0.885 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.847 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$42.323 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$41.721 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$53.397 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, wooden furniture, wheat, laboratory reagents, cigarettes (2021)

Exports - partners

Russia 10%, Latvia 9%, Germany 8%, Poland 7%, United States 6% (2021)

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)

$54.597 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019

35.3 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.8% (2015)

lowest 10%

2.2%

Imports

Imports 2019

$39.419 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$36.414 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$50.377 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, electricity, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2021)

Imports - partners

Poland 12%, Germany 12%, Russia 11%, Latvia 8%, Netherlands 5% (2021)

Industrial production growth rate

8.58% (2021 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)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.33% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

1.2% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.68% (2021 est.)

Labor force

1.476 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.6% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

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

Public debt 2018

39% of GDP (2018 est.)

Public debt 2019

42.66% of GDP (2019 est.)

Public debt 2020

53.28% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$103.898 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$103.876 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$110.089 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

4.63% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-0.02% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.98% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$37,200 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$37,200 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$39,300 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$5.085 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$4.847 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$5.58 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.88% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

6.26% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

8.49% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

7.9% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

19.6%

male

18.5%

total

19% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

693,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

4.322 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

9.488 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

14.503 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

221,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

75,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

268,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

11.063 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports

4.105 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

12.013 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.512 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

951 million kWh (2020 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

16.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

38% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

35.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

101.651 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

2.231 billion cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

497.923 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports

2.819 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

0GW

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

2

Percent of total electricity production

0%

Percent of total energy produced

0%

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

900 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

194,900 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

12 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

68,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

4,000 bbl/day (2021 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

29 (2020 est.)

total

796,814 (2020 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

Internet country code

.lt

Internet users

percent of population

87% (2021 est.)

total

2.436 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

nearly 10 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; mobile-cellular subscriptions at 134 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

Lithuania’s small telecoms market is among the more advanced in Europe, particularly given the universal access to LTE infrastructure and the extensive fiber footprint; investment has been focused on fiber broadband and mobile network upgrades; SIM card penetration is relatively high for the region, with a growing proportion of subscribers being on higher-Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) contract plans; while LTE services are available nationally, operators have made steady investments in 5G; the regulator has helped the network operators to develop 5G by allowing them to repurpose spectrum in the 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz bands; the regulator in mid-2022 completed auctions of spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.4GHz bands; service obligations on the licensees include the provision of services to the five main cities by the end of 2023 (2023)

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

290,711 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

134 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

3,726,653 (2021 est.)

Airports

61 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

22

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

39

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

LY

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 4, general cargo 22, oil tanker 2, other 34

total

62 (2022)

National air transport system

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)

Pipelines

1,921 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

total

1,911 km (2020) 152 km electrified

Roadways

paved

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

total

84,166 km (2012)

unpaved

11,869 km (2012)

Waterways

441 km (2007) (navigable year-round)

Military - note

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 1994the Land Forces form the backbone of the country’s defense force; the active Land Forces comprise a mechanized infantry brigade and a motorized infantry brigade; they are supplemented by the part-time National Defense Volunteer Forces, which are organized into six district-based territorial units; since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiativeLithuania has no combat aircraft but has a ground air defense unit, and NATO has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its 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; Lithuania’s Naval Forces have small patrol vessel and mine warfare squadrons; the Special Operations Forces have air, ground, and naval units for missions such as counterterrorism, direct action, hostage rescue, military assistance, and reconnaissance (2023)

Military and security forces

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) (2023)

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 17,000 active-duty personnel (13,000 Army, including about 5,000 National Defense Voluntary Forces and 2,500 conscripts); 500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,500 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc) (2023)

Military deployments

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of Soviet-era and more modern European and US equipment; Germany and the US have been the leading suppliers in recent years (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.7 billion)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.1% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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 (2023)

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

Disputes - international

Lithuania-Belarus: as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation Lithuania-Lativa: boundary demarcated with Latvia was completed in 1998 Lithuania-Russia: 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; in January 2018, demarcation of the Lithuania-Russia border was completed

Illicit drugs

source country for amphetamine tablets

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

51,810 (Ukraine) (as of 4 December 2023)

stateless persons

2,720 (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Lithuanian Space Office (established 2019; operates under the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology and focuses on developing links between Lithuanian space business, science, and public sectors, as well as the international space community); Lithuanian Space Association (established 2009; is an association of public and state-funded scientific and technology research institutes and private businesses behind much of Lithuania’s space program, including satellite development and ties to international space programs) (2023)

Space program overview

has a small but growing space program; operates satellites; manufactures small satellites; conducts research and development of other space-related capabilities, including in propulsion system components, infrared-based technologies, remote sensing applications, opto-electronics, and radio frequency systems, as well as those related to astronomy (has one of the oldest observatories in Europe located in Vilnius) and space applications for life and physical sciences; participates in international space programs; associate member of the European Space Agency (ESA); has cooperated with space agencies and industries of China, India, Russia, Ukraine, and the US, as well as individual ESA/EU member states; has a small commercial space sector that participates in space supply chains and small satellite production (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Air pollutants

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.)

Climate

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

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-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

Land use

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.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

salt water lake(s)

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

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.31% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

24.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

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.)