Form of Government: Republic
Area: 65 286 sq km
Population: 2 795 680 inhab. (estimate 2021)
Density: 42.82 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 56° - 54° N; long. 21° - 27° E
Capital: Vilnius (capital) 559 250 inhab. (2021);
Currency: euro (100 cents)
Human development index: 0.882 (rank: 34)
President: Gitanas Nauseda (independent), since 26 May 2019
Prime Minister: Ingrida Šimonytė (TS-LKD), since 11 December 2020
Parliament: seats based on the elections of 25 October 2020): TS-LKD (Homeland Union-Christian Democrats), 50; LVŽS (Farmers and Greens Union), 32; LSDP (Social Democratic Party), 13; LRLS (Liberal Movement of the Republic of Lithuania), 13; LP (Freedom Party, liberal, centre-left), 11; DP (Labour Party, centre), 10; independents, 4; others, 8
Internet: www.stat.gov.lt (Lithuanian Department of Statistics)
Member of Council of Europe, EBRD, EU, NATO, OAS observer, OECD, OSCE, UN, WTO
Lithuania

International license plate code LT
International dialling code 00370
Travel vaccinations requirement none
Electricity (Voltage) 220/230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .lt
GMT +2
DST +3
DST duration (start-end) late March-late October
Annual average temperature (°C) Vilnius 5.7
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Vilnius -8/17.5
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Vilnius 9/1
Annual average precipitation (mm) Vilnius 680
Days of rainfall (annual average) Vilnius 123

The TS-LKD Christian Democrats won the elections on 25 October 2020. The agreement with the liberal parties (LP and LRLS) resulted in the election of Ingrida Šimonytė as prime minister. In summer 2021, Lithuania accused Belarus of having encouraged the migrant flow as payback for previous diplomatic spats. The EU sent in a FRONTEX force to help the country control its borders.
Geography.
Lithuania is bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south-east, Poland and Russia to the south-west. The Baltic Sea lies off its north-west coast.
The centre of the country is flat, with rolling hills in the south-east and west. The largest river is the Nemunas. There are many lakes. It has cold, snowy winters and cool, rainy summers.
Government
Having become independent in 1918, Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It regained its independence on 9 February 1991. On 1 May 2004, the country joined the EU; it adopted the euro as its currency in 2015.
According to the 1992 Constitution, the President of the Republic is elected directly for five years. The Parliament has 141 members who are elected for four years.
In 2015 compulsory military service was reintroduced due to mounting geopolitical tensions with Russia.
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Vilnius | 559 250 | inhab. | 2021 |
Kaunas | 293 257 | inhab. | 2021 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 9.8 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 13.7 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Foreigners, total | 65 819 | units | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Lithuanian | 85.9 | % | 2020 |
Polish | 5.7 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 77.2 | % | 2011 |
other | 10.9 | % | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Lithuanian (official) |
Polish |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 15.3 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 16.5 | % | 2020 |
Economy
The economy is expected to grow by 3.2% in 2021. The main crops are cereals, sugar beet, flax and vegetables. Its vast expanses of forest (especially conifers) are intensively exploited. Its mineral resources include peat and crude oil. Basic industries include an oil refinery, petrochemical facilities and a regasification terminal (Klaipėda LNG FSRU). In a bid to reduce energy dependence on Russia, the gas pipeline shared with Poland (GIPL) will be finished in 2021, while a plan to connect the two countries’ electrical grids is being developed. Another major supplier is Norway. The plan to import nuclear energy produced in Belarus has been challenged. The electro-technical, electronic and fintech segments are highly developed as are food processing, clothing, textiles, furniture and timber. A special economic zone is active at Klaipėda with tax incentives for foreign investors. Russia, Germany, Latvia and Poland are the main trading partners. The Vilnius stock exchange is part of the NASDAQ OMX Group.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 131.12 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 94.04 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 1 484 100 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 49.5 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 8.5 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 45.2 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 16 346.5 | M LCU | 2020 |
Revenues | 12 445.3 | M LCU | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 5.692 | % | 2020 |
industry | 25.366 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 3.666 | % | 2020 |
industry | 27.713 | % | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 7.769 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 4 846.519 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 34.345 | % | 2018 |
forests | 35.095 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 588.45 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 5 207.89 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 329.78 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 329.78 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
artichokes | 0.103 | 1000 t | 2018 |
asparagus | 0.509 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 149.675 | 1000 t | 2018 |
beans, green | 0.18 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rapeseed | 692.48 | 1000 t | 2019 |
soybeans | 2.31 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mustard seed | 0.493 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar beet | 1 001.61 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
flax fibre and tow | 0.007 | 1000 t | 2017 |
linseed | 0.33 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hemp tow waste | 9.8 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 32.07 | 1000 t | 2019 |
blueberries | 0.41 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mushrooms | 11.46 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 174.77 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 12.77 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
potatoes | 18.22 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
artichokes | 0.01 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
cabbages | 1.95 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 69.938 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
beans, green | 0.15 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rapeseed | 241.7 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
soybeans | 1.82 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mustard seed | 1.159 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar beet | 14.12 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
flax fibre and tow | 0.01 | 1000 ha | 2017 |
linseed | 0.44 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
hemp tow waste | 6$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 10.18 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
blueberries | 0.2 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mushrooms | 0.05 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
timber | 6 688 000 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 634.6 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 634.6 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 550.8 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 152.1 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 15.1 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
equines, total | 12.934 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
horses | 12.934 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 11 814 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 5.284 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 13.7 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cheese | 79$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 4 120.516 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 4 986.8 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil, crude | 34.9 | 1000 t | 2020 |
peat | 500 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clay | 369.8 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dolomite | 4 863.2 | 1000 t | 2019 |
granite | 763.9 | 1000 t | 2019 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- other renew. | 2 182.7 | M kWh | 2019 |
- thermal | 556.48 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 1 741 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- other renew. | 770 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total installed capacity | 3 354 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
total net generation | 2 957.72 | M kWh | 2019 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pig iron | 1.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
steel, crude | 2 172 | 1000 t | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bikes | 268 939 | no. | 2019 |
mopeds | 4 040 | no. | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
watches and clocks | 23 459 | no. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
air conditioners | 63 110 | no. | 2018 |
computers | 11 562 | no. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 241.8 | 1000 t | 2018 |
petrol | 2 527.2 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
ammonia | 865 | 1000 t | 2019 |
artificial yarn | 3.5 | 1000 t | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
carpets | 39.5 | 1000 m² | 2019 |
cotton fabrics | 0.183 | M m² | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
footwear | 1 282 000 | pairs | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 285.154 | 1000 t | 2018 |
fish, frozen | 27.8 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cigarettes | 31 347.9 | M units | 2015 |
cigars and cigarettes | 31 347.9 | M units | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
newsprint | 5.1 | 1000 t | 2019 |
other paper | 153.99 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 1 222.9 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 659.039 | M US$ | 2017 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 1 721.984 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufactures | 63.364 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
food products | 17.322 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Russia | 4 382 | M US$ | 2020 |
Latvia | 3 036 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Poland | 4 327 | M US$ | 2020 |
Germany | 4 239 | M US$ | 2020 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 1 390 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 2 875 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 12 500 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 40.6 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 286.932 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 242 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 16.569 | years | 2018 |
Gradautes, percentage | 43.149 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 116 626 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 232 993 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 35.463 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
Social protection spending | 16.698 | % of GDP | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 6.3 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Physicians | 4.8 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 0.2 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 0.07 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Museums | 107 | units | 2019 |
Museums, visitors | 5 589 000 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 1$ | % of GDP | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
clothing, footwear | 5.8 | % | 2019 |
education | 0.5 | % | 2019 |