Lithuania

Lithuania

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 65,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 123 land:62,680 sq km
water:2,620 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

90 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate

transitional, between maritime and continental

wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point:Aukstojas 294 m

Natural resources

peat, arable land, amber

Land use

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

Irrigated land

13.4 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

24.5 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Natural hazards

NA

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, 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

Geography – note

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective:Lithuanian

Ethnic groups

Lithuanian 84%, Polish 6.1%, Russian 4.9%, Belarusian 1.1%, other or unspecified 3.9% (2009)

Languages

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

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)

Population

3,535,547 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 250,146/female 236,984)
15-64 years:69.7% (male 1,211,707/female 1,254,195)
65 years and over:16.5% (male 201,358/female 381,157) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 40.1 years
male:37.5 years
female:42.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.276% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Birth rate

9.29 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Death rate

11.33 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Net migration rate

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146

Urbanization

urban population: 67% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:-0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

VILNIUS (capital) 546,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

13 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 138

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.27 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 172 male:7.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female:4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.34 years
country comparison to the world: 86 male:70.48 years
female:80.48 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216

Health expenditures

7.8% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 59

Physicians density

3.664 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 22

Hospital bed density

6.84 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 15

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

1,200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases:tickborne encephalitis (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

19.7% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 22

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 74

Literacy

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male:15 years
female:17 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 29.4%
country comparison to the world: 16 male:35.2%
female:21.7% (2009)

Government

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

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

Administrative divisions

10 counties (apskritys, singular – apskritis)

Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

Independence

11 March 1990 (declared)

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)

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

Constitution

adopted 25 October 1992

last amended 13 July 2004

Legal system

civil law system

legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term)

election last held on 17 May 2009 (next to be held in May 2014)

prime minister appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
election results:Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president

percent of vote – Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE 69.1%, Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8%, Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2%, others 12.9%

Andrius KUBILIUS’ government approved by Parliament 83-40 with 5 abstentions

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats

71 members elected by popular vote, 70 elected by proportional representation

members to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – TS-LKD 19.7%, TPP 15.1%, TT 12.7%, LSDP 11.7%, DP+J 9%, LRLS 5.7%, LCS 5.3%, LLRA 4.8%, LVLS 3.7%, NS 3.6%, other 8.7%

seats by faction – TS-LKD 44, LSDP 26, TPP 16, TT 15, LRLS 11, DP+J 10, LCS 8, LLRA 3, LVLS 3, NS 1, independent 4

note – seats by faction as of 25 January 2011 – TS-LKD 45, LSDP 24, TT 18, LCS and TPP 13, LRLS 13, Christian Party 10, DP 10, unaffiliated 7, vacant 1

note – TS-LKD, LRLS, LCS and TPP form the ruling coalition

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court

Supreme Court

Court of Appeal

judges for all courts appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

Christian party [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]

Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Algimantas MATULEVICIUS]

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]

Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS]

Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]

Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Gintautas BABRAVICIUS]

Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]

Lithuanian Farmers’ Union or LVLS or VLS [ Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]

Lithuanian People’s Party (not yet officially established) [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE]

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 [Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS]

International organization participation

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Zygimantas PAVILIONIS
chancery:2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 234-5860
FAX:[1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general:Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
embassy:Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address:American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone:[370] (5) 266 5500
FAX:[370] (5) 266 5510

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

National symbol(s)

mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser)

National anthem

name: “Tautiska giesme” (The National Song)
lyrics/music:Vincas KUDIRKA
note:adopted 1918, restored 1990

the anthem was written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia

it was banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

Economy

Economy – overview

Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Despite Lithuania’s EU accession, Lithuania’s trade with its Central and Eastern European neighbors, and Russia in particular, accounts for a growing percentage of total trade. 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. Lithuania’s economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years prior to 2008 driven by exports and domestic demand. However, GDP plunged nearly 15% in 2009 – during the 2008-09 crisis the three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world’s worst economic declines. In 2009, the government launched a high-profile campaign, led by Prime Minister KUBILIUS, to attract foreign investment and to develop export markets. The current account deficit, which had risen to roughly 15% of GDP in 2007-08, recovered to a surplus of 4% 2009 and 3.4% in 2010 in the wake of a cutback in imports to almost half the 2008 level. Nevertheless, economic growth was flat and unemployment continued upward to 17.9% in 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$56.59 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89 $55.84 billion (2009 est.)
$65.5 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$36.36 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165 -14.7% (2009 est.)
2.9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$16,000 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70 $15,700 (2009 est.)
$18,400 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 3.4%
industry:27.9%
services:68.7% (2010 est.)

Labor force

1.635 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 14%
industry:29.1%
services:56.9% (2005)

Unemployment rate

17.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159 13.7% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

4% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%:29.1% (2008)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

37.6 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78 34 (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

16.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Budget

revenues: $12.78 billion
expenditures:$15.37 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

35.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Public debt

38.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 29.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39 4.5% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106 2.06% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.988% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124 8.393% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$10.63 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 $9.153 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$18.51 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 $18.11 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$23.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 $26.59 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.661 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 83 $4.477 billion (31 December 2009)
$3.625 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables

beef, milk, eggs

fish

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

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Electricity – production

12.27 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity – consumption

10.3 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity – exports

7.715 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

2.932 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

5,732 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Oil – consumption

67,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

Oil – exports

76,510 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Oil – imports

183,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Oil – proved reserves

12 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Natural gas – consumption

2.7 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas – imports

2.7 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Current account balance

$667 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51 $1.648 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$20.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69 $16.48 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

mineral products 22%, machinery and equipment 10%, chemicals 9%, textiles 7%, foodstuffs 7%, plastics 7%

Exports – partners

Russia 15.7%, Germany 10.1%, Latvia 9.8%, Poland 7.9%, Netherlands 5.7%, Belarus 5.2%, Estonia 5.2%, UK 5% (2010)

Imports

$22.38 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 $17.64 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

Russia 32.9%, Germany 11%, Poland 8.9%, Latvia 6.3%, Netherlands 4.4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.837 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79 $6.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$35.84 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 $29.88 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$13.61 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 $13.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$2.117 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66 $2.307 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

litai (LTL) per US dollar -
2.6637 (2010)
2.4787 (2009)
2.3251 (2008)
2.5362 (2007)
2.7498 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

81 (2010)
country comparison to the world:68

Airports – with paved runways

total: 26
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:13 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 55
over 3,047 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:51 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 1,695 km

refined products 114 km (2010)

Railways

total: 1,767 km
country comparison to the world: 76 broad gauge:1,745 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge:22 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 81,030 km
country comparison to the world: 58 paved:71,563 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved:9,467 km (2008)

Waterways

441 km (navigable year round) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 87

Merchant marine

total: 42
country comparison to the world: 75 by type:cargo 22, container 1, passenger/cargo 6, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned:8 (Denmark
registered in other countries:29 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Belize 2, Comoros 3, Cook Islands 2, Norway 1, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, unknown 3) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Klaipeda
oil terminals:Butinge oil terminal

Military

Military branches

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP), National Defense Volunteer Forces (2010)

Military service age and obligation

19-26 years of age for compulsory military service

18 years of age for volunteers

12-month conscript service obligation

male registration required at age 16 (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 890,074
females age 16-49:875,780 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 669,111
females age 16-49:724,803 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 20,425
female:19,527 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122

Transnational Issues

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

boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania

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