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 January 2014, Lithuania assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2014-15 term; in January 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone.

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

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Europe

slightly larger than West Virginia

90 km

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

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

highest point: Aukstojas 294 m

peat, arable land, amber

arable land 34.9%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.4%

44 sq km (2012)

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

occasional floods, droughts

contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

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

2,823,859 (July 2017 est.)

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

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

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.)

-1.08% (2017 est.)

9.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

14.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

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

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

VILNIUS (capital) 517,000 (2015)

27 years (2014 est.)

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

1.59 children born/woman (2017 est.)

6.6% of GDP (2014)

4.33 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

urban: 99.7% of population

rural: 90.4% of population

total: 96.6% of population

urban: 0.3% of population

rural: 9.6% of population

total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 97.2% of population

rural: 82.8% of population

total: 92.4% of population

urban: 2.8% of population

rural: 17.2% of population

total: 7.6% of population (2015 est.)

0.2% (2016 est.)

2,900 (2016 est.)

<200

26.3% (2016)

4.6% of GDP (2013)

semi-presidential republic

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

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)

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

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Anti-Corruption Coalition or LCP-LPP [Naglis PUTEIKIS and Kristupas KRIVICKAS]

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]

Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]

Labor Party or DP [Valentinas MAZURONIS]

Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS (vacant)

Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]

Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Linas BALSYS]

Lithuanian List [Darius KUOLYS]

Lithuanian Pensioners Party or LPP [Kristupas KRIVICKAS]

Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS]

Order and Justice Party or TT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS]

Peasant and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS] (formerly LVLS)

Way of Courage or DK [Jonas VARKALA]

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, UN Security Council (non-permanent), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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

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.

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. 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’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter of which has been 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. 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.

$86.05 billion (2016 est.)

$83.06 billion (2015 est.)

$80.73 billion (2014 est.)

$42.76 billion (2016 est.)

2.3% (2016 est.)

1.8% (2015 est.)

3.5% (2014 est.)

$30,000 (2016 est.)

$29,000 (2015 est.)

$28,200 (2014 est.)

15.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

17.6% of GDP (2015 est.)

22.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

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

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

0.3% (2016 est.)

1.478 million (2016 est.)

7.9% (2016 est.)

9.1% (2015 est.)

22.2% (2015 est.)

37.9 (2015)

35 (2014)

34.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

0.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

40.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

42.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

0.7% (2016 est.)

-0.7% (2015 est.)

0% (31 December 2016 est.)

0.05% (31 December 2015 est.)

2.83% (31 December 2016 est.)

2.96% (31 December 2015 est.)

$20.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$19.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$24.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$23.94 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$28.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$24.43 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$6.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$6.799 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$7.127 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$-379 million (2016 est.)

$-976.7 million (2015 est.)

$24.23 billion (2016 est.)

$24.73 billion (2015 est.)

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

Russia 13.5%, Latvia 9.9%, Poland 9.1%, Germany 7.7%, Estonia 5.3%, US 5.2%, Sweden 4.8%, UK 4.3% (2016)

$26.35 billion (2016 est.)

$26.94 billion (2015 est.)

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

Russia 14.4%, Germany 12.1%, Poland 10.8%, Latvia 8%, Italy 5.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, Sweden 4.4% (2016)

$2.602 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$34.48 billion (31 March 2016 est.)

$31.6 billion (31 March 2015 est.)

$15.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$16.24 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$4.155 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

litai (LTL) per US dollar -

0.9037 (2016 est.)

0.9037 (2015 est.)

0.9012 (2014 est.)

0.7525 (2013 est.)

2.69 (2012 est.)

3.433 billion kWh (2015 est.)

9.848 billion kWh (2015 est.)

730 million kWh (2015 est.)

7.938 billion kWh (2015 est.)

3.641 million kW (2015 est.)

59.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

3.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

18.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

1,238 bbl/day (2014 est.)

160,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)

12 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

174,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)

53,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

145,600 bbl/day (2014 est.)

27,520 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2014 est.)

2.93 billion cu m (2015 est.)

0 cu m (2014 est.)

2.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)

0 cu m (2016 est.)

11.2 million Mt (2015 est.)

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)

.lt

LY (2016)

61 (2013)

gas 1,921 km; refined products 121 km (2013)

441 km (navigable year-round) (2007)

1.49% of GDP (2016)

1.14% of GDP (2015)

0.88% of GDP (2014)

0.76% of GDP (2013)

0.77% of GDP (2012)

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)

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)

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

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