Lithuania

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

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 65,300 sq km
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
country comparison to the world: 124

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries

total: 1,549 km
border countries (4): Belarus 640 km, Latvia 544 km, Poland 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km

Coastline

90 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm

Climate

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

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation

mean elevation: 110 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Aukstojas 294 m

Natural resources

peat, arable land, amber

Land use

agricultural land: 44.8% (2011 est.)
arable land: 34.9% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0.5% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 9.4% (2011 est.)
forest: 34.6% (2011 est.)
other: 20.6% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

44 sq km (2012)

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

Natural hazards

occasional floods, droughts

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population

2,793,284 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141

Nationality

noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

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.)
population pyramid:

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Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 49.9 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 21.9 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 28 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.6 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 44 years (2018 est.)
male: 39.8 years
female: 47.4 years
country comparison to the world: 15

Population growth rate

-1.1% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228

Birth rate

9.8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Death rate

14.8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Net migration rate

-6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

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

Urbanization

urban population: 67.9% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: -0.31% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

538,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2019)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27 years (2014 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 193

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 69.9 years
female: 80.8 years
country comparison to the world: 110

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

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.)

Current Health Expenditure

6.7% (2016)

Physicians density

4.34 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

7.3 beds/1,000 population (2013)

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,800 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2017 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate (2016)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.3% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 43

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 93

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2016)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.3%
male: 14.6%
female: 11.7% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

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

Government type

semi-presidential republic

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
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"

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

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 and Germany)

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

Constitution

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

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Saulius SKVERNELIS (since 13 December 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament
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
election results: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 90 to 4

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

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 - 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

Political parties and leaders

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]
Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]
Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]
Labor Party or LP [Viktor USPASKICH]
Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]
Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Linas BALSYS]
Lithuanian Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS (Eugenijus GENTVILAS)
Lithuanian List or LL [Darius KUOLYS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party [Gediminas KIRKILAS]
Order and Justice Party or TT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS]

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, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Rolandas KRISCIUNAS (since 17 September 2015)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marcus MICHELI (since July 2019)
telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
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), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red

National anthem

name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

Economy

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.

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
country comparison to the world: 87

GDP (official exchange rate)

$47.26 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2017 est.)
2.3% (2016 est.)
2% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$32,400 (2017 est.)
$30,700 (2016 est.)
$29,600 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 63

Gross national saving

18% of GDP (2017 est.)
16.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
17.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 63.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.3% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 81.6% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -79.3% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.4% (2017 est.)
services: 67.2% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

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

Industrial production growth rate

5.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Labor force

1.467 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 9.1%
industry: 25.2%
services: 65.8% (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.1% (2017 est.)
7.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Population below poverty line

22.2% (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 28.8% (2015)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.9 (2015)
35 (2014)
country comparison to the world: 80

Budget

revenues: 15.92 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 15.7 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

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
country comparison to the world: 129

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

Central bank discount rate

0% (31 December 2017 est.)
0.05% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.8% (31 December 2017 est.)
2.83% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Stock of narrow money

$25.61 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$20.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Stock of broad money

$25.61 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$20.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Stock of domestic credit

$36.91 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$28.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

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.)
country comparison to the world: 81

Current account balance

$364 million (2017 est.)
-$479 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Exports

$29.12 billion (2017 est.)
$24.23 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Exports - partners

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

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$31.56 billion (2017 est.)
$26.21 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Debt - external

$34.48 billion (31 March 2016 est.)
$31.6 billion (31 March 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$20.43 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$15.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.268 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

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.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Electricity - production

3.131 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - consumption

10.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - exports

730 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62

Electricity - imports

11.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.71 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93

Electricity - from fossil fuels

73% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - from other renewable sources

23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Crude oil - production

2,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Crude oil - exports

1,002 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

Crude oil - imports

182,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Crude oil - proved reserves

12 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88

Refined petroleum products - production

196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51

Refined petroleum products - consumption

58,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Refined petroleum products - exports

174,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Refined petroleum products - imports

42,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - consumption

2.492 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - imports

2.492 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

13.49 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 486,895
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 4,361,329
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 154 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Telephone system

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 (2018)
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 (2018)
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)

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

total: 2,122,884
percent of population: 74.4% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 798,769
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Military and Security

Military expenditures

2.03% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.98% of GDP (2018)
1.72% of GDP (2017)
1.48% of GDP (2016)
1.14% of GDP (2015)
country comparison to the world: 50

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 (Savanoriu Pajegos) (2019)

Military service age and obligation

19-26 years of age for conscripted military service (males); 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; 18-38 for voluntary service (male and female) (2019)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 52 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,363,950 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 565,642mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

LY (2016)

Airports

61 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 80

Airports - with paved runways

total: 22 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 3 (2017)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2017)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)
under 914 m: 9 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 39 (2013)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
under 914 m: 36 (2013)

Pipelines

1921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013)

Railways

total: 1,768 km (2014)
standard gauge: 22 km1.435-m gauge (2014)
broad gauge: 1,746 km1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified) (2014)
country comparison to the world: 79

Roadways

total: 84,166 km (2012)
paved: 72,297 km(includes 312 km of expressways) (2012)
unpaved: 11,869 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 59

Waterways

441 km(navigable year-round) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 86

Merchant marine

total: 61
by type: container ship 3, general cargo 28, oil tanker 2, other 28 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 106

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Klaipeda
oil terminal(s): Butinge oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 3,039 (2018)

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

Flag of Lithuania

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