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. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.
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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
Land boundaries
total: 1,545 km
border countries (4): Belarus 640 km, Latvia 544 km, Poland 100 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 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
highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 110 m
Natural resources
peat, arable land, amber
Land use
agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 34.6% (2018 est.)
other: 20.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
44 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
Salt water lake(s): Kursiu Marios/Kurshskiy Zaliv/ (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km
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
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 84.1%, 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.)
major-language sample(s):
Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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: 15.26% (male 213,802/female 202,948)
15-24 years: 10.23% (male 144,679/female 134,822)
25-54 years: 38.96% (male 528,706/female 535,485)
55-64 years: 15.1% (male 183,854/female 228,585)
65 years and over: 20.45% (male 190,025/female 368,558) (2020 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 56.5
youth dependency ratio: 24.2
elderly dependency ratio: 32.3
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2020 est.)
Median age
total: 44.5 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 48.2 years (2020 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
Urbanization
urban population: 68.2% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
540,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2021)
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: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.8 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
27.5 years (2019 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167Infant mortality rate
total: 3.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.61 years
male: 70.23 years
female: 81.29 years (2021 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 92.8% of population
total: 97.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 7.2% of population
total: 2.5% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure
6.6% (2018)
Physicians density
6.35 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density
6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 99.3% of population
rural: 87.5% of population
total: 95.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.7% of population
rural: 12.5% of population
total: 4.5% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
<100 (2019 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
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 (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 19.6%
male: 21.5%
female: 17.3% (2020 est.)
Environment
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
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 11.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 12.96 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 3.15 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Land use
agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 34.6% (2018 est.)
other: 20.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 68.2% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
forest revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
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.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
Salt water lake(s): Kursiu Marios/Kurshskiy Zaliv/ (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 130.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 69.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 58.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
24.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
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 (while occupied by the USSR)
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
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, 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
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)
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 many times, last in 2019
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 Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020)
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 - 62 to 10
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 11 and 25 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS-LKD 50, LVZS 32, LSDP 13, LRLS 13, Freedom 11, DP 10, AWPL 3, LSDDP 3, LT 1, Greens 1, independent 4; composition - men 102, women 39, percent of women 27.7%
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]
Freedom Party or LP [Ausrine ARMONAITE]
Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]
Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]
Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]
Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Remigijus LAPINSKAS]]
Lithuanian Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Viktorija CMILYTE]
Lithuanian List or LL [Darius KUOLYS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party or LSDDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS]
Freedom and Justice Party or LT [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
chief of mission: Ambassador Audra PLEPYTE (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
email address and website:
info@usa.mfa.lt
https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. GILCHRIST (since 4 February 2020)
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: 4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC 20521-4510
telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510
email address and website:
consec@state.gov
https://lt.usembassy.gov/
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
Economic 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.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$102.66 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$103.56 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$99.25 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
4.33% (2019 est.)
3.99% (2018 est.)
4.37% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$36,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)
$37,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)
$35,400 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$54.597 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (2019 est.)
2.7% (2018 est.)
3.7% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A (2020)
Moody's rating: A3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 3.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.4% (2017 est.)
services: 67.2% (2017 est.)
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.)
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, sugar beet, rapeseed, barley, triticale, potatoes, oats, peas, beans
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
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 9.1%
industry: 25.2%
services: 65.8% (2015 est.)
Population below poverty line
20.6% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
37.3 (2017 est.)
35 (2014)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 28.8% (2015)
Budget
revenues: 15.92 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 15.7 billion (2017 est.)
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
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$1.817 billion (2019 est.)
$131 million (2018 est.)
Exports
$41.48 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)
$42.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$40.36 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - partners
Russia 13%, Latvia 9%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Estonia 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, furniture, cigarettes, wheat, polyethylene (2019)
Imports
$36.06 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)
$39.46 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)
$39.38 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - partners
Poland 12%, Russia 12%, Germany 12%, Latvia 7%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, electricity (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external
$37.859 billion (2019 est.)
$41.999 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
litai (LTL) per US dollar -
0.82771 (2020 est.)
0.90338 (2019 est.)
0.87789 (2018 est.)
0.9012 (2014 est.)
0.7525 (2013 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24
total: 19.6%
male: 21.5%
female: 17.3% (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
3.71 million kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93Electricity - from fossil fuels
73% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132Electricity - from other renewable sources
23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30Refined petroleum products - production
196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51Refined petroleum products - consumption
58,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 322,108 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11.83 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 4,742,427 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 174.2 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Lithuania’s small telecom market is among the most advanced in Europe, with universal access to LTE, extensive fiber footprint, and tests of 5G; operators focus on data speeds; improved international capability and better residential access; high SIM card penetration; increased demand for high-speed Internet for education, entertainment, and shopping during pandemic supporting growth in revenue through fiber lines; importer of broadcast equipment and video displays from neighboring EU countries (2020)
domestic: 13 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 169 per 100 persons (2019)
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)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
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 users
total: 2.22 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 83.06% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 796,814 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29.27 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 50
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 26,031 (2018)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 22
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: 9 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 36 (2013)
Pipelines
1921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013)
Railways
total: 1,768 km (2014)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
broad gauge: 1,746 km 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified) (2014)
Roadways
total: 84,166 km (2012)
paved: 72,297 km (includes 312 km of expressways) (2012)
unpaved: 11,869 km (2012)
Merchant marine
total: 64
by type: container ship 4, general cargo 24, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Klaipeda
oil terminal(s): Butinge oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda
Military and Security
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); National Riflemen's Union (paramilitary force that acts as an additional reserve force) (2021)
Military expenditures
2.03% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.13% of GDP (2020 est.)
2% of GDP (2019)
1.97% of GDP (2018)
1.71% of GDP (2017)
Military and security service personnel strengths
the Lithuanian Armed Forces have approximately 16,000 active duty personnel (12,500 Army, including about 5,000 National Defense Voluntary Forces; 600 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc); est. 11,000 Riflemen Union (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Lithuanian Armed Forces' inventory is mostly a mix of Western weapons systems and Soviet-era equipment (primarily aircraft and helicopters); Germany and the UK are the leading suppliers of armaments to Lithuania since 2010 (2020)
Military deployments
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 (2021)
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) (2021)
Military - note
Lithuania officially became a member of NATO in 2004
since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; the battlegroup is led by Germany and had about 1,250 troops on a continuous rotational basis as of 2021
NATO also 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 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base
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: 2,720 (2020)
Illicit drugs
source country for amphetamine tablets