Lithuania

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Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Total area: 65,200 sq km
Land area: 65,200 sq km
Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land Boundaries

Total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline

108 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

Dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards

Climate

Maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain

Lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapine Kalnas 292 m

Natural Resources

Peat

Land Use

Arable land: 49.1%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 22.2%
Forest and woodland: 16.3%
Other: 12.4%

Irrigated Land

430 sq km (1990)

Environment

Current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Natural hazards: NA
International agreements: party to - Climate Change, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Ozone Layer Protection

PEOPLE

Population

3,646,041 (July 1996 est.)
3,876,396 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

22% (male 400,823; female 384,592) (July 1996 est.)
23% (male 444,556; female 426,616) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

66% (male 1,162,626; female 1,244,103) (July 1996 est.)
65% (male 1,227,420; female 1,299,052) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

12% (male 154,862; female 299,035) (July 1996 est.)
12% (male 165,535; female 313,217) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.35% (1996 est.)
0.71% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

12.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
14.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

13.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-3.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

17 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 68.03 years (1996 est.), 71.37 years (1995 est.)
Male: 62.15 years 91996 est.), 66.68 years (1995 est.)
Female: 74.21 years (1996 est.), 76.3 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Lithuanian(s)
Adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic Divisions

Lithuanian 82%
Russian 8.6%
Polish 7.7%
Belorussian 1.5%
Other 2.1%

Religions

Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other

Languages

Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1989)

Total population: 98%
Male: 99%
Female: 98%

Labor Force

1.836 million

By occupation:

Industry and construction 42%
Agriculture and forestry 18%
Other 40% (1990)

GOVERNMENT

Names

Conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
Conventional short form: Lithuania
Local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Local short form: Lietuva
Former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Digraph

Type

Republic

Capital

Vilnius

Administrative Divisions

44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and

11 Municipalities*

Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 16 February (1918)

Constitution

Adopted 25 October 1992

Legal System

Based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: In the elections held 21 december 1997, non of the candidates won a majority (Arturas Palauskas 45%; Valdas Adamkus 16%) which means a second round is held on 4 january 1998
4 january 1998 - NA 2002: (NA; 4 january 1998 elections will be held)
25 november 1992 - 4 january 1998: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS
6 september 1991 - 24 november 1992: President Vytautas LANDSBERGIS
Head of government: Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since 10 March 1993)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Seimas (parliament)

Elections last held Autumn 1996 (next to be held NA 1996); results - NA

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court, Court of Appeals

Political Parties and Leaders

Christian Democratic Party (LKDP), Povilas KATILIUS, chairman; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP), Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS, chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman; Farmers' Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman; Center Union, Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman; Conservative Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman; Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS), Rytardas MACIKIANEC, chairman

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Homeland Union; Lithuanian Future Forum; Farmers Union

Member of

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

National Anthem

National anthem

Flag

Three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

ECONOMY

Overview

Since declaring independence in 1990, Lithuania has implemented reforms aimed at eliminating the vestiges of the former socialist system. With the help of the IMF and other international institutions, the government has adopted a disciplined program to restrain inflation, reduce price controls, lower the budget deficit and privatize the economy. Lithuania has embarked on a series of price liberalizations; most price controls have been abolished. More than two-thirds of its industrial facilities as well as most housing and agricultural enterprises have been privatized, although important "strategic" enterprises have been exempted from privatization - namely energy and telecommunications. While Lithuania has reduced its trade dependence on Russia and other republics of the FSU from 85% in 1991 to about 40% in 1995, Russia remains Lithuania's leading trading partner. Lithuania has made great strides in reducing its annual rate of inflation - from over 1,100% in 1992 to about 35% in 1995. Production bottomed out in 1994-95. A banking crisis beginning in September, during which central bank reserves dropped one-third, held back growth in 1995. If the government can stay the course on economic reform and fiscal discipline - which may be politically difficult in the election year of 1996 - Lithuania could be set for strong economic growth in the near term. As for real resources, Lithuania's growth depends largely on its ability to exploit its strategic location - with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.3 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994), $13.5 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)

National Product Real Growth Rate

1% (1995 est.)
-0.5% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$3,400 (1995 est.)
$3,500 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

35% (1995 est.)
3.1% (monthly average 1994)

Unemployment Rate

6.1% (January 1996)
4.5% (January 1995)

Budget

Revenues: $258.5 million
Expenditures: $270.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1992 est.)

Exports

$2.2 billion (1994)

Commodities:

Electronics 18%
Petroleum products 5%
Food 10%
Chemicals 6% (1989)

Partners:

Russia
Ukraine
Germany

Imports

$2.7 billion (1994)

Commodities:

Oil 24%
Machinery 14%
Chemicals 8%
Grain NA (1989)

Partners:

Russia
Germany
Belarus

External Debt

$895 million

Industrial Production

Growth rate -52% (1992); accounts for 35% of GDP

Electricity

Capacity: 6,190,000 kW
Production: 18.9 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 4,608 kWh (1993)

Industries

Industry's share in the economy has been declining substantially over the past year, due to the economic crisis and the growth of services in the economy
Among branches which are still

Important: metal-cutting machine tools 6.6%, electric motors 4.6%,
Television sets 6.2%, refrigerators and freezers 5.4%; other branches: Petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, and amber

Agriculture

Employs around 18% of labor force; accounts for 25% of GDP; sugar, grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables, meat, milk, dairy products, eggs, fish; most developed are the livestock and dairy branches, which depend on imported grain; net exporter of meat, milk, and eggs

Illicit Drugs

Transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption

Economic Aid

Recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993) Note: commitments from the West and international financial institutions, $765 million (1992-95)

Currency

Introduced the convertible litas in June 1993

Exchange Rates

Litai per US$1 - 4.000 (January 1996), 4.000 (1995), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992); note - fixed rate since 1 May 1994

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Total: 2,002 km
Broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Highways

Total: 55,603 km
Paved: 42,209 km (including 382 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 13,394 km (1994)

Inland Waterways

600 km perennially navigable

Pipelines

Crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)

Ports

Kaunas, Klaipeda

Merchant Marine

Total: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 264,639 GRT/303,649 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1995 est.)

Airports

Total: 96
With paved runways over 3,047 m: 3
With paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
With paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 14
With unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 63

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

900,000 telephones; 240 telephones/1,000 persons; telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics

Domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Vilnius and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay connect switching centers
International: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); cellular network linked internationally through Copenhagen by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available; landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 1.77 million (1993 est.)

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 903,437; males fit for military service 712,875; males reach military age (18) annually 26,162 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $31.7 million, 1% of GDP (1995), $30 million, 2% of GDP (1994)

History
World Atlas

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