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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.lt

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

67,769 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

695,700 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an improved international capability and better residential access domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded; mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber applications international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

824,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2,169,900 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

27 note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $5.427 billion expenditures: $5.742 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

litas (LTL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

LTL

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.218 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$7.671 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

34 (1999)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$228.5 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment remains high, still 10.7% in 2003, but is improving. Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and has moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is nearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. Foreign government and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.683 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

6.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.389 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

14.62 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

litai per US dollar - 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4 (2001), 4 (2000), 4 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$7.89 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Exports - partners [time series]

Switzerland 11.6%, Russia 10.1%, Germany 9.9%, Latvia 9.7%, UK 6.4%, France 5.1%, Denmark 4.7%, Estonia 4.3%, Sweden 4% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $40.88 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 6.1% industry: 31.3% services: 62.6% (2003 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

9% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)

Imports [time series]

$9.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transport equipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5% (2001)

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 22%, Germany 16.1%, Poland 5.2%, Italy 4.3%, France 4.2% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

16.1% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

-1.2% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.8% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

1.642 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (1997 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

23.6% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$3.45 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.3% (2003 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 65,200 sq km land: NA sq km water: NA sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

99 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic coordinates [time series]

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,273 km border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 45.22% permanent crops: 0.91% other: 53.87% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

peat, arable land

Terrain [time series]

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

Capital [time series]

Vilnius

Constitution [time series]

adopted 25 October 1992

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. MULL embassy: 2600 Akmenu 6, Vilnius mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723 telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500 FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004) head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3 July 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 13 June 2004 and 27 June 2004; premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all courts appointed by the President

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, Homeland Union (Conservatives) 14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Union of Farmers and New Democracy 6.6%; seats by faction - Labor 39, Homeland Union 25, Social Democrats 20, Liberal and Center Union 18, Social Liberals 11, Union of Farmers and New Democracy Parties 10, Liberal Democrats 10, Electoral Action 2, independents 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor Party [Viktor USPASKICH, chairman]; Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP; New Democracy and Farmer's Union or VNDPS [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Social Liberals (New Union) [Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman]; Young Lithuania and New Nationalists

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. 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.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

National Defense Volunteer Forces (SKAT), Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$230.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.9% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 943,063 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 738,602 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 28,300 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 309,736; female 294,129) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,202,603; female 1,262,784) 65 years and over: 14.9% (male 184,145; female 354,502) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other 2.1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1,300 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.46 years male: 68.22 years female: 79 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 37.4 years male: 34.8 years female: 40.1 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

3,607,899 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.33% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.17 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

in May 2003, the Russian Parliament ratified the 1997 land and maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, which ratified the treaty in 1999, legalizing limits of former Soviet republic borders; both states also implement a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals transiting Lithuania to and from the Russian Kaliningrad coastal enclave; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation

Transportation

Airports [time series]

102 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 28 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 74 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 67 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 75,243 km paved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 296,856 GRT/317,731 DWT by type: cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 8, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea/passenger 4 foreign-owned: Denmark 12, Netherlands 1 registered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda

Railways [time series]

total: 1,998 km broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (all service suspended) (2003)

Waterways [time series]

600 km (2004)