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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.lt

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1.301 million (2007)

Internet users [time series]

1.083 million (2006)

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]

792,400 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

4.718 million (2006)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

27 (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: $10.05 billion expenditures: $10.12 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

litas (LTL)

Current account balance [time series]

$-3.244 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$16.2 billion (2006 est.)

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

36 (2003)

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

$249.7 million (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has grown rapidly since rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment fell to 3.7% in 2006, while wages grew 17.6%, contributing to rising inflation. Exports and imports continue to grow strongly, and the current account deficit rose to nearly 10% of GDP in 2006. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities is nearly complete. Foreign government and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy, but foreign direct investment declined in 2006.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

9.296 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

8.607 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

5.641 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

13.48 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

litai per US dollar - 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$14.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 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]

Russia 12.8%, Latvia 11.1%, Germany 8.6%, Estonia 6.5%, Poland 6.1%, Netherlands 4.8%, Sweden 4.5%, UK 4.4%, US 4.3%, Denmark 4.2%, France 4.2% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$30.2 billion (2006 est.)

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

$54.9 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 5.5% industry: 35% services: 59.6% (2006 est.)

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

$15,300 (2006 est.)

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

7.5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.7% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$18.29 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 24.3%, Germany 14.9%, Poland 9.5%, Latvia 4.8% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7% (2006 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 jewelry

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

23.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.588 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 15.8% industry: 28.2% services: 56% (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$10.19 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

2.916 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

2.916 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005)

Oil - consumption [time series]

56,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

145,100 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports [time series]

187,800 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production [time series]

14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

12 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

4% (2003)

Public debt [time series]

18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$5.773 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$1.183 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$10.94 billion (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.7% note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7% (2006 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]

90 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 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, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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: none of the selected agreements

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]

70 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,613 km border countries: Belarus 653.5 km, Latvia 588 km, Poland 103.7 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 267.8 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 44.81% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 54.29% (2005)

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, amber

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]

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

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 John A. CLOUD embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106 telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500 FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA chancery: 4590 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Gediminas KIRKILAS (since 4 July 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009); prime minister 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%; Gediminas KIRKILAS approved by Parliament 85-13, with five abstentions

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 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members are elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held in October 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, TS 14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Farmers and New Democracy Union 6.6%, other 9%; seats by faction - Labor 29, Homeland Union 26, Social Democrats 23, Civil Democracy (split from Labor) 11, Liberal Movement (formerly Liberal Political Group) 11, National Farmer's Union (formerly Farmers and New Democracy Union) 11, Social Liberal 10, Liberal Democrats 9, Liberal and Center Union 8, independents 3 (as of late-July 2006)

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Civil Democracy Party [Viktor MUNTIANAS]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; National Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS]; Labor Party [Kestutis DAUKSYS]; Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS]; Liberal Democratic Party [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Liberal Movement [Petras AUSTREVICIUS]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania [Julius VESELKA]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS]; Social Liberal/New Union [Arturas PAULAUSKAS]; Social Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Young Lithuania and New Nationalists [Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 19-49: 830,368 females age 19-49: 830,524 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 19-49: 590,606 females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 29,689 females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)

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

Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces, National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)

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

1.2% (2006; 1.23% 2007 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.9% (male 273,573/female 259,570) 15-64 years: 69.3% (male 1,213,011/female 1,264,996) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 194,500/female 369,789) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.87 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.05 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)

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: 6.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.44 years male: 69.46 years female: 79.69 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.6% female: 99.6% (2001 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 38.6 years male: 36.1 years female: 41.2 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

3,575,439 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.289% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.054 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.959 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.526 male(s)/female total population: 0.887 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.21 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

87 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 30 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: 17 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 57 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 50 ships (1000 GRT or over) 363,795 GRT/366,624 DWT by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 22, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 16 foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 9) registered in other countries: 20 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, North Korea 1, Norway 1, Panama 5, St Vincent and The Grenadines 7, unknown 3) (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 1,696 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Klaipeda

Railways [time series]

total: 1,771 km broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 79,497 km paved: 70,549 km (includes 417 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)

Waterways [time series]

425 km (2005)