Lithuania

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

32 (2001)

Internet country code

.lt

Internet users

341,000 (2001)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios

1.9 million (1997)

Telephone system

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: landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Telephones - main lines in use

1.142 million (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

500,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

1.7 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.59 billion expenditures: $1.77 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Currency

litas (LTL)

Currency code

LTL

Debt - external

$5.8 billion (2002 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34 (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$228.5 million (1995) (1995)

Economy - overview

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has been slowly rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. High unemployment, still 12% in 2002, and weak consumption have held back 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 underway. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. The US government and business aid have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.

Electricity - consumption

6.898 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

6.3 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

3 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

10.966 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 20% hydro: 3% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 77%

Exchange rates

litai per US dollar - 3.4946 (15 October 2002), 3.4794 (1 July 2002), 4.000 (fixed rate between 1 May 1994 and 1 February 2002); note - litai is the plural of litas; effective 1 February 2002 the litas was pegged to the euro at a rate of 3.4528

Exports

$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 13.8%, Latvia 12.6%, Germany 12.6%, Russia 11%, Poland 6.3% (2001)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $29.2 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 8% industry: 31% services: 61% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $8,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 26% (1996) (1996)

Imports

$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 25.3%, Germany 17.2%, Poland 4.9%, Italy 4.2%, France 3.8% (2001)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2002 est.)

Industries

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)

0.8% (2002 est.)

Labor force

1.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

12.5% (2001 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

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

Coastline

99 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

arable land: 45.46% permanent crops: 0.93% other: 53.61% (1998 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

peat, arable land

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Vilnius

Constitution

adopted 25 October 1992

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT embassy: 2600 Akmenu 6, Vilnius mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723 telephone: [370] (2) 665-500 FAX: [370] (2) 665-510

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

chief of state: President Rolandas PAKSAS (since 26 February 2003) 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 22 December 2002 and 5 January 2003 (next to be held in late 2007); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Rolandas PAKSAS elected president; percent of vote - Rolandas PAKSAS 54.9%, Valdas ADAMKUS 45.1%

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

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

International organization participation

ACCT (observer), BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

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 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Coalition 31.1%, New Union-Social Liberals 19.6%, Liberal Union 17.2%, TS 8.6%, remaining parties all less than 5%; seats by party - Social Democratic Coalition 52, Liberal Union 34, New Union-Social Liberals 29, TS 9, Farmer's Party 4, Center Union 2, Poles' Electoral Action 2, Modern Christian Democratic Union 1, independents 3, others 5

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is the date of independence from German, Austrian, Prussian, and Russian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or LKDP [Kazys BOBELIS, chairman]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [Kestutis GLAVECKAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Green Party [Rimantas BRAZIULIS]; Lithuanian Liberal Union [Eugenijus GENTVILAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Liberal Youth [Neringa MOROZAITE]; Lithuanian National Democratic Party [Vygintas GONTIS]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSPD, and New Democracy; Moderate Conservative Union [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Modern Christian Democratic Union [Vytautas BOGUSIS, chairman]; New Democracy and Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; New Union-Social Liberals [Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Young Lithuania [Arnoldas PLATELIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 this proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured its economy for eventual integration into Western European institutions.

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$230.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.9% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 933,638 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 733,415 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 28,506 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.2% (male 333,966; female 319,992) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,184,969; female 1,265,711) 65 years and over: 13.8% (male 167,789; female 328,711) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

10.22 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.02% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

14.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.42 years female: 75.6 years (2002 est.) male: 63.54 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian

Net migration rate

0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

3,601,138 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.25% (2002 est.)

Religions

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

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: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

the Russian Duma has not ratified 1997 boundary treaty; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

72 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 63 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 55 (2002)

Highways

total: 44,000 km paved: 35,500 km unpaved: 8,500 km (2001)

Merchant marine

total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 279,743 GRT/304,156 DWT ships by type: cargo 25, combination bulk 8, petroleum tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 13 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda

Railways

total: 1,998 km broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (2001) standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge

Waterways

600 km (perennially navigable)