Lithuania source: CIA World Factbook 1998 |
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 65,200 sq km
land: 65,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Areacomparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad)
227 km
Coastline: 99 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 extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat
Land use:
arable land: 35%
permanent crops: 12%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environmentcurrent issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environmentinternational agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Population: 3,600,158 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 376,034; female 360,446)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,155,733; female 1,238,671)
65 years and over: 13% (male 159,526; female 309,748) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.45% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 10.57 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.94 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.83 years
male: 62.76 years
female: 75.21 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Byelorussian 1.6%, other 2.1%
Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1989 est.)
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
Data code: LH
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singularrajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birstonas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Marijampoles Rajonas, 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, Salcininku Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Silutes Rajonas, Sirvintu Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traku Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Statehood 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: President Valdes ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)
head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996)
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 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); premier appointed by
the president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of voteValdas
ADAMKUS 50.37%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.7%
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 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October
2000)
election results: percent of vote by partyNA; seats by partyTS 69, LKDP
15, LCS 15, LDDP 12, LSDP 10, DP 2, independents 12, others 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP [Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania or LDDP [Ceslovas JURSENAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Nationalist Union or LTS [Rimantas SMETONA, chairman]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP (previously Farmers' Union) [Albinas VAIZMUZIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Polish Union or LLS [Rsztardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie WURTH-POLFER, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS (appointed 30 September 1997)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Keith C. SMITH
embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723
telephone: [370] (2) 223-031, 227-224
FAX: [370] 670-6084
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economyoverview: Lithuania has benefited from its disciplined approach to market reform and its adherence to strict fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the IMF, measures that have helped constrain the growth of the money supply, reduce inflation to 8.6%, and support GDP growth of 6% in 1997. Inflation is expected to fall in 1998 to 6% and GDP to grow at close to 7%. Foreign direct investment in 1997 of some $430 million pushed the country over the $1 billion mark, the first Baltic state to reach this milestone. However, the current account deficit has hovered around 8% to 10% of GDP annually since 1995the result of greater demand for consumer goods and falling growth in exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity$15.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDPreal growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDPper capita: purchasing power parity$4,230 (1997 est.)
GDPcomposition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63% (1995 est.)
Inflation rateconsumer price index: 8.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 1.8 million
by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other
38% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 6.7% (January 1998)
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 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
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1996)
Electricitycapacity: 5.463 million kW (1995)
Electricityproduction: 14.33 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricityconsumption per capita: 2,398 kWh (1995)
Agricultureproducts: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish; flax fiber
Exports:
total value: $3.3 billion (1996)
commodities: agricultural products 16.9%, mineral products 15.7%, textiles 15.2%,
machinery 11.4%, live animals 7.7% (1996)
partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine (1996)
Imports:
total value: $4.4 billion (1996)
commodities: mineral production 20%, machinery 16%, transport equipment 10%,
chemicals 10%, textiles 8%, foodstuff 6% (1996)
partners: Russia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Denmark (1996)
Debtexternal: $895 million
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993)
note: commitments from the West and international financial institutions, $765
million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exchange rates: litai per US$14.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones: 1.012 million (1995)
Telephone system: 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 stations1 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.)
Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 65,135 km
paved: 57,058 km (including 404 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,077 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 307,947 GRT/341,733 DWT
ships by type: cargo 25, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1,
refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airportswith paved runways:
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airportswith unpaved runways:
total: 71
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Military manpowermilitary age: 18 years of age
Military manpoweravailability:
males age 15-49: 905,259 (1998 est.)
Military manpowerfit for military service:
males: 712,593 (1998 est.)
Military manpowerreaching military age annually:
males: 26,211 (1998 est.)
Military expendituresdollar figure: $81.2 million (1997)
Military expenditurespercent of GDP: 0.9% (1997)
Disputesinternational: ongoing talks over boundary dispute with Latvia (primary concern oil exploration rights); demarcation has begun on border with Belarus; 1997 border agreement with Russia not yet ratified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia
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