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- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Geography
-
-
- Location:
- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
- Map references:
- Europe
- 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, 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
- 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 - Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
- ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- People
-
-
- Population:
- 3,876,396 (July 1995 est.)
- Age structure:
- 0-14 years:
- 23% (female 426,616; male 444,556)
- 15-64 years:
- 65% (female 1,299,052; male 1,227,420)
- 65 years and over:
- 12% (female 313,217; male 165,535) (July 1995 est.)
- Population growth rate:
- 0.71% (1995 est.)
- Birth rate:
- 14.46 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
- Death rate:
- 10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
- Net migration rate:
- 3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
- Infant mortality rate:
- 16.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
- Life expectancy at birth:
- total population:
- 71.37 years
- male:
- 66.68 years
- female:
- 76.3 years (1995 est.)
- Total fertility rate:
- 2 children born/woman (1995 est.)
- Nationality:
- noun:
- Lithuanian(s)
- adjective:
- Lithuanian
- Ethnic divisions:
- Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%
- Religions:
- Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
- Languages:
- Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
- Literacy:
- age 15 and over 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)
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- 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:
- LH
- 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:
- President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25 November 1992; elected
- acting president by Parliament 25 November 1992 and elected by direct vote
- 15 February 1993); election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA
- 1997); results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS was elected; note - on 25 November 1992
- BRAZAUSKAS was elected chairman of Parliament and, as such, acting president
- of the Republic; he was confirmed in office by direct balloting 15 February
- 1993
- 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
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Government
- Seimas (parliament):
- elections last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA
- 1996); results - LDDP 51%; seats - (141 total) LDDP 73, Conservative Party
- 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers' Union 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2, others 3
- 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, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
- INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC,
- OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO,
- WIPO, WMO
- Diplomatic representation in US:
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
- chancery:
- 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 234-5860, 2639
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 328-0466
- consulate(s) general:
- New York
- US diplomatic representation:
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr.
- embassy:
- Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
- mailing address:
- APO AE 09723
- telephone:
- [370] (2) 223-031
- FAX:
- [370] (2) 222-779
- Flag:
- three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Economy
-
-
- Overview:
- Since independence in September 1991, Lithuania has made steady progress in
- developing a market economy. Almost 50% of state property has been
- privatized and trade is diversifying with a gradual shift away from the
- former Soviet Union to Western markets. In addition, the Lithuanian
- government has adhered to a disciplined budgetary and financial policy which
- has brought inflation down from a monthly average of around 14% in first
- half 1993 to an average of 3.1% in 1994. Nevertheless, the process has been
- painful with industrial output in 1993 less than half the 1991 level. The
- economy appeared to have bottomed out in 1994, and Vilnius's policies have
- laid the groundwork for vigorous recovery over the next few years. Recovery
- will build on Lithuanian's 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, and on its agriculture potential,
- highly skilled labor force, and diversified industrial sector. Lacking
- important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels
- and raw materials.
- National product:
- GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.5 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated
- from World Bank estimate for 1992)
- National product real growth rate:
- -0.5% (1994 est.)
- National product per capita:
- $3,500 (1994 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices):
- 3.1% (monthly average 1994)
- Unemployment rate:
- 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:
- $NA
- 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)
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Economy
- 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:
- US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million; Western (non-US)
- countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
- Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
- Currency:
- introduced the convertible litas in June 1993
- Exchange rates:
- litai per US$1 - 4 (fixed rate 1 May 1994)
- Fiscal year:
- calendar year
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Transportation
-
-
- Railroads:
- total:
- 2,010 km
- broad gauge:
- 2,010 km 1.524-m gauge (120 km electrified) (1990)
- Highways:
- total:
- 44,200 km
- paved:
- 35,500 km
- unpaved:
- earth 8,700 km (1990)
- Inland waterways:
- 600 km perennially navigable
- Pipelines:
- crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
- Ports:
- Kaunas, Klaipeda
- Merchant marine:
- total:
- 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 275,893 GRT/321,440 DWT
- ships by type:
- bulk 1, cargo 28, combination bulk 11, railcar carrier 3, roll-on/roll-off
- cargo 1
- 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
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Communications
-
-
- Telephone system:
- 900,000 telephones; 240 telephones/1,000 persons; telecommunications system
- ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
- local:
- NA
- intercity:
- land lines and microwave radio relay
- international:
- international connections no longer depend on the Moscow gateway switch, but
- are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through
- Copenhagen from Kaunas; 1 EUTELSAT and 1 INTELSAT earth station; an NMT-450
- analog cellular network operates in Vilnius and other cities and is linked
- internationally through Copenhagen by EUTELSAT; international electronic
- mail is available; land lines or microwave to former USSR republics
- Radio:
- broadcast stations:
- AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
- radios:
- NA
- Television:
- broadcast stations:
- 3
- televisions:
- NA
- THE WORLD FACTBOOK
- Lithuania
- Defense Forces
-
-
- Branches:
- Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal
- and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
- Manpower availability:
- males age 15-49 949,663; males fit for military service 750,386; males reach
- military age (18) annually 27,630 (1995 est.)
- Defense expenditures:
- exchange rate conversion - $30 million, 2% of GDP (1994); note - for 1995
- defense expenditures were $54 million at exchange rate conversion
-