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| CIA Background Information |
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.
| U.S. State Department Description |
Country Description:
Lithuania is a stable democracy undergoing rapid economic growth. Tourist facilities in Vilnius, the capital, and to a lesser extent in Kaunas and Klaipeda, are similar to those available in other European cities. In other parts of the country, however, some of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries may not be available. Read the Department of State Background Notes
on Lithuania for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: Lithuania is a party to the Schengen Agreement. As such, U.S. citizens may enter Lithuania for up to 90- days for tourist ... Read this Article
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lithuanian(s).
Population (2008): 3,354,700.
Annual growth rate (2007): -0.7%. Birth rate--9.6/1,000. Death rate--13.5/1,000.
Population density (2007): 51.8 per sq. km.
Ethnic groups (2007): Lithuanians 84.6%, Poles 6.3%, Russians 5.1%.
Religions (2001 census): Roman Catholic (79%), Russian Orthodox (4.1%), Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) (1.9%).
Languages (2008): Lithuanian (official language) 84.6%, Russian, and Polish
Education: Years compulsory--10 (until the ... Read this Article
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Location: Lithuania is Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia See Map
Capital: 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
Currency (Code): litas (LTL) ...More
Area: total: 65,300 sq km , land: NA sq km , water: NA sq km ( 1 sq km is approximately 0.4 sq miles or 250 acres)
Area Comparison: slightly larger than West Virginia
Elevation Extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m , highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m (1 meter = 3.28 feet)
Population: 3,565,205 (July 2008 est.)
Unemployment: 3.5%
note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7% (2007 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)
Religion: 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)
Languages: Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
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| History
Between the 7th and 2nd centuries BC, Baltic tribes established themselves on what is presently known as Lithuanian territory. These tribes were made up of a distinct Indo-European ethnic group whose descendents are the present-day Lithuanian and Latvian nations. The name of Lithuania, however, did not appear in European ... Read this Article
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| Geographic Info for Lithuania : |
Geography
Area: 65,200 sq. km. (26,080 sq. mi.); slightly larger than West Virginia.
Cities (2008): Capital--Vilnius (pop. 542,809); other cities--Kaunas (358,107); Klaipeda (185,899); Siauliai (128,396).
Terrain: Lithuania's fertile, central lowland plains are separated by hilly uplands. A total of 758 rivers, many navigable, and 2,833 lakes cover the landscape. The coastline is 90 km. (56 mi.) long. Land use--44.2% arable land, 0.91% ... Read this Article
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