Lithuania

Radio broadcast stations

AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1

Radios

1.42 million (1993 est.)

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 stations - 1 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

Telephones

1.012 million (1995)

Television broadcast stations

3

Televisions

1.77 million (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish; flax fiber

Budget

revenues: $1.4 billion expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $168 million (1995)

Currency

1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas

Debt - external

$895 million

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993) note : commitments from the West and international financial institutions, $765 million (1992-95)

Economy - overview

Since declaring independence in 1990, Lithuania has implemented reforms aimed at eliminating the vestiges of the former socialist system. With the help of the IMF and other international institutions, the government has adopted a disciplined program to restrain inflation, abolish most price controls, lower the budget deficit, and privatize the economy. More than two-thirds of its industrial facilities as well as most housing and agricultural enterprises have been privatized. Although some important "strategic" enterprises remain exempt from privatization, the new government has outlined plans to privatize large companies dealing with transport, pipelines, communications, and energy. While Lithuania has reduced its trade dependence on Russia and other republics of the FSU from 85% in 1991 to about 40% in 1995, Russia remains Lithuania's leading trading partner. Lithuania has made great strides in reducing its annual rate of inflation - from over 1,100% in 1992 to about 35% in 1995 and 13.1% in 1996. Although the government tried to stay the course on economic reform and fiscal discipline in 1996, the new government, which took office in 1996 inherited high debts for energy supplies. As for real resources, Lithuania's growth depends largely on its ability to exploit its 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. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.

Electricity - capacity

5.46 million kW (1994)

Electricity - consumption per capita

2,151 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

9.57 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

litai per US$1 - 4.000 (January 1997), 4.000 (1996), 4.000 (1995), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992); note - fixed rate since 1 May 1994

Exports

total value: $3.3 billion (1996 est.) commodities : textiles 15%, agriculture and food 14%, chemicals 12%, fuels 12%, machinery 11% (1995) partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,870 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.4% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $4.56 billion (1996 est.) commodities: oil 25%, machinery 17%, textiles 10%, chemicals 9% (1995) partners: Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus

Industrial production growth rate

3.7% (1996)

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 price index

13.1% (1996 official est.)

Labor force

total : 1.836 million by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)

Unemployment rate

8% (January 1997)

Area

total: 65,200 sq km land: 65,200 sq km water: 0 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: Juozapine 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Irrigated land

430 sq km (1993 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: 35% permanent crops : 12% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 31% other: 15% (1993 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

Terrain

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

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

Constitution

adopted 25 October 1992

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr. embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600 mailing address: PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723 telephone : [370] 670-6083

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860

Executive branch

chief of state: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (acting president since 25 November 1992, president since 15 February 1993) 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 14 February 1993 (next to be held spring 1997); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS elected president; percent of vote - NA

FAX

[1] (202) 328-0466 consulate(s) general: New York

FAX

[370] 670-6084

Flag description

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

Government type

independent, democratic republic

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, 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, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament

Legal system

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

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 party - NA; seats by party - Conservative Party 70, LKDP 16, Center Union 13, LDDP 12, LSDP 12, DP 2, independents 4, others 8, vacant 4

National capital

Vilnius

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 February (1918)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or LKDP [Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania or LDDP [Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS, chairman]; Lithuanian Nationalist Union or LTS [Rimantas SMETONA, chairman]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman]; Farmers' Union [Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman]; Center Union [Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party [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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$31.7 million (1996 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1% (1996 est.)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 904,096 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 712,366 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 26,204 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 385,959; female 370,100) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,157,987; female 1,240,850) 65 years and over : 13% (male 157,328; female 304,880) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

10.64 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

12.96 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%

Infant mortality rate

14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.7 years male: 62.61 years female : 75.11 years (1997 est.)

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

-2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

3,617,104 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.49% (1997 est.)

Religions

primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism

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 total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

dispute with Russia over the position of the riparian and maritime boundary with Kaliningrad Oblast; disputes maritime border with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); treaty with Belarus defining the border awaits demarcation

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia LUXEMBOURG

Airports

96 (1994 est.)

Airports - with 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.)

Airports - with 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.)

Highways

total : 61,442 km paved: 53,086 km (including 394 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,356 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total : 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 275,871 GRT/305,943 DWT ships by type: cargo 24, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

Kaunas, Klaipeda

Railways

total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)

Waterways

600 km perennially navigable