Basic Country Data
Lithuania is an independent democratic republic. In Lithuania, the powers of the state are exercised by the Seimas (Parliament), the President, the Government, and the Judiciary. Location & Borders Lithuania is located at the geographical centre of Europe and has common borders with Latvia in the north (588 km), Belarus in the south-east (653 km), Poland in the south-west (104 km), and the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation, also in the south-west (249 km). Size & Territory Lithuania is the largest of the 3 Baltic States in terms of population, territory, and economy. Its territory of 65,300 sq km is larger than that of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, or Switzerland. 70% of its lowland plains and hilly uplands are arable and 28% are forested. Lithuania’s 722 rivers, more than 2,800 lakes, and 99 km of the Baltic Sea coastline are mostly devoted to recreation and nature preservation.
Part of the competitive Baltic Sea Region
Major Cities
The capital, Vilnius (population ~600,000); Kaunas (~400,000); Klaipėda (~200,000); Šiauliai (~140,000), and Panevėžys (~120,000).
Population
Lithuania has the largest population of the three Baltic States, ~3.4 million (83.5% are ethnic Lithuanians, 6.7% Polish, 6.3% Russians, and 3.5% of other nationalities).
Religion
Mostly Roman Catholic. Other religions include Russian Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran, Judaic, etc.
State Language
Lithuanian is closely related to the old Sanskrit and belongs to the Baltic family of Indo-European languages.
Currency
Litas (LTL or Lt), which is pegged to the Euro at the rate of 3.4528 LTL/EUR. 100 cents = 1 LTL. Lithuania expects to start the process of joining the Euro zone in 2010.
Time
Lithuania is in the Central European Time Zone: GMT+2 hours (+3 hours summer time). When it is noon in Vilnius, it is 11:00 am in Stockholm and Frankfurt, 10:00 am in London and 5:00 am in New York.
Climate
Maritime/continental. Average July temperature +23°C; January - 5°C.
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National Flag
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Historical Highlights
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1009 |
Lithuania is first mentioned in the Annales Quedlinburgenses. |
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1253 |
The Lithuanian Kingdom is founded. |
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XIV - XV cent. |
The territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania extended to the Black Sea. |
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1569 |
Lithuania merges with Poland and forms a federal state. |
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1795 |
Lithuania is incorporated into the Russian Empire. |
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16 February 1918 |
The Council of Lithuania adopts a resolution on the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania with the capital based in Vilnius. |
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1920-1939 |
Poland occupies Eastern Lithuania and the country’s capital Vilnius. |
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1940 |
Lithuania is occupied by the Soviet Union. |
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1941-1944 |
Lithuania is occupied by the Nazi Germany. |
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1944 |
Renewed Soviet occupation, tens of thousands flee to the West, mass deportations to Siberia, armed resistance by Lithuanian freedom fighters till 1953. |
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11 March 1990 |
Lithuania re-establishes its independence, the first Soviet republic to do so. |
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17 September 1991 |
Lithuania is admitted into the United Nations. |
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4 January 1994 |
Lithuania becomes the first Baltic State to apply for NATO membership. |
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31 May 2001 |
Lithuania is admitted into the World Trade Organisation. |
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29 March 2004 |
Lithuania is accepted into NATO. |
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1 May 2004 |
Lithuania joins the European Union. |
| 21 December 2007 | Lithuania is accepted into the Schengen area. |
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National Holidays
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