Lithuania - Economic Indicators
Economic Overview
After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working...
| GDP | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Consumption | 2020 Q4 | 7,592 | 7,573 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Private Consumption | 2020 Q4 | 6,853 | 6,826 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Gross Domestic Product | 2020 Q4 | 10,868 | 10,887 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Government Consumption | 2020 Q4 | 1,606 | 1,612 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Investment | 2020 Q4 | 1,628 | 1,529 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) | 2020 Q4 | 2,646 | 2,393 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Government Consumption | 2019 Q2 | 1,987 | 2,022 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Investment | 2019 Q2 | 2,239 | 1,774 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) | 2019 Q2 | 2,388 | 2,373 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Nominal Gross Domestic Product | 2019 Q2 | 12,031 | 11,793 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Price | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Producer Price Index (PPI) | Jan 2021 | 98.76 | 97.39 | Index 2015=100, NSA | Monthly |
| Consumer Price Index (CPI) | Jan 2021 | 111.83 | 111.29 | Index 2015=100, NSA | Monthly |
| Labor | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Labor Force Employment | 2020 Q4 | 1,352 | 1,342 | Thousands, NSA | Quarterly |
| Unemployment | 2020 Q4 | 134.5 | 137.2 | Thousands, NSA | Quarterly |
| Labor Force | 2020 Q4 | 1,486 | 1,479 | Thousands, NSA | Quarterly |
| Total Employment | 2020 Q4 | 1,352 | 1,342 | Thousands, NSA | Quarterly |
| Unemployment Rate | 2020 Q4 | 9 | 9.3 | % | Quarterly |
| Total Employment Non-Ag | 2020 Q4 | 1,275 | 1,269 | Thousands, NSA | Quarterly |
| Primary Industries Employment | 2019 | 26,633 | 27,957 | # | Annual |
| Wage & Salaries | 2019 | 1,296 | 924.1 | EUR | Annual |
| Agriculture Employment | 2017 | 114,246 | 118,126 | # | Annual |
| Trade | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Real Imports of Goods and Services | 2020 Q4 | 8,329 | 8,142 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Exports of Goods and Services | 2020 Q4 | 9,156 | 9,114 | Mil. Ch. 2015 EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Exports of Goods | Dec 2020 | 2,396 | 2,259 | Mil. EUR, NSA | Monthly |
| Balance of Goods | Dec 2020 | 175.65 | -139.03 | Mil. EUR, NSA | Monthly |
| Imports of Goods | Dec 2020 | 2,221 | 2,398 | Mil. EUR, NSA | Monthly |
| Current Account Balance | Dec 2020 | 558.05 | 86.26 | Mil. EUR, NSA | Monthly |
| Exports of Goods and Services | 2019 Q2 | 9,748 | 10,123 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Imports of Goods and Services | 2019 Q2 | 9,409 | 9,386 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Real Net Exports | 2017 | -785,175,500 | -800,929,900 | NCU | Annual |
| Government | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Gross External Debt | 2020 Q2 | 14,165,850,732 | 12,381,671,412 | USD, NSA | Quarterly |
| Markets | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Stock Market Index | 02 Mar 2021 | 853.92 | 854.66 | Index, NSA | Business Daily |
| Average Long-term Government Bond | Jan 2021 | 0.16 | 0.16 | % p.a., NSA | Monthly |
| Business Lending Rate | Dec 2020 | 2.63 | 2.79 | % p.a., NSA | Monthly |
| Household Lending Rate | Dec 2020 | 10.19 | 9.94 | % p.a., NSA | Monthly |
| Money Market Rate | May 2017 | 0.05 | 0.05 | % p.a., NSA | Monthly |
| Treasury Bills (over 31 days) | Sep 2014 | 0.18 | % p.a., NSA | Monthly | |
| Lending Rate | 2004 | 5.74 | 5.84 | % | Annual |
| Real Estate | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Residential Building Completions | 2020 Q4 | 4,435 | 3,198 | #, NSA | Quarterly |
| House Price Index for Existing Homes | 2020 Q3 | 142.57 | 142.34 | Index 2015=100, NSA | Quarterly |
| House Price Index for New Homes | 2020 Q3 | 136.3 | 134.96 | Index 2015=100, NSA | Quarterly |
| House Price Index | 2020 Q3 | 140.85 | 140.25 | Index 2015=100, NSA | Quarterly |
| Dwelling Stocks | 2019 | 102.43 | 101.44 | millions m², NSA | Annual |
| Non-residential Building Completions | 2019 | 668 | 733 | #, NSA | Annual |
| Residential Building Permits | 2019 | 6,107 | 6,615 | #, NSA | Annual |
| Consumer | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Consumer Confidence | Feb 2021 | -3.3 | -3.5 | SA | Monthly |
| Retail Sales | Nov 2020 | 1,422,140 | 1,512,587 | Ths. EUR, NSA | Monthly |
| Personal Income | 2019 | 536 | 487 | EUR | Annual |
| Business | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Capacity Utilization | 2021 Q1 | 72.4 | 73.4 | %, SA | Quarterly |
| Business Confidence | Feb 2021 | -3.9 | -3.2 | SA | Monthly |
| Industrial Production | Jan 2021 | 122.1 | 120.7 | Index 2015=100, NSA | Monthly |
| Change in Inventories | 2020 Q4 | -1,414 | -1,446 | Mil. EUR, WDASA | Quarterly |
| Demographics | Reference | Last | Previous | Units | Frequency |
| Population | 2020 | 2,794 | 2,794 | Ths., NSA | Annual |
| Births | 2019 | 27,729 | 28,212 | #, NSA | Annual |
| Deaths | 2019 | 38,378 | 39,574 | #, NSA | Annual |
| Net Migration | 2017 | -25,000 | # | Annual | |
| Birth Rate | 2016 | 10.7 | # per Ths. pop. | Annual | |
| Death Rate | 2016 | 14.3 | 14.4 | # per Ths. pop. | Annual |
Factbook
Background
Background:
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. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it will join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2018.
Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,300 sq km
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
country comparison to the world: 124
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries:
total: 1,549 km
border countries (4): Belarus 640 km, Latvia 544 km, Poland 104 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km
Coastline:
90 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:
mean elevation: 110 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
Natural resources:
peat, arable land, amber
Land use:
agricultural land: 44.8%
arable land 34.9%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 9.4%
forest: 34.6%
other: 20.6% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
44 sq km (2012)
Population - distribution:
fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda
Natural hazards:
occasional floods, droughts
Environment - current issues:
water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; threatened animal and plant species; chemicals and waste materials released into the environment contaminate soil and groundwater; soil degradation and erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits
People & Society
Population:
2,823,859 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 84.1%, Polish 6.6%, Russian 5.8%, Belarusian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)
Languages:
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other 0.9%, unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.8%, none 6.1%, unspecified 10.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.01% (male 217,438/female 206,533)
15-24 years: 11.09% (male 161,965/female 151,197)
25-54 years: 40.05% (male 557,504/female 573,364)
55-64 years: 14.17% (male 177,157/female 223,110)
65 years and over: 19.67% (male 187,859/female 367,732) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 49.9
youth dependency ratio: 21.9
elderly dependency ratio: 28
potential support ratio: 3.6 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 43.7 years
male: 39.7 years
female: 47.1 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Population growth rate:
-1.08% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 228
Birth rate:
9.9 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Death rate:
14.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Net migration rate:
-6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Population distribution:
fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda
Urbanization:
urban population: 66.5% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: -0.34% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
VILNIUS (capital) 517,000 (2015)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
27 years (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
10 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75 years
male: 69.7 years
female: 80.7 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Total fertility rate:
1.59 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Health expenditures:
6.6% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 89
Physicians density:
4.38 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density:
7.3 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 90.4% of population
total: 96.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 9.6% of population
total: 3.4% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 97.2% of population
rural: 82.8% of population
total: 92.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.8% of population
rural: 17.2% of population
total: 7.6% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,900 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
<200
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
26.3% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 43
Education expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 61
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2014)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 16.3%
male: 16%
female: 16.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Government
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
etymology: meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania
Government type:
semi-presidential republic
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
Administrative divisions:
60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstono, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarijos, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavo, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
Independence:
11 March 1990 (declared independence from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created); 16 February 1918 (independence from Soviet Russia)
National holiday:
Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992
amendments: proposed by at least one-fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum; amended 1996, 2003, 2006 (2016)
Legal system:
civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Saulius SKVERNELIS (since 13 December 2016)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 and 25 May 2014 (next to be held in May 2019); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
election results: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (independent) 57.9%, Zigmantas BALCYTIS (LSDP) 40.1%, invalid 2%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 90 to 4
Legislative branch:
description: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote and 70 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 and 23 October 2016 (next to be held in October 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - LVLS 22.5%, TS-LKD 22.6%, LSDP 15%, LS 9.5%, LCP-LPP 6.3%, LLRA 5.7%, TT 5.6%, DP 4.9%, LZP 2%, Lithuanian List 1.8%, other 4.1%; seats by party - LVLS 54, TS-LKD 31, LSDP 17, LS 14, LLRA 8, TT 8, DP 2, LCP-LPP 1, LZP 1, Lithuanian List 1, independent 4
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - three each by the president of the republic, by the Seimas chairperson, and by the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts
Political parties and leaders:
Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]
Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]
Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]
Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS (Eugenijus GENTVILAS)
Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party [Gediminas KIRKILAS]
Order and Justice Party or TT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS]
Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]
Way of Courage or DK [Jonas VARKALA]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UN Security Council (non-permanent), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rolandas KRISCIUNAS (since 17 September 2015)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne HALL (since 7 October 2016)
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland
National symbol(s):
mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red
National anthem:
name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Economy
Economy - overview:
After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working to complete the OECD accession roadmap it received in July 2015. In 2017, joined the OECD Working Group on Bribery, an important step in the OECD accession process.
The Lithuanian economy was severely hit by the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but it has rebounded and become one of the fastest growing in the EU. Increases in exports, investment, and wage growth that supported consumption helped the economy grow by 3.6% in 2017. In 2015, Russia was Lithuania’s largest trading partner, followed by Poland, Germany, and Latvia; goods and services trade between the US and Lithuania totaled $2.2 billion. Lithuania opened a self-financed liquefied natural gas terminal in January 2015, providing the first non-Russian supply of natural gas to the Baltic States and reducing Lithuania’s dependence on Russian gas from 100% to approximately 30% in 2016.
Lithuania’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter hampered by economic slowdowns in the EU and Russia. In addition, a steady outflow of young and highly educated people is causing a shortage of skilled labor, which, combined with a rapidly aging population, could stress public finances and constrain long-term growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$90.63 billion (2017 est.)
$87.55 billion (2016 est.)
$85.58 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 88
GDP (official exchange rate):
$46.67 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.5% (2017 est.)
2.3% (2016 est.)
1.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,900 (2017 est.)
$30,500 (2016 est.)
$29,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 60
Gross national saving:
16% of GDP (2017 est.)
15.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
17.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 66.3%
government consumption: 17.7%
investment in fixed capital: 18.8%
investment in inventories: -0.5%
exports of goods and services: 75.9%
imports of goods and services: -78.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 28.5%
services: 68.3% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs, pork, cheese; fish
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate:
2.8% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Labor force:
1.467 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 9.1%
industry: 25.2%
services: 65.8% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7% (2017 est.)
7.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Population below poverty line:
22.2% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 28.8% (2015 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.9 (2015 est.)
35 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Budget:
revenues: $16.18 billion
expenditures: $16.63 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
34.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-1% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Public debt:
38.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
40.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: official data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
country comparison to the world: 139
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Central bank discount rate:
0% (31 December 2017 est.)
0.05% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
2.9% (31 December 2017 est.)
2.83% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Stock of narrow money:
$24.73 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$20.93 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Stock of broad money:
$28.27 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$24.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Stock of domestic credit:
$34.78 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$28.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$6.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$6.799 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$7.127 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Current account balance:
$-747 million (2017 est.)
$-379 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Exports:
$26.38 billion (2017 est.)
$24.23 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports - commodities:
refined fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles, foodstuffs, plastics
Exports - partners:
Russia 13.5%, Latvia 9.9%, Poland 9.1%, Germany 7.7%, Estonia 5.3%, US 5.2%, Sweden 4.8%, UK 4.3% (2016)
Imports:
$30.39 billion (2017 est.)
$26.35 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Imports - commodities:
oil, natural gas, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 14.4%, Germany 12.1%, Poland 10.8%, Latvia 8%, Italy 5.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, Sweden 4.4% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.602 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Debt - external:
$34.48 billion (31 March 2016 est.)
$31.6 billion (31 March 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$15.87 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.82 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Exchange rates:
litai (LTL) per US dollar -
0.88 (2017 est.)
0.9 (2016 est.)
0.9 (2015 est.)
0.9 (2014 est.)
0.75 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
Electricity - production:
3.433 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - consumption:
9.848 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - exports:
730 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - imports:
7.938 billion kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
3.641 million kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
59.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
3.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
18.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Crude oil - production:
2,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Crude oil - exports:
1,238 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Crude oil - imports:
160,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Crude oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Refined petroleum products - production:
174,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Refined petroleum products - exports:
145,600 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Refined petroleum products - imports:
27,520 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - consumption:
2.93 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - imports:
2.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
11.2 million Mt (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 530,871
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 4,204,692
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 149 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; being modernized to provide improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 145 per 100 persons
international: country code - 370; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2016)
Broadcast media:
public broadcaster operates 3 channels with the third channel - a satellite channel - introduced in 2007; various privately owned commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional channels; many privately owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters, with repeater stations in various regions throughout the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet users:
total: 2,122,884
percent of population: 74.4% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers: 2
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 52
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,363,950
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 565,642 mt-km (2015)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
LY (2016)
Airports:
61 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 79
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 9 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 36 (2013)
Pipelines:
gas 1,921 km; refined products 121 km (2013)
Railways:
total: 1,768 km
broad gauge: 1,746 km 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)
country comparison to the world: 79
Roadways:
total: 84,166 km
paved: 72,297 km (includes 312 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,869 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 58
Waterways:
441 km (navigable year-round) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 86
Merchant marine:
total: 60
by type: container ship 2, general cargo 27, oil tanker 2, other 29 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 107
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Klaipeda
oil terminal(s): Butinge oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda
Military & Security
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2018)
1.8% of GDP (2017)
1.49% of GDP (2016)
1.14% of GDP (2015)
0.88% of GDP (2014)
0.76% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world: 75
Military branches:
Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); Volunteer Forces (Savanoriu Pajegos) (2016)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for military service; 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in the fall of 2008 (2016)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 3,466 (2016)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation
