Country Profile: Lithuania

Lithuania, located in Eastern Europe along the Baltic Sea, has a rich historical backdrop dating back to its unification under King Mindaugas in 1236. It is bordered by Latvia, Poland, and Russia, with a land area of 65,300 square kilometers and a population of approximately 2.6 million as estimated in 2024. The economy is classified as high-income within the EU and eurozone, benefiting from robust private consumption and EU investments. Lithuania operates as a semi-presidential republic and is a member of NATO and the European Union.

Geography

Lithuania is situated in Eastern Europe, bordered by the Baltic Sea to the west and neighboring Latvia, Poland, and Belarus. The country's total area is 65,300 square kilometers, with a relatively flat terrain of lowland interspersed with many lakes and fertile soil. The climate is transitional, featuring wet and moderate winters and summers.

1,545 km - total land boundaries with neighboring countries.
90 km - coastline along the Baltic Sea.
35.2% - of land is forested (2022 est.).
62,680 sq km - is land area, with 2,620 sq km of water.
46.5% - of land is used for agriculture (2022 est.).

People and Society

As of 2024, Lithuania's population is approximately 2.6 million, with a notable urban concentration in cities like Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda. The country is primarily ethnically Lithuanian, accounting for 84.6% of the population, followed by significant Polish and Russian minorities. The median age is around 45.1 years, with a life expectancy of 76.1 years at birth.

68.7% - of the population resides in urban areas (2023).
8.9 births/1,000 - population birth rate (2024).
15.2 deaths/1,000 - population death rate (2024).
-1.05% - population growth rate (2024).
76.1 years - life expectancy at birth (2024).

Economy

Lithuania's economy is the largest in the Baltic region and is characterized as high-income, with a GDP of $84.869 billion as projected for 2024. It has a diverse economic structure, with services accounting for 63.6% of the GDP and significant contributions from industry and agriculture. The country is undergoing economic recovery, driven by domestic consumption and EU investments.

$136.227 billion - GDP in purchasing power parity (2024 est.).
7.6% - unemployment rate (2024 est.).
2.8% - projected GDP growth rate (2024).
57.3% - household consumption of GDP (2023 est.).
36.6 - Gini Index coefficient, indicating income inequality (2022 est.).

Government

Lithuania is a semi-presidential republic with a legal system based on civil law. The government is composed of an executive branch led by a president and a unicameral parliament. The most recent presidential election occurred in May 2024, with Gitanas Nausėda reelected. The country has a history of independence dating back to 1918, with important dates marking its sovereignty from both Soviet and German influences.

141 - total seats in the unicameral Parliament (Seimas).
18 years - is the minimum voting age.
60 - municipalities govern local administrative divisions.

Military and Security

The Lithuanian Armed Forces comprise the Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, and National Defense Volunteer Forces. Lithuania allocates approximately 2.9% of its GDP to military expenditures, in line with NATO commitments. The country hosts a German-led multinational NATO battlegroup and participates actively in international security operations.

18,000 - active-duty personnel in the armed forces (2024).
350-550 - troops contribute to the Lithuania-Poland-Ukraine joint military brigade.
19-26 years - age range for military conscription for men.

Energy

Lithuania's energy sector includes a mix of sources, with wind power leading at 51% of total installed capacity in 2023. The country relies on imports for a significant portion of its energy needs, despite having achieved 100% electrification for its population.

5.426 million kW - total installed electricity generating capacity (2023).
10.91 billion kWh - of electricity imported (2023).
1.49 billion cubic meters - of natural gas consumption (2023).

Environment

Lithuania faces various environmental challenges, including water and air pollution, deforestation, and soil degradation. The country is a signatory to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

46.5% - of land used for agriculture (2022 est.).
35.2% - forested land area (2022 est.).
10.37 micrograms/m³ - particulate matter emissions (2019 est.).

Transportation

Lithuania has a well-developed transportation network, including a variety of civil aviation options and railways. The country operates numerous airports and has a merchant marine fleet to support trade.

64 - airports in total (2025).
1,911 km - of railway lines (2020).
59 - ships in the merchant marine (2023).

Communications

Lithuania has a high level of telecommunications infrastructure, with overwhelming access to mobile and internet services. Approximately 89% of the population uses the internet, and there are over 3.9 million mobile subscriptions as of 2023.

3.92 million - mobile cellular subscriptions (2023).
89% - of the population are internet users (2023).
806,000 - fixed broadband subscriptions (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,628,186	Estimated for 2024
Area	65,300 sq km	Total area
GDP	$84.869 billion	Estimated for 2024 (official exchange rate)
Energy Consumption	83.7 million Btu/person	Per capita consumption for 2023
Birth Rate	8.9 births/1,000	Estimated for 2024
Unemployment Rate	7.6%	Estimated for 2024
Life Expectancy at Birth	76.1 years	Estimated for 2024
Military Expenditures	2.9% of GDP	Estimated for 2024
Urban Population	68.7%	Population living in urban areas (2023)