Factbook dossier
Background
Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, Lithuania extended its territory through alliances and conquest 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 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 surrounding countries partitioned its remnants. Lithuania regained its independence after World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. In 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until 1991. The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into West European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus
Area
total : 65,300 sq km land: 62,680 sq km water: 2,620 sq km
Natural resources
peat, arable land, amber
Natural hazards
occasional floods, droughts
Population
total: 2,815,687 (2025 est.) male: 1,334,600 female: 1,481,087
Ethnic groups
Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.)
Languages
Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7% (2021 est.) major-language sample(s): Pasaulio enciklopedija naudingas bendrosios informacijos altinis. (Lithuanian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.)
Environmental issues
water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; groundwater pollution from chemicals and waste; soil degradation and erosion
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 etymology: named after the Vilnia River; the river name is said to derive from the Lithuanian word vilnis , meaning "wave"
Executive branch
chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Inga RUGINIENE (since 25 September 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament most recent election date: 26 May 2024 election results: 2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4% 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3% expected date of next election: 2029
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Seimas) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 141 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/13/2024 to 10/27/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) (52); Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) (28); Political Party "The Dawn of Nemunas" (PPNA) (20); Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” (DSVL) (14); Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LS) (12); Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) (8); Other (7) percentage of women in chamber: 28.4% expected date of next election: October 2028
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$136.227 billion (2024 est.) $132.552 billion (2023 est.) $132.099 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$47,200 (2024 est.) $46,200 (2023 est.) $46,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
0.7% (2024 est.) 9.1% (2023 est.) 19.7% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Latvia 11%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Netherlands 6%, Russia 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Germany 13%, Poland 13%, Latvia 8%, USA 7%, Norway 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Lithuanian Land Forces (LLF), Lithuanian Navy, Lithuanian Air Force (LTAF), Lithuanian Special Operations Forces (LITHSOF); National Defense Volunteer Forces (2025) note 1: the National Rifleman's Union is a civilian paramilitary organization supported by the Lithuanian Government, which cooperates with the military but is not part of it; however, in a state of war, its armed formations would fall under the Armed Forces note 2: the Lithuanian Police and State Border Guard Service are under the Ministry of Interior; in wartime, the State Border Guard Service becomes part of the armed forces
Military expenditures
4% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.)