factbook.json/europe/lh.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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 joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "56 00 N, 24 00 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "65,300 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "62,680 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "2,620 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly larger than West Virginia"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,545 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "90 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Aukstojas 294 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Baltic Sea 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "110 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "peat, arable land, amber"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "44.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "34.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "20.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "44 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "Salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "occasional floods, droughts"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "2,711,566 (July 2021 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Lithuanian(s)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Lithuanian"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Lithuanian 84.1%, Polish 6.6%, Russian 5.8%, Belarusian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.2% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "Languages": {
        "text": "Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other 0.9%, unspecified 3.5% (2011 est.)"
      },
      "major-language sample(s)": {
        "text": "<br>Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information."
      }
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "15.26% (male 213,802/female 202,948)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "10.23% (male 144,679/female 134,822)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "38.96% (male 528,706/female 535,485)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "15.1% (male 183,854/female 228,585)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "20.45% (male 190,025/female 368,558) (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "56.5"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "24.2"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "32.3"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "3.1 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "44.5 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "40.2 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "48.2 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "-1.04% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "9.26 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "15.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "68.5% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "-0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2022)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "0.99 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.8 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.52 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "0.86 male(s)/female (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "27.5 years (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3.66 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "4.12 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "75.61 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "70.23 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "81.29 years (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.61 children born/woman (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 93.8% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 98% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 6.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 2% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "7% (2019)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "6.35 physicians/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 88.7% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 11.3% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 4% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "0.1% (2019 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "3,400 (2019 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "<100 (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "intermediate (2020)"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "tickborne encephalitis"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "26.3% (2016)"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "3.9% of GDP (2018)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "99.8%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "99.8%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "99.8% (2015)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "16 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "16 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "17 years (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "21.5%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "17.3% (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, 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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "11.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "12.96 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "3.15 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "44.8% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "34.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "20.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "68.5% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "-0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "forest revenues": {
        "text": "0.31% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "coal revenues": {
        "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "intermediate (2020)"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "tickborne encephalitis"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "1.3 million tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "297,960 tons (2015 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "22.9% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major lakes (area sq km)": {
      "Salt water lake(s)": {
        "text": "Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "130.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "69.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "58.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "24.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Republic of Lithuania"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Lithuania"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Lietuvos Respublika"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Lietuva"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "meaning of the name \"Lietuva\" remains unclear and is debated by scholars; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "semi-presidential republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Vilnius"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "54 41 N, 25 19 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after the Vilnia River, which flows into the Neris River at Vilnius; the river name derives from the Lithuanian word \"vilnis\" meaning \"a surge\""
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, 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, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared 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)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "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": {
        "text": "several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "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 many times, last in 2019"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "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 12 and 26 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 62 to 10"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "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": {
        "text": "last held on 11 and 25 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS-LKD 50, LVZS 32, LSDP 13, LRLS 13, Freedom 11, DP 10, AWPL 3, LSDDP 3, LT 1, Greens 1, independent 4; composition - men 102, women 39, percent of women 27.7%"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "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 - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas chairperson, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Court of Appeals; district and local courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]<br>Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]<br>Freedom Party or LP [Ausrine ARMONAITE]<br>Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]<br>Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]<br>Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]<br>Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Remigijus LAPINSKAS]]<br>Lithuanian Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Viktorija CMILYTE]<br>Lithuanian List or LL [Darius KUOLYS]<br>Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS]<br>Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party or LSDDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS]<br>Freedom and Justice Party or LT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Audra PLEPYTE (since 7 July 2021)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 234-5860"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 328-0466"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>info@usa.mfa.lt<br><br>https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "Chicago, Los Angeles, New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Robert S. GILCHRIST (since 4 February 2020)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-4510"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[370] (5) 266-5500"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[370] (5) 266-5510"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>consec@state.gov<br><br>https://lt.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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)": {
      "text": "mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Tautiska giesme\" (The National Song)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Vincas KUDIRKA"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990"
    },
    "National heritage": {
      "total World Heritage Sites": {
        "text": "4 (all cultural)"
      },
      "selected World Heritage Site locales": {
        "text": "Vilnius Historic Center, Curonian Spit, Kernavė Archaeological Site, Struve Geodetic Arc"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$102.66 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$103.56 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": {
        "text": "$99.25 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2010 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2019": {
        "text": "4.33% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2018": {
        "text": "3.99% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "4.37% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$36,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$37,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2018": {
        "text": "$35,400 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2010 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$54.597 billion (2019 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": {
        "text": "2.3% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": {
        "text": "2.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "3.7% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Credit ratings": {
      "Fitch rating": {
        "text": "A (2020)"
      },
      "Moody's rating": {
        "text": "A3 (2015)"
      },
      "Standard & Poors rating": {
        "text": "A+ (2020)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "3.5% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "29.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "67.2% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "63.9% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "16.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "18.8% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "-1.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "81.6% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-79.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "wheat, milk, sugar beet, rapeseed, barley, triticale, potatoes, oats, peas, beans"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "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": {
      "text": "5.9% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "1.333 million (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "9.1%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "25.2%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "65.8% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2019": {
        "text": "8.4% (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2018": {
        "text": "8.5% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "19.6%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "21.5%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "17.3% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "20.6% (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017": {
        "text": "37.3 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014": {
        "text": "35 (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "2.2%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "28.8% (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "15.92 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "15.7 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "39.7% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "40.1% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> official data; data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "33.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2019": {
        "text": "$1.817 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2018": {
        "text": "$131 million (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2020": {
        "text": "$41.48 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$42.3 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$40.36 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Russia 13%, Latvia 9%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Estonia 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "refined petroleum, furniture, cigarettes, wheat, polyethylene (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2020": {
        "text": "$36.06 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$39.46 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$39.38 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Poland 12%, Russia 12%, Germany 12%, Latvia 7%, Netherlands 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, electricity (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2015": {
        "text": "$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2019": {
        "text": "$37.859 billion (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 2018": {
        "text": "$41.999 billion (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "litai (LTL) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "0.82771 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "0.90338 (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2018": {
        "text": "0.87789 (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "0.9012 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "0.7525 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2020)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "3.131 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "10.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "730 million kWh (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "11.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "3.71 million kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "73% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "2,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "1,002 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "182,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "12 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "58,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "174,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "42,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "2.492 billion cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "2.492 billion cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2016 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "322,108 (2020)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "11.83 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "4,742,427 (2020)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "174.2 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "Lithuania&rsquo;s small telecom market is among the most advanced in Europe, with universal access to LTE, extensive fiber footprint, and tests of 5G; operators focus on data speeds; improved international capability and better residential access; high SIM card penetration; increased demand for high-speed Internet for education, entertainment, and shopping during pandemic supporting growth in revenue through fiber lines; importer of broadcast equipment and video displays from neighboring EU countries (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "nearly 12 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; 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 174 per 100 persons (2020)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia&nbsp;; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".lt"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2.22 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "83.06% (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "796,814 (2020)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "29.27 (2020 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "3 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "50"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "26,031 (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "LY"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "61 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "22"
      },
      "over 3,047 m": {
        "text": "3"
      },
      "2,438 to 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "7"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "9 (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "39"
      },
      "over 3,047 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "36 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Pipelines": {
      "text": "1921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013)"
    },
    "Railways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,768 km (2014)"
      },
      "standard gauge": {
        "text": "22 km 1.435-m gauge (2014)"
      },
      "broad gauge": {
        "text": "1,746 km 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified) (2014)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "84,166 km (2012)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "72,297 km (includes 312 km of expressways) (2012)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "11,869 km (2012)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "441 km (navigable year-round) (2007)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "64"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "container ship 4, general cargo 24, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Klaipeda"
      },
      "oil terminal(s)": {
        "text": "Butinge oil terminal"
      },
      "LNG terminal(s) (import)": {
        "text": "Klaipeda"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Operations Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); National Defense Volunteer Forces (Savanoriu Pajegos); National Riflemen's Union (paramilitary force that acts as an additional reserve force) (2021)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2021": {
        "text": "2.03% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "2.1% of GDP (2020)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "2% of GDP (2019)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "1.97% of GDP (2018)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "1.71% of GDP (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "the Lithuanian Armed Forces have approximately 16,000 active duty personnel (12,500 Army, including about 5,000 National Defense Voluntary Forces; 600 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc); est. 11,000 Riflemen Union (2021)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Lithuanian Armed Forces' inventory is mostly a mix of Western weapons systems and Soviet-era equipment (primarily aircraft and helicopters); as of 2021, European and the US are the leading suppliers of armaments to Lithuania (2021)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "19-26 years of age for conscripted military service (males); 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; 18-38 for voluntary service (male and female) (2021)",
      "note": "note(s) - Lithuania conscripts up to 4,000 males each year; conscripts are selected using an automated lottery system; as of 2019, women comprised about 12% of the military's full-time personnel"
    },
    "Military deployments": {
      "text": "contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units (2021)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "Lithuania officially became a member of NATO in 2004<br> <p>since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative</p> <p>NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base</p>"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>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</p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "stateless persons": {
        "text": "2,721 (mid-year 2021)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>source country for  amphetamine tablets</p>"
    }
  }
}