The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Lithuania

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

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Lithuania

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Map

Location: 56 00 N, 24 00 E -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

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Description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

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Geography

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 65,200 sq km
land area: 65,200 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 108 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Nemunas (Nemen) River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as by international standards; disputes maritime border with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); treaty with Belarus defining the border awaits ratification
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapine Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat
Land use:
arable land: 49%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 22%
forest and woodland: 16%
other: 13%
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1990)
Environment:
current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Ozone Layer Protection

People

Population: 3,646,041 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 400,823; female 384,592)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,162,626; female 1,244,103)
65 years and over: 12% (male 154,862; female 299,035) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.35% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.89 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.03 years
male: 62.15 years
female: 74.21 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic divisions: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Type of government: republic
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and 11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*, Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, Ignalinos Rajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas, Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas, Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas, Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*, Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*, Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas, Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, Rokiskio Rajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, Siauliu Rajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, Skuodo Rajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, Traky Rajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas, Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 25 November 1992; elected acting president by Parliament 25 November 1992 and elected by direct vote 15 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held spring 1997); results - Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS was elected; percent of vote NA
head of government: Premier Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS (since 15 February 1996) was appointed by the president on approval of the Seimas
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
Seimas (parliament): elections last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA October 1996); results - LDDP 51%; seats - (141 total) LDDP 73, Conservative Party 30, LKDP 17, LTS 8, Farmers' Union 4, LLS 4, Center Union 2, others 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Seimas; Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Seimas
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party (LKDP), Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania (LDDP), Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS , chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union (LTS), Rimantas SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman; Farmers' Union, Jonas CIULEVICIUS, chairman; Center Union, Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman; Homeland Union/Conservative Party, Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman; Lithuanian Polish Union (LLS), Rytardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman
Other political or pressure groups: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860, 2639
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr.
embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600
mailing address: PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723
telephone: [78] (8) 973-0000, 227-224
FAX: [78] (8) 670-6084
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Economy

Economic overview: Since declaring independence in 1990, Lithuania has implemented reforms aimed at eliminating the vestiges of the former socialist system. With the help of the IMF and other international institutions, the government has adopted a disciplined program to restrain inflation, reduce price controls, lower the budget deficit and privatize the economy. Lithuania has embarked on a series of price liberalizations; most price controls have been abolished. More than two-thirds of its industrial facilities as well as most housing and agricultural enterprises have been privatized, although important "strategic" enterprises have been exempted from privatization - namely energy and telecommunications. While Lithuania has reduced its trade dependence on Russia and other republics of the FSU from 85% in 1991 to about 40% in 1995, Russia remains Lithuania's leading trading partner. Lithuania has made great strides in reducing its annual rate of inflation - from over 1,100% in 1992 to about 35% in 1995. Production bottomed out in 1994-95. A banking crisis beginning in September, during which central bank reserves dropped one-third, held back growth in 1995. If the government can stay the course on economic reform and fiscal discipline - which may be politically difficult in the election year of 1996 - Lithuania could be set for strong economic growth in the near term. As for real resources, Lithuania's growth depends largely on its ability to exploit its strategic location - with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.3 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: 1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 42%
services: 38% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 1.836 million
by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.1% (January 1996)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 6,190,000 kW
production: 18.9 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 4,608 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption
Exports: $2.2 billion (1994)
commodities: electronics 18%, food 10%, chemicals 6%, petroleum products 5% (1989)
partners: Russia, Ukraine, Germany
Imports: $2.7 billion (1994)
commodities: oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989)
partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus
External debt: $895 million
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993)
note: commitments from the West and international financial institutions, $765 million (1992-95)
Currency: introduced the convertible litas in June 1993
Exchange rates: litai per US$1 - 4.000 (January 1996), 4.000 (1995), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992); note - fixed rate since 1 May 1994
Fiscal year: calendar year

Transportation

Railways:
total: 2,002 km
broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways:
total: 55,603 km
paved: 42,209 km (including 382 km of expressways)
unpaved: 13,394 km (1994)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:
total: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 264,639 GRT/303,649 DWT
ships by type: cargo 26, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 96
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 14
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 900,000
Telephone system: telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics
domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Vilnius and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay connect switching centers
international: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); cellular network linked internationally through Copenhagen by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available; landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 1.77 million (1993 est.)

Defense

Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 903,437
males fit for military service: 712,875
males reach military age (18) annually: 26,162 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $31.7 million, 1% of GDP (1995)

Lithuania

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).