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Lithuania
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia
Lithuania(UKandUS: i /lueni/,[11][12][13]
RepublicofLithuania
Lithuanian:Lietuva[ltv]),officiallytheRepublicof
Lithuania(Lithuanian:LietuvosRespublika),isacountryin LietuvosRespublika(Lithuanian)
NorthernEurope.[14]OneofthethreeBalticstates,itis
situatedalongthesoutheasternshoreoftheBalticSea,tothe
eastofSwedenandDenmark.ItisborderedbyLatviatothe
north,Belarustotheeastandsouth,Polandtothesouth,and
KaliningradOblast(aRussianexclave)tothesouthwest.
Lithuaniahasanestimatedpopulationof2.8millionpeople
Flag Coatofarms
asof2017,anditscapitalandlargestcityisVilnius.
LithuaniansareaBalticpeople.Theofficiallanguage, Anthem:Tautikagiesm
Lithuanian,alongwithLatvian,isoneofonlytwoliving NationalHymn
languagesintheBalticbranchoftheIndoEuropean 0:00 MENU
languagefamily.
Forcenturies,thesoutheasternshoresoftheBalticSeawere
inhabitedbyvariousBaltictribes.Inthe1230s,the
LithuanianlandswereunitedbyMindaugas,theKingof
Lithuania,andthefirstunifiedLithuanianstate,the
KingdomofLithuania,wascreatedon6July1253.During
the14thcentury,theGrandDuchyofLithuaniawasthe
largestcountryinEuropepresentdayLithuania,Belarus,
Ukraine,andpartsofPolandandRussiaweretheterritories
oftheGrandDuchy.WiththeLublinUnionof1569,
LithuaniaandPolandformedavoluntarytwostateunion,
thePolishLithuanianCommonwealth.TheCommonwealth Locationof Lithuania(darkgreen)
inEurope(green&darkgrey)
lastedmorethantwocenturies,untilneighboringcountries intheEuropeanUnion (green)[ Legend]
systematicallydismantleditfrom177295,withtheRussian
EmpireannexingmostofLithuania'sterritory. Capital Vilnius
andlargestcity 5441N2519E
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ThefirstpeoplesettledintheterritoryofLithuaniaafterthe
lastglacialperiodinthe10thmillenniumBC.Overamillennium,theIndoEuropeans,whoarrivedinthe3rd2nd
millenniumBC,mixedwiththelocalpopulationandformedvariousBaltictribes.ThefirstwrittenmentionofLithuania
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isfoundinamedievalGermanmanuscript,theAnnals
ofQuedlinburg,inanentrydated9March1009.[15]
Medieval
InitiallyinhabitedbyfragmentedBaltictribes,inthe
1230stheLithuanianlandswereunitedby
Mindaugas,whowascrownedasKingofLithuaniaon
6July1253.[16]Afterhisassassinationin1263,pagan
LithuaniawasatargetoftheChristiancrusadesofthe
TeutonicKnightsandtheLivonianOrder.Despitethe
devastatingcenturylongstrugglewiththeOrders,the
GrandDuchyofLithuaniaexpandedrapidly,
overtakingformerSlavicprincipalitiesofKievanRus'.
Bytheendofthe14thcentury,Lithuaniawasoneof
thelargestcountriesinEuropeandincludedpresent
dayBelarus,Ukraine,andpartsofPolandand
Russia.[17]Thegeopoliticalsituationbetweenthewest
andtheeastdeterminedthemulticulturalandmulti
confessionalcharacteroftheGrandDuchyof
Lithuania.Therulingelitepractisedreligious
toleranceandChancerySlavoniclanguagewasused
asanauxiliarylanguagetotheLatinforofficial
documents.
MapshowingchangesintheterritoryofLithuaniafromthe13th
In1385,theGrandDukeJogailaacceptedPoland's centurytothepresentday.
offertobecomeitsking.Jogailaembarkedongradual
ChristianizationofLithuaniaandestablishedapersonalunionbetweenPolandand
Lithuania.ItimpliedthatLithuania,thefiercelyindependentland,wasoneofthe
lastpaganareasofEuropetoadoptChristianity.
Aftertwocivilwars,VytautastheGreatbecametheGrandDukeofLithuaniain
1392.Duringhisreign,Lithuaniareachedthepeakofitsterritorialexpansion,
centralizationofthestatebegan,andtheLithuaniannobilitybecameincreasingly
prominentinstatepolitics.InthegreatBattleoftheVorsklaRiverin1399,the TrakaiIslandCastle
combinedforcesofTokhtamyshandVytautasweredefeatedbytheMongols.
Thankstoclosecooperation,thearmiesofLithuaniaandPolandachievedagreat
victoryovertheTeutonicKnightsin1410attheBattleofGrunwald,oneofthe
largestbattlesofmedievalEurope.[18][19][20]
AfterthedeathsofJogailaandVytautas,theLithuaniannobilityattemptedto
breaktheunionbetweenPolandandLithuania,independentlyselectingGrand
DukesfromtheJagiellondynasty.But,attheendofthe15thcentury,Lithuania BattleofGrunwaldandVytautasthe
wasforcedtoseekacloseralliancewithPolandwhenthegrowingpowerofthe Greatinthecentre
GrandDuchyofMoscowthreatenedLithuania'sRussianprincipalitiesand
sparkedtheMuscoviteLithuanianWarsandtheLivonianWar.
Modern
ThePolishLithuanianCommonwealthwascreatedin1569.AsamemberoftheCommonwealth,Lithuaniaretainedits
institutions,includingaseparatearmy,currency,andstatutorylaws.[21]EventuallyPolonizationaffectedallaspectsof
Lithuanianlife:politics,language,culture,andnationalidentity.Fromthemid16thtothemid17thcenturies,culture,
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arts,andeducationflourished,fueledbytheRenaissanceandtheProtestantReformation.From1573,theKingsofPoland
andGrandDukesofLithuaniawereelectedbythenobility,whoweregrantedeverincreasingGoldenLiberties.These
liberties,especiallytheliberumveto,ledtoanarchyandtheeventualdissolutionofthestate.
DuringtheNorthernWars(16551661),theLithuanianterritoryandeconomyweredevastatedbytheSwedisharmy.
Beforeitcouldfullyrecover,LithuaniawasravagedduringtheGreatNorthernWar(17001721).Thewar,aplague,and
afaminecausedthedeathsofapproximately40%ofthecountry'spopulation.[22]Foreignpowers,especiallyRussia,
becamedominantinthedomesticpoliticsoftheCommonwealth.NumerousfactionsamongthenobilityusedtheGolden
Libertiestopreventanyreforms.Eventually,theCommonwealthwaspartitionedin1772,1792,and1795bytheRussian
Empire,Prussia,andHabsburgAustria.
ThelargestareaofLithuanianterritorybecamepartoftheRussianEmpire.Afterunsuccessfuluprisingsin1831and
1863,theTsaristauthoritiesimplementedanumberofRussificationpolicies.TheybannedtheLithuanianpress,closed
culturalandeducationalinstitutions,andmadeLithuaniapartofanewadministrativeregioncalledNorthwesternKrai.
TheRussificationfailedowingtoanextensivenetworkofbooksmugglersandsecretLithuanianhomeschooling.
AftertheRussoTurkishWar(18771878),whenGermandiplomatsassignedwhatwereseenasRussianspoilsofwarto
Turkey,therelationshipbetweenRussiaandtheGermanEmpirebecamecomplicated.TheRussianEmpireresumedthe
constructionoffortressesatitswesternbordersfordefenceagainstapotentialinvasionfromGermanyintheWest.On7
July1879theRussianEmperorAlexanderIIapprovedofaproposalfromtheRussianmilitaryleadershiptobuildthe
largest"firstclass"defensivestructureintheentirestatethe65km2(25sqmi)KaunasFortress.[23]Largenumbersof
LithuanianswenttotheUnitedStatesin18671868afterafamine.[24]ALithuanianNationalRevivallaidthefoundations
ofthemodernLithuaniannationandindependentLithuania.
20thand21stcenturies
DuringWorldWarI,theCouncilofLithuania(LietuvosTaryba)declaredthe
independenceofLithuaniaandthereestablishmentoftheLithuanianStateon16
February1918.Lithuania'sforeignpolicywasdominatedbyterritorialdisputes
withPolandandGermany.TheVilniusRegionandVilnius,thehistoricalcapital
ofLithuania(andsodesignatedintheConstitutionofLithuania),wereseizedby
thePolisharmyduringeligowski'sMutinyinOctober1920andincorporatedtwo
yearslaterintoPoland.For19years,Kaunasbecamethetemporarycapitalof
Lithuania.ThePolishcontroloverVilniuswasgreatlyresentedbyLithuaniathere
werenodiplomaticrelationsbetweenthetwostatesformostoftheperiod
betweenthetwoWorldWars. Theoriginal20membersofthe
CouncilofLithuaniaaftersigningthe
AcquiredduringtheKlaipdaRevoltof1923,theKlaipdaRegion(German: ActofIndependenceofLithuania,16
Memelland)wascededtoNaziGermanyafteraGermanultimatumofMarch February1918.
1939.Duringtheinterwarperiod,thedomesticaffairsofLithuaniawere
controlledbytheauthoritarianPresidentAntanasSmetonaandhisparty,the
LithuanianNationalistUnion,whichcametopoweraftertheLithuaniancoupd'tatof1926.
19391941
TheSovietUnionreturnedVilniustoLithuaniaaftertheSovietinvasionofEasternPolandinSeptember1939.[25]InJune
1940,theSovietUnionoccupiedandannexedLithuaniainaccordancetothesecretprotocolsofMolotovRibbentrop
Pact.[26][27]TheoccupationwasfollowedbymassarrestsanddeportationswithLithuaniahaving34,000citizens
removed.AccordingtoaLithuaniangovernmentofficial,thiswasthestartofaplannedremovalof700,000from
Lithuania.[28]:48
19411944
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Ayearlater,theSovietUnionwasattackedbyNaziGermany,leadingtotheNazioccupationofLithuania.TheGermans
andtheircollaborators[28]:5456immediatelybegantoroundupandmurdercivilians,includingintellectuals,army
officers,RomanipeopleandJews.[29]By1December1941,over120,000LithuanianJews,or9195%ofLithuania'spre
warJewishcommunity,hadbeenkilled.[28]:110
10ofthe25Lithuanianpolicebattalions,workingwiththeNaziEinsatzkommando,wereinvolvedinthemasskillings
andarethoughttohaveexecuted78,000people.[28]:148
Lithuanianpartisansdidexist,butfewsupportedthecommunists.Lithuanianarmysoldiers,whohadbeenassignedtothe
29thRifleCorpsoftheRedArmy,desertedorsurrenderedtotheGermansinJune1941,resultingintheunitbeing
disbandedinAugust1941.
19441991
AftertheretreatoftheGermanarmedforces,theSovietsreestablishedthe
annexationofLithuaniain1944.Underborderchangespromulgatedatthe
PotsdamConferenceof1945,theformerGermanMemelland,withitsBalticport
Memel(Lithuanian:Klaipda),wasagaintransferredtoLithuania,whichwasnow
referredtoastheLithuanianSSR.MostofMemelland'sGermanresidentshadfled
theareainthefinalmonthsofWorldWarII.
Aspartoftheirprogramofnationalisation,collectivizationandgeneral
sovietizationofeverydaylife,theSovietsdeportedlargenumbersofLithuanians
toSiberia.[30]From1944to1952,approximately100,000Lithuanianpartisans
MonumentinNaujojiVilniain
foughtaguerrillawaragainsttheSovietsystem.Anestimated30,000partisans
memoryoftheSovietdeportations
andtheirsupporterswerekilledmanymorewerearrestedanddeportedto
fromLithuania.
Siberiangulags.ItisestimatedthatduringWorldWarIIandthesubsequentSoviet
annexation,Lithuanialost780,000people.[31]
Theadventofperestroikaandglasnostinthelate1980sallowedtheestablishmentofSjdis,anantiCommunist
independencemovement.AfteralandslidevictoryinelectionstotheSupremeSoviet,membersofSjdisproclaimed
Lithuania'sindependenceon11March1990,makingLithuaniathefirstSovietrepublictodoso.TheSovietUnion
attemptedtosuppressthesecessionbyimposinganeconomicblockade.Onthenightof13January1991,Soviettroops
attackedtheVilniusTVTower,killing14Lithuanianciviliansandwounding600others.[32][33]On31July1991,Soviet
paramilitarieskilledsevenLithuanianborderguardsontheBelarusianborderinwhatbecameknownastheMedininkai
Massacre.
On4February1991,IcelandbecamethefirstcountrytorecogniseLithuania'sindependence.AftertheSovietAugust
Coup,independentLithuaniareceivedwideofficialrecognition,andjoinedtheUnitedNationson17September1991.
1991present
ThelastRussiantroopsleftLithuaniaon31August1993,[34]evenearlierthantheydepartedfromEastGermany.
Lithuania,seekingclosertieswiththeWest,appliedforNATOmembershipin1994.Afteratransitionfromaplanned
economytoafreemarket,LithuaniabecameafullmemberofNATOandtheEuropeanUnioninthespringof2004anda
memberoftheSchengenAgreementon21December2007.
Geography
LithuaniaislocatedinNorthernEuropeandcoversanareaof65,200km2(25,200sqmi).[35]Itliesbetweenlatitudes53
and57N,andmostlybetweenlongitudes21and27E(partoftheCuronianSpitlieswestof21).Ithasaround99
kilometres(61.5mi)ofsandycoastline,onlyabout38kilometres(24mi)ofwhichfacetheopenBalticSea,lessthanthe
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othertwoBalticSeacountries.TherestofthecoastisshelteredbytheCuronian
sandpeninsula.Lithuania'smajorwarmwaterport,Klaipda,liesatthenarrow
mouthoftheCuronianLagoon(Lithuanian:Kurimarios),ashallowlagoon
extendingsouthtoKaliningrad.Thecountry'smainandlargestriver,theNemunas
River,andsomeofitstributariescarryinternationalshipping.
LithuanialiesattheedgeoftheNorth
EuropeanPlain.Itslandscapewas
smoothedbytheglaciersofthelastice
age,andisacombinationofmoderate
TheGeographicCentreofEuropeis lowlandsandhighlands.Itshighestpoint
inLithuania isAuktojasHillat294metres(965ft)in
theeasternpartofthecountry.Theterrain
featuresnumerouslakes(LakeVitytis,forexample)andwetlands,andamixed
forestzonecoversover33%ofthecountry.
AfterareestimationoftheboundariesofthecontinentofEuropein1989,Jean TheNemunas(Nieman)Riverbetween
GeorgeAffholder,ascientistattheInstitutGographiqueNational(French LithuaniaandRussia'sKaliningrad
NationalGeographicInstitute),determinedthatthegeographiccentreofEurope Oblast.
wasinLithuania,at5454N2519E,26kilometres(16mi)northofLithuania's
capitalcityofVilnius.[36]Affholderaccomplishedthisbycalculatingthecentre
ofgravityofthegeometricalfigureofEurope.
Climate
Lithuania'sclimate,whichrangesbetween
maritimeandcontinental,isrelatively
mild.Averagetemperaturesonthecoast
are2.5C(27.5F)inJanuaryand16C
(61F)inJuly.InVilniustheaverage
temperaturesare6C(21F)inJanuary
and17C(63F)inJuly.Duringthe
summer,20C(68F)iscommonduring
thedaywhile14C(57F)iscommonat
SanddunesofCuronianSpit
nightinthepast,temperatureshave
(UNESCOWorldHeritageSite) AuktaitijaNationalPark
reachedashighas30or35C(86or
95F).Somewinterscanbeverycold.
20C(4F)occursalmosteverywinter.Winterextremesare34C(29F)incoastalareasand43C(45F)in
theeastofLithuania.
Theaverageannualprecipitationis800mm(31.5in)onthecoast,900mm(35.4in)intheSamogitiahighlandsand
600mm(23.6in)intheeasternpartofthecountry.Snowoccurseveryyear,itcansnowfromOctobertoApril.Insome
yearssleetcanfallinSeptemberorMay.Thegrowingseasonlasts202daysinthewesternpartofthecountryand169
daysintheeasternpart.SeverestormsarerareintheeasternpartofLithuaniabutcommoninthecoastalareas.
ThelongestrecordsofmeasuredtemperatureintheBalticareacoverabout250years.Thedatashowwarmperiods
duringthelatterhalfofthe18thcentury,andthatthe19thcenturywasarelativelycoolperiod.Anearly20thcentury
warmingculminatedinthe1930s,followedbyasmallercoolingthatlasteduntilthe1960s.Awarmingtrendhas
persistedsincethen.[37]
Lithuaniaexperiencedadroughtin2002,causingforestandpeatbogfires.[38]Thecountrysufferedalongwiththerestof
NorthwesternEuropeduringaheatwaveinthesummerof2006.
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ClimatedataforLithuania
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Recordhigh 12.6 16.5 21.8 31.0 34.0 35.0 37.5 37.1 35.1 26.0 18.5 15.6 37.5
C(F) (54.7) (61.7) (71.2) (87.8) (93.2) (95) (99.5) (98.8) (95.2) (78.8) (65.3) (60.1) (99.5)
Averagehigh 1.7 1.3 2.3 9.4 16.5 19.9 20.9 20.6 15.8 9.9 3.5 0.1 9.5
C(F) (28.9) (29.7) (36.1) (48.9) (61.7) (67.8) (69.6) (69.1) (60.4) (49.8) (38.3) (31.8) (49.1)
Dailymean 3.9 3.5 0.1 5.5 11.6 15.2 16.7 16.1 12.2 7.0 1.8 1.7 6.2
C(F) (25) (25.7) (31.8) (41.9) (52.9) (59.4) (62.1) (61) (54) (44.6) (35.2) (28.9) (43.2)
Averagelow 6.3 6.6 2.8 1.5 7.0 10.5 12.2 11.9 8.3 4.0 0.1 3.7 2.7
C(F) (20.7) (20.1) (27) (34.7) (44.6) (50.9) (54) (53.4) (46.9) (39.2) (32.2) (25.3) (36.9)
Recordlow 40.5 42.9 37.5 23.0 6.8 2.8 0.9 2.9 6.3 19.5 23.0 34.0 42.9
C(F) (40.9) (45.2) (35.5) (9.4) (19.8) (27) (33.6) (26.8) (20.7) (3.1) (9.4) (29.2) (45.2)
Average
36.2 30.1 33.9 42.9 52.0 69.0 76.9 77.0 60.3 49.9 50.4 47.0 625.5
precipitation
(1.425) (1.185) (1.335) (1.689) (2.047) (2.717) (3.028) (3.031) (2.374) (1.965) (1.984) (1.85) (24.626)
mm(inches)
Source#1:RecordsofLithuanianclimate[39][40]
Source#2:Weatherbase[41]
Politics
SinceLithuaniadeclaredtherestorationofitsindependenceon11March1990,it
hasmaintainedstrongdemocratictraditions.Ithelditsfirstindependentgeneral
electionson25October1992,inwhich56.75%ofvoterssupportedthenew
constitution.[42]Therewereintensedebatesconcerningtheconstitution,
particularlytheroleofthepresident.Aseparatereferendumwasheldon23May
1992togaugepublicopiniononthematter,and41%ofvoterssupportedthe
restorationofthePresidentofLithuania.[42]Throughcompromise,asemi
presidentialsystemwasagreedon.[2]
DaliaGrybauskait,hasbeenthe
presidentofLithuaniasince12July TheLithuanianheadofstateisthepresident,directlyelectedforafiveyearterm
2009. andservingamaximumoftwoterms.Thepresidentoverseesforeignaffairsand
nationalsecurity,andisthecommanderinchiefofthemilitary.Thepresidentalso
appointstheprimeministerand,onthelatter'snomination,therestofthecabinet,
aswellasanumberofothertopcivilservantsandthejudgesforallcourts.
ThecurrentLithuanianheadofstate,DaliaGrybauskaitwaselectedon17May
2009,becomingthefirstfemalepresidentinthecountry'shistory,andthesecond
femaleheadofstateintheBalticStatesafterLatviaelectedtheirfirstfemale
politicalleaderin1999.[43]DaliaGrybauskaitwasreelectedforasecondtermin
2014.
ThejudgesoftheConstitutionalCourt(KonstitucinisTeismas)servenineyear
terms.TheyareappointedbythePresident,theChairmanoftheSeimas,andthe
ChairmanoftheSupremeCourt,eachofwhomappointthreejudges.The
unicameralLithuanianparliament,theSeimas,has141memberswhoareelected
Seimas(ParliamentofLithuania)
tofouryearterms.71ofthemembersofitsmembersareelectedinsinglemember
constituencies,andtheothersinanationwidevotebyproportionalrepresentation.
Apartymustreceiveatleast5%ofthenationalvotetobeeligibleforanyofthe70nationalseatsintheSeimas.
Administrativedivisions
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Thecurrentsystemofadministrative
divisionwasestablishedin1994and Latvia
modifiedin2000tomeettherequirements
oftheEuropeanUnion.Thecountry's10
counties(Lithuanian:singularapskritis,
pluralapskritys)aresubdividedinto60 TeliaiCounty iauliaiCounty PanevysCounty
municipalities(Lithuanian:singular Balticsea
savivaldyb,pluralsavivaldybs),and Klaipda
furtherdividedinto500elderships County
UtenaCounty
(Lithuanian:singularseninija,plural TauragCounty
seninijos).
KaunasCounty
Municipalitieshavebeenthemost
importantunitofadministrationin Russia Belarus
Marijampol VilniusCounty
Lithuaniasincethesystemofcounty County
governorship(apskritiesvirininkas)was
dissolvedin2010.[44]Somemunicipalities
arehistoricallycalled"district AlytusCounty
municipalities"(oftenshortenedto Poland
"district"),whileothersarecalled"city
municipalities"(sometimesshortenedto"city").Eachhasitsownelectedgovernment.Theelectionofmunicipality
councilsoriginallyoccurredeverythreeyears,butnowtakesplaceeveryfouryears.Thecouncilappointseldersto
governtheelderships.Mayorshavebeendirectlyelectedsince2015priortothat,theywereappointedbythecouncil.[45]
Elderships,numberingover500,arethesmallestadministrativeunitsanddonotplayaroleinnationalpolitics.They
providenecessarylocalpublicservicesforexample,registeringbirthsanddeathsinruralareas.Theyaremostactivein
thesocialsector,identifyingneedyindividualsorfamiliesandorganizinganddistributingwelfareandotherformsof
relief.[46]Somecitizensfeelthateldershipshavenorealpowerandreceivetoolittleattention,andthattheycould
otherwisebecomeasourceoflocalinitiativeforaddressingruralproblems.[47]
Foreignrelations
LithuaniabecameamemberoftheUnitedNationson18September1991,andisasignatorytoanumberofits
organizationsandotherinternationalagreements.ItisalsoamemberoftheEuropeanUnion,theCouncilofEurope,
OrganizationforSecurityandCooperationinEurope,aswellasNATOanditsadjunctNorthAtlanticCoordinating
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Council.LithuaniagainedmembershipintheWorldTradeOrganizationon31
May2001,andcurrentlyseeksmembershipintheOECDandotherWestern
organizations.
Lithuaniahasestablisheddiplomaticrelationswith149countries.[49]
In2011,LithuaniahostedtheOrganizationforSecurityandCooperationin
EuropeMinisterialCouncilMeeting.Duringthesecondhalfof2013,Lithuania
assumedtheroleofthepresidencyoftheEuropeanUnion.
Lithuaniaisamemberofthe
EuropeanUnion Lithuaniaisalsoactiveindeveloping
cooperationamongnorthernEuropean
countries.IthasbeenamemberoftheBalticCouncilsinceitsestablishmentin
1993.TheBalticCouncil,locatedinTallinn,isapermanentorganisationof
internationalcooperationthatoperatesthroughtheBalticAssemblyandtheBaltic
CouncilofMinisters.
LithuaniaalsocooperateswithNordicandthetwootherBalticcountriesthrough
theNB8format.Asimilarformat,NB6,unitesNordicandBalticmembersofEU.
NB6'sfocusistodiscussandagreeonpositionsbeforepresentingthemtothe ThestampisdedicatedtoLithuania's
CounciloftheEuropeanUnionandatthemeetingsofEUforeignaffairs presidencyoftheEuropeanUnion.
ministers. PostofLithuania,2013.
TheCounciloftheBalticSeaStates(CBSS)wasestablishedinCopenhagenin
1992asaninformalregionalpoliticalforum.Itsmainaimistopromoteintegrationandtoclosecontactsbetweenthe
region'scountries.ThemembersofCBSSareIceland,Sweden,Denmark,Norway,Finland,Germany,Lithuania,Latvia,
Estonia,Poland,Russia,andtheEuropeanCommission.ItsobserverstatesareBelarus,France,Italy,Netherlands,
Romania,Slovakia,Spain,theUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,andUkraine.
TheNordicCouncilofMinistersandLithuaniaengageinpoliticalcooperationto
attainmutualgoalsandtodeterminenewtrendsandpossibilitiesforjoint
cooperation.TheCouncil'sinformationofficeaimstodisseminateNordic
conceptsandtodemonstrateandpromoteNordiccooperation.
Lithuania,togetherwiththefiveNordiccountriesandthetwootherBaltic
countries,isamemberoftheNordicInvestmentBank(NIB)andcooperatesinits
NORDPLUSprogramme,whichiscommittedtoeducation.
Lithuaniawasrecentlyamemberof TheBalticDevelopmentForum(BDF)isanindependentnonprofitorganization
theUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil thatuniteslargecompanies,cities,businessassociationsandinstitutionsinthe
BalticSearegion.In2010theBDF's12thsummitwasheldinVilnius.[50]
In2013,LithuaniawaselectedtotheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncilforatwoyearterm,[51]becomingthefirstBaltic
countryelectedtothispost.
Military
TheLithuanianArmedForcesisthenamefortheunifiedarmedforcesofLithuanianLandForce,LithuanianAirForce,
LithuanianNavalForce,LithuanianSpecialOperationsForceandotherunits:LogisticsCommand,TrainingandDoctrine
Command,HeadquartersBattalion,MilitaryPolice.DirectlysubordinatedtotheChiefofDefencearetheSpecial
OperationsForcesandMilitaryPolice.TheReserveForcesareundercommandoftheLithuanianNationalDefence
VolunteerForces.
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TheLithuanianArmedForcesconsistofsome15,000activepersonnel,whichmaybe
supportedbyreserveforces.[52]Compulsoryconscriptionendedin2008butwas
reintroducedin2015.[53]TheLithuanianArmedForcescurrentlyhavedeployedpersonnel
oninternationalmissionsinAfghanistan,Kosovo,MaliandSomalia.[54]
InMarch2004,Lithuaniabecameafullmember
oftheNATO.Sincethen,fighterjetsofNATO
membersaredeployedinZokniaiairportand
providesafetyfortheBalticairspace.
Sincethesummerof2005Lithuaniahasbeenpart
oftheInternationalSecurityAssistanceForcein
Afghanistan(ISAF),leadingaProvincial
ReconstructionTeam(PRT)inthetownof
SoldieroftheLithuanian ChaghcharanintheprovinceofGhor.ThePRT Lithuaniansoldiersonthe
NationalDefenceVolunteer includespersonnelfromDenmark,Icelandand internationalNATOmissionin
Forces USA.Therearealsospecialoperationforcesunits Afghanistan
inAfghanistan,placedinKandaharProvince.
Sincejoininginternationaloperationsin1994,Lithuaniahaslosttwosoldiers:1stLt.
NormundasValterisfellinBosnia,ashispatrolvehicledroveoveramine.Sgt.ArnasJarmalaviiuswasfatally
woundedduringanattackonthecampofhisProvincialReconstructionTeaminAfghanistan.[55]
TheLithuanianNationalDefencePolicyaimstoguaranteethepreservationoftheindependenceandsovereigntyofthe
state,theintegrityofitsland,territorialwatersandairspace,anditsconstitutionalorder.Itsmainstrategicgoalsareto
defendthecountry'sinterests,andtomaintainandexpandthecapabilitiesofitsarmedforcessotheymaycontributeto
andparticipateinthemissionsofNATOandEuropeanUnionmemberstates.[56]
Thedefenseministryisresponsibleforcombatforces,searchandrescue,andintelligenceoperations.The5,000border
guardsfallundertheInteriorMinistry'ssupervisionandareresponsibleforborderprotection,passportandcustoms
duties,andshareresponsibilitywiththenavyforsmugglinganddrugtraffickinginterdiction.Aspecialsecurity
departmenthandlesVIPprotectionandcommunicationssecurity.
Economy
LithuanianGDPexperiencedveryhigh
realgrowthratesinthedecadebefore
2009,peakingat11.1%in2007.Asa
result,thecountrywasoftentermedasa
BalticTiger.However,2009markeda
dramaticdeclineinGDPat14.9%
attributedtooverheatingoftheeconomy.
GNIpercapita(in2015)
Theeconomyresumedgrowthinthe
followingyearsatalowerbutmore
Confirmedstatebudgetrevenue
sustainablepace,drivenbydomesticdemandandexportsratherthanhousingand
projectionsinEURpercapitafor financialbubbles.[57]Theunemploymentratewas9.1%attheendof2015,down
2016inEstonia,Latviaand from17.8%in2010.[58]
Lithuania.
Lithuaniahasaflattaxrateratherthanaprogressivescheme.Accordingto
Eurostat,[59]thepersonalincometax(15%)andcorporatetax(15%)ratesin
LithuaniaareamongthelowestintheEU.Thecountryhasthelowestimplicitrateoftaxoncapital(9.8%)intheEU.
LithuaniaalsohasthelowestoveralltaxationasapercentageofGDP(27.2)intheEuropeanUnion[59]
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LithuanianincomelevelsaresomewhatlowerthaninolderEUMemberStatesbut
higherthaninmostnewEUMemberStatesthathavejoinedinthelastdecade.
AccordingtoEurostatdata,LithuanianGDPpercapita(PPP)stoodat75%ofthe
EUaveragein2015.[60]Averageannualwage(beforetaxes,forfulltime
employees)inLithuaniastoodataround$10,000,stillaround1/5ofthatinthe
richestEUmemberstatesin2015.
Structurally,thereisagradualbutconsistentshifttowardsaknowledgebased
economywithspecialemphasisonbiotechnology(industrialanddiagnostic).The
Averagemonthlygrosssalariesin majorbiotechnologycompaniesandlasermanufacturers(Ekspla,viesos
Estonia,LatviaandLithuania.Time Konversija)oftheBalticsareconcentratedinLithuania.Alsomechatronicsand
period:2016,2ndquarter. informationtechnology(IT)areseenasprospectiveknowledgebasedeconomy
directions.
In2009,Barclaysestablished
TechnologyCentreLithuaniaoneof
fourstrategicengineeringcentres
supportingtheBarclaysRetail
Bankingbusinessesacrossthe
globe.[61]In2011,WesternUnion
officiallyopenedtheirnewEuropean
RegionalOperatingCentrein
Vilnius.[62]Thestatedpositionofthe
Lithuaniangovernmentisthatthe
focusofLithuanianeconomyishigh
addedvalueproductsandservices.[63]
GraphicaldepictionofLithuania'sproductexports Amongotherinternationalcompanies
in28colorcodedcategories. operatinginLithuaniaare:
Swedbankheadquartersin
PricewaterhouseCoopers,Ernst&
Vilnius
Young,SocieteGenerale,UniCredit,
ThermoFisherScientific,PhillipMorris,KraftFoods,Mars,Marks&Spencer,
GlaxoSmithKline,UnitedColorsofBenetton,Deichmann,Statoil,NesteOil,
Lukoil,Tele2,HesburgerandModernTimesGroup.TeliaSonera,ICAand
CarlsbergrespectivelyownlocaltelecommunicationscompanyOmnitel,retailer
Rimiandbeerbreweries(vyturys,KalnapilisandUtenosAlus).Lithuanian
bankingsectorisdominatedbytheScandinavianbanks:Swedbank,SEB,Nordea,
DanskeBank,DNBASA.
AmongthebiggestprivateownedLithuaniancompaniesare:ORLENLietuva,
MaximaGroup,AchemaGroup,LukoilBaltija,LinasAgroGroup,Indorama
PolymersEurope,Palink,Sanitex.[64][65]CorporatetaxrateinLithuaniais15%
and5%forsmallbusinesses.Thegovernmentoffersspecialincentivesfor
investmentsintothehightechnologysectorsandhighvalueaddedproducts.Most
ofthetradeLithuaniaconductsiswithintheEuropeanUnionandRussia.
Lithuaniaispartofamonetaryunion,
Thelitaswasthenationalcurrencyuntil2015,whenitwasreplacedbytheeuroat theeurozone(darkblue),andofthe
therateofEUR1.00=LTL3.45280.[66]Litashadbeenpeggedtotheeuroatthis EUsinglemarket.
ratesince2February2002.[67]
Infrastructure
Communication
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AccordingtotheSpeedtest.netwebsite,asof30October2011Lithuaniaranksfirstintheworldbytheinternetupload
speedanddownloadspeed,schoolsandcorporationsignored.[68][69]ThehighspeedsarelargelyduetoLithuaniahaving
theEU'sandEurope'smostavailableFTTHnetwork.AccordingtoayearlystudypublishedbytheFTTHCouncilEurope
in2013,[70]thecountryhasconnected100%ofhouseholdstotheFTTHnetwork.31%ofthesehouseholdsare
subscriberstothisnetworkatthetimeofpublishing.LithuaniahasthusEurope'smostavailablefibrenetworkandalso
hasthehighestFTTHpenetration.SwedenhasthenexthighestFTTHpenetrationwith23%.
Transport
Thecountryboastsawelldeveloped
moderninfrastructureofrailways,airports
andfourlanehighways.Lithuaniahasan
extensivenetworkofmotorways.Thebest
knownmotorwaysareA1,connecting
VilniuswithKlaipdaviaKaunas,aswell
asA2,connectingVilniusandPanevys.
OneofthemostusedistheEuropeanroute
E67highwayrunningfromWarsawto
Tallinn,viaKaunasandRiga. Constructionofthedualgauge
MajorhighwaysinLithuania railwaytrackinLithuania(Rail
ThePortofKlaipdaistheonly Balticaproject)
commercialportinLithuania.Inarecord
yearfortheport,in201145.5milliontonsofcargowerehandled(includingBtingoilterminalfigures),makingitone
ofthebiggestintheBalticSea.[71]
VilniusInternationalAirportisthelargestairport.Itserved3.8millionpassengersin2016.[72]Otherinternationalairports
includeKaunasInternationalAirport,PalangaInternationalAirportandiauliaiInternationalAirport.
Lithuaniareceiveditsfirstrailwayconnectioninthemiddleofthe19thcentury,whentheWarsawSaintPetersburg
Railwaywasconstructed.ItincludedastretchfromDaugavpilsviaVilniusandKaunastoVirbalis.Thefirstandonlystill
operatingintheBalticstatesKaunasRailwayTunnelwascompletedin1860.LithuanianRailways'mainnetworkconsists
of1,762km(1,095mi)of1,520mm(4ft11.8in)broadgaugerailwayofwhich122km(76mi)areelectrified.Theyalso
operate115km(71mi)ofstandardgaugelines.[73]TheTransEuropeanstandardgaugeRailBalticarailway,linking
HelsinkiTallinnRigaKaunasWarsawandcontinuingontoBerlinisunderconstruction.
Energy
IgnalinaNuclearPowerPlantwasaSovieteranuclearstation.UnitNo.1wasclosedinDecember2004,asaconditionof
Lithuania'sentryintotheEuropeanUniontheplantissimilartotheChernobylNuclearPowerPlantinitslackofarobust
containmentstructure.Theremainingunit,asof2006,suppliedabout70%ofLithuania'selectricaldemand.[74]UnitNo.
2wascloseddownon31December2009.ProposalshavebeenmadetoconstructanotherVisaginasNuclearPower
PlantinLithuania.[75]However,anonbindingreferendumheldinOctober2012cloudedtheprospectsfortheVisaginas
project,as63%ofvoterssaidnotoanewnuclearpowerplant.[76]
Thecountry'smainprimarysourceofelectricalpowerisElektrnaiPowerPlant.OtherprimarysourcesofLithuania's
electricalpowerareKruonisPumpedStoragePlantandKaunasHydroelectricPowerPlant.KruonisPumpedStorage
PlantistheonlyintheBalticstatespowerplanttobeusedforregulationofthepowersystem'soperationwithgenerating
capacityof900MWforatleast12hours.[77]Asof2015,66%ofelectricalpowerwasimported.[78]
Demographics
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SincetheNeolithicperiodthenativeinhabitantsoftheLithuanian
territoryhavenotbeenreplacedbyanyotherethnicgroup,sothereis
ahighprobabilitythattheinhabitantsofpresentdayLithuaniahave
preservedthegeneticcompositionoftheirforebearsrelatively
undisturbedbythemajordemographicmovements,[79]although
withoutbeingactuallyisolatedfromthem.[80]TheLithuanian
populationappearstoberelativelyhomogeneous,withoutapparent
geneticdifferencesamongethnicsubgroups.[81]
A2004analysisofMtDNAintheLithuanianpopulationrevealedthat
LithuaniansareclosetotheSlavicandFinnoUgricspeaking PopulationofLithuania(inmillions),19502010
populationsofNorthernandEasternEurope.YchromosomeSNP
haplogroupanalysisshowedLithuanianstobeclosesttoLatviansandEstonians.[82]
Accordingto2014estimates,theagestructureofthepopulationwasasfollows:014years,13.5%(male243,001/female
230,674)1564years:69.5%(male1,200,196/female1,235,300)65yearsandover:16.8%(male207,222/female
389,345).[83]Themedianagewas41.2years(male:38.5,female:43.7).[84]
Lithuaniahasasubreplacementfertilityrate:thetotalfertilityrate(TFR)inLithuaniais1.59childrenborn/woman(2015
estimates).[85]Asof2014,29%ofbirthsweretounmarriedwomen.[86]Theageatfirstmarriagein2013was27yearsfor
womenand29.3yearsformen.[87]
Ethnicgroups
EthnicLithuaniansmakeupaboutfivesixthsofthecountry's
populationandLithuaniahasthemosthomogenouspopulationinthe ResidentsofLithuaniabyethnicity(2015)[1]
BalticStates.In2015,thepopulationofLithuaniastandsat2 Lithuanians 86.7%
921,262,86.7%ofwhomareethnicLithuanianswhospeak Poles 5.6%
Lithuanian,whichistheofficiallanguageofthecountry.Several Russians 4.8%
sizableminoritiesexist,suchasPoles(5.6%),Russians(4.8%), Belarusians 1.3%
Belarusians(1.3%)andUkrainians(0.7%).[1] Ukrainians 0.7%
Others 0.9%
Polesarethelargestminority,concentratedinsoutheastLithuania(the
Vilniusregion).Russiansarethesecondlargestminority,concentratedmostlyintwocities.Theyconstitutesizeable
minoritiesinVilnius(12%)[88]andKlaipda(19.6%),[89]andamajorityinthetownofVisaginas(52%).[90]About3,000
RomaliveinLithuania,mostlyinVilnius,KaunasandPanevystheirorganizationsaresupportedbytheNational
MinorityandEmigrationDepartment.[91]ForcenturiesasmallTatarcommunityhasflourishedinLithuania.[92]
TheofficiallanguageisLithuanian.Otherlanguages,suchasRussian,Polish,BelarusianandUkrainian,arespokeninthe
largercities,inthealininkaiDistrictMunicipalityandtheVilniusDistrictMunicipality.Yiddishisspokenbymembers
ofthetinyremainingJewishcommunityinLithuania.AccordingtotheLithuanianpopulationcensusof2011,[89]about
85%ofthecountry'spopulationspeakLithuanianastheirnativelanguage,7,2%arenativespeakersofRussianand5,3%
ofPolish.AccordingtotheEurobarometersurveyconductedin2012,80%ofLithuanianscanspeakRussianand38%can
speakEnglish.MostLithuanianschoolsteachEnglishasthefirstforeignlanguage,butstudentsmayalsostudyGerman,
or,insomeschools,FrenchorRussian.SchoolswhereRussianorPolisharetheprimarylanguagesofeducationexistin
theareaspopulatedbytheseminorities.
Urbanization
Therehasbeenasteadymovementofpopulationtothecitiessincethe1990s,encouragedbytheplanningofregional
centres,suchasAlytus,Marijampol,Utena,Plung,andMaeikiai.Bytheearly21stcentury,abouttwothirdsofthe
totalpopulationlivedinurbanareas.Asof2015,66.5%ofthetotalpopulationlivesinurbanareas.[83]Thelargestcityis
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Vilnius,followedbyKaunas,Klaipda,iauliai,andPanevys.
LargestcitiesortownsinLithuania
StatisticsLithuania(2015)[93]
Rank Name County Pop. Rank Name County Pop.
1 Vilnius Vilnius 542,990 11 Kdainiai Kaunas 25,107
2 Kaunas Kaunas 299,466 12 Teliai Teliai 24,855
3 Klaipda Klaipda 155,032 13 Taurag Taurag 24,681
4 iauliai iauliai 103,676 14 Ukmerg Vilnius 21,981
Vilnius Klaipda
5 Panevys Panevys 94,399 15 Visaginas Utena 20,028
6 Alytus Alytus 55,012 16 Kretinga Klaipda 19,999
7 Maeikiai Teliai 38,120 17 Radvilikis iauliai 18,882
8 Marijampol Marijampol 37,914 18 Plung Teliai 18,717
9 Jonava Kaunas 28,719 19 Vilkavikis Marijampol 16,707
Kaunas iauliai
10 Utena Utena 27,120 20 ilut Klaipda 16,686
Functionalurbanareas
[94]
Population(thousands)
Functionalurbanareas
2014
Mapofthe20largestcitiesortowns
Vilnius 693 inLithuania
Kaunas 391
Health
Asof2015Lithuanianlifeexpectancyatbirthwas73.4(67.4yearsformalesand78.8forfemales)[95]andtheinfant
mortalityratewas6.2per1,000births.Theannualpopulationgrowthrateincreasedby0.3%in2007.At33.5peopleper
100,000in2012,LithuaniahasseenadramaticriseinsuicidesinthepostSovietyears,andnowrecordsthefourth
highestagestandardizedsuiciderateintheworld,accordingtoWHO.[96]Lithuaniaalsohasthehighesthomicideratein
theEU.[97]
Religion
Asperthe2011census,77.2%ofLithuaniansbelongedtotheRomanCatholic
Church.[98]TheChurchhasbeenthemajoritydenominationsincethe
ChristianisationofLithuaniaattheendofthe14thcentury.TheReformationdid
notimpactLithuaniatoagreatextentasseeninEstoniaorLatviaasgenerally
onlylocalGermansintheKlaipda/MemelareaturnedProtestant,while
HillofCrossesneariauliai LithuaniansandPolesremainedCatholic,andRussians,Belarusiansand
UkrainiansEasternOrthodox.Somepriestsactivelyledtheresistanceagainst
theCommunistregime(symbolisedbytheHillofCrosses).
4.1%areOrthodox,mainlyamongtheRussianminority.Thisgroupis
distinguishableintotheEasternOrthodoxChurchandOldBelievers. ResidentsofLithuaniabyreligion(2011)[98]
RomanCatholic 77.2%
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6.1%havenoreligion.
LithuaniawashistoricallyhometoasignificantJewishcommunityandwasanimportantcenterofJewishscholarshipand
culturefromthe18thcenturyuntiltheeveofWorldWarII.Priortothewar,theJewishpopulation,outsideoftheVilnius
region(whichwastheninPoland),numberedabout160,000.InSeptember1939,tensofthousandsofPolishJews
becameLithuaniansubjectswhentheSovietstransferredtheVilniusregion(oftheformerPolishstate)toLithuaniaand
additionalJewishrefugeesarrivedinLithuaniaduringtheperiodpriortoJune1941.Oftheapproximately220,000Jews
wholivedintheRepublicofLithuaniainJune1941,almostallwereentirelyannihilatedduringtheHolocaust.[102][103]
Thecommunitynumberedabout4,000attheendof2009.[104]
Accordingtothe
mostrecent
EurobarometerPoll
in2010,[105]47%of
Lithuaniancitizens
respondedthat"they
believethereisa
God",37%answered
that"theybelieve
WoodenchurchinPal. CathedraloftheTheotokos, ChoralSynagogueofVilnius,the
thereissomesortof
LithuaniahasstrongRoman RussianOrthodoxChurch. onlysynagogueinthecityto
spiritorlifeforce",
and12%saidthat Catholictraditions. survivetheNaziHolocaust.
"theydonotbelieve
thereisanysortofspirit,god,orlifeforce".
Education
ThefirstdocumentedschoolinLithuaniawasestablishedin1387atVilniusCathedral.[106]Theschoolnetworkwas
influencedbytheChristianizationofLithuania.SeveraltypesofschoolswerepresentinmedievalLithuaniacathedral
schools,wherepupilswerepreparedforpriesthoodparishschools,offeringelementaryeducationandhomeschools
dedicatedtoeducatingthechildrenoftheLithuaniannobility.BeforeVilniusUniversitywasestablishedin1579,
Lithuaniansseekinghighereducationattendeduniversitiesinforeigncities,includingKrakw,Prague,andLeipzig,
amongothers.[106]DuringtheInterbellumanationaluniversityVytautasMagnusUniversitywasfoundedinKaunas.
TheMinistryofEducationandScienceoftheRepublicofLithuaniaproposesnationaleducationalpoliciesandgoals.
ThesearesenttotheSeimasforratification.Lawsgovernlongtermeducationalstrategyalongwithgenerallawson
standardsforhighereducation,vocationaltraining,lawandscience,adulteducation,andspecialeducation.[107]County
administrators,municipaladministrators,andschoolfounders(includingnongovernmentalorganizations,religious
organizations,andindividuals)areresponsibleforimplementingthesepolicies.[107]Byconstitutionalmandate,tenyears
offormalenrollmentinaneducationalinstitutionismandatory,endingatage16.[108]
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14.7%ofthe2014statebudgetwasallocatedtoeducationexpenses.[109]Primaryand
secondaryschoolsreceivefundingfromthestateviatheirmunicipalorcounty
administrations.TheConstitutionofLithuaniaguaranteestuitionfreeattendanceatpublic
institutionsofhighereducationforstudentsdeemed'good'thenumberofsuchstudents
hasvariedoverthepastdecade,with53.5%exemptedfromtuitionfeesin2014.[110]
TheWorldBankdesignatestheliteracyrateofLithuanianpersonsaged15yearsandolder
as100%[111]and,accordingtoEurostatLithuanialeadsamongothercountriesofEUby
peoplewithsecondaryeducation(93.3%).[112]Asof2012,34%ofthepopulationaged25
to64hadcompletedtertiaryeducation59.1%hadcompleteduppersecondaryandpost
secondary(nontertiary)education.[113]AccordingtoInvestinLithuania,Lithuaniahas
twiceasmanypeoplewithhighereducationthantheEU15averageandtheproportionis
VilniusUniversity,oneof
thehighestintheBaltic.Also,90%ofLithuaniansspeakatleastoneforeignlanguageand
theoldestuniversitiesin
halfofthepopulationspeakstwoforeignlanguages,mostlyRussianandEnglish.[114] EasternandCentralEurope
AswithotherBalticnations,inparticularLatvia,thelargevolumeofhigher
educationgraduateswithinthecountry,coupledwiththehighrateofspoken
secondlanguagesiscontributingtoaneducationbraindrain.ManyLithuanians
arechoosingtoemigrateseekinghigherearningemploymentandstudies
throughoutEurope.SincetheirinclusionintotheEuropeanUnionin2004,
Lithuania'spopulationhasfallenbyapproximately180,000people.[115][116]
Asof2008,therewere15publicuniversitiesinLithuania,6privateinstitutions,
16publiccolleges,and11privatecolleges.[117]VilniusUniversityisoneofthe
oldestuniversitiesinNorthernEuropeandthelargestuniversityinLithuania. RaudonBasicSchool,locatedin
KaunasUniversityofTechnologyisthelargesttechnicaluniversityintheBaltic RaudonCastle
Statesandthe2ndlargestuniversityinLithuania.Otheruniversitiesinclude
LithuanianUniversityofHealthSciences,LithuanianAcademyofMusicand
Theatre,LithuanianUniversityofEducology,VytautasMagnusUniversity,MykolasRomerisUniversity,Lithuanian
AcademyofPhysicalEducation,VilniusGediminasTechnicalUniversity,TheGeneralJonasZemaitisMilitaryAcademy
ofLithuania,KlaipdaUniversity,LithuanianVeterinaryAcademy,LithuanianUniversityofAgriculture,iauliai
University,VilniusAcademyofArt,andLCCInternationalUniversity.
Culture
Lithuanianlanguage
TheLithuanianlanguage(lietuvikalba)istheofficialstatelanguageofLithuaniaandisrecognizedasoneoftheofficial
languagesoftheEuropeanUnion.Thereareabout2.96millionnativeLithuanianspeakersinLithuaniaandabout0.2
millionabroad.
LithuanianisaBalticlanguage,closelyrelatedtoLatvian,althoughtheyarenotmutuallyintelligible.Itiswritteninan
adaptedversionoftheRomanscript.LithuanianisbelievedtobethelinguisticallymostconservativelivingIndo
Europeantongue,retainingmanyfeaturesofProtoIndoEuropean.[118]
Literature
ThereisagreatdealofLithuanianliteraturewritteninLatin,themainscholarlylanguageoftheMiddleAges.Theedicts
oftheLithuanianKingMindaugasistheprimeexampleoftheliteratureofthiskind.TheLettersofGediminasare
anothercrucialheritageoftheLithuanianLatinwritings.
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LithuanianliteraryworksintheLithuanianlanguagestartedbeingfirstpublishedinthe
16thcentury.In1547MartynasMavydascompiledandpublishedthefirstprinted
LithuanianbookTheSimpleWordsofCatechism,whichmarksthebeginningofprinted
Lithuanianliterature.HewasfollowedbyMikalojusDaukawithKatechizmas.Inthe
16thand17thcenturies,asinthewholeChristianEurope,Lithuanianliteraturewas
primarilyreligious.
Theevolutionoftheold(14th18thcentury)LithuanianliteratureendswithKristijonas
Donelaitis,oneofthemostprominentauthorsoftheAgeofEnlightenment.Donelaitis'
poemTheSeasonsisalandmarkoftheLithuanianfictionliterature.[119]
WithamixofClassicism,SentimentalismandRomanticism,theLithuanianliteratureof
thefirsthalfofthe19thcenturyisrepresentedbyMaironis,AntanasBaranauskas,
SimonasDaukantasandSimonasStaneviius.[119]DuringtheTsaristannexationof ThefirstLithuanianprinted
Lithuaniainthe19thcentury,theLithuanianpressbanwasimplemented,whichledtothe bookCatechismofMartynas
formationoftheKnygneiai(Booksmugglers)movement.Thismovementisthoughtto Mavydas(1547,
betheveryreasontheLithuanianlanguageandliteraturesurviveduntiltoday. Knigsberg)
20thcenturyLithuanianliteratureisrepresentedbyJuozasTumasVaigantas,Antanas
Vienuolis,BernardasBrazdionis,VytautasMaernisandJustinasMarcinkeviius.
Artsandmuseums
TheLithuanianArtMuseumwasfoundedin1933andisthelargestmuseumofart
conservationanddisplayinLithuania.[120]Amongotherimportantmuseumsisthe
PalangaAmberMuseum,whereamberpiecescompriseamajorpartofthecollection.
PerhapsthemostrenownedfigureinLithuania'sartcommunitywasthecomposer
MikalojusKonstantinasiurlionis(18751911),aninternationallyrenownedmusician.
The2420iurlionisasteroid,identifiedin1975,honorshisachievements.TheM.K.
iurlionisNationalArtMuseum,aswellastheonlymilitarymuseuminLithuania,
VytautastheGreatWarMuseum,arelocatedinKaunas.
Music
LithuanianfolkmusicbelongstoBalticmusicbranchwhichisconnectedwithneolithic
cordedwareculture.TwoinstrumentculturesmeetintheareasinhabitedbyLithuanians:
stringed(kankli)andwindinstrumentcultures.Lithuanianfolkmusicisarchaic,mostly JonasMekasisregardedas
usedforritualpurposes,containingelementsofpaganismfaith.Therearethreeancient godfatherofAmerican
stylesofsinginginLithuaniaconnectedwithethnographicalregions:monophony, avantgardecinema
heterophonyandpolyphony.Folksonggenres:Sutartins,WeddingSongs,WarHistorical
TimeSongs,CalendarCycleandRitualSongsandWorkSongs.
MikalojusKonstantinasiurlionisisthemostrenownedLithuanianpainterandcomposer.Duringhisshortlifehecreated
about200piecesofmusic.HisworkshavehadprofoundinfluenceonmodernLithuanianculture.Hissymphonicpoems
IntheForest(Mike)andTheSea(Jra)wereperformedonlyposthumously.iurlioniscontributedtosymbolismandart
nouveauandwasrepresentativeofthefindesicleepoch.Hehasbeenconsideredoneofthepioneersofabstractartin
Europe.
VytautasMikinis(born1954)isaprofessor,composerandchoirdirectorofthefamousLithuanianboys'choir
uoliukas.HeisverypopularinLithuaniaandabroad.Hehaswrittenover400secularandabout160religiousworks.
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InLithuania,choralmusicisveryimportant.Vilniusistheonlycitywiththreechoirslaureates(Brevis,JaunaMuzikaand
ChamberChoiroftheConservatoire)attheEuropeanGrandPrixforChoralSinging.Thereisalongstandingtraditionof
theLithuanianSongandDanceFestival(Dainvent).ThefirstonetookplaceinKaunasin1924.Since1990,the
festivalhasbeenorganisedeveryfouryearsandsummonsroughly30,000singersandfolkdancersofvarious
professionallevelsandagegroupsfromacrossthecountry.In2008,LithuanianSongandDanceFestivaltogetherwithits
LatvianandEstonianversionswasinscribedasUNESCOMasterpieceoftheOralandIntangibleHeritageofHumanity.
MarijonasMikutaviiusisfamousforcreatingunofficialLithuaniasportanthem"Trysmilijonai"(English:Three
million).[121]
Cuisine
Lithuaniancuisinefeaturestheproductssuitedtothecoolandmoistnorthern
climateofLithuania:barley,potatoes,rye,beets,greens,berries,andmushrooms
arelocallygrown,anddairyproductsareoneofitsspecialties.Sinceitsharesits
climateandagriculturalpracticeswithNorthernEurope,Lithuaniancuisinehas
somesimilaritiestoScandinaviancuisine.Nevertheless,ithasitsown
distinguishingfeatures,whichwereformedbyavarietyofinfluencesduringthe
country'slonganddifficulthistory.
Becauseoftheircommonheritage,Lithuanians,Poles,andAshkenaziJewsshare
manydishesandbeverages.Namely,similarversionsof:dumplings(koldnai, Cepelinai,apotatobaseddumpling
kreplachorpierogi),doughnutsspurgosor(pczki),andblynaicrpes(blintzes). dishcharacteristicofLithuanian
GermantraditionsalsoinfluencedLithuaniancuisine,introducingporkandpotato cuisine
dishes,suchaspotatopudding(kugelisorkugel)andpotatosausages(vdarai),as
wellasthebaroquetreecakeknownasakotis.ThemostexoticofalltheinfluencesisEastern(Karaite)cuisine,andthe
disheskibinaiandeburekaiarepopularinLithuania.TorteNapoleonwasintroducedduringNapoleon'spassagethrough
Lithuaniainthe19thcentury.
Sports
BasketballisthenationalsportofLithuania.The
Lithuanianationalbasketballteamhashad
significantsuccessininternationalbasketball
events,havingwontheEuroBasketonthree
occasions(1937,1939and2003),aswellatotalof
8othermedalsintheEurobasket,theWorld
ChampionshipsandtheOlympicGames.
LithuaniahostedtheEurobasketin1939and2011.
ThehistoricLithuanianbasketballteamBC
algiris,fromKaunas,wontheEuropean Lithuaniamen'snationalbasketball
basketballleagueEuroleaguein1999.Lithuania teamisranked5thworldwidein
hasproducedanumberofNBAplayers,including FIBARankings.
NaismithMemorialBasketballHallofFame
inducteesArvydasSabonisandarnas
RtaMeilutytOlympic, Mariulionis[122]andcurrentNBAplayersDonatasMotiejnas,JonasValaninas,
multipleWorldand DomantasSabonisandMindaugasKuzminskas.[123]
Europeanchampion.
Lithuaniahaswonatotalof25medalsattheOlympicGames,including6goldmedalsin
athletics,modernpentathlon,shooting,andswimming.NumerousotherLithuanianswon
OlympicmedalsrepresentingSovietUnion.DiscussthrowerVirgilijusAleknaisthemostsuccessfulOlympicathleteof
independentLithuania,havingwongoldmedalsinthe2000Sydneyand2004Athensgames,aswellasabronzein2008
BeijingOlympicsandnumerousWorldChampionshipmedals.Morerecently,thegoldmedalwonbyathen15yearold
swimmerRtaMeilutytatthe2012SummerOlympicsinLondonsparkedariseinpopularityforthesportinLithuania.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lithuania&printable=yes 18/24
5/18/2017 LithuaniaWikipedia
Lithuaniahasproducedprominentathletesinathletics,modernpentathlon,road
andtrackcycling,chess,rowing,aerobatics,strongman,wrestling,boxing,mixed
martialarts,KyokushinKarateandothersports.
FewLithuanianathleteshavefoundsuccessinwintersports,althoughfacilities
areprovidedbyseveralicerinksandskiingslopes,includingSnowArena,the
firstindoorskislopeintheBaltics.[124]
Internationalrankings DruskininkaiSnowArena
ThefollowingarelinkstointernationalrankingsofLithuaniafromselectedresearchinstitutesandfoundationsincluding
economicoutputandvariouscompositeindices.
Seealso
IndexofLithuaniarelatedarticles
ListofLithuanians
OutlineofLithuania
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Externallinks
Government
TheLithuanianPresident(http://www.president.lt/en)OfficialsiteofthePresidentoftheRepublicofLithuania
TheLithuanianParliament(http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter/w5_home.home?p_kalb_id=2)Officialsiteofthe
ParliamentoftheRepublicofLithuania
TheLithuanianGovernment(http://www.lrv.lt/en)OfficialsiteoftheGovernmentoftheRepublicofLithuania
ChiefofStateandCabinetMembers(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/worldleaders1/LH.html)
StatisticsLithuania(http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/)OfficialsiteofDepartmentofStatisticstotheGovernmentof
Lithuania
Generalinformation
"Lithuania"(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworldfactbook/geos/lh.html).TheWorldFactbook.
CentralIntelligenceAgency.
Lithuania(http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/lithuania.htm)fromUCBLibrariesGovPubs
Lithuania(https://dmoztools.net/Regional/Europe/Lithuania)atDMOZ
Lithuania(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldeurope17536867)fromtheBBCNews
WikimediaAtlasofLithuania
GeographicdatarelatedtoLithuania(https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/72596)atOpenStreetMap
Lietuva.lt/en(http://lietuva.lt/en)Lithuanianinternetgates
KeyDevelopmentForecastsforLithuania(http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=LT)from
InternationalFutures
Heraldry(http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Lithuania)ofLithuania
Travel
LithuanianStateDepartmentofTourism(http://www.tourism.lt/en)
TravelChannelmovieaboutLithuanian"EssentialLithuania2010"(http://uzlietuva.lt/video/NXBB48O5XWAM/
EssentialLithuania2010)
www.travel.lt(http://www.travel.lt/index.php?lang=2)TheOfficialLithuanianTravelGuide
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