Lithuania
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225938839
2008-07-16T02:57:22Z
Renata3
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Roeber(F)|Roeber(F)]] ([[User talk:Roeber(F)|talk]]) to last version by Rjwilmsi
{{otheruses1|the European country}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Lietuvos Respublika''
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Lithuania
|common_name = Lithuania
|image_flag = Flag of Lithuania.svg
|image_coat = Coat of Arms of Lithuania.svg
|image_map = EU_location_LIT.png
|map_caption = {{map_caption |region=on the [[Europe|European continent]] |subregion=the [[European Union]] |legend=European location legend en.png}}
|national_motto = ''"Tautos jėga vienybėje"''<small><br/>"The strength of the nation lies in unity"</small>
|national_anthem = ''[[Tautiška giesmė]]''
|official_languages = [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]
|demonym = [[Lithuanian people|Lithuanian]]
|capital = [[Image:Grand Coat of arms of Vilnius.png|20px]] [[Vilnius]]
|latd=54 |latm=41 |latNS=N |longd=25 |longm=19 |longEW=E
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = {{nowrap|[[Parliamentary republic]]}}
|leader_title1 = [[List of Lithuanian rulers|President]]
|leader_name1 = [[Valdas Adamkus]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Lithuania|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Gediminas Kirkilas]]
|leader_title3 = [[Seimas#Speakers_of_the_Seimas_.28after_1992.29|Seimas Speaker]]
|leader_name3 = [[Česlovas Juršėnas]]
|sovereignty_type = [[History of Lithuania|Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from the [[Russian Empire]] (1918)
|established_event1 = Lithuania mentioned
|established_date1 = [[February 14]] [[1009]]
|established_event2 = [[Statehood Day (Lithuania)|Statehood]]
|established_date2 = [[July 6]], [[1253]]
|established_event3 = Personal union with Poland
|established_date3 = [[February 2]], [[1386]]
|established_event4 = Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth declared
|established_date4 = 1569
|established_event5 = Russian/Prussian occupation
|established_date5 = 1795
|established_event6 = Independence declared
|established_date6 = [[February 16]], [[1918]]
|established_event7 = 1st Soviet occupation
|established_date7 = [[June 15]], [[1940]]
|established_event10 = Nazi occupation
|established_date10 = 1941
|established_event8 = 2nd Soviet occupation
|established_date8 = 1944 - 1945
|established_event9 = Independence restored
|established_date9 = [[march 11]], [[1990]]
|accessionEUdate = [[1 May]] [[2004]]
|area_rank = 123rd
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|area_km2 = 65,200
|area_sq_mi = 25,173 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water = 1,35%
|population_estimate = 3,369,600
|population_estimate_rank = 130th
|population_estimate_year = 2007
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 52
|population_density_sq_mi = 134 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 120th
|GDP_PPP = $66 billion<ref = "Econ">{{cite web | url = http://www.economist.com/theworldin/forecasts/COUNTRY_PAGES_2008.pdf | title = Lithuania | year = 2008 | work = Country Pages | series = Forecasts | publisher = The Economist | location = England|format=PDF}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank = 75th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2008
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $19, 730
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 49th
|GDP_nominal = $48, 132 billion [http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2008&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=946&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=41&pr1.y=8]
|GDP_nominal_rank = 75th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2008 [[IMF]] April
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $14, 273
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 53rd
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.862
|HDI_rank = 43rd
|HDI_year = 2007
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
|Gini = 36
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|currency = [[Lithuanian litas]] (Lt)
|currency_code = LTL
|time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|cctld = [[.lt]]<sup>1</sup>
|calling_code = 370
|footnote1 = Also [[.eu]], shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
}}
'''Lithuania''', officially the '''Republic of Lithuania''' ({{lang-lt|Lietuvos Respublika}}) is a [[country]] defined as being part of [[Northern Europe|Northern]] [[Europe]].<ref>United Nations [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#europe Geographical region and composition]</ref> Situated along the south-eastern shore of the [[Baltic Sea]], sharing borders with [[Latvia]] to the north, [[Belarus]] to the southeast, [[Poland]], and the [[Russia]]n [[exclave]] of the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] to the southwest. Lithuania is a member of [[NATO]] and of the [[European Union]]. Its population is 3.4 million. The largest city and [[capital]] is [[Vilnius]].
During the 1300s, Lithuania was the largest country in Europe, as present-day [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]], and parts of Poland and Russia were territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. With the [[Lublin Union]] of 1569 Poland and Lithuania formed a new state: the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], which [[Partitions of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth|was finally destroyed]] by its neighboring countries in 1795. Most of Lithuania's territory was annexed by the [[Russian Empire]], until the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|Act of Independence]] was signed on [[February 16]], [[1918]], which declared re-establishment of a sovereign state. Between 1940 and 1945 Lithuania was occupied by both the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Nazi Germany]] at different times. When [[World War II]] was near its end in 1944 and the Nazis retreated, Lithuania would again be merged into the Soviet Union. On [[March 11]], [[1990]], Lithuania became the first [[Soviet republic]] to [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|declare its renewed independence]].
Present-day Lithuania has one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union. Lithuania became a full member of the [[Schengen Agreement]] on [[21 December]] [[2007]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Press release | last= | coauthors= | title=Lietuva įsiliejo į Šengeno erdvę | date= | publisher=Vidaus reikalų ministerija | url =http://www.vrm.lt/index.php?id=131&backPID=4&tt_news=1458& | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-12-22 | language = Lithuanian }}</ref> In 2009, Lithuania will celebrate the millennium of its name.
== History ==
{{main|History of Lithuania}}
The [[Name of Lithuania|first mention]] of Lithuania is found in a medieval [[German language|German]] manuscript, the ''[[Quedlinburg]] Chronicle'', on [[14 February]], [[1009]]. The Lithuanian lands were united by [[Mindaugas]] in 1236, and neighbouring countries referred to it as "the state of Lithuania". The official coronation of Mindaugas as [[King of Lithuania]] was on [[July 6]], [[1253]], and the official recognition of Lithuanian statehood as the [[Kingdom of Lithuania]].<ref> {{lt icon}} Tomas Baranauskas. [http://www.voruta.lt/article.php?article=118&showtype=archive ''Lietuvos karalystei — 750 (750 years for Kingdom of Lithuania)'']. 2001.</ref>
During the early period of the [[Gediminas]] (1316–1430), the state occupied the territories of present-day [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]], and parts of [[Poland]] and [[Russia]].<ref>Paul Magocsi. ''History of the Ukraine''. University of Toronto Press, 1996. p.128 </ref> By the end of the [[14th century|fourteenth century]], Lithuania was the largest country in Europe, and was also the only remaining pagan state.<ref>Robert Bideleux. A History of Eastern Europe: Crisis and Change. Routledge, 1998. p.122</ref> The Grand Duchy of Lithuania stretched across a substantial part of Europe, from the [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]] to the [[Black Sea]]. [[Lithuanian nobility]], city dwellers and peasants [[Christianization of Lithuania|accepted Christianity]] in 1386, following Poland's offer of its crown to [[Jogaila]], the Grand Duke of Lithuania. [[Grand Duke]] [[Jogaila]] was crowned King of Poland on [[February 2]], [[1386]]. Lithuania and Poland were joined into a [[personal union]], as both countries were ruled by the same [[Gediminas]] branch, the [[Jagiellon dynasty]].
In 1401, the formal union was dissolved as a result of disputes over legal terminology, and [[Vytautas]], the cousin of [[Jogaila]], became the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Thanks to close cooperation, the armies of Poland and Lithuania achieved a great victory over the [[Teutonic Knights]] in 1410 at the [[Battle of Grunwald]], the largest battle in medieval Europe.
A royal crown had been bestowed upon [[Vytautas]] in 1429 by [[Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor|Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor]], but Polish magnates prevented his coronation by seizing the crown as it was being brought to him. A new crown was ordered from Germany and another date set for the coronation, but a month later Vytautas died as the result of an accident.
As a result of the growing centralised power of the Grand Principality of Moscow, in 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single state called the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. As a member of the Commonwealth, Lithuania retained its institutions, including a separate army, currency and statutory law which was digested in three [[Statutes of Lithuania]].<ref>Stone, Daniel. ''The Polish-Lithuanian state: 1386–1795''. University of Washington Press, 2001. p. 63</ref> In 1795, the joint state was dissolved by the third [[Partition of Poland|Partition of the Commonwealth]], which forfeited its lands to [[Imperial Russia|Russia]], [[Prussia]] and [[Austria]], under duress. Over ninety percent of Lithuania was incorporated into the Russian Empire and the remainder into Prussia.
Many Jews fled Lithuania following persecution and followed opportunities that lay overseas. {{Facts|date=June 2008}}
After a century of occupation, Lithuania [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|re-established its independence]] on [[February 16]], [[1918]]. The official government from July through November 1918, was quickly replaced by a [[republic]]an government. From the outset, the newly-independent Lithuania's foreign policy was dominated by territorial disputes with Poland (over the [[Vilnius region]] and the [[Suvalkai region]]) and with [[Germany]] (over the [[Klaipėda region]] or ''Memelland''). Most obviously, the Lithuanian constitution designated Vilnius as the nation's capital, even though the city itself lay within Polish territory as a result of a Polish invasion. At the time, Poles and Jews made up a majority of the population of Vilnius, with a small Lithuanian minority of only 2% {{Facts|date=July 2008}}. In 1920 the capital was relocated to [[Kaunas]], which was officially designated the [[provisional capital of Lithuania]]. (see [[History of Vilnius]] for more details).<ref>L. Donskis. Identity and Freedom: mapping nationalism and social criticism in twentieth-century Lithuania. Routledge (UK), 2002 p. 23.</ref>
In June 1940, around the beginning of [[World War II]], the Soviet Union [[military occupation|occupied]] and [[annexation|annexed]] Lithuania in accordance with the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]].<ref>I. Žiemele. Baltic Yearbook of International Law, 2001. 2002, Vol.1 p.10</ref><ref>K. Dawisha, B. Parrott. The Consolidation of Democracy in East-Central Europe. 1997 p. 293.</ref> A year later it came under German occupation. After the retreat of the German armed forces (''[[Wehrmacht]]''), Lithuania was re-occupied by the [[Soviet Union]] in 1944.
From 1944–1952 approximately 100,000 Lithuanians participated in partisan fights against the Soviet system and the [[Red Army]]. More than twenty thousand partisans ("[[forest brothers]]") were killed in those battles and many more were arrested and deported to [[Siberia]]n [[GULAG]]s. Lithuanian historians view this period as a war of independence against the Soviet Union.
[[Image:LithuaniaHistory.png|left|thumb|Map showing changes in the territory of Lithuania from the 13th century to the present day.]]
During the Soviet and [[Nazi]] occupations between 1940 and 1944, Lithuania lost over 780,000 residents. Among them were around 190,000 (91% of pre-WWII community) of [[Lithuanian Jews]], one of the highest total mortality rates of the [[Holocaust]]. An estimated 120,000 to 300,000<ref>[http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5379.htm US Department of State Bureau of Public Affairs, August 2006]</ref> were killed by [[Soviets]] or [[exile]]d to [[Siberia]], while others had been sent to German forced labour camps and/or chose to emigrate to western countries.
Forty-six years of Soviet occupation ended with the advent of [[perestroika]] and [[glasnost]] in the late 1980s. Lithuania, led by [[Sąjūdis]], an anti-communist and anti-Soviet [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|independence movement]], proclaimed its renewed independence on [[March 11]], [[1990]]. Lithuania was the first Soviet republic to do so, though Soviet forces unsuccessfully tried to suppress this secession. The Red Army attacked the [[Vilnius TV Tower]] on the night of [[January 13]], [[1991]], an act that resulted in the [[Vilnius massacre|death of 13 Lithuanian civilians]].<ref>''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/13/newsid_4059000/4059959.stm BBC Story]''</ref> The last [[Red Army]] troops left Lithuania on [[August 31]], [[1993]] — even earlier than they departed from [[East Germany]].
On [[February 4]], [[1991]], [[Iceland]] became the first country to recognize Lithuanian independence. [[Sweden]] was the first to open an embassy in the country. The [[United States of America]] never recognized the Soviet claim to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Russia currently refuses to recognize the occupation of Lithuania, claiming that Lithuanians decided to join the [[Soviet Union]] voluntarily, although Russia signed a treaty with Lithuania prior to the disintegration of the USSR which acknowledged Lithuania's forced loss of sovereignty at the hands of the Soviets, thereby recognizing the occupation.
Lithuania joined the [[United Nations]] on [[September 17]], [[1991]], and on [[May 31]], [[2001]], it became the 141st member of the [[World Trade Organization]]. Since 1988, Lithuania has sought closer ties with the West, and so on [[January 4]], [[1994]], it became the first of the [[Baltic states]] to apply for [[NATO]] membership. On [[March 29]], [[2004]], it became a NATO member, and on [[May 1]], [[2004]], Lithuania joined the European Union.
{{-}}
== Politics ==
[[Image:Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and Vice President Dick Cheney in Vilnius, Lithuania.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Current President of Lithuania [[Valdas Adamkus]] (right) meeting with Vice President of the United States [[Dick Cheney]] in [[Vilnius]] in May 2006.]]
{{main|Politics of Lithuania}}
Since Lithuania declared independence on [[March 11]] [[1990]], it has maintained strong democratic traditions. In the first general elections after the independence on [[October 25]] [[1992]], 56.75% of the total number of voters supported the [[Constitution of Lithuania|new constitution]].<ref name=referenda>{{lt icon}}[http://www3.lrs.lt/docs2/QKVXRGNF.DOC Nuo 1991 m. iki šiol paskelbtų referendumų rezultatai (Results from Refrenda 1991-Present)], Microsoft Word Document, [[Seimas]]. Accessed June 4, 2006.</ref> There were heavy debates concerning the constitution, especially the role of the president. Drawing from the interwar experiences, many different proposals were made ranging from a strong [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary government]] to a [[presidential system]] similar to the one in the [[United States]]. A [[Referenda in Lithuania|separate referendum]] was held on [[May 23]] [[1992]] to gauge public opinion on the matter and 41% of all the eligible voters supported the restoration of the [[President of Lithuania]].<ref name=referenda/> Eventually a [[semi-presidential system]] was agreed upon.<ref>Lina Kulikauskienė, Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija (Constitution of Lithuania), Native History, CD, 2002. ISBN 9986-9216-7-8</ref>
The Lithuanian [[head of state]] is the President, elected directly for a five-year term, serving a maximum of two consecutive terms. The post of president is largely ceremonial; main policy functions however include foreign affairs and national security policy. The president is also the military [[commander-in-chief]]. The President, with the approval of the parliamentary body, the [[Seimas]], also appoints the [[prime minister]] and on the latter's nomination, appoints the rest of the [[cabinet (government)|cabinet]], as well as a number of other top [[civil servant]]s and the judges for all courts. The judges of the [[Constitutional Court of Lithuania|Constitutional Court]] (''Konstitucinis Teismas''), who serve nine-year terms, are appointed by the President (three judges), the Chairman of the Seimas (three judges) and the Chairman of the Supreme Court (three judges). The [[unicameral]] Lithuanian [[parliament]], the ''[[Seimas]]'', has 141 members who are elected to four-year terms. 71 of the members of this [[legislative]] body are elected in single constituencies, and the other 70 are elected in a nationwide vote by [[proportional representation]]. A party must receive at least 5% of the national vote to be represented in the Seimas.
== Counties, municipalities, and elderates ==
[[Image:Municipalities in Lithuania.png|right|thumb|350px|Lithuania is subdivided into ten counties and sixty municipalities.]]
{{main|Counties of Lithuania|Municipalities of Lithuania|Elderships of Lithuania}}
The current administrative division was established in 1994 and modified in 2000 to meet the requirements of the European Union. Lithuania has a three-tier administrative division: the country is divided into [[Counties of Lithuania|10 counties]] (Lithuanian: singular — ''apskritis'', plural — ''apskritys'') that are further subdivided into [[List of municipalities of Lithuania|60 municipalities]] (Lithuanian: singular — ''savivaldybė'', plural — ''savivaldybės'') which consist of over 500 [[elderate]]s (Lithuanian: singular — ''seniūnija'', plural — ''seniūnijos'').
The counties are ruled by [[county governor]]s (Lithuanian: ''apskrities viršininkas'') appointed by the central government. They ensure that the municipalities adhere to the laws of Lithuania and the constitution. County government oversees local governments and their implementation of the national laws, programs, and policies.<ref name=county>{{lt icon}} [http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=270541 Lietuvos Respublikos apskrities valdymo įstatymas (Republic of Lithuania Law on County Governing)], [[Seimas]] law database, December 15, 1994, Law no. I-707. Accessed June 3, 2006.</ref>
Municipalities are the most important unit. Some municipalities are historically called "district municipalities", and thus are often shortened to "district"; others are called "city municipalities", sometimes shortened to "city." Each municipality has its own elected government. In the past, the election of municipality councils occurred once every three years, but it now takes place every four years. The council elects the [[mayor]] of the municipality and other required personnel. The municipality councils also appoint [[elder (administrative title)|elders]] to govern the elderates. There is currently a proposal for [[direct election]] of mayors and elders, however that would require an amendment to the constitution.<ref>{{lt icon}} Justinas Vanagas, [http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/article.php?id=7418983 Seimo prioritetai šią sesiją – tiesioginiai mero rinkimai, gyventojų nuosavybė ir euras (Seimas Priorities this session: direct election of mayors, property of residents, and euro)], Delfi.lt, September 5, 2005. Accessed June 3, 2006.</ref>
Elderates are the smallest units and they do not play a role in national politics. They were created so that people could receive necessary services close to their homes; for example, in rural areas the elderates register births and deaths. They are most active in the social sector: they identify needy individuals or families and distribute welfare or organise other forms of relief.<ref name=elderates>{{lt icon}} [http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter2/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=146527 Lietuvos Respublikos vietos savivaldos įstatymo pakeitimo įstatymas (Republic of Lithuania Law on Amending the Law on Local Self-Governing)], [[Seimas]] law database, October 12, 2000, Law no. VIII-2018. Accessed June 3, 2006.</ref>
The current system of administrative division receives frequent criticism for being too bureaucratic and ineffective. Significant complaints have been made about the number of counties, since they do not have much power. One proposal is to create four lands, a new administrative unit, the boundaries of which would be determined by the [[Regions of Lithuania|ethnographic regions of Lithuania]]. The benefit would be that the lands would follow natural boundaries, rather than being defined by bureaucrats or politicians.<ref>{{lt icon}} Dr. Žilvytis Bernardas Šaknys [http://www3.vrk.lt/pls/inter/dba_intra.W3_VIEWER.ViewDoc?p_int_tekst_id=21329&p_int_tv_id=2231&p_org=0 Lietuvos Respublikos administracinio teritorinio suskirstymo perspektyvos: etnografiniai kultūriniai regionai (Perspectives of Republic of Lithuania Administrative Subdivision: Ethnographic — Cultural Regions)], The Council for the Protection of Ethnic Culture, [[Seimas]], December 12, 2002. Accessed [[June 4]], [[2006]].</ref> Another of the proposed solutions involves reducing the number of counties so that there would be five in total, each based in one of the five largest cities with populations of over 100,000.<ref>{{lt icon}} Dr. Antanas Tyla, [http://www3.vrk.lt/pls/inter/dba_intra.W3_VIEWER.ViewDoc?p_int_tekst_id=21323&p_int_tv_id=2231&p_org=0 Pastabos dėl Apskričių valdymo reformos koncepcijos (Notes on Conception of County Governing Reform)], The Council for the Protection of Ethnic Culture, [[Seimas]], May 16, 2001. Accessed [[June 4]], 2006.</ref> Others complain that elderates have no real power and receive too little attention; they could potentially become local initiative communities which could tackle many rural problems.<ref>{{lt icon}} Indrė Makaraitytė, [http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/atgimimas/article.php?id=5663231 Europos Sąjungos pinigai kaimo neišgelbės (Money from the European Union Will Not Save the Rural Areas)], Atgimimas, Delfi.lt, December 16, 2004. Accessed [[June 4]], [[2006]].</ref>
== Geography ==
[[Image:LithuaniaPhysicalMap-Detailed.png|thumb|right|350px|Physical map of Lithuania]]
[[Image:Kretinga rural tourism.jpg|thumb|200px|A cottage hotel in a rural area is a sign of increasingly popular [[agrotourism]].]]
{{main|Geography of Lithuania}}
Lithuania is situated in Northern Europe. It has around 99 kilometres (61.5 mi) of sandy coastline, of which only about 38 kilometres (24 mi) face the open [[Baltic Sea]] and which is the shortest among the [[Baltic Sea countries]]; the rest of the coast is sheltered by the [[Curonian Spit|Curonian sand peninsula]]. Lithuania's major [[Ice-free port|warm-water port]], [[Klaipėda]], lies at the narrow mouth of the [[Curonian Lagoon]] (Lithuanian: ''Kuršių marios''), a shallow lagoon extending south to [[Kaliningrad]]. The main river, the [[Neman River]], and some of its tributaries carry international shipping vessels.
The Lithuanian landscape has been smoothed by glaciers. The highest areas are the [[moraine]]s in the western uplands and eastern highlands, none of which are taller than 300 metres (1,000 ft) above sea level, with the maximum elevation being [[Aukštojas Hill]] at 294 metres (964 ft). The terrain features numerous lakes, [[Lake Vištytis]] for example, and wetlands; a mixed forest zone covers 30% of the country. The [[climate]] lies between maritime and continental, with wet, moderate winters and summers. According to one geographical computation method, Lithuania's capital, [[Vilnius]], lies only a few kilometres south of the [[geographical centre of Europe]].
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Lithuania is shared between the Central European and Eastern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Lithuania can be subdivided into two [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Central European mixed forests]] and [[Sarmatic mixed forests]].
Lithuania consists of the following [[Regions of Lithuania|historical and cultural regions]]:
*[[Aukštaitija]] — literally, the "Highlands"
*[[Samogitia]] (Lithuanian: ''Žemaitija'') — literally, the "Lowlands"
*[[Dzūkija]] (Lithuanian: ''Dzūkija'' or ''Dainava'')
*[[Suvalkija]] (Lithuanian: ''Suvalkija'' or ''Sūduva'')
*[[Lithuania Minor]] also known as "Prussian Lithuania" — (Lithuanian: ''Mažoji Lietuva'' or ''Prūsų Lietuva''). Region was part of the Prussia since [[Middle Ages]] until 1945. Most of it today is part of [[Russia]] ([[Kaliningrad Oblast]]).
== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of Lithuania}}
[[Image:Vilnius skyline at night.Lithuania.JPG|thumb|left|260px|[[Vilnius]] Financial Centre]]
In 2003, prior to joining the European Union, Lithuania had the highest economic growth rate amongst all candidate and member countries, reaching 8.8% in the third quarter. In 2004 — 7.3%; 2005 — 7.6%; 2006 — 7.4%; 2007 — 8.8%, 2008 Q1 — 7.0% growth in GDP reflects the impressive economic development.<ref>Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. ''[http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/pages/view/?id=1665 Change of GDP, 2002-2006]''</ref> Most of the trade Lithuania conducts is within the [[European Union]].
It is a member of the [[World Trade Organization]], and the [[European Union]]. By UN classification, Lithuania is a country with a high average income. The country boasts a well developed modern infrastructure of railways, airports and four lane highways. It has almost full employment, with an unemployment rate of only 2.9%. According to officially published figures, EU membership fuelled a booming economy, increased outsourcing into the country, and boosted the tourism sector. The [[Lithuanian litas|litas]], the national currency, has been pegged to the [[Euro]] since February 2, 2002 at the rate of EUR 1.00 = LTL 3.4528,<ref>''[http://www.lb.lt/home/default.asp Lietuvos Bankas]''</ref> and Lithuania is expected to switch to the Euro on [[1 January]] [[2010]]. There is gradual but consistent shift towards knowledge based economy with special emphasis on [[biotechnology]] (industrial and diagnostic), because in Lithuania there are concentrated major biotech producers in the Baltic countries, as well as [[laser]] equipment. Also [[mechatronics]] and [[information technology]] (IT) are seen as perspective knowledge based economy directions in Lithuania.
Like other countries in the region ([[Estonia]], [[Latvia]]) Lithuania also has a [[Flat tax|flat tax rate]] rather than a [[Graduated tax|progressive scheme]]. Lithuanian income levels still lag behind the rest of the older EU members, with per capita GDP in 2007 at 60% of the EU average. Lower wages may have been a factor that in 2004 influenced the trend of emigration to wealthier EU countries, something that has been made legally possible as a result of [[Enlargement of the European Union|accession to the European Union]]. In 2006, income tax was reduced to 27% and a reduction to 24% was made in October of 2007. Income tax reduction and 19.1 % annual wage growth<ref>[http://www.delfi.lt/news/economy/business/article.php?id=12277193 Lithuanian News]</ref> is starting to make an impact with some emigrants gradually beginning to come back.<ref>[http://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/article.php?id=10004761 Lithuanian News]</ref> The latest official data show emigration in early 2006 to be 30% lower than the previous year, with 3,483 people leaving in four months.
==Education==
[[Vilnius University]] is one of the [[List of oldest universities in continuous operation| oldest universities in Northern Europe]] and the largest [[university]] in [[List of universities in Lithuania|Lithuania]]. [[Kaunas University of Technology]] is the largest technical university in the [[Baltic States]] and the second largest [[university]] in [[Lithuania]]. Other universities include [[Kaunas University of Medicine]], [[Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre]], [[Vytautas Magnus University]], and [[Mykolas Romeris University]].
==Transport==
[[Klaipėda]] port is the only port in Lithuania.
[[Vilnius International Airport]] is the largest airport. It served 1.7 million passengers in 2007.
==Energy==
[[Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant]] is a Soviet-era nuclear station. Unit #1 was closed in December 2004, as a condition of Lithuania's entry into the [[European Union]]; the plant is similar to the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant]] in its lack of a robust containment structure. The remaining unit, as of 2006, supplied about 70% of Lithuania's electrical demand.<ref>{{cite web|title=Electricity Market in the Baltic Countries|url= http://events.le.lt/uploads/File/20060126/Electricity%20markets%20in%20BalticStates_Jank.ppt|publisher=Lietuvos Energija|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> Unit #2 is tentatively scheduled for closure in 2009. Proposals have been made to construct another nuclear power plant in Lithuania.
== Demographics ==
[[Image:GreatCourtyard.jpg|thumb|upright|The great yard of [[Vilnius University]], one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe. About 70% of Lithuanian high school graduates continue their studies in universities and colleges.]]
{{main|Demographics of Lithuania}}
===Ethnic composition===
The population of Lithuania stands at 3.3662 million, 84.6% of whom are ethnic [[Lithuanians]] who speak the [[Lithuanian language]] (one of the two surviving members of the [[Baltic languages|Baltic language group]]), which is the official language of the country. Several sizable minorities exist, such as [[Poles]] (6.3%), [[Russians]] (5.1%), and [[Belarusians]] (1.1%).<ref>Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.''[http://www.stat.gov.lt/lt/pages/view/?id=2176 Population by ethnicity, census]''. Updated in 2007.</ref>
Poles are the largest minority, concentrated in southeast Lithuania (the [[Vilnius region]]). Russians are the second largest minority, concentrated mostly in two cities. They constitute sizeable minorities in [[Vilnius]] (14%) and [[Klaipėda]] (28%), and a majority in the town of [[Visaginas]] (52%).<ref>[http://www.visaginas.lt/town/inhabit?lang=en]</ref> About 3,000 [[Roma people|Roma]] live in Lithuania, mostly in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Panevėžys; their organizations are supported by the National Minority and Emigration Department.<ref>[http://www.tspmi.vu.lt/files/mprojektai/finallithsecpapergalutinis.pdf Lithuanian Security and Foreign Policy].</ref>
Most Lithuanian schools teach English as a first foreign language, but students may also study German, or, in some schools, French. Schools where Russian and Polish are the primary languages of education exist in the areas populated by these minorities.
===Religion===
{{main|Religion in Lithuania}}
[[Image:Lithuania Paluse church.jpg|thumb|left|Wooden church in [[Palūšė]]. Lithuania has strong Roman Catholic traditions.]]
In 2005 79% of Lithunians belonged to the [[Roman Catholic Church]].<ref>Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. ''[http://www.std.lt/en/pages/view/?id=1734 Population by Religious Confession, census ]''. Updated in 2005.</ref> The Church has been the majority denomination since the [[Christianise|Christianisation]] of Lithuania in the end of [[14th century|fourteenth century]] and beginning of [[15th century|fifteenth century]]. Some priests actively led the resistance against the Communist regime (symbolised by the [[Hill of Crosses]]). Church attendance has increased since the end of the [[Soviet occupation]] and the country has so far maintained a fairly high level of religious practice.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
In the 16th century, [[Lutheranism]] started to spread from neighbouring [[Livonia]] and [[East Prussia]]. In the first half of 20th century Lutheran Protestant church had around 200,000 members, 9% of total population, although [[Lutheranism]] has declined since 1945. Small Protestant communities are dispersed throughout the northern and western parts of the country. Various Protestant churches have established missions in Lithuania since 1990.<ref>[http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2012693/k.AEBE/United_Methodists_evangelize_in_Lithuania_with_ads_brochures.htm United Methodists evangelize in Lithuania with ads, brochures]</ref>
4.9% are [[Eastern Orthodox]] (mainly among the Russian minority), 1.9% are Protestant and 9.5% have [[irreligion|no religion]]. The country also has minority communities of [[Judaism]], [[Islam]], and [[Karaism]] which make up another 1.6% of the population. According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2005,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER> {{cite web|url= http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 — page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05|format=PDF}}</ref> 49% of Lithuanian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", 36% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 12% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".
===Health and welfare===
[[Image:Kauno klinikos 2006 07 23.jpg|thumb|[[Kaunas University Hospital]] - the largest medical institution in Lithuania]]
As of 2004 Lithuanian life expectancy at birth was 66 years for males and 78 for females. The infant mortality rate was 8.0 per 1,000 births. The annual population growth rate in 2004 declined by 0.5% in 2004. Less than 2% of the population live beneath the poverty line, and the adult literacy rate is 99.6%.<ref>[http://www3.who.int/whosis/core/core_select.cfm?path=whosis,core&language=english WHO statistical database].</ref>
{{update}}
Lithuanians have a high suicide rate: 91.7 per 100,000 persons, the highest in the world in 2000, followed by the Russian Federation (82.5), Belarus (73.1), Latvia (68.5), and Ukraine (62.1).<ref>[http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suiciderates/en/ WHO suicide rates by country]</ref> This problem has been studied by a number of health organisations.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16081405&dopt=Abstract Abstracts in NIH with references to Lithuania and suicide].</ref>
===Largest cities===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right; margin-right:60px"
|- style="font-size:95%;"
!width="100px"| City !!width="50px"| Region
!width="75px"| Population !!width="60px"| Density* (/km²) !!width="50px"| Area (km²)
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Vilnius]]
|align="center"| East || '''{{commas|544091}}''' || {{commas|1379}} || 401
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Kaunas]]
|align="center"| Middle || '''{{commas|355550}}''' || {{commas|2319}} || 157
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Klaipėda]]
|align="center"| West || '''{{commas|184684}}''' || {{commas|1926}} || 98
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Šiauliai]]
|align="center"| North || '''{{commas|127043}}''' || {{commas|1605}} || 81
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Panevėžys]]
|align="center"| North || '''{{commas|113668}}''' || {{commas|2236}} || 52
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Alytus]]
|align="center"| South || '''{{commas|68315}}''' || {{commas|1747}} || 40
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Marijampolė]]
|align="center"| South || '''{{commas|47014}}''' || {{commas|2271}} || 21
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Mažeikiai]]
|align="center"| North || '''{{commas|40572}}''' || {{commas|2956}} || 14
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Jonava]]
|align="center"| Middle || '''{{commas|34436}}''' || ||
|-
!style="text-align:left;"| [[Utena, Lithuania|Utena]]
|align="center"| East || '''{{commas|32569}}''' || {{commas|2191}} || 15,1
|-
|}
{{smaller|* [[Population density]].}}
== Culture ==
[[Image:Vilnius Uzupio Respublica.jpg|thumb|The well-known angel statue which stands in the Užupis district of Vilnius]]
{{main|Culture of Lithuania}}
* [[List of famous Lithuanians]]
* [[Lithuanian literature]]
* [[Lithuanian mythology]]
* [[Music of Lithuania]]
* [[Symbols of Lithuania]]
==See also==
* [[Foreign relations of Lithuania]]
* [[Lithuanians]]
* [[Military of Lithuania]]
* [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]
* [[Lithuanian SSR|Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic]]
* [[Lithuania national football team]]
* [[Lithuania national basketball team]]
* [[Lithuania national rugby union team]]
{{portal|Lithuania|Nuvola Lithuanian flag.svg}}
==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Lithuania}}
* [http://www.president.lt/en Prezidentas] [http://www.president.lt (in Lithuanian)] — Official presidential site
* [http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter/w5_home.home?p_kalb_id=2 Seimas] [http://www3.lrs.lt (in Lithuanian)] — Official parliamentary site
* [http://www.lrv.lt/main_en.php Vyriausybė] [http://www.lrv.lt (in Lithuanian and English)] — Official governmental site
* [http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/ Statistics] - Official site of Department of Statistics
* {{wikitravel|Lithuania}}
* [http://www.lithuania-vilnius.com Lithuania Pages] — Sights, history, a picture gallery and a lot of links.
* [http://www.on.lt Lithuania Online] — Wide collection of Lithuanian links
* [http://www.travel.lt www.travel.lt] - The Official Lithuanian Travel Guide
* [http://www.tourism.lt Lithuanian State Department of Tourism]
* [http://www.welcometo.lt Information about Lithuania]
* [http://www.neregetalietuva.lt/nuotraukos.en.php Aerial photos of Lithuania by Marius Jovaiša]
===Maps and GIS===
* [http://www.maps.lt Maps of Lithuania on Maps.lt]
* [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/main.adp?country=LT Maps of Lithuania on Mapquest]
{{Template group
|title = [[Image:Nuvola filesystems www.png|23px]] Geographic national
|list =
{{Counties of Lithuania}}
{{Municipalities of Lithuania}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = [[Image:Crystal Clear app browser.png|23px]] Geographic international
|list =
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Baltic states}}
{{Countries bordering the Baltic Sea}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = [[Image:Nuvola Europe flag.svg|23px]] Lithuania in the European Union
|list =
{{EU members}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = [[Image:Nuvola apps galeon.png|23px]] International membership
|list =
{{NATO|state=collapsed}}
{{WTO}}
{{Council of Europe members}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = [[Image:Nuvola apps gaim.png|23px]] Languages
|list =
{{La Francophonie|state=collapsed}}
}}
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[[Category:Lithuania| ]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Liberal democracies]]
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