Lithuania is a country located in Northern Europe, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south, and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest. It has a population of around 2.7 million people and covers an area of approximately 65,300 square kilometers.

The country has a rich cultural heritage and a diverse natural landscape, ranging from pristine forests and lakes to sandy beaches and rolling hills. The capital and largest city of Lithuania is Vilnius, which is known for its UNESCO-listed Old Town, Baroque architecture, and vibrant cultural scene.

Lithuania is a member of the European Union, the United Nations, and NATO. Its economy is based on a mix of agriculture, industry, and services, with key sectors including manufacturing, information technology, and logistics. The country's currency is the euro, which it adopted in 2015.

Tourism is an important industry in Lithuania, with visitors drawn to the country's many historic sites, scenic landscapes, and cultural events. Some of the most popular attractions include the Hill of Crosses, Trakai Island Castle, and the Curonian Spit National Park. The country is also known for its traditional festivals and celebrations, such as the Joninės midsummer festival and the Kaziukas fair.

Lithuania has a well-developed infrastructure and a reliable public transportation system, making it easy to travel around the country. The official language is Lithuanian, although many people also speak English, especially in the larger cities and tourist areas. The climate is temperate, with warm summers and cold winters, and the best time to visit is typically from May to September.

Telephone Code
370

Local Emergency Phone
112

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Currency (Code)
Euros (EUR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
Lithuanian, Russian, Polish

Major Religions
Roman Catholic 77.2%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Old Believer 0.8%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%

Potable Water
Yes

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Hill of Crosses; Vilnius (includes Gate of Dawn, Cathedral, Grand Dukes Palace); Aukštaitija National Park; Trakai Island Castle; Kaunas; Curonian Spit (includes Neringa Municipality)

Major Sports
Basketball, soccer, ice hockey, rugby, swimming

Cultural Practices
The host often gives the first toast of the night, and it is polite for guests to reciprocate with toasts of their own later in the evening.

Tipping Guidelines
A 10% tip is appropriate at restaurants and bars. Taxi drivers are not usually tipped.

Souvenirs
Amber jewelry and decorative items; linen shirts, dresses, suits, and table wear; liqueurs; clay pots; local art

Traditional Cuisine
Cepelinai — large dumplings made of raw and cooked potato dough filled with pork and doused in a ladle of a sour cream and bacon sauce

Geography
Area
total: 65,300 sq km
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km

Climate
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Natural resources
peat, arable land, amber

People and Society
Population
2,655,755 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.)

Languages
Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7% (2021 est.)

Religions
Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim, Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.)

Population growth rate
-1.04% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic

Capital
name: Vilnius

Economy
Economic overview
high-income, EU-member, largest Baltic economy; privatized most state-owned enterprises; unmoved youth emigration; systemic corruption; issued Europe’s first bank-backed digital coin (LBCOIN); highly educated workforce; lowest EU household debt

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$110.089 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$39,300 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
wheat, milk, sugar beets, rapeseeds, barley, triticale, potatoes, oats, peas, beans

Industries
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology

Exports
$53.397 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Russia 13%, Latvia 9%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Estonia 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, furniture, cigarettes, wheat, polyethylene (2019)

Imports
$50.377 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Poland 12%, Russia 12%, Germany 12%, Latvia 7%, Netherlands 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, electricity (2019)