Located on the European continent, Lithuania, together with Latvia and Estonia, is part of the Baltic States. Its territory is located in the north-central portion of Europe, bordering on Latvia (to the north), Belarus (to the south and to the east), Poland (to the south), with the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad (to the west), besides being bathed by the Baltic Sea (the West).
Lithuania was part of the extinct Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), however, during the 1980s, the Lithuanians started a separatist movement and independence was achieved in 1991, Russian troops withdrew completely from that country on August 31, 1993. As a result, Lithuania was the first country to disassociate from the Soviet Union.
The national economy has strengthened every year, showing significant growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). One of the most prominent activities in Lithuania is the extraction of amber, a fossil resin used in making jewelry.
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) consists of an economic bloc formed by former republics of the Soviet Union, only the countries Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) never participated in this organization, as they always intended to reduce economic and political ties with the Russia. In 2004, Lithuania joined the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Lithuanian Coat of Arms
Lithuania data:
Territorial extension: 65,200 km².
Location: Europe.
Capital: Vilnius.
Climate: Temperate continental.
Government: Parliamentary Republic.
Administrative division: 10 counties subdivided into municipalities.
Language: Lithuanian (official), Russian.
Religion: Christianity 87.5% (Catholic 77%, others 10.5%), no religion 11.3%, atheism 0.9%, others 0.3%.
Population: 3,286,547 inhabitants. (Men: 1,537,923; Women: 1,748,624).
Ethnic Composition: 80% Lithuanians, 9% Russians, 8% Polish, Belarusian 2%, Other 1%.
Demographic density: 50.4 inhab/km².
Average annual population growth rate: - 0.9%.
Population residing in urban areas: 67.03%.
Population residing in rural areas: 32.97%.
Illiteracy: 0.3%.
Undernourished population: less than 5%.
Life expectancy at birth: 72.7 years.
Human Development Index (HDI): 0.783 (high).
Currency: Litas.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$47.3 billion.
GDP per capita: $11,308.
External relations: World Bank, IMF, WTO, UN, NATO, EU.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
countries - geography - Brazil School
