Fun Easy English - Travel abroad Lithuania.

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION

Lithuania is a stable democracy undergoing rapid economic growth. Tourist facilities in Vilnius, the capital, and to a lesser extent in Kaunas and Klaipeda, are similar to those available in other European cities. In other parts of the country, however, some of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries may not be available.

GEOGRAPHY

The largest and most populous of the Baltic states, Lithuania is situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, in northeastern Europe. It is bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland to the southwest, and Kaliningrad, a territory of Russia, to the west. It has 60 miles of sandy coastline, of which only 24 miles face the open Baltic Sea. Lithuania's major warm-water port of Klaipeda lies at the narrow mouth of Kursiu Gulf, a shallow lagoon extending south to Kaliningrad. The Nemunas River and some of its tributaries are used for internal shipping. Situated between the 54th and 56th latitudes and the 20th and 27th longitudes, Lithuania is glacially flat, except for the hills (of no more than 300 meters) in the western and eastern highlands. The terrain is marked by numerous small lakes and swamps, and a mixed forest zone covers 30% of the country. According to some geographers, Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, lies at the geographical center of Europe.

PEOPLE

Lithuanians are neither Slavic nor Germanic, although the union with Poland and the colonization by Germans and Russians have influenced the culture and religious beliefs of Lithuania. This highly literate society places strong emphasis upon education, which is free and compulsory until age 16. Most Lithuanians and ethnic Poles belong to the Roman Catholic Church; the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest non-Catholic denomination.

In spite of several border changes, Soviet deportations, a massacre of its Jewish population, and German and Polish repatriations, the population of Lithuania has maintained a fairly stable percentage of ethnic Lithuanians (from 79.3% in 1959 to 84.6% in 2006). Lithuania's citizenship law and constitution meet international and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) standards, guaranteeing universal human and civil rights.

The Lithuanian language still retains the original sound system and morphological peculiarities of the prototypal Indo-European tongue and, therefore, is fascinating for linguistic study. Between 400 and 600 AD, the Lithuanian and Latvian languages split from the Eastern Baltic (Prussian) language group, which subsequently became extinct. The first known written Lithuanian text dates from a hymnal translation in 1545. Written with the Latin alphabet, Lithuanian has been the official language of Lithuania since 1989. While Lithuania was a member of the U.S.S.R., Russian was the official language, so many Lithuanians speak Russian as a second language. The resident Slavic populace generally speaks Russian or Polish as a first language.

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS

A valid passport is required to enter Lithuania. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. U.S. citizens do not need Lithuanian visas for most stays of 90 days or less. Travelers remaining in Lithuania for more than 90 days within any six-month period must apply for temporary residency. Lithuanian authorities recommend applying for a residency permit through a Lithuanian embassy or consulate before initial entry into Lithuania, as processing times can run beyond 90 days.

All foreigners of non-European Union countries seeking entry into Lithuania must carry proof of a medical insurance policy contracted for payment of all costs of hospitalization and medical treatment in Lithuania. Visitors unable to demonstrate sufficient proof of medical insurance must purchase short-term insurance at the border from a Lithuanian provider for roughly $1.00 per day. The number of days will be calculated from the day of entry until the date on the return ticket.

Children residing in Lithuania must have written permission to travel outside the country from any parent who is not accompanying them on their trip. This policy is not applicable to temporary visitors. Visit the Embassy of Lithuania web site at www.ltembassyus.org for the most current visa information.

QUICK FACTS

Geography
Area: 65,200 sq. km. (26,080 sq. mi.); slightly larger than West Virginia.
Cities (2007): Capital--Vilnius (pop. 542,809); other cities--Kaunas (358,107); Klaipeda (185,899); Siauliai (128,396).
Terrain: Lithuania's fertile, central lowland plains are separated by hilly uplands. A total of 758 rivers, many navigable, and 2,833 lakes cover the landscape. The coastline is 90 km. (56 mi.) long. Land use--44.2% arable land, 0.91% cultivated, 53.87% other.
Climate: With four distinct seasons, the climate is humid continental, with a moderating maritime influence from the Baltic Sea. January temperatures average -5ºC (23ºF); July, 17ºC (63ºF). The level of precipitation varies considerably from region to region: in the far west, average annual precipitation is 28-33 in., while in the central plain it is about 24 in.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Lithuanian(s).
Population (2007): 3,374,000.
Annual growth rate (2006): -0.8%. Birth rate--9.2/1,000. Death rate--13.2/1,000.
Population density (2007): 51.6 per sq. km.
Ethnic groups (2007): Lithuanians 84.6%, Poles 6.3%, Russians 5.1%.
Religions (2001 census): Roman Catholic (79%), Russian Orthodox (4.1%), Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) (1.9%).
Languages (2006): Lithuanian (official language) (84.6%), Russian, and Polish
Education: Years compulsory--10 (until the age of 16). Literacy--99.6%.
Health (2006): Infant mortality rate--6.78/1,000. Life expectancy--65.3 yrs. male, 77.06 yrs. female.
Work force (2007): 1.59 million: services 59.5%; industry 29%; agriculture 10.9%.

Government
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: On October 25, 1992, Lithuanians ratified a new constitution, which was officially signed on November 6 that year.
Branches: Executive--President (chief of state), popularly elected every 5 years; Prime Minister (head of government); Legislative--Seimas (141-member Parliament). Judicial--Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and Highest Administrative Court.
Administrative regions: 10 counties and 60 municipalities.
Principal political parties/coalitions (June 2006): Social democrats--29 seats; Labor Party--26 seats, Conservative Party--24 seats, Civil Democracy Group--7 seats and the speaker, Liberal Movement Group--9 seats, Peasant nationalists--13 seats, Liberal Democratic Party--8 seats, New Union--10 seats, Liberal and Center Union--10 seats, Independent--3 seats.
Suffrage: universal adult (18 years of age).
General government budget (2007): $8.2 billion.

Economy
GDP (2006): $32.8 billion.
Annual growth rate (2006): 7.5%.
Annual inflation rate (2006): 3.7%.
Unemployment rate (2006): 5.6%.
Per capita income (2006): $9.58.
Natural resources: Limestone, clay, sand, gravel, iron ore, and granite.
Major sectors of the economy (2006): wholesale and retail trade, transport 31%, manufacturing, mining 26%.
Trade: Exports--$15.55 billion (2006): mineral products 23.9%, machinery and mechanical appliances 12.4%, textiles and textile articles 9.2%, wood and paper products 4.6%. Major export partners--EU 63%, CIS 21%. Imports--$21.14 billion (2006): mineral products 23.4%, machinery and equipment 17.6%, transportation equipment 13.9%, chemicals 8.4%, base metals 7%, textiles and clothing 5.6%. Major import partners--EU 62%, CIS 28%.

USEFUL LINKS

U.S. Government

Miscellaneous

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