Lithuania is a new and active member of the European Union (since May 1, 2004) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (since March 29, 2004). Lithuania is the only Baltic country with nearly eight hundred years of statehood tradition, while its name was first mentioned almost one thousand years ago, in 1009. Wedged at the dividing line of Western and Eastern civilizations, Lithuania battled dramatically for its independence and survival. Once in the Middle Ages, Lithuania was the largest state in the entire Eastern Europe, where crafts and overseas trade prospered.

Basic facts about Lithuania:

Area: 65,300 km2.

Location: Lithuania is a state on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

Neighbouring states: Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia.

Climate: between maritime and continental. Average temperature in July is 23°C, and average temperature in January is -4.9°C.

Landscape: Lithuania is a flat country, lowland plains make up 75% of its territory.

Language: the official language of the Republic of Lithuania is the Lithuanian language.

Population: 3,394,000.

Capital: Vilnius.

Form of government: parliamentary democracy. Head of state: President, the executive branch: Government (appointed by the President), the legislative branch: Seimas (unicameral parliament, direct election).

Administrative division: the territory of Lithuania is divided into 10 counties. Counties are subdivided into 60 municipalities. Municipalities consist of 546 elderships.

Largest cities according to the population: Vilnius (553,200), Kaunas (373,700), Klaipėda (191,600), Šiauliai (132,700), Panevėžys (118,800).

Ethnic composition: Lithuanians: 83.5%, Poles: 6.7%, Russians: 6.3%, Belorussians: 1.2%, other: 2.3%. There are 115 ethnicities in total in Lithuania.

Religion: Roman Catholic Church. There are also communities of Eastern Orthodox Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Reformation Church, Old Believers, Judaism, Islam, and others.

Life expectancy: average life expectancy for Lithuanians: 71 years; men: 66, women: 77.

National currency: litas (Lt). 3.4528 Lt = 1 euro.

Independence:

- declared: 16 February 1918
- restored: 11 March 1990
Lithuania joined NATO 29 March 2004, and on 1 May 2004 it became a member state of the EU.

Coat of Arms and Flag:

Public Holidays:

January 1: New Year’s Day
February 16: Day of Reestablishment of the State of Lithuania (1918)
March 11: Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania (from the Soviet Union, 1990)
Easter (First Sunday and Monday of spring with full moon)
May 1: International Labour Day
June 24: St. John’s Day (Midsummer Day)
July 6: Statehood Day (Coronation of Mindaugas)
August 15: Assumption Day (Žolinė)
November 1: All Saints’ Day
December 25 and 26: Christmas