Railways:
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and
Switzerland (2008)
Roadways:
total: 380 km
country comparison to the world: 198
paved: 380 km (2007)
Waterways:
28 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 107
Military ::Liechtenstein
Military branches:
no regular military forces (constitutionally prohibited);
Principality of Liechtenstein National Police (Landespolizei, LP)
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,102 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,584
females age 16-49: 6,801 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 199
female: 222 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European
security policy and is an active member of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Transnational Issues ::Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering
remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore
financial services sector
page last updated on November 4, 2009
======================================================================
@Lithuania (Europe)
Introduction ::Lithuania
Background:
Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next
century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its
territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the
end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe.
An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union
through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland
formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795, when its remnants
were partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its
independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in
1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other
countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the
Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not
recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the
abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.
Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into
Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the
spring of 2004.
Geography ::Lithuania
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 65,300 sq km
country comparison to the world: 122
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total: 1,574 km
border countries: Belarus 680 km, Latvia 576 km, Poland 91 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
90 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate
winters and summers
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 294 m
Natural resources:
peat, arable land, amber
Land use:
arable land: 44.81%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 54.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
24.5 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 3.33 cu km/yr (78%/15%/7%)
per capita: 971 cu m/yr (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and
chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are
ancient glacial deposits
People ::Lithuania
Population:
3,555,179 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 258,423/female 245,115)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 1,214,743/female 1,261,413)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 198,714/female 376,771) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 41.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.279% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Birth rate:
9.11 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Death rate:
11.18 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 7.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.9 years
country comparison to the world: 86
male: 69.98 years
female: 80.1 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified
3.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including
Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or
unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages:
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and
unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 72
Government ::Lithuania
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,
Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,
Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:
11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet
Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was
the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and
established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared
its independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992; last amended 13 July 2004
Legal system:
based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the
constitutional court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE (since 12 July 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrius KUBILIUS (since 27
November 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 17 May 2009 (next
to be held in May 2014); prime minister appointed by the president
on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president; percent of
vote - Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE 69.1%, Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8%,
Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2%, others 12.9%; Andrius KUBILIUS'
government approved by Parliament 83-40 with 5 abstentions
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members are elected
by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation;
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held October
2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - TS-LKD 19.7%, TPP
15.1%, TT 12.7%, LSDP 11.7%, KDP+J 9%, LRLS 5.7%, LCS 5.3%, LLRA
4.8%, LVLS 3.7%, NS 3.6%, other 8.7%; seats by faction - TS-LKD 44,
LSDP 26, TPP 16, TT 15, LRLS 11, KDP+J 10, LCS 8, LLRA 3, LVLS 3, NS
1, independent 4
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all
courts appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Civil Democracy Party or PDP [Viktor MUNTIANAS]; Coalition of Labor
Party and Youth or KDP+J [Viktor USPASKICH]; Electoral Action of
Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; Homeland Union -
Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS];
Lithuanian Peasant Popular Union or LVLS [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE];
Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Arturas ZUOKAS]; Liberal Movement
or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]; National Revival or TPP [Arunas
VALINSKAS]; New Union (Social Liberal) or NS [Arturas PAULAUSKAS];
Order and Justice Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Social Democratic
Party or LSDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS]; Young Lithuania and New
Nationalists [Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Europe House (promotes the EU); European Movement (promotes the EU);
Lithuanian Future Forum (promotes the EU)
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Audrius BRUZGA
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy ::Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania's economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years
prior to 2008, driven by exports and domestic consumer demand.
Unemployment stood at 4.8% in 2008, while wages grew at double digit
rates. The current account deficit rose to roughly 15% of GDP in
2007-08. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade
Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Despite Lithuania's EU
accession, Lithuania's trade with its Central and Eastern European
neighbors, and Russia in particular, accounts for a growing
percentage of total trade. Privatization of the large, state-owned
utilities is nearly complete. Foreign government and business
support have helped in the transition from the old command economy
to a market economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$63.37 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$61.52 billion (2007 est.)
$56.49 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$47.3 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
8.9% (2007 est.)
7.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$17,200 (2007 est.)
$15,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.5%
industry: 32.2%
services: 63.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
1.614 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 29.1%
services: 56.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
3.5% (2007 est.)
note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7%
Population below poverty line:
4% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 85
34 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.8% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Budget:
revenues: $15.15 billion
expenditures: $16.66 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
15.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
25.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.9% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
5.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.73% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
4.85% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.29% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 122
6.86% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$9.519 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
$11.84 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$8.419 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 57
$6.917 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$29.21 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 53
$25.05 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.625 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 74
$10.13 billion (31 December 2007)
$10.19 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;
fish
Industries:
metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,
refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small
ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,
agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,
computers, amber jewelry
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Electricity - production:
12.09 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - consumption:
9.612 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - exports:
6.606 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.649 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
8,247 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Oil - consumption:
73,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - exports:
137,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - imports:
204,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - consumption:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - imports:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Current account balance:
-$5.629 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
-$5.692 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$23.74 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$17.16 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and
equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs
5% (2001)
Exports - partners:
Russia 16%, Latvia 11.6%, Germany 7.2%, Poland 5.8%, Estonia 5.7%,
France 4.9%, UK 4.7%, Denmark 4.7%, Belarus 4.5% (2008)
Imports:
$29.3 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$23.04 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 30.1%, Germany 11.8%, Poland 10%, Latvia 5.2% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.441 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$7.721 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$32.47 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 63
$30.1 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$12.85 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$15.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.985 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
$1.65 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.3251 (2008 est.), 2.5362 (2007),
2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004)
Communications ::Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
784,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.023 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate; being modernized to provide improved
international capability and better residential access
domestic: rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted
in a steady decline in the number of main line subscriptions;
mobile-cellular teledensity has increased to about 140 per 100
persons while fixed-line teledensity has dropped to 22 per 100
persons
international: country code - 370; major international connections
to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further
transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland
(2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
44 (may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater
stations) (2008)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet hosts:
885,064 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
Internet users:
1.777 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transportation ::Lithuania
Airports:
87 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 55
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 51 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,695 km; refined products 114 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,765 km
country comparison to the world: 78
broad gauge: 1,743 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 80,715 km
country comparison to the world: 57
paved: 71,301 km (includes 309 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,414 km (2007)
Waterways:
441 km (2007)
country comparison to the world: 86
Merchant marine:
total: 45
country comparison to the world: 73
by type: cargo 23, container 2, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker
1, refrigerated cargo 13
foreign-owned: 6 (Denmark 5, Ukraine 1)
registered in other countries: 28 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Cook
Islands 1, North Korea 1, Malta 1, Norway 1, Panama 7, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 9, unknown 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Klaipeda
Military ::Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos, KOP),
National Defense Volunteer Forces (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
19-26 years of age for compulsory military service; 18 years of age
for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation; male
registration required at age 16 (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 915,187
females age 16-49: 906,097 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 677,689
females age 16-49: 743,468 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 23,556
female: 22,404 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Transnational Issues ::Lithuania
Disputes - international:
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006
in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia
in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a
simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the
Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as
a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to
strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007,
ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and
mapped with final ratification documents in preparation
Illicit drugs:
transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy,
and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and
neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality
amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines;
susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking
legislation
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Luxembourg (Europe)
Introduction ::Luxembourg
Background:
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an
independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of
its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of
autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany
in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered
into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following
year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries
of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and
in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography ::Luxembourg
Location:
Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:
49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 2,586 sq km
country comparison to the world: 178
land: 2,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total: 359 km
border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands
to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle
flood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources:
iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use:
arable land: 27.42%
permanent crops: 0.69%
other: 71.89% (includes Belgium) (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Total renewable water resources: