has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,
free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and
the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein
economy is widely diversified with a large number of small
businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and
easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to
establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein providing 30% of state
revenues. The country participates in a customs union with
Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It
imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has
been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving
as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and
the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its
economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. In 2008,
Liechtenstein came under renewed international pressure -
particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking
and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax
Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's
conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD
in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of
countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax
Convention.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.16 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 168
$4.035 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.603 billion (2007)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$122,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (2007)
Labor force:
32,440 of whom 16,200 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
to work each day (2008)
country comparison to the world: 202
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5%
services: 55.4% (December 2006)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (31 December 2007)
country comparison to the world: 8
1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.5% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,
optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Exports:
$3.92 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for
motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,
electronic equipment, optical products
Imports:
$2.59 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 145
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery,
metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external:
$0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 196
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0723 (2010), 1.0881 (2009),
1.0774 (2008), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006)
Communications ::Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
Telephones - mobile cellular:
35,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 200
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular services widely available;
combined telephone service subscribership exceeds 150 per 100 persons
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable
and microwave radio relay (2008)
Broadcast media:
relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most
broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based television
station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates
multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates several
radio stations in Liechtenstein (2008)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
9,418 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 124
Internet users:
23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 190
Transportation ::Liechtenstein
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2009)
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: 200
paved: 380 km (2010)
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)
(2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,041 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,559
females age 16-49: 6,782 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 209
female: 208 (2010 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 January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@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: Aukstojas 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:
3,545,319 (July 2010 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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.7 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 42.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.276% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
Birth rate:
9.21 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Death rate:
11.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Net migration rate:
-0.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Urbanization:
urban population: 67% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: -0.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.057 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.37 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 173
male: 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.12 years
country comparison to the world: 87
male: 70.23 years
female: 80.29 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.24 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
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: 108
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 84%, Polish 6.1%, Russian 4.9%, Belarusian 1.1%, other or
unspecified 3.9% (2009)
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 (2008)
Education expenditures:
4.7% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 85
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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 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 elected by
popular vote, 70 elected by proportional representation; members to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 12 and 26 October 2008 (next to be held in
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; note - seats by faction as of 15 March 2010 -
TS-LKD 46, LSDP 25, TT 18, Christian Party 12, LS 11, DP 10, LCS 7,
TPP 7, unaffiliated 5; note - TS-LKD, LS, LCS, and TPP form the
ruling coalition
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all
courts appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Christian party [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Civil Democracy Party or PDP
[Algimantas MATULEVICIUS]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or
LLRA [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI]; Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian
Democrats or TS-LKD [Andrius KUBILIUS]; Labor Party or DP [Viktor
USPASKICH]; Liberal and Center Union or LCS [Gintautas BABRAVICIUS];
Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]; Lithuanian
Farmers' Union or LVLS or VLS [ Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]; Lithuanian
People's Party (not yet officially established) [Kazimiera
PRUNSKIENE]; 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 [Algirdas
BUTKEVICIUS]
International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Zygimantas PAVILIONIS
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 Anne E. DERSE
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; yellow
symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness;
green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to
nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood
spilled in defense of the homeland
National anthem:
name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; the anthem was written in 1898
while Lithuania was a part of Russia; it was banned during the
Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Economy ::Lithuania
Economy - overview:
Lithuania 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.
Lithuania's economy grew on average 8% per year for the four years
prior to 2008 driven by exports and domestic demand. However, GDP
plunged nearly 15% in 2009 - during the 2008-09 crisis the three
former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst economic
declines. In 2009, the government launched a high-profile campaign,
led by Prime Minister KUBILIUS, to attract foreign investment and to
develop export markets. The current account deficit, which had risen
to roughly 15% of GDP in 2007-08, recovered to a surplus of 4% 2009
and 3.5% in 2010 in the wake of a cutback in imports to almost half
the 2008 level. Nevertheless, economic growth was flat and
unemployment continued upward to 16% in 2010.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$56.22 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$55.99 billion (2009 est.)
$65.72 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$35.73 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
-14.8% (2009 est.)
2.8% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$15,700 (2009 est.)
$18,400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4.3%
industry: 27.6%
services: 68.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.633 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 14%
industry: 29.1%
services: 56.9% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
16% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
13.7% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
4% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 27.4% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 85
34 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
15.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Public debt:
36.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
29.5% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
4.5% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (February 2010)
country comparison to the world: 105
4.73% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.39% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
8.41% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$8.917 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 73
$8.896 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$17.26 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$17.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$25.35 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$25.85 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.477 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 84
$3.625 billion (31 December 2008)
$10.13 billion (31 December 2007)
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:
2.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - production:
12.09 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Electricity - consumption:
9.612 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - exports:
6.606 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
5.649 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
6,333 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - consumption:
74,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - exports:
137,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - imports:
204,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - proved reserves:
12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Natural gas - consumption:
3.53 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
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 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Current account balance:
$1.231 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$1.492 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$19.29 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$16.48 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
mineral products 22%, machinery and equipment 10%, chemicals 9%,
textiles 7%, foodstuffs 7%, plastics 7%
Exports - partners:
Russia 13.2%, Latvia 10%, Germany 9.6%, Poland 7.1%, Estonia 7.1%,
Belarus 4.7%, UK 4.3% (2009)
Imports:
$20.34 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$17.56 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 30.1%, Germany 11.1%, Poland 9.9%, Latvia 6.3% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.418 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$6.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$27.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$28.69 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$14.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$13.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.507 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$2.307 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.6637 (2010), 2.4787 (2009), 2.3251
(2008), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006)
Communications ::Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:
747,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 89
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.962 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 96
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 fixed-line connections;
mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 140 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)
Broadcast media:
public broadcaster operates 3 channels with the third channel - a
satellite channel - introduced in 2007; various privately-owned
commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional
channels; large number of privately-owned local TV stations;
multi-channel cable and satellite TV services are available;
publicly-owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; large number
of privately-owned commercial broadcasters, many with repeater
stations in various regions throughout the country (2007)
Internet country code:
.lt
Internet hosts:
1.17 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 40