The European Union

Lithuania

* Country Name
Officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos Respublika) is a country in Northern Europe, the southernmost of the three Baltic states.

* Year Founded
14 February 1009

* Population
3.596.617

* Primary Language
Lithuanian

* Ethnic Make-up
Lithuanians (84.6%)
Poles (6.3%)
Russians (5.1%)
Belarusians (1.1%)
Ukrainian (0.65%)
Others (1,62%)
(Germans, gypsys, tartars, Armenian, letones, others)


* Political System
Semi-presidential republic.
Lithuania is considered a parliamentary representative democratic republic in the European Union.

* Year Entered the European Union
On May 1, 2004, Lithuania joined the European Union.

* Representative of the European Union (include party)
Rytis Martikonis
Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the EU, Representative to COREPER II
(Assistant Ieva Lukaševičienė, phone +32 2 401 3530, fax +32 2 771 4597)


* Type of Economy
A stable, diversified, fast-growing and attractive economy with great potentials of development.
The most attractive business and investment climate among the new member countries of the EU.

* Currency
Lithuanian litas (Lt) (LTL)

* Current Exchange rate for American Currency
1 LTL = 0,3915 USD

* GDP
GDP (PPP)
2008 IMF October estimate

- Total $63.579billion[1] (75th)

- Per capita
$18,854 (46th)

GDP (nominal)
2008 IMF October estimate

- Total $48.747 billion [2] (75th)

- Per capita
$14,456 (39th)

* Percentage of Trade within the European Union
The entry of Lithuania into the EU will greatly expand the nation's international trade. It will give Lithuania access to the markets of 15 countries which will also be able to use Lithuania as a gateway for entry into the markets of the former Soviet Union. Already, trade between Lithuania and the EU members has dramatically increased. Since 1997, exports to the EU have increased by 21.8 percent. Meanwhile imports from the EU increased by 13.3 percent.
* Unemployment Rate
3.5%

* Chief Exports
Export partners
Russia (16.1%)
Latvia (11.6%)
Germany (7.2%)
Poland (5.8%)
Estonia (5.7%)

Main export commodities include:
mineral products (25%)
electrical machinery and mechanical equipment (10.6%)
chemical products (9.7%)
transport vehicles and associated transport equipment (8.6%).

* Key Imports
Import partners
Russia (30.1%)
Germany (11.7%)
Poland (10%)
Latvia (5.2%)


Main import commodities include: Mineral products (29.7%) Electrical machinery and mechanical equipment (14.2%) Transport vehicles and associated Transport equipment (12.1%) Chemical products (9%

* Major Religions
Roman Catholic (primarily)(80%)
Eastern Orthodox
Protestant
Muslim
Judaism

* Surrounding Countries
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg

* Literacy Rate
A portion of people 15-years-old and older who can read and write reached 99.8%
- Men: 99.8% - Women: 99.8%

* One Interesting Fact
Juozapinė Hill is the highest point in Lithuania with an elevation of only 292,7 meters (957 feet).