The Republic of Lithuania is situated in Northern Europe, bordering Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland, and the Russian exclave of the Kaliningrad Oblast to the southwest. The Baltic Sea borders the nation to the north-west. Lithuania is a member of NATO, World Trade Organization and the European Union. Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania. Lithuania will be going to celebrate the millennium of its name in the year 2009.
HISTORY:- The Liths were united in 1236 under the king Mindaugas, who ascended the throne in 1253. The Lithuanian rulers gained the control of Poland in 1386. The Poles and Lithuanians together defeated the Teutonic Knights of Tannenberg. Lithuania reigned Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. In the 15th century, Lithuania became one of the greatest and largest European Empires spanning from the Black Sea to Moscow. Poland and Lithuania were officially united in 1569 to form the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1795 the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was dissolved and the territory was partitioned into Russia, Prussia, and Austria. After the 3rd and last partition, Lithuania came under Russian control. After the World War I when Russian Empire fell down, Lithuania declared independence under the German protection in 1918. In 1940 Russia re-annexed the land under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. After the brief German occupation from 1941 to 1944, Russia reinforced Lithuania. In 1988 struggle for independence from Russia re-started and in 1990, 46 years of Russian rule was ended.
GEOGRAPHY:- Lithuania is located at 56 00 N, 24 00 E in Eastern Europe capturing total 65,300 sq km area on the surface of the world. The coastline is 90 km long bordering the Baltic Sea. The lowest point is Baltic Sea (90 m) and the highest point is Juozapines Kalnas (293.6 m). The country is mainly formed of fertile lowland. There are plenty of scattered small lakes in Lithuania.
CLIMATE:- The climate of the Lithuania ranges between maritime and continental with wet, moderate winters and summers.
GOVERNMENT:- Lithuania has a parliamentary democracy. The constitution was adopted on 25th October 1992. The legal system is based on the civil law system. The three major branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. The President is elected by a popular vote on a 5-year term. The Prime minister is appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister.
Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats).
Judicial branch comprises the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. All the judges are appointed by the President.
Civil Democracy Party, Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles, National Farmer\'s Union, Homeland Union/Conservative Party, Labor Party, Liberal and Center Union, Liberal Democrats/Order and Justice Party, Liberal Movement, and Social Democratic Party are the principal political parties of Lithuania. Suffrage is imposed universally at the age of 18.
President Valdas Adamkus
Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas
Seimas Speaker Èeslovas Juršënas
Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas
Seimas Speaker Èeslovas Juršënas
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Lithuania is divided into 10 counties: Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, and Vilniaus.
These counties are sub-divided into 60 municipalities which are again divided into over 500 elderates.
These counties are sub-divided into 60 municipalities which are again divided into over 500 elderates.
CULTURE:- Lithuania has a rich heritage of folk, popular and classical music genres. Flutes and zithers are most widely accompanied with the folk music. Jurgis Baltrušaitis, Antanas Strazdas, Salomëja Nëris, Czeslaw Milosz, Kazys Binkis, Petras Cvirka, Romualdas Granauskas, Jurga Ivanauskaitë are some of the notable literary figures of Lithuania. Czeslaw Milosz won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1980.
ECONOMY:- Lithuania is a member of the World Trade Organization, and the European Union. It has one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union.
GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $50.12 billion; per capita $13,900.
Real growth rate: 6.7%.
Inflation: 2.6%.
Unemployment: 5.3%.
Arable land: 45%.
Agriculture: Grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish.
Labor force: 1.61 million; industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.).
Budget:
Revenues: $13.14 billion
Expenditures: $13.6 billion (2007 est.)
Revenues: $13.14 billion
Expenditures: $13.6 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 14.5% of GDP (2007 est.)
Debt - external: $27.19 billion (31 December 2007)
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.
Natural resources: Peat, arable land, amber.
Exports: $10.95 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001).
Imports: $13.33 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals.
Major trading partners: Germany, Latvia, Russia, France, UK, Sweden, Estonia, Poland, Netherlands, Denmark, U.S., Switzerland (2004).
Monetary unit: Litas
LANGUAGE:- Lithuanian is the official language spoken by 82% of the total population. Other languages include Russian (8%) and Polish (5.6%). 4.4% speaks in an unspecified dialect (2001).
CITIES:- The capital Vilnius is the largest city of Lithuania. Other major cities are Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai.
POPULATION:- The population of Lithuania is approximately 3,575,439 with an average growth rat of –0.3%.
Density per sq mi: 142
Literacy: 100% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 142
Literacy: 100% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Lithuanian 83.4%
Polish 6.7%
Russian 6.3%
Other or unspecified 3.6% (2001)
Lithuanian 83.4%
Polish 6.7%
Russian 6.3%
Other or unspecified 3.6% (2001)
RELIGION:-
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).
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).
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 11.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.67 years
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 862
Birth rate: 9 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 11.12 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.67 years
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 862
UNICEF:- The year 2004 has been declared as the year of children’s health by the Lithuanian government which has accounted more attention and resources towards children health. Alternatives to the institutionalization of children are promoted to initiate foster care and other family-focused programmes. The Ministry of Health has declared the use of iodized salt in bread industry as mandatory. The Ministry of Health also recommends on setting up Baby Friendly Hospitals in all maternity hospitals and UNICEF provides trainings to the health workers. UNICEF also combats against HIV.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 1,998 km (2002).
Highways: total: 75,243 km; paved: 68,697 km; unpaved: 6,546 km (2000).
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable.
Ports and harbors: Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda.
Airports: 87 (2002).
Railways: total: 1,998 km (2002).
Highways: total: 75,243 km; paved: 68,697 km; unpaved: 6,546 km (2000).
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable.
Ports and harbors: Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda.
Airports: 87 (2002).
- Other jewelry articles
Explore the Worldviewer.com Network Sites
Vintage clothing - dressiworld.com | Tv series - lensiworld.com | Style sheet - styleiworld.com | - bootsiworld.com | Retro t shirt - shirtsiworld.com | Models - modelsiworld.com | Golds gym - goldiworld.com | Womens shoes - shoesiworld.com | Teenagers - trendsiworld.com | - pantsiworld.com | Whovan - scarvesiworld.com | Modeling agency - modelingagencyiworld.com | - skirtsiworld.com | Marble from greece - marbleiworld.com | - fashiondesignersiworld.com | - clothesiworld.com | Spy sun glasses - sunglassesiworld.com | Standardandpoor's - pooriworld.com | Wide leather belts" - beltsiworld.com | Personals - loveiworld.com
.jpg)
