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Official name: Republic of Lithuania
Area: 65 300km˛
Administrative divisions: Lithuania is divided administratively into ten counties : Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipėdos, Marijampolės, Panevėzio, Siauliu, Tauragės, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilnius.
Cities:
Population: 3,4 million people
Ethnic groups:
Lithuanian (80,1%), Russian (8,6%), Polish (7,7%), Bielorussian (1,5%), others (2,1%)
Official language: Lithuanian
Religion:
Mostly Roman-Catholic, other: Lutheran, Orthodox, Reformist, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish.
Official currency: Litas (LTL)
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 3,45 last update 08.03.03
Political system: Parliamentary democracy
President: Rolandas Paksas
Prime Minister: Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas
Political parties:
New Era is a centre-right, populist party wDemocratic Labor Party of Lithuania is the former Communist Party of Lithuania which has reformed itself at the beginning of the 90’s, advocating economic growth, encouragement of exports and stimulation of the SME’s sector.
Lithuanian Social-Democratic Party is a left of center party, partisan of moderacy in economic reforms and policies.
New Democratic Party is a small, right wing party.
New Union is a social-democratic, newly-emerged party.
Lithuanian Liberal Union is a liberal party.
Homeland Union-Conservatives of Lithuania started off as one of the first communist opposition parties. Its economic policies are liberal with the tendency to become more populist in pre-elections period. The party is in favour of a fast EU and NATO integration.
Lithuanian Peasant Party advocating subsidies and price support for farm products and is critical towards Lithuania joining the EU.
Lithuanian Christian-Democratic Party is a right of center party advocating higher protection for SME’s.
Center Union of Lithuania is a small, liberal party.
Moderate Conservative Union (conservative), Lithuanian Freedom Union (right-wing), Young Lithuania - New Nationalists and Political Prisoners Union (national-conservative), Lithuanian Russian Union (minority) have a moderate influence on the Lithuanian political scene.
Elections:
Climate
Continental climate with marine influences. Winters are long and cold and summers are relatively warm.
The annual average temperature is 7,5°C, ranging from -4°C in February to +20,5°C in July.
Lithuania is two hours ahead GMT, one hour ahead of Belgium/the Netherlands/Germany.
By plane
| Km | Driving time (hours) | |
| Amsterdam | 1 580 | 19,5 |
| Belgrade | 1 432 | 19 |
| Berlin | 910 | 13,5 |
| Bratislava | 1 081 | 14 |
| Brussels | 1 669 | 20,5 |
| Bucharest | 1 397 | 17 |
| Budapest | 1 109 | 15,5 |
| Copenhagen | 471 (link by boat) | 23 |
| Frankfurt | 1 456 | 18,5 |
| Ljubljana | 1 506 | 18,5 |
| London | 1 967 | 24 |
| Munich | 1 430 | 18,5 |
| Paris | 1 965 | 23 |
| Prague | 1 053 | 14,5 |
| Rome | 2 213 | 25 |
| Sofia | 1 804 | 22 |
| Stockholm | 705 (link by boat) | 18 |
| Vienna | 1 131 | 15 |
| Warsaw | 435 | 6,5 |
| Zagreb | 1 432 | 19 |
Lithuania has a well-developed road infrastructure comprising 417 km of motorway and 521 km of first-category (four lane) roads, and thus has the highest motorway density in all Baltic States and one of the highest when compared to other CEE countries. Vilnius is connected by modern four lane motorways to Kaunas, Klaipeda and Panevezys. Inside the country, bus transport is prefered over rail transport, especially on short distances.
The main international airport is located in Vilnius offering regular connections to all major European cities. Passenger airports are located in Kaunas and Palanga, with just a few regular flights to Germany and connections to Vilnius.
The railway infrastructure comprising 1 905 kilometers of railway is very important for cargo transport. The standard width between the rails is 1,520 mm which is the same as in the Russia Federation and Finland, but different than that of western Europe. A standard-gauge railway line (22 km) has been constructed connecting Šeštokai to the Polish border.
The most important port for cargo shipment is Klaipeda which has regular cargo-ferries to Germany, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark. It is an ice-free port all year long.
Average gross wage (2001): 300 EUR
Average wage for a manual labourer: 124
Average wage for economist leaving university: 290 EUR
There are great regional differences in the wage level. Therefore when looking for staff, it is important not to pay exuberant wages, as they will not motivate your local staff at all, but on the other hand beware not to pay too low wages, as they will without doubt demotivate your local staff. Eastwards takes care of your recruitment of local top management, sales and financial management or specialists, and will consult you which wage packages are most suitable for the job responsibilities and place of employment you offer.
| 2000 | 2001 | |
| Inflation | 0,9% | 1,3% |
| Real GDP growth rate (change to previous year) | 3,8% | 5,9% |
| GDP per capita | 3 500 USD | 3 800 USD |
| Unemployment | 15,6% | 16,5% |
| 2002 | Percentage of the total | |
| Exports to UK | 793,5 mil. EUR | 13,5% |
| Imports from UK | 302,6 mil. EUR | 3,7% |
