time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Klaus TSCHUTSCHER (since 25 March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 February 2009 (next to be held February 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL 8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and EgonMATT]; Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party)or FBP [Marcus VOGT]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU[Adolf HEEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO,ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
Economy ::Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.16 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 165 $4.035 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.993 billion (2007)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$118,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (2007)
Labor force:
32,440 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (2007) country comparison to the world: 194
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5%
services: 55.4% (31 December 2006)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (31 December 2007) country comparison to the world: 11 1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2001) country comparison to the world: 8
Market value of publicly traded shares:
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:
Exports:
$2.47 billion
Exports - commodities:
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Imports:
$917.3 million
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external:
$0 (2001) country comparison to the world: 203
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)
Communications ::Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:
19,600 (2008) country comparison to the world: 195
Telephones - mobile cellular:
34,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 201
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Internet country code:
.li
Internet hosts:
9,287 (2009) country comparison to the world: 118
Internet users:
23,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 187
Transportation ::Liechtenstein
Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2008)
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:
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:
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, AirPollution-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, ShipPollution, 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 LaborParty and Youth or KDP+J [Viktor USPASKICH]; Electoral Action ofLithuanian 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 Movementor LRLS [Eligijus MASIULIS]; National Revival or TPP [ArunasVALINSKAS]; New Union (Social Liberal) or NS [Arturas PAULAUSKAS];Order and Justice Party or TT [Rolandas PAKSAS]; Social DemocraticParty or LSDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS]; Young Lithuania and NewNationalists [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
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
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
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@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:
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:
Total renewable water resources:
1.6 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.06 cu km/yr (42%/45%/13%)
per capita: 121 cu m/yr (1999)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People ::Luxembourg
Population:
491,775 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.5% (male 46,918/female 44,052)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 165,342/female 162,681)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 29,839/female 42,943) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 39.2 years
male: 38.2 years
female: 40.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.172% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Birth rate:
11.73 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170
Death rate:
8.44 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Net migration rate:
8.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 199 male: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.33 years country comparison to the world: 31 male: 76.07 years
female: 82.81 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 140
Nationality:
noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:
Luxembourger 63.1%, Portuguese 13.3%, French 4.5%, Italian 4.3%,German 2.3%, other EU 7.3%, other 5.2% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87%, other (includes Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 13% (2000)
Languages:
Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language),French (administrative language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP (1999) country comparison to the world: 131