World Factbook
Lithuania
Lietuvos Respublika
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red meaning: yellow stands for golden fields, the sun, light, and goodness; green for the forests, nature, freedom, and hope; red for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland
Capital
name
Vilnius
etymology
named after the Vilnia River; the river name is said to derive from the Lithuanian word vilnis , meaning "wave"
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
geographic coordinates
54 41 N, 25 19 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992
amendment process
proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum
Country name
former
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
etymology
meaning of the name is obscure; may be derived from the local words lietava , meaning "small river," or lietus , meaning "rain" or "land of rain," or the Latin word litus , meaning "shore"
local long form
Lietuvos Respublika
local short form
Lietuva
conventional long form
Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form
Lithuania
Independence
16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
Legal system
civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeals; district and local courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas speaker, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one third of membership reconstituted every 3 years
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
chief of state
President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)
election results
2024: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote -Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 75.6%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (TS-LKD) 24.4% 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%
head of government
Prime Minister Inga RUGINIENE (since 25 September 2025)
most recent election date
26 May 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918)
note: 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of statehood and independence from the Soviet Union
National color(s)
yellow, green, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
5 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc; Modernist Kaunas: Architecture of Optimism, 1919-1939
Political parties
Center-Right Union or CDS Dawn of Nemunas or PPNA Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania - Christian Families Alliance or LLRA–KŠS Homeland Union or TS-LKD Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVŽS Liberals' Movement or LRLS National Alliance or NS Social Democratic Party of Lithuania or LSDP Union of Democrats for Lithuania or DSVL
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
141 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
legislature name
Parliament (Seimas)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
10/13/2024 to 10/27/2024
expected date of next election
October 2028
percentage of women in chamber
28.4%
parties elected and seats per party
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) (52); Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) (28); Political Party "The Dawn of Nemunas" (PPNA) (20); Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” (DSVL) (14); Liberals Movement of the Republic of Lithuania (LS) (12); Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVŽS) (8); Other (7)
National anthem(s)
title
"Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
history
adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 when Lithuania was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
lyrics/music
Vincas KUDIRKA
National symbol(s)
mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork
Administrative divisions
60 municipalities ( savivaldybe , singular - savivaldybe ); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 328-0466
chancery
2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 234-5860
chief of mission
Ambassador Gediminas VARVUOLIS (since 5 September 2025)
consulate(s) general
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
email address and website
info@usa.mfa.lt https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[370] (5) 266-5510
embassy
Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
telephone
[370] (5) 266-5500
mailing address
4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC 20521-4510
chief of mission
Ambassador Kara C. McDONALD (since 26 January 2024)
email address and website
consec@state.gov https://lt.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction