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| leader_name2 = [[Ingrida Šimonytė]]
| leader_title3 = [[Seimas|Seimas Speaker]]
| leader_name3 = [[
| legislature = [[Seimas]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Lithuania|Formation]]
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| area_km2 = 65,300
| area_sq_mi = 25,212 <!-- Do not remove per [[Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers|WP:MOSNUM]] -->
| percent_water = 1.98 (2015)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surface water and surface water change |access-date=
| population_estimate = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 2,885,891<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?hash=20530e4b-d2d5-4c58-b976-e97703c30d4a |title=Pradžia – Oficialiosios statistikos portalas |website=osp.stat.gov.lt |access-date=7 August 2024 }}</ref>
| population_estimate_rank = 135th
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| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $50,600<ref name="IMFWEO.LT" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 39th
| GDP_nominal = {{
| GDP_nominal_rank = 78th
| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
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}}
'''Lithuania''' ({{IPAc-en| audio = Lithuania pronunciation RP.ogg|ˌ|l|ɪ|θj|u|ˈ|eɪ|n|i|ə}} {{respell|LITH|ew|AY|nee|ə}};<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Jones (phonetician) |editor1-last=Roach |editor1-first=Peter |editor2-last=Setter |editor2-first=Jane |editor2-link=Jane Setter |editor3-last=Esling |editor3-first=John |year=2011 |title=Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary |edition=18th |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-15253-2 |title-link=Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary}}</ref> {{
For millennia, the southeastern shores of the Baltic Sea were inhabited by various [[Balts|Baltic tribes]]. In the 1230s, Lithuanian lands were united for the first time by [[Mindaugas]], who formed the [[Kingdom of Lithuania]] on 6 July 1253. Subsequent expansion and consolidation resulted in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], which by the 14th century was the largest country in Europe.<ref name="Bideleux">{{cite book |last1=Bideleux |first1=Robert |last2=Jeffries |first2=Ian |title=A history of Eastern Europe: crisis and change |date=1998 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-16111-4 |page=122}}</ref>
In 1386, the Grand Duchy entered into a ''[[de facto]]'' [[personal union]] with the [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland]]. The two realms were [[Union of Lublin|united]] into the [[Confederation|bi-confederal]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in 1569, forming one of the largest and most prosperous states in Europe. The Commonwealth lasted more than two centuries, until neighbouring countries gradually [[Partitions of Poland|dismantled]] it between 1772 and 1795, with the [[Russian Empire]] annexing most of Lithuania's territory. Towards the end of [[World War I]], Lithuania [[Act of Independence of Lithuania|declared Independence]] in 1918, founding the modern Republic of Lithuania. In [[World War II]], Lithuania was occupied [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|by the Soviet Union]], [[German occupation of Lithuania during World War II|then by Nazi Germany]], before being [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|reoccupied]] by the Soviets in 1944. [[Lithuanian partisans|Lithuanian armed resistance]] to the Soviet occupation lasted until the early 1950s. On 11 March 1990, a year before the formal [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to break away when it [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|proclaimed the restoration of its independence]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lithuania breaks away from the Soviet Union |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1990/mar/12/eu.politics |website=[[The Guardian]] |quote=Lithuania last night became the first republic to break away from the Soviet Union, by proclaiming the restoration of its pre-war independence. The newly-elected parliament, 'reflecting the people's will,' decreed the restoration of 'the sovereign rights of the Lithuanian state, infringed by alien forces in 1940,' and declared that from that moment Lithuania was again an independent state |location=London |date=12 March 1990 |access-date=7 June 2018 |archive-date=21 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921161738/https://www.theguardian.com/world/1990/mar/12/eu.politics |url-status=live}}</ref> Lithuania is a [[developed country]] with a [[World Bank high-income economy|high income]], [[Economy of Lithuania|advanced economy]], ranking 37th in the [[Human Development Index]] (HDI) and 19th in the [[World Happiness Report]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Celia |title=This is the happiest country for Gen Z and millennials, according to The World Happiness Report |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/23/world-happiness-report-happiest-countries-gen-z-millennials.html |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=CNBC |date=23 March 2024 |archive-date=5 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505112046/https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/23/world-happiness-report-happiest-countries-gen-z-millennials.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Lithuania is a member of the [[European Union]], the [[Council of Europe]], the [[eurozone]], the [[Nordic Investment Bank]], the [[Schengen Agreement]], [[NATO]], and [[OECD]]. It also participates in the [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]] (NB8) regional co-operation format.
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{{Main|Name of Lithuania}}
[[File:Lietuvos vardas. The first name of Lithuania in writing 1009.jpg|thumb|left|Lithuania's name in writing (''Litua'', on line 7), 1009]]
The first known record of the name of Lithuania ({{
Since ''Lietuva'' has a suffix (-''uva''), there should be a corresponding original word with no suffix.<ref name="VardasVle"/> A likely candidate is ''Lietā''. Because many [[Baltic language|Baltic]] [[ethnonym]]s originated from [[hydronym]]s, linguists have searched for its origin among local hydronyms. Usually, such names evolved through the following process: hydronym → toponym → [[ethnonym]].<ref name=Zigmas2>Zigmas Zinkevičius. Kelios mintys, kurios kyla skaitant Alfredo Bumblausko Senosios Lietuvos istoriją 1009-1795m. Voruta, 2005.</ref> [[Lietava River|Lietava]], a small river not far from [[Kernavė]], the core area of the [[Duchy of Lithuania|early Lithuanian state]] and a possible first capital of the eventual [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]], is usually credited as the source of the name.<ref name=Zigmas2/> However, the river is very small and some find it improbable that such a small and local object could have lent its name to an entire nation. On the other hand, such naming is not unprecedented in world history.<ref name=Zigmas>{{cite journal |first=Zigmas |last=Zinkevičius |url=http://www.voruta.lt/archyvas/74/253 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510083828/https://www.voruta.lt/archyvas/74/253 |archive-date=10 May 2022 |title=Lietuvos vardo kilmė |journal=Voruta |issn=1392-0677 |date=30 November 1999 |volume=3 |issue=669 |language=lt}}</ref>
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==History==
<!--- PLEASE DO NOT ADD MINORLY IMPORTANT AND LONG DETAILS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LITHUANIA TO THIS SECTION TO KEEP THIS SECTION WRITTEN IN SUMMARY STYLE --->
{{Main|History of Lithuania}}
===Kingdom of Lithuania, Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth===
{{Main|Kingdom of Lithuania|Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Kościuszko Uprising}}
[[File:Lithuanian state in 13-15th centuries.png|thumb|left|Changes in the territory of Lithuania from the 13th to 15th century. At its peak, Lithuania was the largest state in Europe.<ref name="Bideleux"/><ref name="USDoS"/>]]
[[File:Traku pilis by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|left|[[Trakai Island Castle]], the former residence of the [[List of Lithuanian monarchs|Grand Dukes]]. [[Trakai]] was the capital of the medieval state.]]
[[File:Vilnia. Вільня (T. Makoŭski, 1600).jpg|thumb|left|Panorama of Vilnius in 1600]]
The history of Lithuania dates back to settlements founded about 10,000 years ago,<ref>{{Cite book|title=International migration in Lithuania : causes, consequences, strategy|last=Sipavičienė, Audra.|date=1997|publisher=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe|isbn=9986523397|pages=55|oclc=39615701}}</ref><ref name=kudirka13>{{Cite book|title=The Lithuanians: An Ethnic Portrait|last=Kudirka|first=Juozas|authorlink=Juozas Kudirka|publisher=Lithuanian Folk Culture Centre|year=1991|pages=13}}</ref> but the first written record of the name for the country dates back to 1009 AD.<ref>Gudavičius, Edvardas (1999) ''Lietuvos Istorija: Nuo Seniausių Laikų iki 1569 Metų (Lithuanian History: From Ancient Times to the Year 1569)'' Vilnius, page 28, {{ISBN|5-420-00723-1}}</ref> Facing the [[Livonian Crusade|German threat]], [[Mindaugas]] in the middle of the 13th century united a large part of the [[Balts|Baltic]] tribes and founded the State of Lithuania, while in 1253 he was crowned as the Catholic [[Kingdom of Lithuania|King of Lithuania]].<ref name="Mindaugas">{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |title=Mindaugas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/mindaugas/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="LTHistoryBritannica">{{cite web |title=Lithuania - History |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Lithuania/History |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=3 November 2024 |date=21 October 2024}}</ref> Moreover by taking advantage of the weakened territory of the former [[Kievan Rus']] due to the [[Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'|Mongol invasion]], Mindaugas has incorporated [[Black Ruthenia]] into Lithuania.<ref name="Mindaugas"/> After Mindaugas' assassination in 1263, [[Lithuanian mythology|pagan Lithuania]] was again a target of the [[Lithuanian Crusade|Christian crusades]] of the [[Teutonic Knights]] and [[Livonian Order]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |last2=Jasas |first2=Rimantas |title=Kryžiaus karai Baltijos regione |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kryziaus-karai-baltijos-regione/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> [[Traidenis]] during his reign (1269–1282) reunified all Lithuanian lands and achieved military successes against the Crusaders, fighting alongside other Baltic tribes, but was unable to militarily assist the [[Old Prussians]] in their [[Prussian uprisings#The Great Prussian uprising (1260–1274)|Great Uprising]].<ref name="Traidenis">{{cite web |title=Traidenis |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/traidenis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Traidenis' main residence was in [[Kernavė]].<ref name="Traidenis"/>
Since the late 13th century members of the [[Lithuanians|Lithuanian]] [[Gediminids]] dynasty began ruling Lithuania, who consolidated a [[hereditary monarchy]] and the [[Letters of Gediminas|status]] of [[Vilnius]] as permanent [[capital city]], [[Christianization of Lithuania|christianized Lithuania]] and by incorporating [[East Slavs]]' territories (e.g. principalities of [[Principality of Minsk|Minsk]], [[Principality of Kiev|Kyiv]], [[Principality of Polotsk|Polotsk]], [[Principality of Vitebsk|Vitebsk]], [[Principality of Smolensk|Smolensk]], etc.) significantly expanded the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]'s territory, which reached ~650,000 km2 in the first half of the 14th century.<ref name="VleLDK">{{cite web |last1=Petrauskas |first1=Rimvydas |title=Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-didzioji-kunigaikstyste/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest country in [[Europe]].<ref name="Bideleux"/><ref name="USDoS">{{cite web |title=Lithuania (02/08) |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/lithuania/101494.htm |website=U.S. Department of State}}</ref> In 1385, Lithuania formed a [[dynastic union]] with [[Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty|Poland]] through the [[Union of Krewo]].<ref name="VleLDK"/> Furthermore, in the late 14th–15th centuries [[Patrilineality|patrilineal]] [[Jagiellonian dynasty|members]] of the Lithuanian ruling Gediminids dynasty ruled not only Lithuania and Poland, but [[Kingdom of Hungary (1301–1526)|Hungary]], [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|Croatia]], [[Kingdom of Bohemia|Bohemia]], and [[Moldavia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gediminaičiai |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/gediminaiciai/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Jogailaičiai |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jogailaiciai/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The German attacks on Lithuania were ceased with a decisive Polish–Lithuanian victory in the [[Battle of Grunwald]] in 1410 and by concluding the [[Treaty of Melno]] in 1422.<ref name="VleLDK"/>
In the 15th century the strengthened [[Grand Duchy of Moscow]] has renewed [[Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars]] for the Lithuanian-controlled [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] territories.<ref name="VleLDK"/> Due to the unsuccessful beginning of the [[Livonian War]], losing of land to the [[Tsardom of Russia]], and pressured by monarch [[Sigismund II Augustus]], a supporter of a close Polish–Lithuanian union, the [[Lithuanian nobility]] had agreed to conclude the [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569 with the [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland]], which created a new [[Federation|federative]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] with a joint monarch (holding both titles of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania), but Lithuania remained a separate state from Poland with its own territory (~300 000 km2), coat of arms, management apparatus, laws, courts, seal, army, treasury, etc.<ref name="LUnija">{{cite web |last1=Jasas |first1=Rimantas |title=Liublino unija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/liublino-unija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref name="VleLDK"/> After concluding the [[real union]] Lithuania and Poland jointly managed to reach military successes during the Livonian War, [[Polish–Lithuanian occupation of Moscow|occupation of Moscow]] (1610), [[Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611)|war with Sweden (1600–1611)]], [[Smolensk War|Smolensk war with Russia (1632–1634)]], etc.<ref name="VleLDK"/><ref name="LUnija"/> In 1588, [[Sigismund III Vasa]] has personally confirmed the [[Statutes of Lithuania#Third Statute|Third Statute of Lithuania]] where it was stated that Lithuania and Poland have equal rights within the Commonwealth and ensured the [[separation of powers]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andriulis |first1=Vytautas |title=Trečiasis Lietuvos Statutas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/treciasis-lietuvos-statutas/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The real union has strongly intensified the [[Polonization]] of Lithuania and Lithuanian nobility.<ref>{{cite web |title=Polonizacija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/polonizacija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>
The mid-17th century was marked with disastrous military loses for Lithuania as during the [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]] most of the territory of Lithuania was annexed by the Tsardom of Russia and even Lithuania's capital Vilnius was fully [[Battle of Vilnius (1655)|captured]] for the first time by a foreign army and ravaged.<ref name="Raila">{{cite web |last1=Raila |first1=Eligijus |title=ATR nelaimių šimtmetis |url=http://www.xn--altiniai-4wb.info/index/details/102 |website=Šaltiniai.info |access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref> In 1655, Lithuania unilaterally [[Union of Kėdainiai|seceded]] from Poland, declared the Swedish King [[Charles X Gustav of Sweden|Charles X Gustav]] as the Grand Duke of Lithuania and fell under the [[Swedish Lithuania|protection of the Swedish Empire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kėdainių sutartis |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kedainiu-sutartis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> However, by 1657 Lithuania was once again a part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth following the Lithuanian revolt against the Swedes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lietuvių sukilimas prieš švedus |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuviu-sukilimas-pries-svedus/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Vilnius was recaptured from the Russians in 1661.<ref>{{cite web |title=1661 12 03 Vilniaus pilyje kapituliavo rusų įgula |url=https://www.delfi.lt/archive/1661-12-03-vilniaus-pilyje-kapituliavo-rusu-igula.d?id=26316243 |website=DELFI |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref>
In the second half of the 18th century the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was three times [[Partitions of Poland|partitioned]] by three neighboring countries which completely [[Dissolution (politics)|dissoluted]] both independent Lithuania and Poland from the political map in 1795 after a failed [[Kościuszko Uprising]] and short-lived [[Vilnius uprising (1794)|recapture of capital Vilnius]] in 1794.<ref name="VleLDK"/> Most of Lithuania's territory was [[Russian Partition|annexed by the Russian Empire]], while {{Interlanguage link|Užnemunė|lt=Užnemunė|lt}} was annexed by [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]].<ref name="VleLDK"/>
===Efforts to restore statehood===
{{Main|November Uprising|January Uprising|Lithuanian National Revival}}
[[File:Открытие памятника Муравьёву.jpg|thumb|200px|Opening ceremony of a Muravyov Memorial in Vilnius in 1898. Muravyov was nicknamed as the "[[Hanging|hangman]] of Vilnius".<ref name="JIB"/>]]
Following the annexation the [[Tsarist autocracy|Russian Tsarist]] authorities implemented [[Russification]] policies in Lithuania, which then made a part of a new administrative region [[Northwestern Krai]].<ref name="Vle1795-1914">{{cite web |title=Lietuva Rusijos imperijos valdymo metais (1795–1914) |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuva-rusijos-imperijos-valdymo-metais-1795-1914/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1812 [[Napoleon]] during the [[French invasion of Russia]] has established the puppet [[Lithuanian Provisional Governing Commission]] to support his war efforts, however after Napoleon's defeat the Russian rule was reinstated in Lithuania.<ref name="Vle1795-1914"/>
During the [[November Uprising]] (1830–1831) the Lithuanians and Poles jointly attempted to restore their statehoods, however the Russian victory resulted in stricter Russification measures: the [[Russian language]] has been introduced in all government institutions, [[Vilnius University]] was closed in 1832, and theories that Lithuania was a "Western Russian" state since its establishment were propagated.<ref name="Vle1795-1914"/> Subsequently, the Lithuanians once again tried to restore statehood by participating in the [[January Uprising]] (1863–1864), but yet another Russian victory resulted in even stronger Russification policies with the introduction of the [[Lithuanian press ban]], pressure of the [[Catholic Church in Lithuania]] and [[Mikhail Muravyov-Vilensky]]'s repressions.<ref name="Vle1795-1914"/><ref name="JIB">{{cite web |title=January Insurrection |url=https://www.britannica.com/event/January-Insurrection |website=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref>
The Lithuanians resisted Russification through an extensive network of [[Lithuanian book smugglers]], secret Lithuanian publishing and homeschooling.<ref>{{cite web |title=XX a. pradžioje rusus suerzino paviešinti lietuvių knygnešystės mastai |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/tavo-lrt/15/22153/xx-a-pradzioje-rusus-suerzino-paviesinti-lietuviu-knygnesystes-mastai |website=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]] |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt |date=28 July 2013}}</ref> Moreover, the [[Lithuanian National Revival]], inspired by Lithuanian history, language and culture, laid the foundations for the reestablishment of an independent Lithuania.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Merkys |first1=Vytautas |title=Lietuvių tautinis judėjimas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuviu-tautinis-judejimas/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The [[Great Seimas of Vilnius]] was held in 1905 and its participants has adopted resolutions which demanded a wide [[Autonomy#Politics|autonomy]] for Lithuania.<ref name="Vle1795-1914"/>
===Restored statehood and occupations===
{{Main|Act of Independence of Lithuania|Occupation of the Baltic states}}
[[File:Signatarai.Signatories of Lithuania.jpg|thumb|200px|Members of the Council of Lithuania after signing the Act of Independence of Lithuania in 1918]]
During [[World War I]] the [[German Empire]] annexed Lithuanian territories from the Russian Empire and they became a part of ''[[Ober Ost]]''.<ref name="Vle1918-1920">{{cite web |last1=Lasinskas |first1=Povilas |title=Nepriklausomos Lietuvos valstybės atkūrimas (1918–1920) |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/nepriklausomos-lietuvos-valstybes-atkurimas-1918-1920/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1907, the Lithuanians organized the [[Vilnius Conference]] which adopted a resolution, featuring the aspiration for the restoration of Lithuania's sovereignty and military alliance with Germany and elected the [[Council of Lithuania]].<ref name="Vle1918-1920"/> In 1918, the short-lived [[Kingdom of Lithuania (1918)|Kingdom of Lithuania]] was proclaimed; however on 16 February 1918 the Council of Lithuania adopted the [[Act of Independence of Lithuania]] which restored Lithuania as [[democracy|democratic]] [[republic]] with its capital in [[Vilnius]] and separated that state from all state relations that existed with other nations.<ref name="Vle1918-1920"/> In 1918–1920 the Lithuanians defended the statehood of Lithuania during the [[Lithuanian Wars of Independence]] with [[Lithuanian–Soviet War|Bolsheviks]], [[Lithuanian–Bermontian War|Bermontians]] and [[Polish–Lithuanian War|Poles]].<ref name="Vle1918-1920"/> The aims of the newly restored Lithuania clashed with [[Józef Piłsudski]]'s plans to create a [[federation]] ([[Intermarium]]) in territories previously ruled by the [[Jagiellonian dynasty|Jagiellonians]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miknys |first1=Rimantas |title=Józef Piłsudski |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jozef-pilsudski/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The Lithuanian authorities prevented the [[1919 Polish coup attempt in Lithuania]] and in 1920 during the [[Żeligowski's Mutiny]] the Polish forces captured [[Vilnius Region]] and established a [[puppet state]] of the [[Republic of Central Lithuania]], which in 1922 was incorporated into Poland.<ref name="Vle1918-1920"/> Consequently, [[Kaunas]] became the [[temporary capital of Lithuania]] where the [[Constituent Assembly of Lithuania]] was held and other primary Lithuanian institutions operated until 1940.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kauno istorija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kauno-istorija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1923, the [[Klaipėda Revolt]] was organized which unified the [[Klaipėda Region]] with Lithuania.<ref name="Vle1920-1940">{{cite web |last1=Lasinskas |first1=Povilas |title=Lietuvos Respublika 1920–1940 |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-respublika-1920-1940/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> The [[1926 Lithuanian coup d'état]] replaced the democratically elected government and [[Kazys Grinius#President (1926)|president]] with an [[Authoritarianism|authoritarian]] regime led by [[Antanas Smetona]].<ref name="Vle1920-1940"/>
[[File:Celebrations of Vilnius return to Lithuania near Vilnius Cathedral in 1939.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Lithuanian Armed Forces]] returning to Vilnius in 1939]]
In the late 1930s Lithuania has accepted the [[1938 Polish ultimatum to Lithuania|1938 Polish ultimatum]], [[1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania|1939 German ultimatum]] and transferred the Klaipėda Region to [[Nazi Germany]] and following the beginning of the [[World War II]] concluded the [[Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty]].<ref name="VleListorija">{{cite web |title=Lietuvos istorija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-istorija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> In 1940 Lithuania has accepted the [[Soviet ultimatum to Lithuania|Soviet ultimatum]] and recovered the control of historical capital Vilnius, however the acceptance resulted in the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|Soviet occupation of Lithuania]] and its transformation into the [[Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic]].<ref name="VleListorija"/> In 1941 during the [[June Uprising in Lithuania]] it was attempted to restore independent Lithuania and the [[Red Army]] was expelled from its territory, however in a few days Lithuania was [[German occupation of Lithuania during World War II|occupied by Nazi Germany]].<ref name="VleListorija"/> In 1944 Lithuania was [[Soviet re-occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|re-occupied by the Soviet Union]] and [[Political repression in the Soviet Union|Soviet political repressions]] along with [[Soviet deportations from Lithuania]] resumed.<ref name="VleListorija"/> Thousands of [[Lithuanian partisans]] and their supporters attempted to militarily restore independent Lithuania, but their resistance was eventually suppressed in 1953 by the [[Chronology of Soviet secret police agencies|Soviet authorities]] and their [[extermination battalion|collaborators]].<ref name="VleListorija"/> [[Jonas Žemaitis]], the chairman of the [[Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters]], was captured and [[Capital punishment in the Soviet Union|executed]] in 1954, his successor as chairman [[Adolfas Ramanauskas]] was brutally tortured and executed in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Juodis |first1=Darius |title=Jonas Žemaitis |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/jonas-zemaitis/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramanauskaitė-Skokauskienė |first1=Auksutė |title=Adolfas Ramanauskas |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/adolfas-ramanauskas/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=3 November 2024 |language=lt}}</ref> Since the late 1980s [[Sąjūdis]] movement sought for the restoration of independent Lithuania and in 1989 the [[Baltic Way]] was held.<ref name="VleListorija"/>
===1990–present===
{{Main|Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania}}
▲| footer = On 11 March 1990, the [[Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas|Supreme Council]] announced the [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|restoration of Lithuania's independence]].<ref name="Bell2002">{{cite book|author=Imogen Bell|title=Central and South-Eastern Europe 2003|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4CrpzRJCbckC&pg=PA376|year=2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-136-0|page=376}}</ref> The Act was the first such declaration in the USSR and served as an inspiration to other [[Soviet republics]], and strongly influenced the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]].
On 11 March 1990, the [[Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas|Supreme Council]] announced the restoration of Lithuania's independence. Lithuania became the first Soviet-occupied state to announce the restitution of independence. On 20 April 1990, the Soviets [[Soviet economic blockade of Lithuania|imposed an economic blockade]] by ceasing to deliver supplies of raw materials to Lithuania.<ref>{{cite magazine |author1=Martha Brill Olcott |title=The Lithuanian Crisis |url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russian-federation/1990-06-01/lithuanian-crisis |website=www.foreignaffairs.com |access-date=18 November 2018 |date=1990 |quote=For over two years Lithuania has been moving toward reclaiming its independence. This drive reached a crescendo on 11 March 1990, when the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania declared the republic no longer bound by Soviet law. The act reasserted the independence Lithuania had declared more than seventy years before, a declaration unilaterally annulled by the U.S.S.R. in 1940 when it annexed Lithuania as the result of a pact between Stalin and Hitler. |archive-date=20 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720055455/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russian-federation/1990-06-01/lithuanian-crisis |url-status=live }}</ref> Not only domestic industry, but also the population started feeling the lack of fuel, essential goods, and even hot water. Although the blockade lasted for 74 days, Lithuania did not renounce the declaration of independence.
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On 25 October 1992, citizens voted in a referendum to adopt the current [[Constitution of Lithuania|constitution]]. On 14 February 1993, during the direct general elections, [[Algirdas Brazauskas]] became the first president after the restoration of independence. On 31 August 1993 the last units of the former Soviet Army left Lithuania.<ref>{{cite book| author=Richard J. Krickus| chapter=Democratization in Lithuania| editor=K. Dawisha and B. Parrott| title=The Consolidation of Democracy in East-Central Europe| date=June 1997| page=[https://archive.org/details/consolidationofd0000unse/page/344 344]| publisher=Cambridge University Press| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NRkpNovMd_cC&pg=PA344| isbn=978-0-521-59938-2| url=https://archive.org/details/consolidationofd0000unse/page/344}}</ref>
On 31 May 2001, Lithuania joined the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO).<ref>{{cite web |title=WTO - Accessions: Lithuania |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_lituanie_e.htm |website=www.wto.org |access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-date=31 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531070148/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/a1_lituanie_e.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Since March 2004, Lithuania has been part of [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania's membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) |url=https://www.urm.lt/default/en/foreign-policy/lithuania-in-the-region-and-the-world/lithuanias-security-policy/lithuanian-membership-in-nato |website=urm.lt |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=5 February 2014 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417181725/https://www.urm.lt/default/en/foreign-policy/lithuania-in-the-region-and-the-world/lithuanias-security-policy/lithuanian-membership-in-nato}}</ref> On 1 May 2004, it became a full member of the [[European Union]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Membership |url=https://www.urm.lt/default/en/foreign-policy/lithuania-in-the-region-and-the-world/lithuania-member-of-the-european-union/membership |website=urm.lt |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=6 January 2016 |archive-date=26 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626050010/https://www.urm.lt/default/en/foreign-policy/lithuania-in-the-region-and-the-world/lithuania-member-of-the-european-union/membership}}</ref> and a member of the [[Schengen Agreement]] in December 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania has joined the Schengen Area |url=http://no.mfa.lt/no/en/news/lithuania-has-joined-the-schengen-area |website=mfa.lt |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=16 January 2008 |archive-date=26 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626050010/http://no.mfa.lt/no/en/news/lithuania-has-joined-the-schengen-area}}</ref> On 1 January 2015, [[Lithuania and the euro|Lithuania joined]] the [[eurozone]] and adopted the European Union's single currency.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kropaite |first1=Zivile |title=Lithuania joins Baltic neighbours in euro club |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30635826 |website=BBC News |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=1 January 2015 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703111641/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30635826 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 4 July 2018, Lithuania officially joined the [[OECD]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania officially becomes the 36th OECD member |url=https://lrv.lt/en/news/lithuania-officially-becomes-the-36th-oecd-member |website=lrv.lt |access-date=30 March 2021 |date=5 July 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703105900/https://lrv.lt/en/news/lithuania-officially-becomes-the-36th-oecd-member}}</ref> [[Dalia Grybauskaitė]] was the first female [[President of Lithuania]] (
==Geography==
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{{Main|Fauna of Lithuania}}
[[File:White Stork-Mindaugas Urbonas-1.jpg|thumb|The [[white stork]] is the national bird of Lithuania, which has the highest-density stork population in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Klimka|first1=Libertas|title=Kodėl gandras – nacionalinis paukštis?|url=http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/nuomones/10/97041/libertas-klimka-kodel-gandras-nacionalinis-paukstis|website=LRT|date=26 March 2015|access-date=26 March 2015|language=lt}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Storks|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/lithuania/eastern-southern-lithuania/background/other-features/eaf58144-ae01-405e-b1bf-7dc3e3590743/a/nar/eaf58144-ae01-405e-b1bf-7dc3e3590743/360111|website=Lonelyplanet.com|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref>]]
Lithuanian ecosystems include natural and semi-natural (forests, [[bog]]s, wetlands and meadows), and anthropogenic (agrarian and urban) ecosystems. Among natural ecosystems, forests are particularly important to Lithuania, covering 33% of the country's territory. [[Wetland]]s (raised bogs, [[fen]]s, transitional mires, etc.) cover 7.9% of the country, with 70% of wetlands having been lost due to drainage and peat extraction between 1960 and 1980. Changes in wetland plant communities resulted in the replacement of moss and grass communities by trees and shrubs, and fens not directly affected by land reclamation have become drier as a result of a drop in the water table. There are 29,000 rivers with a total length of 64,000 km in Lithuania, the [[Nemunas River]] basin occupying 74% of the territory of the country. Due to the construction of dams, approximately 70% of spawning sites of potential [[Fish_migration|catadromous]] fish species have disappeared. In some cases, river and lake ecosystems continue to be impacted by anthropogenic [[eutrophication]].<ref name="cbd">{{cite web|title=Lithuania – Biodiversity Facts|url=https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/default.shtml?country=lt#facts|website=cbd.int|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=25 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625190338/https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/default.shtml?country=lt#facts|url-status=live}}</ref>
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The wildlife populations have rebounded as the hunting became more restricted and urbanization allowed replanting forests (forests already tripled in size since their lows). Currently, Lithuania has approximately 250,000 larger wild animals or 5 per each square kilometre. The most prolific large wild animal in every part of Lithuania is the [[roe deer]], with 120,000 of them. They are followed by [[boar]]s (55,000). Other ungulates are the [[deer]] (~22,000), [[fallow-deer]] (~21,000) and the largest one: [[moose]] (~7,000). Among the Lithuanian predators, [[fox]]es are the most common (~27,000). [[Wolve]]s are, however, more ingrained into the mythology as there are just 800 in Lithuania. Even rarer are the [[lynx]]es (~200). The large animals mentioned above exclude the [[rabbit]], ~200,000 of which may live in the Lithuanian forests.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fauna of Lithuania|url=http://www.truelithuania.com/tag/fauna-of-lithuania|website=TrueLithuania.com|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222334/http://www.truelithuania.com/tag/fauna-of-lithuania|url-status=live}}</ref>
==
{{Main|Politics of Lithuania}}
[[File:Seimas — Parliament of Lithuania.jpg|thumb|240x240px|[[Seimas]] — Parliament of Lithuania]]
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| caption3 = [[Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen]],<br /><small>[[Speaker of the Seimas]] since 2020</small>
}}
The Lithuanian [[head of state]] is the president, directly elected for a five-year term and serving a maximum of two terms. The president oversees foreign affairs and national security, and is the [[commander-in-chief]] of the military.<ref name="lrpf">{{cite web |title=Presidential Functions |url=https://www.lrp.lt/en/institution/presidential-functions/20800 |website=lrp.lt |access-date=15 July 2019 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510181051/https://www.lrp.lt/en/institution/presidential-functions/20800}}</ref> The president also appoints the [[Prime Minister of Lithuania|prime minister]] and, on the latter's nomination, the rest of the cabinet, as well as a number of other top civil servants and the judges for all courts except the Constitutional Court.<ref name="lrpf" /> The current Lithuanian head of state, [[Gitanas Nausėda]] was [[2019 Lithuanian presidential election|elected on 26 May 2019]] by unanimously winning in all [[municipalities of Lithuania]]
The judges of the [[Constitutional Court of Lithuania|Constitutional Court]] (''Konstitucinis Teismas'') serve nine-year terms. The court is renewed by a third every three years. The judges are appointed by the Seimas, on the nomination of the President, Chairman of the Seimas, and the Chairman of the Supreme Court,. The [[unicameral]] Lithuanian parliament, the [[Seimas]], has 141 members who are elected to four-year terms. 71 of the members of its members are elected in single-member constituencies, and the others in a nationwide vote by [[proportional representation]]. A party must receive at least 5% of the national vote to be eligible for any of the 70 national seats in the Seimas.<ref name="Seimas">{{cite web|title=Seimo rinkimai|url=http://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=15405&p_k=1|website=lrs.lt|access-date=14 April 2018|archive-date=20 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420150504/https://www.lrs.lt/sip/portal.show?p_r=15405&p_k=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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Lithuania was one of the first countries in the world to [[Women's suffrage|grant women a right to vote]] in the elections. Lithuanian women were allowed to vote by the [[Constitution of Lithuania#Interwar constitutions|1918 Constitution of Lithuania]] and used their newly granted right for the first time in 1919. By doing so, Lithuania allowed it earlier than such democratic countries as the [[United States]] (1920), [[France]] (1945), [[Feminism in Greece|Greece]] (1952), [[Switzerland]] (1971).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baronienė |first1=Daiva |title=Teisę balsuoti Lietuvos moterys gavo vienos pirmųjų pasaulyje |url=https://www.lzinios.lt/Gimtasis-krastas/teise-balsuoti-lietuvos-moterys-gavo-vienos-pirmuju-pasaulyje/287033 |website=Lzinios.lt |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511092317/https://www.lzinios.lt/Gimtasis-krastas/teise-balsuoti-lietuvos-moterys-gavo-vienos-pirmuju-pasaulyje/287033 |archive-date=11 May 2019}}</ref>
Lithuania exhibits a fragmented multi-party system,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tlu.ee/stss/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/stss_nov_2011_saarts.pdf |title=Comparative Party System Analysis in Central and Eastern Europe: the Case of the Baltic States |last1=Saarts |first1=Tõnis |publisher=Studies of Transition States and Societies |access-date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019212154/http://www.tlu.ee/stss/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/stss_nov_2011_saarts.pdf |archive-date=19 October 2016 }}</ref> with a number of small parties in which coalition governments are common. Ordinary elections to the [[Seimas]] take place on the second Sunday of October every four years.<ref name="Seimas"/> To be eligible for election, candidates must be at least
[[File:Re-Establishment of Lithuania commemoration in Seimas (2015).jpg|thumb|Commemoration of the [[Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania]] in the historical [[Seimas Palace|Seimas]] hall where it was originally signed in 1990. The ceremony is attended by the Lithuanian President, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Seimas and other high-ranking officials.]]
The [[President of Lithuania]] is the head of state of the country, elected to a five-year term in a majority vote. Elections take place on the last Sunday no more than two months before the end of current presidential term.<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web |url=http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm |title=Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania |publisher=The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania |access-date=31 July 2015 |archive-date=17 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117080458/http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> To be eligible for election, candidates must be at least 40 years old on the election day and reside in Lithuania for at least three years, in addition to satisfying the eligibility criteria for a member of the parliament. Same President may serve for not more than two terms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidento rinkimų įstatymas|url=https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.E39827DBDE34/rYdcColjED|website=e-tar.lt|access-date=14 April 2018|archive-date=18 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018201550/https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.E39827DBDE34/rYdcColjED|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Gitanas Nausėda]]
Each municipality in Lithuania is governed by a [[municipal council]] and a [[mayor]], who is a member of the municipal council. The number of members, elected on a four-year term, in each municipal council depends on the size of the municipality and varies from 15 (in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents) to 51 (in municipalities with more than 500,000 residents). 1,524 municipal council members were elected in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vrk.lt/naujienos/-/content/10180/1/vrk-prieme-svarbius-sprendimus-artejanciu-savivaldybiu-tarybu-rinkimu-klausimais |title=VRK priėmė svarbius sprendimus artėjančių savivaldybių tarybų rinkimų klausimais |language=lt |trans-title=CEC took important decisions regarding the upcoming election to municipal councils |date=23 September 2014 |publisher=Central Electoral Commission |access-date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212040822/http://www.vrk.lt/naujienos/-/content/10180/1/vrk-prieme-svarbius-sprendimus-artejanciu-savivaldybiu-tarybu-rinkimu-klausimais |archive-date=12 February 2015 }}</ref> Members of the council, with the exception of the mayor, are elected using proportional representation. Starting with 2015, the mayor is elected directly by the majority of residents of the municipality.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lietuvos Respublikos savivaldybių tarybų rinkimų įstatymas|url=https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.336A4B109EBC/HEexqWkxmV|website=e-tar.lt|access-date=14 April 2018|archive-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414234518/https://www.e-tar.lt/portal/lt/legalAct/TAR.336A4B109EBC/HEexqWkxmV|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Social Democratic Party of Lithuania]] won most of the positions in the 2015 elections (372 municipal councils seats and 16 mayors).<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 m. kovo 1 d. Lietuvos Respublikos savivaldybių tarybų rinkimai|url=http://www.vrk.lt/2015-savivaldybiu-tarybu|website=vrk.lt|access-date=14 April 2018|language=lt-LT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414234238/http://www.vrk.lt/2015-savivaldybiu-tarybu|archive-date=14 April 2018}}</ref>
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In 2013, Lithuania was elected to the [[United Nations Security Council]] for a two-year term,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46277&Cr=security+council&Cr1=#.UmFPr1OWDtk |title=Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia elected to serve on UN Security Council |website=Un.org |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020020717/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46277&Cr=security+council&Cr1=#.UmFPr1OWDtk |url-status=live }}</ref> becoming the first [[Baltic states|Baltic]] country elected to this post. During its membership, Lithuania actively supported [[Ukraine]] and often condemned [[Russia]] for the [[Russo-Ukrainian War|war in Ukraine]], immediately earning vast Ukrainians esteem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uatoday.tv/geopolitics/lithuania-calls-un-security-council-meeting-on-ukraine-403385.html|title=Lithuania calls UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine|website=Uatoday.tv|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603213903/http://uatoday.tv/geopolitics/lithuania-calls-un-security-council-meeting-on-ukraine-403385.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lankininkaitė|first1=Rūta|title=Ukrainiečiai: Lietuva – mums pavyzdys|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/world/ukrainieciai-lietuva-mums-pavyzdys.d?id=67403332|website=[[DELFI]], [[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|LRT]]|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194911/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/world/ukrainieciai-lietuva-mums-pavyzdys.d?id=67403332|url-status=live}}</ref> As the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] progressed, President Dalia Grybauskaitė has compared the Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] to [[Josef Stalin]] and to [[Adolf Hitler]], she has also called Russia a "terrorist state".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/the-baltic-iron-lady-putins-solitary-foe-dalia-grybauskaite/|title=The Baltic 'Iron Lady': Putin's solitary foe|website=Politico.eu|date=21 May 2015|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703110448/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-baltic-iron-lady-putins-solitary-foe-dalia-grybauskaite/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2018 Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia were awarded the {{ill|Peace of Westphalia Prize|de|Internationaler Preis des Westfälischen Friedens}} – for their exceptional model of democratic development and contribution to peace in the continent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prestigious Peace of Westphalia Prize – for Lithuania and the Baltic states |url=https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/prestigious-peace-of-westphalia-prize-for-lithuania-and-the-baltic-states/29212 |website=Lrp.lt |access-date=14 July 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703111813/https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/prestigious-peace-of-westphalia-prize-for-lithuania-and-the-baltic-states/29212}}</ref> In 2019 Lithuania condemned the [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria|Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]].<ref>{{cite news |title=EU condemning Turkey is only the beginning, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/news-in-english/19/1106677/eu-condemning-turkey-is-only-the-beginning-says-lithuanian-foreign-minister |work=LRT RADIJAS |date=14 October 2019 |access-date=18 October 2019 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623221806/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/news-in-english/19/1106677/eu-condemning-turkey-is-only-the-beginning-says-lithuanian-foreign-minister |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2021, Lithuania reported that in an escalation of the diplomatic spat with [[China]] over its [[Lithuania–Taiwan relations|relations with Taiwan]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lau |first1=Stuart |last2=Moens |first2=Barbara |title=China's trade attack on Lithuania exposes EU's powerlessness |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/china-trade-attack-on-lithuania-exposes-eu-powerlessness/ |website=politico.eu |publisher=Politico |date=16 December 2021 |access-date=27 December 2021 |archive-date=16 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216201946/https://www.politico.eu/article/china-trade-attack-on-lithuania-exposes-eu-powerlessness/ |url-status=live }}</ref> China had stopped all imports from Lithuania.<ref>{{cite news |title=China blocking EU imports with Lithuanian components over Taiwan row, says Brussels |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/24/china-blocking-eu-imports-with-lithuanian-components-over-taiwan-row-says-brussels |work=Euronews |date=24 December 2021 |access-date=27 December 2021 |archive-date=27 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227134522/https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/24/china-blocking-eu-imports-with-lithuanian-components-over-taiwan-row-says-brussels |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Lithuanian intelligence agencies, in 2023 there was an increase in Chinese intelligence activity against Lithuania, including cyberespionage and increased focus on Lithuania's internal affairs and foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intelligence warns of Chinese services' increased attention to Lithuania's internal affair |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/intelligence_warns_of_chinese_services__increased_attention_to_lithuania_s_internal_affair/ |access-date=8 March 2024
The 2023 [[NATO summit]] was held in the Lithuanian capital [[Vilnius]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania to host 2023 NATO summit, first event 'of such a scale' |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1431705/lithuania-to-host-2023-nato-summit-first-event-of-such-a-scale |website=[[Lrt.lt]] |access-date=15 June 2021 |date=15 June 2021 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625161817/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1431705/lithuania-to-host-2023-nato-summit-first-event-of-such-a-scale |url-status=live }}</ref>
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The [[Ministry of National Defence (Lithuania)|defense ministry]] is responsible for combat forces, [[search and rescue]], and intelligence operations. The 5,000 [[State Border Guard Service (Lithuania)|border guards]] fall under the [[Interior Ministry]]'s supervision and are responsible for border protection, passport and customs duties, and share responsibility with the [[Lithuanian Naval Force|navy]] for [[smuggling]] and drug trafficking interdiction. A special security department handles VIP protection and [[communications security]]. In 2015 [[National Cyber Security Centre of Lithuania]] was created. Paramilitary organisation [[Lithuanian Riflemen's Union]] acts as a civilian self-defence institution.
According to NATO, in 2020, Lithuania allocated 2.13% of its [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] to the national defense.<ref name="nato-lt-spending">{{cite web|title=Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2013-2020)|url=https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2021/3/pdf/210316-pr-2020-30-en.pdf|publisher=NATO|date=16 March 2021
Lithuania's president [[Gitanas Nausėda]] called for more NATO troops on 22 April 2022, saying NATO should increase its deployment of troops in Lithuania and elsewhere on Europe's eastern flank following [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]], during a meeting in Vilnius.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lithuania's president calls for more NATO troops |url=https://wtvbam.com/2022/04/22/lithuanias-president-calls-for-more-nato-troops/ |access-date=
==Economy==
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Lithuania has a [[flat tax]] rather than a [[Progressive tax|progressive scheme]]. The personal income tax (15%) and corporate tax (15%) rates are among the lowest in the EU.<ref name="epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu">{{cite web | url=http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/gen_info/economic_analysis/tax_structures/2014/report.pdf | title=Taxation trends in the European Union | publisher=Eurostat | date=2014 | access-date=22 May 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509130331/http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/gen_info/economic_analysis/tax_structures/2014/report.pdf | archive-date=9 May 2015}}</ref> The country has the lowest implicit rate of tax on capital (9.8%) in the EU. The corporate tax rate is 15% and 5% for small businesses; 7 [[free economic zone]]s operate.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pramoniniai parkai ir LEZ|url=https://ukmin.lrv.lt/lt/veiklos-sritys/investiciju-veiklos-sritis/pramoniniai-parkai-ir-lez|website=ukmin.lrv.lt|access-date=24 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424071555/https://ukmin.lrv.lt/lt/veiklos-sritys/investiciju-veiklos-sritis/pramoniniai-parkai-ir-lez|archive-date=24 April 2018}}</ref>
[[Information technology]] production is growing, reaching €2 billion in 2016.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Samuolis|first1=Gediminas|title=Informacinės technologijos Lietuvoje|date=2017|publisher=Lietuvos statistikos departamentas|location=Vilnius|page=8|url=https://ivpk.lrv.lt/uploads/ivpk/documents/files/Naujienos/IT%20Lietuvoje%202017.pdf|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150136/https://ivpk.lrv.lt/uploads/ivpk/documents/files/Naujienos/IT%20Lietuvoje%202017.pdf}}</ref> In 2017 only, 35<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania Registered 35 New Fintech Companies in 2017|url=https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2018/02/128160-lithuania-registered-35-new-fintech-companies-2017|website=Crowdfundinsider.com|date=8 February 2018|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208172543/https://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2018/02/128160-lithuania-registered-35-new-fintech-companies-2017/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[FinTech]] companies came to Lithuania – a result of the government and Bank of Lithuania simplifying procedures.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuanian Institutions Enhance Focus on New Financial Technologies and Fintech Sector Development in Lithuania|url=https://finmin.lrv.lt/en/news/lithuanian-institutions-enhance-focus-on-new-financial-technologies-and-fintech-sector-development-in-lithuania|website=finmin.lrv.lt|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164452/https://finmin.lrv.lt/en/news/lithuanian-institutions-enhance-focus-on-new-financial-technologies-and-fintech-sector-development-in-lithuania
===Agriculture===
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The world wars of the 20th century severely diminished Lithuanian science and academia, although Lithuanian scholars and scientists managed to succeed, particularly abroad, including philosopher [[Vasily Seseman|Vosylius Sezemanas]], jurist [[Michał Pius Römer|Mykolas Römeris]], aviator [[Antanas Gustaitis]], management theorist [[Vytautas Andrius Graičiūnas]], archaeologist [[Marija Gimbutas]], primatologist [[Birutė Galdikas]], linguist [[Algirdas Julien Greimas]], and [[Medieval studies|medievalist]] [[Jurgis Baltrušaitis (son)|Jurgis Baltrušaitis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lietuvos kronika 1993 – 16 (1674) Marija Alseikaitė – Gimbutienė|url=http://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/31010/lietuvos-kronika-1993-16-1674-marija-alseikaite-gimbutiene|website=LRT|date=15 September 1993|access-date=29 March 2018|language=lt|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430133853/https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/31010/lietuvos-kronika-1993-16-1674-marija-alseikaite-gimbutiene|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Bulota|first1=Šarūnas|title=Garsiausia pasaulio orangutanų tyrinėtoja Birutė Galdikas: "Lietuvių kultūra – mano kraujyje"|url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/gyvunu-klubas/ivykiai/garsiausia-pasaulio-orangutanu-tyrinetoja-birute-galdikas-lietuviu-kultura-mano-kraujyje-172-331747|website=15min.lt|access-date=2 May 2013|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417191035/https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/gyvunu-klubas/ivykiai/garsiausia-pasaulio-orangutanu-tyrinetoja-birute-galdikas-lietuviu-kultura-mano-kraujyje-172-331747|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Arvydas Kliorė|url=http://www.yrasalis.lt/desimt/inzinieriai/dr-arvydas-kliore/|website=yrasalis.lt|access-date=15 February 2018|language=lt-LT|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194859/http://www.yrasalis.lt/desimt/inzinieriai/dr-arvydas-kliore/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Biografija – A. J. Greimas|url=http://www.greimas.eu/biografija/|website=greimas.eu|access-date=15 February 2018|language=lt-LT|archive-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216091947/http://www.greimas.eu/biografija/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=STAR (Self-Testing And Repairing) computer|url=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/STAR.html|website=Daviddarling.info|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430190659/https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/STAR.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mathematician [[Jonas Kubilius]], long-term rector of the [[University of Vilnius]], is known for works in [[Probabilistic number theory]], including the [[Kubilius model]], Theorem of Kubilius and the [[Turán–Kubilius inequality]]. Kubilius also successfully resisted attempts to Russify the university.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iš Vilniaus universiteto istorijos, 1955–1990|date=5 November 1995|pages=1–2|url=http://www.draugas.org/archive/1994_reg/1994-11-05-PRIEDAS-DRAUGAS-i5-8.pdf|access-date=31 March 2018|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225022329/http://www.draugas.org/archive/1994_reg/1994-11-05-PRIEDAS-DRAUGAS-i5-8.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Laser]]s and [[biotechnology]] are flagship fields of the Lithuanian science and high-tech industry.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/lithuania-leading-light-laser-technology|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110175105/https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/lithuania-leading-light-laser-technology|archive-date=10 January 2018|title=Lithuania, a leading light in laser technology – Digital Single Market|date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Daugiausiai inovacijų lietuviai sukūrė gyvybės mokslų srityje|url=https://www.delfi.lt/partnerio-turinys/lietuvos-amziaus-inovacijos/daugiausiai-inovaciju-lietuviai-sukure-gyvybes-mokslu-srityje.d?id=75754757|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=14 September 2017|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417181824/https://www.delfi.lt/partnerio-turinys/lietuvos-amziaus-inovacijos/daugiausiai-inovaciju-lietuviai-sukure-gyvybes-mokslu-srityje.d?id=75754757|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Šviesos konversija'' ("Light Conversion") has developed a [[femtosecond]] laser system that has 80% market share worldwide, with applications in DNA research, ophthalmological surgeries, and nanotechnology.<ref>{{cite web|title=Light Conversion – About Us|url=http://lightcon.com/about-us.html|website=lightcon.com|access-date=5 February 2018|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120194735/http://www.lightcon.com/about-us.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Įgyvendinta svajonė sukėlė perversmą pasaulinėje lazerių rinkoje|url=https://www.delfi.lt/partnerio-turinys/lietuvos-amziaus-inovacijos/igyvendinta-svajone-sukele-perversma-pasaulineje-lazeriu-rinkoje.d?id=75532853|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=25 August 2017|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194908/https://www.delfi.lt/partnerio-turinys/lietuvos-amziaus-inovacijos/igyvendinta-svajone-sukele-perversma-pasaulineje-lazeriu-rinkoje.d?id=75532853|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Vilnius University]] Laser Research Center has developed one of the most powerful femtosecond lasers in the world dedicated primarily to [[Oncology|oncological diseases]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lietuviai sukūrė vieną galingiausių lazerių pasaulyje|url=https://www.delfi.lt/partnerio-turinys/lietuvos-amziaus-inovacijos/lietuviai-sukure-viena-galingiausiu-lazeriu-pasaulyje.d?id=75607431|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417195008/https://www.delfi.lt/partnerio-turinys/lietuvos-amziaus-inovacijos/lietuviai-sukure-viena-galingiausiu-lazeriu-pasaulyje.d?id=75607431|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1963, [[Vytautas Straižys]] and his colleagues created [[Vilnius photometric system]] that is used in [[astronomy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vilniaus astrofotometrinė sistema|url=http://astronomija.lt/enciklopedija/index.php/Vilniaus_astrofotometrin%C4%97_sistema|website=astronomija.lt|access-date=4 February 2018|language=lt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072446/http://astronomija.lt/enciklopedija/index.php/Vilniaus_astrofotometrin%C4%97_sistema|archive-date=5 February 2018}}</ref> Noninvasive intracranial pressure and blood flow measuring devices were developed by [[Kaunas University of Technology|KTU]] scientist A. Ragauskas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.epo.org/european-inventor/finalists/2016/ragauskas.html|website=m.epo.org/|title=Finalist for the European Inventor Award 2016|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407184238/https://m.epo.org/european-inventor/finalists/2016/ragauskas.html|archive-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> Kęstutis Pyragas contributed to the study of [[Control of chaos|chaos theory]] with his method of delayed feedback control, the [[Pyragas method]]. [[Kavli Prize]] laureate [[Virginijus Šikšnys]] is known for his discoveries in [[CRISPR]], namely with respect to CRISPR-[[Cas9]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/10/battle-genome-editing-gets-science-wrong/|author=Sarah Zhang|date=10 April 2015|magazine=Wired|title=The Battle Over Genome Editing Gets Science All Wrong|access-date=17 April 2018|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607095645/https://www.wired.com/2015/10/battle-genome-editing-gets-science-wrong/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Giorgia Guglielmi|date=31 May 2015|journal=Nature|title=Million-dollar Kavli prize recognizes scientist scooped on CRISPR|volume=558|issue=7708|pages=17–18|doi=10.1038/d41586-018-05308-5|pmid=29872189|s2cid=46949947|doi-access=free}}</ref
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:LituanicaSAT-2.jpg|thumb|[[LituanicaSAT-2]] in the thermal-vacuum chamber]] -->Lithuania has launched three satellites to space: [[LitSat-1]], [[Lituanica SAT-1]] and [[LituanicaSAT-2]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rutkauskas|first1=Adomas|title=Į kosmosą pakilo trečiasis Lietuvos palydovas|url=https://it.lrytas.lt/laboratorija/2017/06/23/news/i-kosmosa-kyla-treciasis-lietuvos-palydovas-1755953/|website=[[lrytas.lt]]|date=23 June 2017|access-date=23 June 2017|language=lt-LT|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308143523/https://it.lrytas.lt/laboratorija/2017/06/23/news/i-kosmosa-kyla-treciasis-lietuvos-palydovas-1755953/}}</ref> [[Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology]] and [[Molėtai Astronomical Observatory]] is located in [[Kulionys]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology|url=http://www.etnokosmomuziejus.lt/en/|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=15 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515194253/https://etnokosmomuziejus.lt/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> Fifteen R&D institutions are members of [[Lithuanian Space Association]]; Lithuania is a cooperating state with [[European Space Agency]].<ref>{{cite web|title=First Baltic Space Activities Roundtable|url=https://www.eas.ee/images/doc/ettevotjale/innovatsioon/kosmos/roundtable1/baltic_roundtable_vidmantas_tomkus.pdf|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411174553/https://www.eas.ee/images/doc/ettevotjale/innovatsioon/kosmos/roundtable1/baltic_roundtable_vidmantas_tomkus.pdf|archive-date=11 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania becomes eighth ESA Cooperating State|url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Lithuania_becomes_eighth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State|website=Esa.int|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016155321/https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Lithuania_becomes_eighth_ESA_European_Cooperating_State|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rimantas Stankevičius]] is the only ethnically Lithuanian [[astronaut]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vienintelis Lietuvos kosmonautas R.Stankevičius tėvynės neiškeitė į vietą raketoje|url=https://www.delfi.lt/video/mokslas-ir-gamta/vienintelis-lietuvos-kosmonautas-rstankevicius-tevynes-neiskeite-i-vieta-raketoje.d?id=62705647#o8TgpziG|website=DELFI|access-date=12 April 2011|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526064612/https://www.delfi.lt/video/mokslas-ir-gamta/vienintelis-lietuvos-kosmonautas-rstankevicius-tevynes-neiskeite-i-vieta-raketoje.d?id=62705647#o8TgpziG|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lithuania in 2018 became an Associated Member State of [[CERN]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuania becomes Associate Member State of CERN|url=https://home.cern/about/updates/2018/01/lithuania-becomes-associate-member-state-cern|website=home.cern|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314173513/https://home.cern/about/updates/2018/01/lithuania-becomes-associate-member-state-cern|archive-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> Two CERN incubators in Vilnius and Kaunas will be hosted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Davos: Final decision on CERN business incubation centers in Lithuania |url=https://mission-geneva.mfa.lt/mission-geneva/en/news/davos-final-decision-on-cern-business-incubation-centers-in-lithuania |access-date=14 April 2019 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417192724/https://mission-geneva.mfa.lt/mission-geneva/en/news/davos-final-decision-on-cern-business-incubation-centers-in-lithuania}}</ref> The most advanced scientific research is being conducted at the Life Sciences Center,<ref>{{cite web|title=Life Sciences Center. Lithuania|url=http://www.gmc.vu.lt/en/|website=Gmc.vu.lt|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=26 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526002551/https://www.gmc.vu.lt/en/|url-status=live}}</ref> Center For Physical Sciences and Technology.<ref>{{cite web|title=Center For Physical Sciences and Technology. Lithuania|url=https://www.ftmc.lt/en|website=Ftmc.lt|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417181226/https://www.ftmc.lt/en|url-status=live}}</ref>
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In 2008 the Valley development programme was started aiming to upgrade Lithuanian scientific research infrastructure and encourage business and science cooperation. Five R&D Valleys were launched – Jūrinis (maritime technologies), Nemunas (agro, bioenergy, forestry), Saulėtekis (laser and light, semiconductor), Santara (biotechnology, medicine), Santaka (sustainable chemistry and pharmacy).<ref>{{cite web |title=R&D in Lithuania |url=https://investlithuania.com/why-lithuania/innovation/ |website=investlithuania.com |access-date=6 October 2019 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608011138/https://investlithuania.com/why-lithuania/innovation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lithuanian Innovation Center is created to provide support for innovations and research institutions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuanian Innovation Center|url=http://lic.lt/en/|website=lic.lt|access-date=12 April 2018|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922202528/https://lic.lt/en/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lithuania ranks moderately in the [[International Innovation Index]],<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.lmt.lt/data/public/uploads/2016/09/ekonomikos-moksliniu-tyrimu-programos-rekomendacijos.pdf |title=Lietuvos ekonomikos ilgalaikio konkurencingumo iššūkiai |date=2015 |publisher=Lietuvos mokslo taryba |page=18 |access-date=10 January 2018 |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228012636/https://www.lmt.lt/data/public/uploads/2016/09/ekonomikos-moksliniu-tyrimu-programos-rekomendacijos.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is placed 15th among EU countries by the [[European Innovation Scoreboard]].<ref>{{cite web |title=European Innovation Scoreboard |url=http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/facts-figures/scoreboards_lt |access-date=31 March 2018 |website=ec.europa.eu |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406041555/https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/facts-figures/scoreboards_lt |url-status=live }}</ref> Lithuania was ranked 35th in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{
===Tourism===
{{Main|Tourism in Lithuania}}
[[File:Druskininkai fountain.jpg|thumb|[[Druskininkai]] is a popular [[spa town]].]]
Statistics from 2023 showed 1.4 million tourists from foreign countries visited Lithuania and spent at least one night. The largest number of tourists came from [[Poland]] (173,500), [[Latvia]] (144,300), [[Belarus]] (141,900), [[Germany]] (127,400), the [[United Kingdom]] (74,200), the [[United States]] (69,700), [[Ukraine]] (67,000), and [[Estonia]] (61,300).<ref name="tou">{{cite web |title=Indicators of accommodation |url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/en/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?hash=8e87198b-d15b-4a23-93c1-1b6ad2c3884c |publisher=[[State Data Agency]] |access-date=6 June 2024 |archive-date=6 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606160321/https://osp.stat.gov.lt/en/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?hash=8e87198b-d15b-4a23-93c1-1b6ad2c3884c |url-status=live }}</ref>
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==Infrastructure==
===Communication===
{{Main|Telecommunications in Lithuania}}
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{{Main|Transport in Lithuania}}
[[File:Lithuania-roads-(E).png|thumb|left|Major highways in Lithuania]]
Lithuania received its first railway connection in the middle of the 19th century, when the [[Warsaw – Saint Petersburg Railway]] was constructed. It included a stretch from [[Daugavpils]] via Vilnius and Kaunas to Virbalis. The first and only still operating [[Kaunas Railway Tunnel|tunnel]] was completed in 1860.
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Transportation is the third largest sector in Lithuanian economy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sumin.lrv.lt/en/news/lithuania-is-ready-to-implement-transport-investment-projects-of-a-strategic-importance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104145320/https://sumin.lrv.lt/en/news/lithuania-is-ready-to-implement-transport-investment-projects-of-a-strategic-importance|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=Lithuania is ready to implement transport investment project of a strategic importance – Ministry of Transport and Communications|date=4 January 2018}}</ref> Lithuanian transport companies drew attention in 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media.daimler.com/marsMediaSite/en/instance/ko/Largest-Fleet-Order-from-Eastern-Europe-for-Mercedes-Benz-Trucks-in-Its-History-Major-order-of-1000-Mercedes-Benz-Actros-by-Girteka-Logistics.xhtml?oid=9918964|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104150306/http://media.daimler.com/marsMediaSite/en/instance/ko/Largest-Fleet-Order-from-Eastern-Europe-for-Mercedes-Benz-Trucks-in-Its-History-Major-order-of-1000-Mercedes-Benz-Actros-by-Girteka-Logistics.xhtml?oid=9918964|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=Largest Fleet Order from Eastern Europe for Mercedes-Benz Trucks in Its History: Major order of 1,000 Mercedes-Benz Actros by Girteka Logistics – Daimler Global Media Site|date=4 January 2018}}</ref> and 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.volvogroup.com/en-en/news/2017/sep/record-breaking-agreement-for-volvo-trucks.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104150048/http://www.volvogroup.com/en-en/news/2017/sep/record-breaking-agreement-for-volvo-trucks.html|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=Record breaking agreement for Volvo Trucks – Volvo Group|date=4 January 2018}}</ref> with huge and record-breaking orders of trucks. Almost 90% of commercial truck traffic in Lithuania is international transports, the highest of any EU country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Freight_transport_statistics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104135126/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Freight_transport_statistics|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=Freight transport statistics – Statistics Explained|date=4 January 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Marijampolės geležinkelio stotis - panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Marijampolė railway station]], completed in 1924]]
Lithuania has an extensive network of motorways. WEF grades Lithuanian roads at 4.7 / 7.0<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2017-2018/05FullReport/TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2017%E2%80%932018.pdf|title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2017–2018|page=185|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920210549/http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GCR2017-2018/05FullReport/TheGlobalCompetitivenessReport2017%E2%80%932018.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and Lithuanian road authority (LAKD) at 6.5 / 10.0.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plius.lakd.lt/lt.php/naujienos/susumuoti_keliu_apziuros_rezultatai/11801;_wai;1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326104027/http://plius.lakd.lt/lt.php/naujienos/susumuoti_keliu_apziuros_rezultatai/11801;_wai;1|archive-date=26 March 2018|title=Lietuvos automobilių kelių direkcija prie Susisiekimo ministerijos|date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
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The [[Port of Klaipėda]] is the only commercial cargo port in Lithuania. In 2011 45.5 million tons of cargo were handled (including [[Būtingė oil terminal]] figures)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shortsea.lt/index.php/pagrindinis_meniu/naujienos/klaipedos_ir_kitu_baltijos_juros_rytines_pakrantes_uostu_krovos_apzvalga__m_sausiogruodzio_men_/1201|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019182532/http://www.shortsea.lt/index.php/pagrindinis_meniu/naujienos/klaipedos_ir_kitu_baltijos_juros_rytines_pakrantes_uostu_krovos_apzvalga__m_sausiogruodzio_men_/1201|archive-date=19 October 2013|title=Short Sea|date=19 October 2013|website=shortsea.lt|access-date=18 October 2018}}</ref> [[Port of Klaipėda]] is outside of EU's 20 largest ports,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Maritime_ports_freight_and_passenger_statistics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132949/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Maritime_ports_freight_and_passenger_statistics|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=Maritime ports freight and passenger statistics – Statistics Explained|date=4 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Top_20_container_ports_in_2015_-_on_the_basis_of_volume_of_containers_handled_in_(1000_TEUs).png|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104133109/http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/File:Top_20_container_ports_in_2015_-_on_the_basis_of_volume_of_containers_handled_in_(1000_TEUs).png|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=File:Top 20 container ports in 2015 - on the basis of volume of containers handled in (1000 TEUs).png – Statistics Explained|date=4 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref> but it is the eighth largest port in the [[Baltic Sea]] region<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=90478|title=Riga and Klaipėda included in TOP-10 ports in Baltic Sea Region by container turnover :: The Baltic Course – Baltic States news & analytics|date=21 December 2017|website=Baltic-course.com|access-date=21 December 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221104115/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=90478|archive-date=21 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://actiaforum.pl/en/assets/files/realizacje/pdf/PM-17-EN.pdf|title=2016 – a better year for most of the Top 10 Baltic container ports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132642/http://actiaforum.pl/en/assets/files/realizacje/pdf/PM-17-EN.pdf|archive-date=4 January 2018|date=4 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref> with ongoing expansion plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://port.today/klaipeda-outer-port-constructed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104132737/https://port.today/klaipeda-outer-port-constructed/|archive-date=4 January 2018|title=Klaipėda outer port to be constructed – port.today|date=4 January 2018|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>
As of 2022, the LIWA (Lithuanian Inland Waterways Authority, Vidaus vandens keliu direkcija in Lithuanian) is developing a strategy to resurrect cargo shipping on the Nemunas. Its fleet of electric ships will travel 260 km between the port of Klaipda on the Baltic Sea coast and the industrial and transportation centre of [[Kaunas]].<ref name=":159">{{Cite web |title=Reviving Lithuania's inland waterways to cut emissions |url=https://www.eib.org/en/stories/lithuania-waterways-emissions |access-date=
[[Vilnius International Airport]] is the largest airport in Lithuania, 91st busiest airport in Europe ([[List of the busiest airports in Europe|EU's 100 largest airports]]). It served 3.8 million passengers in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/news/?id=1930281 |title=The Lithuanian Airports Have Presented the Results for the Year 2016: the Number of Passengers Has Surged to Record Levels of 4.8 Million |date=12 January 2017 |access-date=24 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004085407/http://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/news/?id=1930281 |archive-date=4 October 2017}}</ref> Other international airports include [[Kaunas Airport|Kaunas International Airport]], [[Palanga International Airport]] and [[Šiauliai International Airport]]. [[Kaunas Airport|Kaunas International Airport]] is also a small commercial cargo airport which started regular commercial cargo traffic in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaunozinios.lt/naujienos/kauno-oro-uoste-ivykdytas-pirmas-reguliarus-krovininis-reisas_36224.html|title=Kauno oro uoste įvykdytas pirmas reguliarus krovininis reisas|website=Kaunozinios.lt|date=4 April 2011|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627215332/https://kaunozinios.lt/naujienos/kauno-oro-uoste-ivykdytas-pirmas-reguliarus-krovininis-reisas_36224.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The inland river cargo port in Marvelė, linking Kaunas and Klaipėda, received first cargo in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marvelės uostą pasiekė pirmasis krovinys! |url=https://klaipeda.diena.lt/naujienos/kaunas/miesto-pulsas/marveles-uosta-pasieke-pirmasis-krovinys-910893 |website=klaipeda.diena.lt |date=23 April 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019 |language=LT |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222405/https://klaipeda.diena.lt/naujienos/kaunas/miesto-pulsas/marveles-uosta-pasieke-pirmasis-krovinys-910893 |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Energy===
{{Main|Energy in Lithuania}} {{See also|Renewable energy in Lithuania}}
[[File:FSRU Independence in the port of Klaipėda, Lithuania.jpg|thumb|right|[[FSRU Independence|FSRU ''Independence'']] in port of Klaipėda]]
Systematic diversification of energy imports and resources is Lithuania's key energy strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lsta.lt/files/seminarai/2015-04-09_Ryga/03.-ey-bus-2015-rokas-masiulis.pdf|title=Lithuania's Energy Sector Development Trends|page=2|website=Lsta.lt|access-date=7 April 2018|archive-date=24 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824064812/http://www.lsta.lt/files/seminarai/2015-04-09_Ryga/03.-ey-bus-2015-rokas-masiulis.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Long-term aims were defined in National Energy Independence strategy in 2012 by Lietuvos Seimas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamyba.le.lt/sites/default/files/media/dynamic/files/481/nationalenergyindependencestrategy.pdf|title=National Energy Independence Strategy|website=Gamyba.le.lt|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413185919/https://gamyba.le.lt/sites/default/files/media/dynamic/files/481/nationalenergyindependencestrategy.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> It was estimated that strategic energy independence initiatives will cost €6.3–7.8 billion in total and provide annual savings of €0.9–1.1 billion.
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==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Lithuania}}
[[File:Population density in municipalities of Lithuania modified.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|Population density of Lithuania]]
Since the Neolithic period, the demographics of Lithuania have stayed fairly homogenous. There is a high probability that the inhabitants of present-day Lithuania have similar genetic compositions to their ancestors,<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Česnys | first1 = G. | year = 1991 | title = Anthropological roots of the Lithuanians | journal = Science, Arts and Lithuania | volume = 1 | pages = 4–10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people=akad. Rimantas Jankauskas |date=6 May 2018 |title="Mokslo ekspresas": tūkstantmečiai kapai atskleidžia Lietuvos priešistorės paslaptis |medium=Video |language=lt |url=https://www.delfi.lt/video/laidos/mokslo-ekspresas/mokslo-ekspresas-tukstantmeciai-kapai-atskleidzia-lietuvos-priesistores-paslaptis.d?id=77886901 |access-date=11 May 2018 |time=04:06 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417193842/https://www.delfi.lt/video/laidos/mokslo-ekspresas/mokslo-ekspresas-tukstantmeciai-kapai-atskleidzia-lietuvos-priesistores-paslaptis.d?id=77886901 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|title=The genetic prehistory of the Baltic Sea region |author=Alissa Mittnik |author2=Chuan-Chao Wang |author3=Saskia Pfrengle |author4=Mantas Daubaras |author5=Gunita Zariņa |author6=Fredrik Hallgren |author7=Raili Allmäe |author8=Valery Khartanovich |author9=Vyacheslav Moiseyev |author10=Mari Tõrv |author11=Anja Furtwängler |author12=Aida Andrades Valtueña |author13=Michal Feldman |author14=Christos Economou |author15=Markku Oinonen |author16=Andrejs Vasks |author17=Elena Balanovska |author18=David Reich |author19=Rimantas Jankauskas |author20=Wolfgang Haak |author21=Stephan Schiffels |author22=Johannes Krause |journal=Nature Communications|volume=9 |doi=10.1038/s41467-018-02825-9|pmid=29382937 |pmc=5789860 |issue=1|page=442 |bibcode=2018NatCo...9..442M|year=2018}}</ref> although without being actually isolated from them.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Daiva Ambrasienė, Vaidutis Kučinskas|title=Genetic variability of the Lithuanian human population according to Y chromosome microsatellite markers|url=http://www.ebiblioteka.lt/resursai/LMA/Ekologija/E-89.pdf|page=89|journal=Ekologija|year=2003|volume=1|access-date=24 December 2011|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921091744/http://www.ebiblioteka.lt/resursai/LMA/Ekologija/E-89.pdf}}</ref> The Lithuanian population appears to be relatively homogeneous, without apparent genetic differences among ethnic subgroups.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://images.katalogas.lt/maleidykla/act41/A-01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227130058/http://images.katalogas.lt/maleidykla/act41/A-01.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2008 |title=Mitochondrial DNA Sequence Analysis in the Lithuanian Population |author=Dalia Kasperavičiūtė and Vaidutis Kučinskas |journal=Acta Medica Lituanica |year=2004 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=1–6 }}</ref>
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In 2016, Lithuania ranked 27th in Europe in the [[Euro health consumer index]], a ranking of European healthcare systems based on waiting time, results and other indicators.
{{As of|2023}}, Lithuanian [[life expectancy]] at birth was 76.0 (70.6 years for males and 81.6 for females)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life expectancy at birth - The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/life-expectancy-at-birth/ |access-date=3 April 2024 |website=www.cia.gov |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212221326/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/life-expectancy-at-birth |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[infant mortality]] rate was 2.99 per 1,000 births.<ref>{{cite web|title=Infant mortality rate - Total|publisher=[[UN]] Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation|url=https://childmortality.org/data/Lithuania}}{{Dead link|date=May 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The annual population growth rate increased by 0.3% in 2007. Lithuania has seen a dramatic rise in suicides in the 1990s.<ref name="who-suicide-data">{{cite web|title=Suicide rates. Data by country|url=http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MHSUICIDE?lang=en|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626141542/http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MHSUICIDE?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The suicide rate has been constantly decreasing since, but it still remains the highest in the EU and one of the highest in the [[OECD]]. The suicide rate as of 2019 is 20.2 per 100,000 people.<ref name="who-suicide-data"/> [[Suicide in Lithuania]] has been a subject of research, but the main reasons behind the high rate are thought{{who|date=October 2024}} to be both psychological and economic, including: social transformations and economic recessions, alcoholism, lack of tolerance in the society and bullying.<ref name="lrt-suicide-reasons">{{cite web|title=Pradeda veikti Savižudybių prevencijos biuras|date=5 January 2015|access-date=19 May 2021|publisher=Lithuanian Radio and Television|language=lt|url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/tavo-lrt/15/88217/pradeda-veikti-savizudybiu-prevencijos-biuras|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623221809/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/tavo-lrt/15/88217/pradeda-veikti-savizudybiu-prevencijos-biuras|url-status=live}}</ref>
By 2000, the vast majority of Lithuanian health care institutions were non-profit-making enterprises and a private sector developed, providing mostly outpatient services which are paid for out-of-pocket. The [[Ministry of Health (Lithuania)|Ministry of Health]] also runs a few health care facilities and is involved in the running of the two major Lithuanian teaching hospitals. It is responsible for the State Public Health Centre which manages the public health network including ten county public health centres with their local branches. The ten [[Counties of Lithuania|counties]] run county hospitals and specialised health care facilities.<ref>{{cite book|title=Health Care Systems in Transition|date=2000|publisher=WHO|url=http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/95127/E69920.pdf?ua=1|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227035833/https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/95127/E69920.pdf?ua=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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{{Main|Religion in Lithuania}}
{{See also|Lithuanian mythology}}
[[File:Hill-of-crosses-siauliai.jpg|thumb|upright=1.65|[[Hill of Crosses]] near [[Šiauliai]]]]
According to the 2021 census, 74.2% of residents of Lithuania were Catholics.<ref name="religion-stats"/> Catholicism has been the main religion since the official [[Christianisation of Lithuania]] in 1387. The Catholic Church was persecuted by the Russian Empire as part of the [[Russification]] policies and by the Soviet Union as part of the overall [[Religion in the Soviet Union|anti-religious campaigns]]. During the Soviet era, some priests actively led the resistance against the Communist regime, as symbolised by the [[Hill of Crosses]] and exemplified by ''[[The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania]]''.
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3.7% of the population are [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]], mainly among the Russian minority.<ref name="religion-stats"/> The community of [[Old Believers]] (0.6% of population) dates back to the 1660s.
[[Protestants]] are 0.8%, of which 0.6% are [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] and 0.2% are [[Lithuanian Evangelical Reformed Church|Reformed]]. The [[Reformation]] did not impact Lithuania to a great extent as seen in [[East Prussia]], [[Estonia]], or [[Latvia]]. Before World War II, according to Losch (1932), the Lutherans were 3.3% of the total population.<ref name="lmaleidykla.lt">{{cite web |url=http://lmaleidykla.lt/publ/1392-1096/2004/2/Geo_026_33.pdf |title=Lietuvos gyventojø religijos ir jø paplitimas |access-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509100300/http://www.lmaleidykla.lt/publ/1392-1096/2004/2/Geo_026_33.pdf |archive-date=9 May 2016}}</ref> They were mainly [[Germans]] and [[Prussian Lithuanians]] in the [[Klaipėda Region]] (Memel territory). This population [[Flight and expulsion of Germans|fled or was expelled after the war]], and
Hinduism is a minority religion and a fairly recent development in Lithuania. Hinduism is spread in Lithuania by Hindu organizations: [[ISKCON]], [[Sathya Sai Baba]], [[Brahma Kumaris]] and [[Osho Rajneesh]]. [[ISKCON]] (Lithuanian: Krišnos sąmonės judėjimas) is the largest and the oldest movement as the first Krishna followers date to 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.religija.lt/content/view/388/33/ |title=Krišnos sąmonės judėjimas |access-date=3 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020165549/http://www.religija.lt/content/view/388/33/ |archive-date=20 October 2008}}</ref> It has three centres in Lithuania: in [[Vilnius]], [[Klaipėda]] and [[Kaunas]]. [[Brahma Kumaris]] maintains the Centre Brahma Kumaris in [[Antakalnis]], Vilnius.
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The [[Constitution of Lithuania]] mandates ten-year education ending at age 16 and guarantees a free public higher education for students deemed 'good'.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania came into force on 2 November 1992|url=http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm|access-date=6 April 2010|publisher=Republic of Lithuania|archive-date=17 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117080458/http://www3.lrs.lt/home/Konstitucija/Constitution.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Education and Science (Lithuania)|Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania]] proposes national educational policies and goals that are then voted for in the Seimas. Laws govern long-term educational strategy along with general laws on standards for higher education, vocational training, law and science, adult education, and special education.<ref name="edu1">{{cite web|url=http://www.european-agency.org/country-information/lithuania/lithuania-docs/education_lithuania.pdf|publisher=European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education|access-date=6 April 2010|title=Education in Lithuania|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215022049/http://www.european-agency.org/country-information/lithuania/lithuania-docs/education_lithuania.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2010}}</ref> 5.4% of GDP or 15.4% of total public expenditure was spent for education in 2016.<ref name=edumonitor>{{cite web|title=Education and Training Monitor 2017. Lithuania|url=https://ec.europa.eu/education/sites/education/files/monitor2017-lt_en.pdf|access-date=5 April 2018|page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406041020/https://ec.europa.eu/education/sites/education/files/monitor2017-lt_en.pdf|archive-date=6 April 2018}}</ref>
[[File:
According to the [[World Bank]], the literacy rate among Lithuanians aged 15 years and older is 100%.<ref>{{cite web|title=ICT at a Glance |url=http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/ltu_ict.pdf |publisher=[[World Bank]] |access-date=7 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707184435/http://devdata.worldbank.org/ict/ltu_ict.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2007}}</ref> School attendance rates are above the EU average and school leave is less common than in the EU. According to [[Eurostat]] Lithuania leads among other countries of the [[European Union]] in people with secondary education (93.3%).<ref>{{cite web|title=Upper secondary education in EU|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00065|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=16 May 2014|archive-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517120812/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00065|url-status=live}}</ref> Based on OECD data, Lithuania is among the top 5 countries in the world in postsecondary (tertiary) education attainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Population with tertiary education|url=https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|website=data.oecd.org|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925040912/https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2016}}, 54.9% of the population aged 25 to 34, and 30.7% of the population aged 55 to 64 had completed tertiary education.<ref>{{cite web|title=Population with tertiary education|url=https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|website=data.oecd.org|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925040912/https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/population-with-tertiary-education.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The share of tertiary-educated 25–64-year-olds in STEM ([[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics]]) fields in Lithuania were above the OECD average (29% and 26% respectively), similarly to business, administration and law (25% and 23% respectively).<ref>{{cite web|title=Education at a glance 2017. Lithuania|url=http://gpseducation.oecd.org/Content/EAGCountryNotes/LTU.pdf|website=gpseducation.oecd.org|page=2|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808021023/http://gpseducation.oecd.org/Content/EAGCountryNotes/LTU.pdf}}</ref>
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[[File:Mažvydo Katekizmas, Vilnius.jpg|thumb|upright|The first Lithuanian [[printing|printed]] book, ''[[Catechism of Martynas Mažvydas]]'' (1547, Königsberg)]]
[[File:Radivilias.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The title page of ''Radivilias'' (1592, Vilnius). The poem celebrating commander [[Mikołaj "the Red" Radziwiłł|Mikalojus Radvila Rudasis]] (1512–1584) and recounts the [[Battle of Ula|famous victory]] of [[Lithuanian Armed Forces]] over Moscow troops (1564).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Radvanas |first1=Jonas |title=Radivilias, sive De vita, et rebus praeclarissime gestis immortalis memoriae |url=http://www.theeuropeanlibrary.org/exhibition-reading-europe/detail.html?id=97294 |website=theeuropeanlibrary.org |publisher=ex officina Ioannis Kartzani |access-date=14 July 2018}}</ref>]]
There is a great deal of Lithuanian literature written in [[Latin]], the main scholarly language of the Middle Ages. The edicts of the Lithuanian King [[Mindaugas]] are the prime example of the literature of this kind. The [[Letters of Gediminas]] are another crucial heritage of the Lithuanian Latin writings.
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The evolution of the old (14th–18th century) Lithuanian literature ends with [[Kristijonas Donelaitis]], one of the most prominent authors of the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. Donelaitis' poem ''Metai'' (''[[The Seasons (poem)|The Seasons]]'') is a landmark of the Lithuanian fiction literature, written in [[hexameter]].<ref name="INST">Institute of Lithuanian Scientific Society. {{cite web|url=http://anthology.lms.lt/ |title=Lithuanian Classic Literature |access-date=16 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204191505/http://anthology.lms.lt/ |archive-date=4 February 2005}}</ref>
With a mix of [[Classicism]], [[Sentimentalism (literature)|Sentimentalism]] and [[Romanticism]], the Lithuanian literature of the first half of the 19th century is represented by [[Maironis]], [[Antanas Baranauskas]], [[Simonas Daukantas]], [[Oscar Milosz]], and [[Simonas Stanevičius]].<ref name="INST" /> During the Tsarist annexation of Lithuania in the 19th century, the [[Lithuanian press ban]] was implemented, which led to the formation of the [[Knygnešiai]] (Book smugglers) movement. This movement is thought{{who|date=October 2024}} to be the very reason the Lithuanian language and literature survived
20th-century Lithuanian literature is represented by [[Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas]], [[Antanas Vienuolis]], [[Bernardas Brazdžionis]], [[Antanas Škėma]], [[Balys Sruoga]], [[Vytautas Mačernis]] and [[Justinas Marcinkevičius]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
In 21st century debuted [[Kristina Sabaliauskaitė]], Renata Šerelytė, Valdas Papievis, [[Laura Sintija Černiauskaitė]], [[Ruta Sepetys|Rūta Šepetys]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}
===Architecture===
{{See also|Lithuanian design}}
[[File:Album Wilenskie. 1845-1875 (5552457) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|180px|[[Vilnius Cathedral]] by [[Laurynas Gucevičius]]
Several [[List of architects from Lithuania|famous Lithuania-related architects]] are notable for their achievements in the field of architecture. [[Johann Christoph Glaubitz]], [[Marcin Knackfus]], [[Laurynas Gucevičius]] and [[Karol Podczaszyński]] were instrumental in introducing [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] and [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] architectural movements to the Lithuanian architecture during the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuanian Baroque architecture|url=http://www.kpd.lt/uploads/EN/Heritage%20in%20Lithuania/Heritage%20in%20Lithuania/9_LITHUANIAN_BAROQUE_ARCHITECTURE.pdf|website=kpd.lt|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808021028/http://www.kpd.lt/uploads/EN/Heritage%20in%20Lithuania/Heritage%20in%20Lithuania/9_LITHUANIAN_BAROQUE_ARCHITECTURE.pdf}}</ref> [[Vilnius]] is considered as a capital of the Eastern Europe Baroque.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vilniaus barokas|url=http://www.ivilnius.lt/apie-vilniu/architektura/barokas/|website=iVilnius.lt|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194854/http://www.ivilnius.lt/apie-vilniu/architektura/barokas/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vilnius Old Town]] that is full of astonishing Baroque churches and other buildings is a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vilnius Historic Centre|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/541|website=whc.unesco.org|access-date=20 February 2018|archive-date=27 October 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027114553/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/541|url-status=live}}</ref>
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===Theatre===
Lithuania has
Lithuanian theatre Theatre director [[Oskaras Koršunovas]] was awarded the Swedish Commander Grand Cross: [[Order of the Polar Star]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Oskaras Koršunovas|url=https://www.okt.lt/kurejai/oskaras-korsunovas/|website=Okt.lt|access-date=18 February 2018|language=lt-LT|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222248/https://www.okt.lt/kurejai/oskaras-korsunovas/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Cinema===
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[[File:Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis photo portrait.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|Painter and composer [[Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis|M.K. Čiurlionis]]]]
[[Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis]]
In Lithuania, [[choral music]] is
▲[[Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis]] is the most renowned Lithuanian painter and composer. During his short life he created about 200 pieces of music. His works have had profound influence on modern Lithuanian culture. His [[symphonic poem]]s ''In the Forest'' (''Miške'') and ''The Sea'' (''Jūra'') were performed only [[Posthumous work|posthumously]]. Čiurlionis contributed to symbolism and art nouveau and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. He has been considered one of the pioneers of abstract art in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Painting {{!}} M. K. Čiurlionis|url=http://ciurlionis.eu/en/painting/|website=ciurlionis.eu|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222149/http://ciurlionis.eu/en/painting/|url-status=live}}</ref>
▲In Lithuania, [[choral music]] is very important. [[Vilnius]] is the only city with three choirs laureates (Brevis, Jauna Muzika and Chamber Choir of the Conservatoire) at the [[European Grand Prix for Choral Singing]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murauskaitė |first1=Rasa |title=Trys meilės chorui dešimtmečiai. Pokalbis su Vaclovu Augustinu |url=https://www.15min.lt/kultura/naujiena/muzika/trys-meiles-chorui-desimtmeciai-pokalbis-su-vaclovu-augustinu-284-1207238 |website=[[15min.lt]] |access-date=31 October 2019 |language=lt |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417174122/https://www.15min.lt/kultura/naujiena/muzika/trys-meiles-chorui-desimtmeciai-pokalbis-su-vaclovu-augustinu-284-1207238 |url-status=live }}</ref> There is a long-standing tradition of the ''Dainų šventė'' ([[Lithuanian Song Festival|Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival]]). The first one took place in [[Kaunas]] in 1924. Since 1990, the festival has been organised every four years and summons roughly 30,000 singers and folk dancers of various professional levels and age groups from across the country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lithuanian Song Festival|url=http://www.dainusvente.lt/en/history/|website=DainuSvente.lt|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=11 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611213024/https://www.dainusvente.lt/en/history/}}</ref> In 2008, Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival together with its [[Latvian Song and Dance Festival|Latvian]] and [[Estonian Song Festival|Estonian]] versions was inscribed as UNESCO [[Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity|Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity|date=2005|publisher=[[UNESCO]]|page=50|url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001473/147344e.pdf|access-date=23 January 2018|archive-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617201025/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001473/147344e.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Gatvės muzikos diena'' (Street Music Day) gathers musicians of various genres annually.<ref>{{cite web|title=Street Music Day|url=http://gmd.lt/en|website=gmd.lt|access-date=10 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311021339/http://gmd.lt/en|archive-date=11 March 2018}}</ref>
Modern classical composers emerged in seventies – [[Bronius Kutavičius]], {{ill|Feliksas Bajoras|lt}}, [[Osvaldas Balakauskas]], [[Onutė Narbutaitė]], [[Vidmantas Bartulis]] and others. Most of those composers explored archaic Lithuanian music and its harmonic combination with modern minimalism and neoromanticism.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Modern Music of Lithuania: Past & Present|url=http://www.mic.lt/en/database/classical/history/|website=Mic.lt|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627234436/https://www.mic.lt/en/database/classical/history/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Jazz scene was active even during the years of Soviet occupation.
[[Music Information Centre Lithuania]] (MICL) collects, promotes and shares information on Lithuanian musical culture.
====Rock and protest music====
{{Main|Rock music in Lithuania}}
[[File:Antis rock band on stage during the first edition of the Rock March (Vilnius, Lithuania, 1987).jpg|thumb|Rock band [[Antis (band)|Antis]], which under firm [[Censorship in the Soviet Union|censorship]] actively mocked the [[Soviet Union]] regime by using [[metaphor]]s in their lyrics, during an [[
After the [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|Soviet reoccupation of Lithuania in 1944]], the [[Censorship in the Soviet Union|Soviet's censorship]] continued firmly controlling all artistic expressions in Lithuania, and any violations by criticizing the regime would immediately result in punishments.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sinitsyna|first1=Olga|title=CENSORSHIP IN THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS CULTURAL AND PROFESSIONAL RESULTS FOR ARTS AND ART LIBRARIES|date=1999|url=https://forge.fh-potsdam.de/~IFLA/INSPEL/99-1sino.pdf|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308143445/https://forge.fh-potsdam.de/~IFLA/INSPEL/99-1sino.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The first local rock bands started to emerge around 1965 and included ''Kertukai'', ''Aitvarai'' and ''Nuogi ant slenksčio'' in Kaunas, and [[Kęstutis Antanėlis]], ''Vienuoliai'', and ''Gėlių Vaikai'' in Vilnius, among others. Unable to express their opinions directly, the Lithuanian artists began organizing patriotic [[Roko maršas|Roko Maršai]] and were using [[metaphor]]s in their songs' lyrics, which were easily identified for their true meanings by the locals.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tilvikaitė|first1=Patricija|title=Ir lietuviškas rokas padėjo Lietuvai atkurti Nepriklausomybę|url=http://www.universitetozurnalistas.kf.vu.lt/2016/08/ir-lietuviskas-rokas-padejo-lietuvai-atkurti-nepriklausomybe/|website=Universitetozurnalistas.kf.vu.lt|access-date=23 August 2016|language=lt|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222325/http://www.universitetozurnalistas.kf.vu.lt/2016/08/ir-lietuviskas-rokas-padejo-lietuvai-atkurti-nepriklausomybe/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A. Mamontovas: "Roko maršai" buvo toks įrankis, koks dabar yra internetas|url=http://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/lietuva/salies-pulsas/mamontovas-roko-marsai-buvo-toks-irankis-koks-dabar-yra-internetas-801615|website=Kauno diena / LRT|date=12 March 2017|access-date=12 March 2017|language=lt|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627235041/https://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/lietuva/salies-pulsas/mamontovas-roko-marsai-buvo-toks-irankis-koks-dabar-yra-internetas-801615|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Postmodernist]] [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Antis (band)|Antis]] and its vocalist [[Algirdas Kaušpėdas]] were one of the most active performers who mocked the Soviet regime by using metaphors. For example, in the song ''Zombiai'' (Zombies), the band indirectly sang about the [[Red Army]] soldiers who occupied the state and its military base in [[Ukmergė]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ukmergės karinis miestelis|url=http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/1558|website=Autc.lt|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222917/http://www.autc.lt/lt/architekturos-objektai/1558}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Knyga "Antiška" (II dalis): iki "Anties" lietuviai nežinojo, kas yra zombis (ištrauka, video)|url=https://kultura.lrytas.lt/literatura/knyga-antiska-ii-dalis-iki-anties-lietuviai-nezinojo-kas-yra-zombis-istrauka-video.htm|website=[[Lrytas.lt]]|access-date=29 July 2013|language=lt-LT|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222913/https://kultura.lrytas.lt/literatura/knyga-antiska-ii-dalis-iki-anties-lietuviai-nezinojo-kas-yra-zombis-istrauka-video.htm}}</ref> [[Vytautas Kernagis]]' song ''Kolorado vabalai'' ([[Colorado potato beetle|Colorado beetles]]) was also a favourite due to its lyrics in which true meaning of the Colorado beetles was intended to be the Soviets decorated with the [[Ribbon of Saint George|Ribbons of Saint George]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bacanskas|first1=Benas|title=Dainos teatras – Kolorado vabalai (1991-12-25)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDLmyqENH3U| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809142047/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDLmyqENH3U| archive-date=9 August 2021
In the early independence years, rock band [[Foje]] was particularly popular and gathered tens of thousands of spectators to the concerts.<ref>{{cite web|title=A. Mamontovas: padėsime galutinį tašką "Foje" istorijoje – LRT|url=http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kalba-vilnius/32/26683/a-mamontovas-padesime-galutini-taska-foje-istorijoje|website=LRT|date=6 October 2013|access-date=6 October 2013|language=lt|archive-date=27 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627232410/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kalba-vilnius/32/26683/a-mamontovas-padesime-galutini-taska-foje-istorijoje|url-status=live}}</ref> After disbanding in 1997, Foje vocalist [[Andrius Mamontovas]] remained one of the most prominent Lithuanian performers and an active participant in various [[Charity (practice)|charity]] events.<ref>{{cite web|title=A. Mamontovas: populiarumą išnaudoju geriems darbams|url=http://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/26/117983/a-mamontovas-populiaruma-isnaudoju-geriems-darbams|website=LRT|date=31 October 2015|access-date=31 October 2015|language=lt|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430135756/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/26/117983/a-mamontovas-populiaruma-isnaudoju-geriems-darbams|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Marijonas Mikutavičius]] is famous for creating unofficial Lithuania sport anthem ''Trys milijonai'' (Three million) and official anthem of the [[EuroBasket 2011]] ''Nebetyli sirgaliai'' (English version was named ''Celebrate Basketball'').<ref>{{YouTube|fmmg3Wl86kQ|Marijonas Mikutavičius – Trys milijonai}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marijonas Mikutavičius, Mantas, Mia – Nebetyli sirgaliai|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TyDEPzXr3M|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109115739/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TyDEPzXr3M&gl=US&hl=en|archive-date=9 January 2019|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=15 October 2014|date=15 October 2014|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
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[[File:Biržų 1686 Jubiliejinis Alus (9834933134).jpg|thumb|upright=.65|left|Lithuania has longlasting [[Beer in Lithuania|beer brewing traditions]].]]
One of the oldest and most fundamental Lithuanian food products was and is rye bread. Rye bread is eaten every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bread played an important role in family rituals and agrarian ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web|title=LITHUANIAN TRADITIONAL FOODS – BREAD|url=http://www.lnkc.lt/eknygos/eka/food/bread.html|website=Lnkc.lt|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=25 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325233234/http://www.lnkc.lt/eknygos/eka/food/bread.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Lithuanians and other nations that once formed part of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] share many dishes and beverages. [[German cuisine|German traditions]] also influenced Lithuanian cuisine, introducing pork and potato dishes, such as potato pudding (''kugelis'' or kugel) and [[Kishka (food)|potato sausages]] (''vėdarai''), as well as the baroque tree cake known as ''[[Šakotis]]''. The most exotic of all the influences is Eastern (Karaite) cuisine – the ''[[kibinai]]'' are popular in Lithuania. Lithuanian noblemen usually hired French chefs, so [[French cuisine]] influence came to Lithuania in this way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kokią įtaką Lietuvos virtuvei padarė prancūzai?|url=https://www.15min.lt/maistas/naujiena/virtuve/kokia-itaka-lietuvos-virtuvei-padare-prancuzai-1044-719414|website=15min.lt|access-date=26 March 2018|language=lt|archive-date=26 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326064821/https://www.15min.lt/maistas/naujiena/virtuve/kokia-itaka-lietuvos-virtuvei-padare-prancuzai-1044-719414|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Balts]] were using [[mead]] (''[[midus]]'') for thousands of years.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Astrauskas|first1=Antanas|title=Per barzdą varvėjo: svaigiųjų gėrimų istorija Lietuvoje|date=2008|publisher=Baltos lankos|location=Vilnius|isbn=978-9955-23-141-7}}</ref> Beer (''alus'') is the most common alcoholic beverage. Lithuania has a long farmhouse [[Beer in Lithuania|beer tradition]], first mentioned in 11th century chronicles. Beer was brewed for ancient Baltic [[Festival|festivities]] and rituals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.llti.lt/failai/05_Laurinkienes.pdf|website=Llti.lt|page=18|title=Alus – apeiginis baltų gėrimas|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808021048/http://www.llti.lt/failai/05_Laurinkienes.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2019}}</ref> Farmhouse brewing survived to a greater extent in Lithuania than anywhere else, and through accidents of history the Lithuanians then developed a commercial brewing culture from their unique farmhouse traditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garshol.priv.no/download/lithuanian-beer-guide/book.pdf|website=Garshol.priv.no|page=5|title=Lithuanian beer – A rough guide|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-date=15 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215235338/http://www.garshol.priv.no/download/lithuanian-beer-guide/book.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garshol.priv.no/blog/253.html|website=Garshol.priv.no|title=Trying to understand Lithuanian beer|access-date=14 April 2018|archive-date=30 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430211724/https://www.garshol.priv.no/blog/253.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lithuania is top 5 by consumption of beer per capita in Europe in 2015, counting 75 active breweries, 32 of them are microbreweries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brewersofeurope.org/uploads/mycms-files/documents/publications/2016/stats_2016_web.pdf|website=Brewersofeurope.org|title=Beer statistics – 2016 edition|access-date=25 March 2018|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701100831/http://www.brewersofeurope.org/uploads/mycms-files/documents/publications/2016/stats_2016_web.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The microbrewery scene in Lithuania has
Eight Lithuanian restaurants are listed in the White Guide Baltic Top 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whiteguide-nordic.com/nyheter/there-is-no-better-time-than-now-to-visit-baltic-restaurants|website=Whiteguide-nordic.com|title=The best restaurants in the Nordics|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124174247/http://www.whiteguide-nordic.com/nyheter/there-is-no-better-time-than-now-to-visit-baltic-restaurants}}</ref> The local „30 geriausių restoranų” guide lists top domestic places,<ref>{{cite news | last1=Laurinavičienė | first1=Beatričė | last2=Budreikienė | first2=Jovita | title=Paskelbti 30 geriausių Lietuvos restoranų, pirmoje vietoje – "Gaspar's" | work=Verslo žinios | date=28 July 2023 | url=https://www.vz.lt/laisvalaikis/maistas-ir-gerimai/2023/07/28/paskelbti-30-geriausiu-lietuvos-restoranu-pirmoje-vietoje--gaspars | language=lt | access-date=5 June 2024 | archive-date=5 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605134437/https://www.vz.lt/laisvalaikis/maistas-ir-gerimai/2023/07/28/paskelbti-30-geriausiu-lietuvos-restoranu-pirmoje-vietoje--gaspars | url-status=live }}</ref> and Lithuanian restaurants will appear in the [[Michelin Guide]] on 13 June 2024.<ref>{{cite news | last=Laurinavičienė | first=Beatričė | title="Michelin" gido įvertinti restoranai – ir Lietuvoje | work=Verslo žinios | date=11 April 2024 | url=https://www.vz.lt/laisvalaikis/maistas-ir-gerimai/2024/04/11/michelin-gido-ivertinti-restoranai--ir-lietuvoje | language=lt | access-date=5 June 2024 | archive-date=5 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240605124425/https://www.vz.lt/laisvalaikis/maistas-ir-gerimai/2024/04/11/michelin-gido-ivertinti-restoranai--ir-lietuvoje | url-status=live }}</ref>
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===Sports===
{{Main|Sport in Lithuania}}
[[Basketball]] is the most popular and [[national sport]] of Lithuania. The [[Lithuania men's national basketball team|Lithuania national basketball team]] has
[[File:La selección de Lituania celebra su tercer puesto en el Mundial de baloncesto 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Lithuania men's national basketball team]] is ranked eighth worldwide in [[FIBA Rankings]].]]
Lithuania has won a total of [[Lithuania at the Olympics|26 medals at the Olympic Games]], including 6 gold medals in [[Sport of athletics|athletics]], [[modern pentathlon]], [[Shooting sport|shooting]], and [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]].
Lithuania hosted the [[2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup]], the first time Lithuania had hosted a FIFA tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three cities set to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021™ |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/futsalworldcup/lithuania2021/media-releases/origin1904-p.cxm.fifa.comthree-cities-set-to-host-the-fifa-futsal-world-cup-lithuania-2020tm |access-date=
▲Lithuania has won a total of [[Lithuania at the Olympics|26 medals at the Olympic Games]], including 6 gold medals in [[Sport of athletics|athletics]], [[modern pentathlon]], [[Shooting sport|shooting]], and [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]]. Numerous other Lithuanians won Olympic medals representing Soviet Union. [[Discus throw]]er [[Virgilijus Alekna]] is the most successful Olympic athlete of independent Lithuania, having won gold medals in the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Sydney]] and [[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]] games, as well as a bronze in [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and numerous [[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championship]] medals. More recently, the gold medal won by a then 15-year-old swimmer [[Rūta Meilutytė]] at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] in London sparked a rise in popularity for the sport in Lithuania.
▲Lithuania hosted the [[2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup]], the first time Lithuania had hosted a FIFA tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three cities set to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021™ |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/futsalworldcup/lithuania2021/media-releases/origin1904-p.cxm.fifa.comthree-cities-set-to-host-the-fifa-futsal-world-cup-lithuania-2020tm |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=www.fifa.com |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Few Lithuanian athletes have found success in [[winter sports]], although facilities are provided by several ice rinks and skiing slopes, including [[Snow Arena]], the first indoor ski slope in the [[Baltics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/sveikata/sveikata/ziemos-sportas-lietuvoje-podukros-vietoje-674533#.VRUtQaM1jct |title=Žiemos sportas Lietuvoje – podukros vietoje |language=lt |website=Kauno.diena.lt |date=10 February 2015 |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-date=30 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430183452/https://kauno.diena.lt/naujienos/sveikata/sveikata/ziemos-sportas-lietuvoje-podukros-vietoje-674533#.VRUtQaM1jct |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018 [[Lithuania men's national ice hockey team]] won gold medals at the [[2018 IIHF World Championship Division I]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jie tai padarė! Lietuviai žaibiškai atsitiesė po šalto dušo ir iškovojo istorinį titulą|url=https://www.15min.lt/sportas/naujiena/ziemos-sportas/jie-tai-padare-lietuviai-zaibiskai-atsitiese-po-salto-duso-ir-iskovojo-istorini-titula-295-963998|website=15min.lt|access-date=28 April 2018|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625120911/https://www.15min.lt/sportas/naujiena/ziemos-sportas/jie-tai-padare-lietuviai-zaibiskai-atsitiese-po-salto-duso-ir-iskovojo-istorini-titula-295-963998|url-status=live}}</ref>
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