Lithuania is situated in northeastern Europe. Officially it is called the Republic of Lithuania. It is surrounded by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the southeast, Poland to the south and the kaliningrad region of Russia to the southwest Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania.
Lithuanian is the official language of Lithuania. Lithuanian government is Parliamentary democracy.
Lithuania joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991. It became the 141st member of the World Trade Organization on 31st of May 2001. Moreover it became a full and equal NATO member on 29th of March 2004 on 1st February 1998, it became an Associate Member of the European Union and on April 16, 2003 it signed the EU Accession Treaty.

Birth and Establishment: - Lithuania became a significant state in middle Ages. On July 6, 1253 Mindaugas became the king of Lithuania. It was Lithuania's birth date. Then after, during the Gedimid dynasty, the nation grew into a multi ethnic Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which also incorporated the loads of modern Belarus and Ukraine.
Partition: - On 2nd February 1386, Grand Duke Jogaila became the king of the country. At that time Lithuania and Poland joined in a personal union, as both countries were ruled by the same Jagiellon dynasty. In 1569, Poland and Lithuania merged into a single state, which called the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1795, the Commonwealth was ended by the third Partition of Poland, which ceded its lands to Russia, Prussia, and Austria. 90% of Lithuania was incorporated into the Russian Empire and 10% into Prussia.
Re - establishment: - Lithuania re-established its independence on February 16, 1918. At that time, between Poland and Germany territorial disputes had been accrued. During the interwar period, the constitutional capital was Vilnius, while the temporary capital of Lithuania was Kaunas.
Second World War: - At the beginning of Second World War, the Soviet Union occupied and annexed Lithuania, but after that it was occupied by Germany. During that time about 90% of Lithuanian Jews were killed. In 1945, The Soviet Union reoccupied Lithuania.
Got- rid from Soviet Union: - Lithuania at last get rid from Soviet Union and communist rule and it led by Sajudis which was an anti-communist as well as anti-soviet independence movement, it proclaimed its renewed independence on 11th March, 1990. Though, Soviet forces tried until August 1991 to suppress this secession. On 31st August 1993 the last Russian army also let Lithuania. On February 4, 1991, Iceland became the first country, which recognizes Lithuanian independence, and Sweden opened an embassy in Lithuania for the first time.
Achievements: - Lithuania joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991. It became the 141st member of the World Trade Organization on 31st of May 2001. Moreover it became a full and equal NATO member on 29th of March 2004 on 1st February 1998, it became an Associate Member of the European Union and on April 16, 2003 it signed the EU Accession Treaty.

litai per US dollar - 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4 (2001)

Trade: - Prior to 1998, Lithuania conducted the most its trade with Russia. But after 1998 due to the Russian financial crisis Lithuania conducted its most of the trade with European Union.
GDP: - In 2003, prior to joining the European Union, Lithuania had the highest economic growth rate amongst all members, reaching 8.8% in the third quarter. In 2004(2005), a 6.6% (7.5%) growth in GDP reflected impressive economic development. According to the 2005 estimate, its GDP is about $49.39 billion.
Per Capita GDP: - According to the 2005 estimate, Lithuania's per capita GDP is about $15,657. Lithuanian income levels still little less than the rest of the older EU members, with per capita GDP in 2006 at 56% of the EU average.
Member of World Trade Organization: - Lithuania joined the United Nations on September 17, 1991. On May 31, 2001, Lithuania became the 141st members of the World Trade Organization.
NATO membership: - Since 1988, Lithuania has sought closer ties with the west, and so on January 4, 1994 it became the first of the Baltic States to apply for NATO membership. On November 21, 2002 NATO invited Lithuania to start membership negotiations and it became a full and equal NATO member on 29th of March 2004.
EU membership: - On February 1st, 1998, it became an Associate Member of the European Union and on April 16, 2003, it signed the EU Accession Treaty. On May 1, 2004 Lithuania joined the EU, Due to the membership of EU, it could reduce unemployment to 3.5%. EU membership fwled booming economy increased outsourcing into the country, boosted tourism sector.
Currency: - The Litas is the national currency of Lithuania, which has been pegged to the Euro since 2nd February, at the rate of EUR 1.00=LTL 3.4528 and Lithuania is expected to switch to the Euro on 1st January 2007.
Tax: - Lithuania has a flat rate of tax rather than a progressive scheme. The current rate of income tax is about 33%, which is comparatively higher than other countries. Due to this, mass emigration has been increased. According to the 2004 estimate, about 3,60,000 workers many have left the country. So the government tries to reduce the personal income tax from 33% to 27% and also plans to make reduction to 24% in 2008.

About 85 percent of the population of ethnic Lithuanians, other minorities are Poles, which constitute about 6.7%, Russians, which constitute about 6% and Belarusians that constitute about 1.5% of the total population. Poles are the largest minority, which lived in southeast Lithuania, while Russians, who are the second largest minority lived in the capital Vilnius and Klaipeda. According to the 2005 estimate, the total population of Lithuania was about 34,31,000 and its population density was about 55 persons per sq km.
Religion: - The historic predominant religions are Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. The other minority communities of Lithuania are Eastern Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam and Karaism. More than 80 percent of the country is Roman Catholic.

Lithuanian is the official language of Lithuania since 1988. Lithuanian is a language of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European languages. Other languages spoken in Lithuania are Russian and Polish, which are also the primary languages of education. About 80% of the Lithuanians can hold a conversation in Russian and almost all are familiar with the most general phrases and expressions. Most first foreign language, but students may also study German or schools.