59 Facts About Lithuania

When compared to English, Lithuanian is a difficult language to learn.

Jurgis Dobkeviius designed the first Lithuanian plane, a wooden sports monoplane, which was built in 1922. In 1925, Alfonsas Maonis introduced the first practical Lithuanian innovations. He invented an electric bell that could ring in multiple locations at once.

Lithuanian women are among the world's most attractive. A Lithuanian girl can be found almost anywhere on the planet. She'll always be the one walking politely, neatly dressed with a reasonable amount of make-up and beautifully groomed hair.

Lithuanian orthography employs a 32-letter Latin-script alphabet, two of which represent sounds not found in Lithuanian. It also includes five digraphs.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Lithuania's top export is refined petroleum. In 2012, it contributed 22.93 percent of exports, with fertiliser accounting for 3%. Wheat, polyacetals, and chemicals are also notable exports.

Cepelinai (Zeppelins), Fried Bread (Kepta Duona), Beetroot Soup (Burokli Sriuba), Chilled Borscht (Saltibarsciai), Grybukai (Mushroom Cookies), Fried Curd Cakes, Potato Pancakes, and Kibinai, to name a few traditional Lithuanian dishes.

Lithuania's population has been declining due to emigration and a lower number of births than deaths. Some politicians use such statistics to justify policies that encourage multi-child households.

Lithuania is known for its landscapes, flatlands, lush woods, lakes, and marches. Tourists are also drawn to the coast, which has sandy beaches where amber can be found, as well as the Curonian Spit, which has beautiful scenery and dunes.

Remygala, a small Lithuanian town, hosts an annual goat beauty pageant. In preparation for the pageant, goats are groomed, adorned with flowers, and dressed in costumes.

Cepelinai (lit. “zeppelins”; singular: cepelinas) or didkukuliai are potato dumplings packed with minced beef, dry curd cheese, or mushrooms and prepared with grated and riced potatoes. It’s been called Lithuania’s national dish, and it’s usually served as a main course.

While relatively few Lithuanians are impoverished, many are in a state of moderate poverty. The poverty line in Lithuania is LTL 811 ($265), and around 20% of the population lives below this level.

Lithuania was invaded by Soviet soldiers and integrated into the Soviet Union as a constituent country in 1940. Germany attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941 and took control of Lithuania.

Lithuania, with a high human development index, is an excellent choice for ex-pats looking to relocate to Europe. With a land area of 25,200 square miles, Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic countries. The country's climate is moderate, ranging from marine to continental.

Lithuania's economy is thriving as it shifts to more environmentally friendly industries such as information technology, biotechnology, and mechatronics. The EU state is now the epicentre of industrial and diagnostic biotechnology in the Baltic region. Some of the high-tech jobs available include research and development (R&D) managers, food technologists, research scientists, laboratory technicians, and product design engineers.

Lithuania is home to a number of global corporations, most of which are headquartered in Vilnius, the country’s capital. In 2009, British bank Barclays developed a Technology Centre, while Western Union launched a European Regional Operating Centre in 2011. Société Générale, Phillip Morris, GlaxoSmithKline, and United Colors of Benetton are among the companies with offices and factories around the nation.

The White Stork was designated as Lithuania’s national animal in 1973. With its large beak and exquisite white and black plumage, this bird signifies peace. Many Lithuanians think that letting this bird build a nest near their home provides serenity to the entire family.

Many people are familiar with Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras; however, Lithuania has its own unique take on the event. Uzgavenes celebrate this day by overindulging in pancakes and donning hand-carved wooden masks.

In comparison to other European countries, Lithuania has a cheaper cost of living. 

Lithuania has some of the cheapest healthcare in Europe. All citizens and permanent residents are entitled to free medical treatment, including ambulatory services. Outpatient services like general practice, maternity and child care, and dental treatment are available in state-funded health care centers.

Uzgavenes culminates in the burning of a More mixed with pagan rituals (a straw effigy). This More is said to represent a female figure, as evidenced by her sensuous shape, and burning her is said to ward off winter and usher in spring! Another straw figure that can be burned is the winter man effigy.

Poverty is concentrated in rural areas. Rural areas are home to one-third of the population, with agriculture employing half of the workforce.

In contrast, Lithuania is the only country with a distinct national odour. Galimard's Scent of Lithuania is a blend of bergamot, wildflowers, ginger, raspberry, and grapefruit, with base notes of amber, cedar, sandalwood, patchouli, tree moss, and tree smoke.

Lithuanians have a rather unusual Christmas Eve meal custom, though it is not as bizarre as the two preceding traditions. The entire household is served at least 12 vegetarian dishes.

Lithuania is a prosperous country. Lithuania is classified as a high-income country by the World Bank. It has a GNP per capita of around $15,000 per year, which is calculated by dividing the total income claimed by residents by the population. This is significantly higher than the Russian average ($11000), but less than half of the European Union average ($34000).

You can always buy a house in Lithuania, but the process may be lengthy. You can be confident that there are enough rentals on the market to meet the rising demand for housing among expats. You can choose between a short-term or long-term lease arrangement depending on how long you want to stay. Be financially prepared as well, as most landlords require a six-month deposit.

The Lithuanian economy is changing. In 2015, it became the 19th economy to adopt the euro. Because information and communication technology are among the country's fastest-growing industries, Lithuania's economy appears to be transitioning towards a knowledge-based economy. However, after taking a particularly hard hit from the 2008 financial crisis, the economy's growth has slowed in recent years.

Lithuania became a member of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004.

In Lithuania, children between the ages of six and sixteen are entitled to free but compulsory education. Because public institutions use Lithuanian, most expatriates send their children to foreign schools like the Vilnius International School.

Other local schools throughout the country offer high-quality education to both domestic and international students. The Vilnius Institution, founded in 1579, is Lithuania's and the Baltic countries' oldest university.

Lithuanian is a Baltic language that belongs to the Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European language family. It is the official language of Lithuania and one of the official languages of the European Union. There are approximately 2.8 million native Lithuanian speakers in Lithuania and approximately 200,000 speakers outside of the country.

With the Union of Lublin in 1569, Poland and Lithuania formed the Republic of Both Nations, also known as Poland-Lithuania or the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Russian is spoken by 63.0 percent of Lithuanians, English by 30.4%, Polish by 8.5%, and German by 8.3%. The generational element is still important since English and German are the most popular languages among teenagers.

Lithuania has been named as one of the world’s fastest developing economies. As an ex-pat seeking a place to call home, learning that Lithuania, although being a minor member of the European Union, has the lowest tax rate among EU countries is quite enticing.

Lithuania has a relatively low rate of unemployment and inequality. Despite the fact that Lithuania has a very high poverty rate, other development metrics such as unemployment and income inequality are quite low. Unemployment is at 8%, which is lower than in France or Italy, and the GINI index, a World Bank measure of income inequality, shows that Lithuania has more income equality than the US and is on par with Canada.

Because Lithuanians are very proud of their heritage and culture, I recommend meeting as many people as you can and getting to know them well. Once they start talking about Lithuanian culture and food, they won't stop!

Aside from its burgeoning economy, Lithuania is known as the "Jewel of Eastern Europe" because of its stunning coastline, the Curonian Spit, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lithuania has a population of 2.8 million people, with the majority of foreigners residing in Vilnius, the capital city known for its vibrant culture and arts scene.

The Great Lakes region and the Northeast have the most Lithuanian Americans, with Chicago serving as the primary diaspora hub. Since the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, nearly 20,000 Lithuanians have immigrated to the United States.

Lithuania offers a variety of engaging activities to assist ex-pat parents in keeping their children from feeling homesick. One of the fascinating fun facts about Lithuania is that it offers everything, from indoor to outdoor entertainment.

Children can learn about the history of sea life while strolling through dungeons and taking interactive quizzes about sea biology at the Sea Museum-Dolphinarium and Aquarium.

Nobody expects you to be fluent in Lithuanian by the end of your vacation, but it would mean a lot to them if you could learn a few basic words and show that you tried. Simple greetings like hello, please, and thank you will help you gain the trust and respect of the locals.

During the Christmas season, it is usually quite cold in Lithuania, with snow and ice on the ground. Christmas Eve (Kios) has a greater significance than Christmas Day. Kios is also the name of a large Christmas Eve dinner that families share on Christmas Eve evening.

Lithuania is also an excellent choice for outdoor-loving ex-pat families. This country is filled with thick hills, woods, and stunning rivers and lakes. The Auktaitija National Park is Lithuania's most well-known national park, with up to 200-year-old pine trees and over 126 lakes.

Nearly two kilometres of treetop trails and 40 zip lines are available.

Apples, plums, and pears are the most popular fruits, and they grow well in Lithuania.

According to the International Basketball Association (FIBA), Lithuania is consistently one of the top-ranked basketball countries, with the most NBA players per capita.

Lithuanians are known for their quiet demeanour and reverence for tradition. They are unlikely to go out of their way to introduce themselves or meet someone they have never met before, especially in public places. They believe it is impolite to look a stranger in the eyes, and it is customary to give ladies or the elderly a seat.

In Lithuanian tradition, shaking hands is a proper greeting when meeting someone in a restaurant or café, but never, ever inside the door. It's one of their many superstitions, along with the belief that whistling indoors summons small demons and that people who don't want to marry soon should avoid sitting in the table's corner.

The national religion of Lithuania is Roman Catholic, which is practised by 90 percent of the population. Despite the fact that most celebrations are religious observances, the Catholic Church's influence can be seen in the country's holidays.

Gift-giving is popular in Lithuania as well; however, expatriates should avoid giving chrysanthemums, which are only given at funerals, and white flowers, which are only given at weddings.

The first translations of the Lord’s Prayer, a creed, and the Ave Maria, created about 1525, show that a Lithuanian literary language has existed since the 16th century.

Lithuania has the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the European Union. According to WHO data, Lithuanians consumed an average of 2.6 alcoholic drinks per day in 2014, amounting to a startling 15.19 litres of pure alcohol per year.

Lithuanian women's facial characteristics are equally striking: With their huge ocean blue eyes and well-carved yet delicate face and cheek structure, they appear to be models, and their body form only adds to it. They're thin, with only the tiniest curves, and tall, with the majority standing taller than 5'8".

'Nebeprisikikiakopsteliaujantiesiems,' the longest term in Lithuanian, has been scrawled atop the ghost hotel Britanika in Kaunas for some time now, meaning something like 'Especially for those who never pick up enough shamrocks for themselves.'

People in the Baltics are used to eating a large breakfast to recharge their batteries for the day's work. One of the interesting facts about Lithuania is that fried eggs with fresh vegetables, ham and cheese sandwiches, omelettes, and oatmeal are some of the most popular breakfast options.

Between December 24th and 25th, Santa Claus, also known in Lithuanian as Kald senelis (Christmas grandfather), pays a visit to the home and places gifts under the Christmas tree.

There are no permanent brown bear populations in the country. Despite Lithuanians' high regard for the species, 82.4 percent of respondents said they would be concerned for the safety of their families if bears were spotted in the woods.

Lithuania is predominantly Christian (93%), with three-quarters of adults identifying as Catholic.

Lithuanians are typically 172.82cm (5 feet 8.03 inches) tall. On average, a Lithuanian man stands 179.02cm (5 feet 10.48 inches) tall.