History of Lithuania in Timeline

Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a Baltic state in Europe. Situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, it shares borders with Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It has a maritime border with Sweden. Lithuania covers 65,300 km2 and has a population of approximately 2.89 million. Vilnius is its capital and largest city, with other major cities including Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, and Panevėžys. Lithuanians, the titular nation, form the majority of the population and speak Lithuanian, belonging to the Baltic ethnolinguistic group.

1905: Great Seimas of Vilnius Demands Autonomy

In 1905, the Great Seimas of Vilnius convened and its participants adopted resolutions that demanded wide autonomy for Lithuania.

1907: Vilnius Conference Aspiration for Sovereignty

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.

1909: First Lithuanian movies released

In 1909, Lithuanian cinema pioneers Antanas Račiūnas and Ladislas Starevich released their first movies.

1911: Death of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis

In 1911, the composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, a renowned musician, passed away.

February 1918: Council of Lithuania Act of Independence

On February 16, 1918, the Council of Lithuania adopted the Act of Independence of Lithuania, which restored Lithuania as a democratic republic.

1918: Lithuanian State Reestablishment Day

February 16 is commemorated as Lithuanian State Reestablishment Day, marking the declaration of independence from Russia and Germany in 1918.

1918: Lithuania declared Independence

In 1918, Lithuania declared its Independence, marking the founding of the modern Republic of Lithuania.

1918: Constitution of Lithuania

In 1918, the Constitution of Lithuania allowed Lithuanian women to vote in the elections.

1919: Lithuanian women were allowed to vote

In 1919, Lithuanian women used their newly granted right for the first time in elections.

1919: Prevention of Polish coup attempt

In 1919, the Lithuanian authorities prevented the Polish coup attempt in Lithuania.

1920: Żeligowski's Mutiny

In 1920, during the Żeligowski's Mutiny, the Polish forces captured Vilnius Region and established a puppet state of the Republic of Central Lithuania.

1920: USA allow women to vote

In 1920, the United States allow women to vote.

1922: Republic of Central Lithuania incorporated into Poland

In 1922 the Republic of Central Lithuania was incorporated into Poland. Consequently, Kaunas became the temporary capital of Lithuania where the Constituent Assembly of Lithuania was held and other primary Lithuanian institutions operated until 1940.

1923: Klaipėda Revolt unifies region with Lithuania

In 1923, the Klaipėda Revolt was organized which unified the Klaipėda Region with Lithuania.

1924: First Dainų šventė

The first Dainų šventė (Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival) took place in Kaunas in 1924.

1925: Pranas Valuskis films movie Naktis Lietuvoje

In 1925, Pranas Valuskis filmed the movie "Naktis Lietuvoje (Night in Lithuania)" about Lithuanian book smugglers.

1926: Lithuanian coup d'état

In 1926, the Lithuanian coup d'état replaced the democratically elected government and president with an authoritarian regime led by Antanas Smetona.

1932: Lutherans in Lithuania

According to Losch in 1932, Lutherans constituted 3.3% of the total population of Lithuania.

1933: Lithuanian Art Museum Founded

In 1933, the Lithuanian Art Museum, the largest museum for art conservation and display in Lithuania, was founded.

1934: First mass trial of Nazis in Europe

In 1934, Lithuania held the first mass trial of Nazis in Europe.

1935: Sentencing of Nazis

In 1935, the Nazis convicted in Lithuania's mass trial were sentenced to imprisonment in a heavy labor prison and capital punishments.

1937: Lithuania wins EuroBasket

The Lithuania national basketball team won the EuroBasket in 1937.

1938: Acceptance of Polish Ultimatum

In 1938, Lithuania accepted the Polish ultimatum.

1939: Acceptance of German Ultimatum

In 1939, Lithuania accepted the German ultimatum and transferred the Klaipėda Region to Nazi Germany and concluded the Soviet–Lithuanian Mutual Assistance Treaty following the beginning of World War II.

1939: Lithuania wins EuroBasket, hosts Eurobasket

The Lithuania national basketball team won the EuroBasket and hosted the Eurobasket in 1939.

1940: Soviet Ultimatum and Occupation

In 1940, Lithuania accepted the Soviet ultimatum and recovered Vilnius, leading to Soviet occupation and transformation into the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.

1940: Romuva Cinema opened

In 1940, Romuva Cinema was opened in Kaunas, and it currently is the oldest still operational cinema in Lithuania.

1940: Kaunas operates until 1940

The Constituent Assembly of Lithuania was held in Kaunas and other primary Lithuanian institutions operated there until 1940.

June 1941: Jewish population before the Holocaust

In June 1941, approximately 220,000 Jews lived in Lithuania before the start of the Holocaust.

1941: Peak of Jewish population

In 1941, the Jewish population in Lithuania reached its peak at approximately 250,000 people, making up about 10% of the total population.

1941: June Uprising and Nazi Occupation

In 1941, the June Uprising in Lithuania attempted to restore independence, but Lithuania was soon occupied by Nazi Germany.

1944: Soviet censorship continued

After the Soviet reoccupation of Lithuania in 1944, the Soviet's censorship continued firmly controlling all artistic expressions in Lithuania.

1944: Re-occupation by the Soviet Union

In 1944, Lithuania was re-occupied by the Soviet Union, resuming political repressions and deportations.

1945: France allow women to vote

In 1945, France allow women to vote.

1952: Greece allow women to vote

In 1952, Greece allow women to vote.

1953: Suppression of Partisan Resistance

In 1953, the Soviet authorities suppressed the Lithuanian partisan resistance aimed at restoring independence.

1954: Jonas Žemaitis Executed

In 1954, Jonas Žemaitis, the chairman of the Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters, was captured and executed.

1957: Adolfas Ramanauskas Executed

In 1957, Adolfas Ramanauskas, successor of Jonas Žemaitis, was brutally tortured and executed.

1960: Wetlands lost due to drainage

Between 1960 and 1980, 70% of wetlands have been lost due to drainage and peat extraction.

1963: Vilnius Photometric System

In 1963, Vytautas Straižys and his colleagues created the Vilnius photometric system, which is used in astronomy.

1965: First local rock bands emerge

Around 1965, the first local rock bands started to emerge in Lithuania, including Kertukai, Aitvarai and Nuogi ant slenksčio in Kaunas, and Kęstutis Antanėlis, Vienuoliai, and Gėlių Vaikai in Vilnius, among others.

1965: Aukso žąsis (Golden goose) was created

In 1965, the Lithuanian American movie "Aukso žąsis (Golden goose)" was created by Birutė Pūkelevičiūtė [lt], featuring motifs from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales.

1970: Vilnius Jazz School established

In 1970, the Ganelin/Tarasov/Chekasin trio established the Vilnius Jazz School.

1971: Switzerland allow women to vote

In 1971, Switzerland allow women to vote.

1975: Asteroid Named After Čiurlionis

In 1975, the 2420 Čiurlionis asteroid was identified and named in honor of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis.

1979: First Krishna followers

In 1979, the first Krishna followers appeared in Lithuania, marking the beginning of the ISKCON movement.

1980: Wetlands lost due to drainage

Between 1960 and 1980, 70% of wetlands have been lost due to drainage and peat extraction.

1989: Geographic centre of Europe determined

In 1989, Jean-George Affholder determined that the geographic centre of Europe was in Lithuania.

1989: The Baltic Way

In 1989, the Baltic Way was held as the Sąjūdis movement sought for the restoration of independent Lithuania.

March 1990: Lithuania proclaims restoration of independence

In March 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to break away from the Soviet Union by proclaiming the restoration of its independence.

March 1990: Restoration of Lithuania's independence

In March 1990, the Supreme Council announced the restoration of Lithuania's independence, making it the first Soviet-occupied state to do so.

April 1990: Economic blockade by Soviets

In April 1990, the Soviets imposed an economic blockade on Lithuania by ceasing to deliver supplies of raw materials, leading to shortages of fuel, essential goods, and even hot water.

1990: Regaining of independence

After regaining independence in 1990, Lithuania continued to enforce largely modified Soviet legal codes for about a decade.

1990: Restoration of independence in Lithuania

Following the restoration of Lithuania's independence in 1990, the country began establishing its own environmental protection law.

1990: Evangelical churches establish missions

Since 1990, newly arriving evangelical churches have established missions in Lithuania.

1990: Dainų šventė organized every four years

Since 1990, the Dainų šventė festival has been organised every four years.

January 1991: Attempted Coup in Lithuania

In January 1991, an attempt was made to carry out a coup in Lithuania using the Soviet Armed Forces, the Internal Army of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the USSR Committee for State Security (KGB).

July 1991: Medininkai Massacre

On July 31, 1991, Soviet paramilitaries killed 7 Lithuanian border guards on the Belarusian border in what became known as the Medininkai Massacre.

September 1991: UN membership

On 18 September 1991, Lithuania became a member of the United Nations.

September 1991: Lithuania admitted to the United Nations

On September 17, 1991, Lithuania was admitted to the United Nations.

May 1992: Referendum to gauge public opinion

A separate referendum was held on May 23, 1992, to gauge public opinion on the role of the president.

October 1992: Adoption of the Constitution of Lithuania

On 25 October 1992, Lithuania adopted its current Constitution.

October 1992: Independent general elections

On October 25, 1992, Lithuania held its first independent general elections, in which 56.75% of voters supported the new constitution.

October 1992: Referendum to adopt constitution

On October 25, 1992, citizens voted in a referendum to adopt the current constitution.

1992: Aplinkos apsaugos įstatymas (Environmental Protection Act)

In 1992, the Aplinkos apsaugos įstatymas (Environmental Protection Act) was adopted, laying the foundation for regulating social relations in the field of environmental protection.

1992: Establishment of the Council of the Baltic Sea States

The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) was established in Copenhagen in 1992 as an informal regional political forum to promote integration and close contacts between the region's countries.

February 1993: Algirdas Brazauskas becomes President

On February 14, 1993, Algirdas Brazauskas became the first president after the restoration of independence.

August 1993: Last Soviet Army Units Leave

On August 31, 1993, the last units of the former Soviet Army left Lithuania.

1994: Establishment of administrative divisions

In 1994, the current system of administrative division was established in Lithuania.

1994: Joining international operations

Since joining international operations in 1994, Lithuania has lost two soldiers: Lt. Normundas Valteris fell in Bosnia, as his patrol vehicle drove over a mine. Sgt. Arūnas Jarmalavičius was fatally wounded during an attack on the camp of his Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan.

1996: Suspension of capital punishment

In 1996, Lithuania suspended capital punishment.

1997: Foje disbanding

In 1997, the rock band Foje disbanded, after which vocalist Andrius Mamontovas continued as a prominent performer.

1998: Elimination of capital punishment

In 1998, Lithuania eliminated capital punishment.

1999: BC Žalgiris wins Euroleague

In 1999, the Lithuanian basketball team BC Žalgiris from Kaunas won the European basketball league Euroleague.

1999: Law on Product Safety

In 1999, the Seimas (parliament) of Lithuania adopted a Law on Product Safety.

2000: Virgilijus Alekna wins gold at Sydney Olympics

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna won a gold medal.

2000: Health care institutions become non-profit

By 2000, the vast majority of Lithuanian health care institutions became non-profit-making enterprises, and a private sector developed, providing mostly outpatient services.

2000: Modification of administrative division

In 2000, Lithuania's administrative division was modified to meet the requirements of the European Union.

2000: Law on Food

In 2000, the Seimas (parliament) of Lithuania adopted a Law on Food.

May 2001: WTO membership

On 31 May 2001, Lithuania gained membership in the World Trade Organization.

May 2001: Lithuania joins the World Trade Organization (WTO)

On May 31, 2001, Lithuania joined the World Trade Organization (WTO).

2001: Baltic faith followers

According to the 2001 census, there were 1,270 people of Baltic faith in Lithuania.

2001: Passage of the Civil Code of Lithuania

In 2001, the Civil Code of Lithuania was passed in Seimas.

2002: Drought in Lithuania

In 2002, Lithuania experienced a drought, causing forest and peat bog fires.

2003: Adoption of Criminal Codes

In 2003, Lithuania adopted the Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

2003: Hospital restructuring begins

In 2003, Lithuania began restructuring its network of hospitals, as part of wider healthcare service reforms, starting with the expansion of ambulatory services and primary care.

2003: Lithuania wins EuroBasket

The Lithuania national basketball team won the EuroBasket in 2003.

March 2004: NATO membership

In March 2004, Lithuania became a full member of NATO. Fighter jets of NATO members are deployed in Šiauliai Air Base, providing safety for the Baltic airspace.

March 2004: Lithuania joins NATO

Since March 2004, Lithuania has been part of NATO.

May 2004: Lithuania becomes a full member of the European Union

On May 1, 2004, Lithuania became a full member of the European Union.

May 2004: Integration of European Union law

Since 1 May 2004, European Union law has been an integral part of the Lithuanian legal system.

December 2004: Closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Unit No. 1

In December 2004, Lithuania closed Unit No. 1 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant as a condition of its entry into the European Union.

2004: Genetic analysis of Lithuanian population

A 2004 analysis of MtDNA in the Lithuanian population indicated a genetic closeness to Slavic and Finno-Ugric speaking populations of Northern and Eastern Europe. Y-chromosome SNP haplogroup analysis showed the closest genetic relationship to Latvians and Estonians.

2004: Virgilijus Alekna wins gold at Athens Olympics

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna won a gold medal.

2004: Start of Emigration Wave

From 2004, Lithuania experienced a wave of emigration with one out of five Lithuanians leaving the country.

2004: Dalia Grybauskaitė as European Commissioner

In 2004, Dalia Grybauskaitė began serving as European Commissioner for Financial Programming and the Budget.

2004: Lithuania joins NATO and EU

In 2004, Lithuania joined NATO and the European Union.

2004: First Geothermal Heating Plant

In 2004, the first geothermal heating plant in the Baltic Sea region, the Klaipėda Geothermal Demonstration Plant, was built.

2004: EU Accession

Lithuania's accession to the European Union in 2004 ushered in a new era for its agriculture sector.

2005: Participation in ISAF

Beginning in the summer of 2005, Lithuania joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Chaghcharan.

2005: Student population decrease

Between 2005 and 2015, the population ages 6 to 19 in Lithuania decreased by 36%.

2005: Expansion of ambulatory services and primary care

In 2003-2005 Lithuania expanded ambulatory services and primary care as part of wider healthcare service reforms.

December 2007: Lithuania becomes a member of the Schengen Agreement

In December 2007, Lithuania became a member of the Schengen Agreement.

2007: Schengen membership

In 2007 Lithuania joined Schengen.

2007: Peak GDP Growth

In 2007, Lithuania experienced its peak GDP growth rate of 11%, leading to its reputation as a Baltic Tiger.

2007: Annual population growth rate increase

In 2007, Lithuania saw an increase in the annual population growth rate by 0.3%.

2008: Global financial crisis effect on defense spending

After the global financial crisis in 2008, Lithuania lagged behind NATO allies in terms of defense spending.

2008: Number of Universities and Colleges in Lithuania

As of 2008, Lithuania had 15 public and 6 private universities, as well as 16 public and 11 private colleges.

2008: Virgilijus Alekna wins bronze at Beijing Olympics

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Virgilijus Alekna won a bronze medal.

2008: End of compulsory conscription

Compulsory conscription in Lithuania ended in 2008.

2008: Russo-Georgian War and Lithuanian support

During the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, President Valdas Adamkus, along with the Polish and Ukrainian presidents, went to Tbilisi in support of Georgia. Lithuanians and the Lithuanian Catholic Church also began collecting financial support for the war victims.

2008: Public Debt Ratio

In 2008, Lithuania's public debt ratio was 15% of its GDP.

2008: UNESCO recognition of Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival

In 2008, the Lithuanian Song and Dance Festival, together with its Latvian and Estonian versions, was inscribed as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

2008: Valley Development Programme

In 2008, the Valley development programme was started in Lithuania, aiming to upgrade Lithuanian scientific research infrastructure and encourage business and science cooperation. Five R&D Valleys were launched – Jūrinis, Nemunas, Saulėtekis, Santara, Santaka. Lithuanian Innovation Center is created to provide support for innovations and research institutions.

December 2009: Closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Unit No. 2

On December 31, 2009, Lithuania closed down Unit No. 2 of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

2009: Jewish community size

At the end of 2009, the Lithuanian Jewish community numbered about 4,000 people.

2009: Dalia Grybauskaitė concludes term as European Commissioner

In 2009, Dalia Grybauskaitė concluded her term as European Commissioner for Financial Programming and the Budget within the José Manuel Barroso-led Commission.

2009: Dalia Grybauskaitė President

In 2009, Dalia Grybauskaitė was the first female President of Lithuania.

2009: GDP contraction due to financial crisis

In 2009, Lithuania's GDP contracted by 15% due to the 2007-2008 financial crisis.

2010: Unemployment Rate

In 2010, Lithuania's unemployment rate reached 17.8% following the financial crisis.

2010: Baltic Development Forum summit

In 2010, the Baltic Development Forum's 12th summit was held in Vilnius.

2010: Dissolution of county governorships

In 2010, the system of county governorship (apskrities viršininkas) was dissolved in Lithuania, making municipalities the most important unit of administration.

2010: PISA report

The PISA report in 2010 showed that Lithuanian results in math, science and reading trailed the OECD average.

2011: Baltic faith followers

According to the 2011 census, the number of people of Baltic faith in Lithuania jumped to 5,118.

2011: Cargo Traffic at Kaunas International Airport

In 2011, Kaunas International Airport started regular commercial cargo traffic.

2011: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Ministerial Council Meeting

In 2011, Lithuania hosted the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Ministerial Council Meeting.

2011: Nebetyli sirgaliai (Celebrate Basketball) released

In 2011, Marijonas Mikutavičius created the official anthem of the EuroBasket 2011, "Nebetyli sirgaliai (Celebrate Basketball)".

2011: Lithuania hosts Eurobasket

Lithuania hosted the Eurobasket in 2011.

2011: Teacher salaries increase

Since 2011, Lithuanian teacher salaries saw significant increases, although they remained below the EU average.

October 2012: Referendum on Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant

In October 2012, a non-binding referendum showed that 63% of voters were against the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Visaginas, clouding the project's prospects.

2012: Rūta Meilutytė wins gold at London Olympics

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, 15-year-old swimmer Rūta Meilutytė won a gold medal, sparking increased popularity for the sport in Lithuania.

2012: Hospital restructuring ends

In 2012, Lithuania concluded the restructuring of its network of hospitals, as part of wider healthcare service reforms.

2013: Presidency of the European Union

During the second half of 2013, Lithuania assumed the role of the presidency of the European Union.

2013: Lithuania elected to UN Security Council

In 2013, Lithuania was elected to the United Nations Security Council for a two-year term and actively supported Ukraine, condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine.

2013: Perception of corruption

In the 2013 Special Eurobarometer, 29% of Lithuanians felt that corruption affected their daily lives, and the majority believed corruption was widespread.

2014: Viewership of national team games

In 2014, 76% of Lithuania's population watched the men's national basketball team games live.

2014: Construction of Klaipėda LNG FSRU

In 2014, Lithuania built the first large-scale LNG import terminal (Klaipėda LNG FSRU) in the Baltic region to break down Gazprom's monopoly in the natural gas market. The terminal was named Independence.

2014: National teacher strikes

In 2014, national teacher strikes occurred in Lithuania due to low teacher salaries.

January 2015: Adoption of the euro

On 1 January 2015, the euro became the national currency of Lithuania, replacing the litas at the rate of EUR 1.00 = LTL 3.45280.

January 2015: Lithuania joins the Eurozone

On January 1, 2015, Lithuania joined the eurozone and adopted the European Union's single currency.

2015: Electrical Power Import

As of 2015, 66% of Lithuania's electrical power was imported.

2015: Launch of NordBalt and LitPol Link

In 2015, Lithuania launched two significant electricity interconnections: the Lithuania–Sweden submarine electricity interconnection NordBalt and the Lithuania–Poland electricity interconnection LitPol Link.

2015: Lithuania's beer consumption

In 2015, Lithuania ranked among the top 5 countries in Europe for beer consumption per capita.

2015: Reintroduction of compulsory conscription

In 2015, Lithuania reintroduced compulsory conscription.

2015: Equinor gas supply agreement

In 2015, Norwegian company Equinor began supplying 540 million cubic meters of natural gas annually to Lithuania, a contract that lasted until 2020.

2015: National teacher strikes

In 2015, national teacher strikes occurred in Lithuania due to low teacher salaries.

2015: Creation of National Cyber Security Centre

In 2015, the National Cyber Security Centre of Lithuania was created.

2015: Direct election of mayors

Starting in 2015, mayors in Lithuania have been directly elected by the people; previously, they were appointed by the council.

2015: Direct mayoral elections begin

Starting in 2015, the mayor in each municipality in Lithuania began to be directly elected by the majority of the municipality's residents.

September 2016: FTTH Penetration Rate

In September 2016, Lithuania had the highest Fiber to the Home (FTTH) penetration rate in Europe, at 36.8%, according to FTTH Council Europe.

2016: Biotech and Life Science Sector Growth

As of 2016 calculations, Lithuania's biotech and life science sector had a yearly growth of 22% over the past 5 years.

2016: Tertiary education attainment

As of 2016, 54.9% of the population aged 25 to 34 in Lithuania had completed tertiary education.

2016: Emigration impact

Between 2004 and 2016, long term emigration and economic growth has resulted in a shortage in the labor market and growth in salaries being larger than growth in labor efficiency.

2016: Changes in crime rates

In 2016 there was decrease in cases of theft, serious crimes and homicides.

2016: Renewable electricity consumption

In 2016, 20.8% of the electricity consumed in Lithuania was generated from renewable sources.

2016: Introduction of container deposit legislation

In 2016, Lithuania introduced especially effective container deposit legislation.

2016: Euro health consumer index ranking

In 2016, Lithuania ranked 27th in Europe in the Euro health consumer index.

2016: e-Participation Index

In 2016, Lithuania was ranked 17th in the United Nations' e-participation index.

2016: Agricultural Production and Exports

In 2016, Lithuania's agricultural production was €2.3 billion, with cereal crops being the largest part (5710 tons). Products totaling €4,385 million were exported, with €3,165 million of Lithuanian origin, accounting for 19% of all goods exports.

2016: Information Technology Production Growth

In 2016, Lithuania's information technology production reached €2 billion.

2016: Public Debt Ratio

In 2016, Lithuania's public debt ratio stood at 40% of its GDP.

2016: Truck Orders

In 2016, Lithuanian transport companies attracted attention with huge and record-breaking orders of trucks.

2016: Vilnius International Airport Passengers

In 2016, Vilnius International Airport served 3.8 million passengers.

2016: National teacher strikes

In 2016, national teacher strikes occurred in Lithuania due to low teacher salaries.

2017: Collecting 92% of packagings

As a result of container deposit legislation, Lithuania collected 92% of all packagings in 2017.

2017: Largest sectors

As of 2017 the three largest sectors in Lithuania were – services (67% of GDP), industry (29%) and agriculture (3%).

2017: FinTech Growth

In 2017, 35 FinTech companies established themselves in Lithuania due to simplified procedures implemented by the government and the Bank of Lithuania.

2017: EU Penalty for Lietuvos Geležinkeliai

In 2017, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, the company operating most railway lines in Lithuania, received an EU penalty for violating EU antitrust laws and restricting competition.

2017: Foreign Direct Investment Spike

In 2017, Lithuania experienced a surge in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), reaching the highest number of greenfield investment projects ever recorded. The US was the leading source country, accounting for 25% of total FDI, followed by Germany and the UK, each representing 11% of the total project numbers. Also in 2017, Lithuania was third, after Ireland and Singapore by the average job value of investment projects. Furthermore, the value of exports recorded the most rapid growth not only in the Baltic countries, but across Europe, which was 17%.

2017: Broadband Speeds and 4G LTE Penetration

In 2017, Lithuania ranked among the top 30 countries globally for average mobile broadband speeds and the top 20 for average fixed broadband speeds. Lithuania was also top 7 in the List of countries by 4G LTE penetration.

2017: Crime statistics in Lithuania

In 2017, Lithuania registered 63,846 crimes, with thefts comprising a significant portion. Serious crimes and homicides decreased, while crimes in electronic data and information technology security fields increased.

2017: Exports equaled 81% of GDP

In 2017, Lithuania's exports equaled 81% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

2017: Unemployment Rate

In 2017, Lithuania's unemployment rate was 8%.

July 2018: OECD membership

On 5 July 2018, Lithuania joined the OECD.

July 2018: Lithuania joins the OECD

On July 4, 2018, Lithuania officially joined the OECD.

2018: Number of public holidays

As of 2018, Lithuania has 13 public holidays with a day off.

2018: OECD membership

In 2018 Lithuania joined the OECD.

2018: Cinema Ticket Sales

In 2018, 4,265,414 cinema tickets were sold in Lithuania, with an average price of €5.26.

2018: Google and Blockchain Centre

In 2018, Google established a payment company in Lithuania, and Europe's first international Blockchain Centre was launched in Vilnius.

2018: CERN Membership and Incubators

In 2018, Lithuania became an Associated Member State of CERN, and two CERN incubators were planned to be hosted in Vilnius and Kaunas.

2018: Ice hockey team wins gold at IIHF World Championship

In 2018, Lithuania's men's national ice hockey team won gold medals at the 2018 IIHF World Championship Division I.

2018: Awarded the Peace of Westphalia Prize

In 2018, Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia, were awarded the Peace of Westphalia Prize for their exceptional model of democratic development and contribution to peace in the continent.

2018: Baltic States' electricity grid synchronisation

In 2018, the process of synchronising the Baltic states' electricity grid with the Synchronous grid of Continental Europe was initiated.

2018: Private Museums Opened

In 2018, two private museums opened in Lithuania: MO Museum, devoted to modern and contemporary Lithuanian art, and Tartle, exhibiting a collection of Lithuanian art heritage and artefacts.

2018: University Mergers

In early 2018, the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences and Aleksandras Stulginskis University were merged into Vytautas Magnus University.

2018: Vilnius ranking by fDI

The fDI of the Financial Times ranked Vilnius fourth in the mid-sized European cities category in the 2018–19 ranking.

May 2019: Gitanas Nausėda elected President

On May 26, 2019, Gitanas Nausėda was elected President of Lithuania.

2019: Gitanas Nausėda elected as president

Gitanas Nausėda was elected as an independent candidate in 2019.

2019: Condemnation of Turkish offensive

In 2019, Lithuania condemned the Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria.

2019: Defense spending exceeds NATO guidelines

In 2019, Lithuania's defense spending exceeded the NATO guideline of 2% of GDP.

2019: Marvelė River Cargo Port

In 2019, the inland river cargo port in Marvelė, connecting Kaunas and Klaipėda, received its first cargo.

2019: Suicide rate

In 2019, the suicide rate in Lithuania was 20.2 per 100,000 people.

2019: Dalia Grybauskaitė President

Until 2019, Dalia Grybauskaitė was the first female President of Lithuania and the first to be re-elected for a second consecutive term.

2020: Defense spending

According to NATO, in 2020, Lithuania allocated 2.13% of its GDP to national defense.

2020: Lithuania agreed to cut carbon emissions

By 2020, Lithuania agreed to cut carbon emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels, together with all European Union members.

2020: End of Equinor gas supply agreement

In 2020, the agreement between Lithuania and Norwegian company Equinor for the annual supply of 540 million cubic meters of natural gas came to an end.

December 2021: China stops imports from Lithuania

In December 2021, China stopped all imports from Lithuania due to diplomatic tensions over Lithuania's relations with Taiwan.

2021: Catholicism in Lithuania

According to the 2021 census, 74.2% of residents of Lithuania were Catholics.

2021: Native and foreign languages spoken

According to the 2021 census, 85.33% of Lithuania's population speak Lithuanian as their native language, and 60.6% of residents speak Russian as a foreign language.

2021: Population in urban areas

As of 2021, 68.19% of the total population of Lithuania lived in urban areas.

2021: Best-selling national newspapers in Lithuania

In 2021, the best-selling daily national newspapers in Lithuania were Lietuvos rytas, Vakaro žinios, and Kauno diena; the best-selling weekly newspapers were Savaitė, Žmonės, Prie kavos, Savaitgalis and Verslo žinios.

2021: Popularity of national television channels in Lithuania

In 2021, the most popular national television channels in Lithuania were TV3, LNK, Lithuanian National Radio and Television, BTV, Lietuvos rytas TV, and TV6.

2021: Fertility rate and marriage statistics

In 2021, the total fertility rate (TFR) in Lithuania was 1.34 children born per woman, and the mean age of women at childbirth was 30.3 years. The average age of first childbirth for women was 28.2 years. The mean age at first marriage in 2021 was 28.3 years for women and 30.5 years for men.

2021: Minority Populations in Lithuania

In 2021, there were around 2,150 registered Tatars and 196 Karaites living in Lithuania.

2021: Projected Household Internet Access

It was expected that in 2021 the number of households with internet access would increase and reach 77%.

2021: Lithuania hosts FIFA Futsal World Cup

Lithuania hosted the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup, marking the first time the country hosted a FIFA tournament.

2021: Cryptocurrency Licenses

Since 2021, Lithuania has issued hundreds of licenses for cryptocurrency exchange and storage operations, becoming one of the leading countries in the EU in this sector.

February 2022: Lithuania declares state of emergency

On February 24, 2022, Lithuania declared a state of emergency in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

April 2022: Call for more NATO troops

On 22 April 2022, Lithuania's president Gitanas Nausėda called for more NATO troops in Lithuania and on Europe's eastern flank following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Wealth Statistics

As of 2022, Lithuanian median wealth per adult was $32,000, while mean wealth was $70,000, and the total national wealth was $147 billion.

2022: Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania operational

In 2022, the Gas Interconnection Poland–Lithuania (GIPL), a natural gas pipeline between Lithuania and Poland, became operational.

2022: Median age of the population

In 2022, the median age in Lithuania was 44 years, with the median age for males being 41 and for females 47.

2022: Smartphone ownership projection

It was expected that almost 50% of Lithuanians had smartphones in 2016, a number that is expected to increase to 65% by 2022.

2022: PISA report

The 2022 PISA report found that Lithuanian results in math, science, and reading were around the OECD average, an improvement driven by performance decreases in other OECD countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Vilnius ranking by fDI

The fDI of the Financial Times ranked Vilnius second in the mid-sized European cities category in the 2022–23 ranking.

July 2023: 2023 NATO summit held in Vilnius

On July 11–12, 2023, the 2023 NATO summit was held in Vilnius.

2023: Increased Chinese intelligence activity

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.

2023: Life expectancy

As of 2023, the Lithuanian life expectancy at birth was 76.0 years (70.6 years for males and 81.6 for females) and the infant mortality rate was 2.99 per 1,000 births.

2023: Average Monthly Gross Salary

As of the second quarter of 2023, the average monthly gross salary in Lithuania was €2,000.

2023: Municipal council member elections

In 2023, Lithuania held municipal council elections where 1,498 members were elected. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania won the most positions, securing 358 municipal council seats and 17 mayoral positions.

2023: NATO summit held in Vilnius

In 2023, the NATO summit was held in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

2023: Tourism Contribution to GDP

In 2023, the total contribution of tourism to Lithuania's GDP decreased to €1.7 billion, representing 2.3% of GDP, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023: Tourism Statistics

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).

2023: Vilnius ranking by fDI

The fDI of the Financial Times ranked Vilnius second in the mid-sized European cities category in the 2023 ranking.

June 2024: Lithuanian restaurants in the Michelin Guide

Lithuanian restaurants will appear in the Michelin Guide on June 13, 2024.

November 2024: Gintautas Paluckas confirmed as the prime minister

In November 2024, Gintautas Paluckas was confirmed as the prime minister after the Social Democrats reached a coalition agreement with Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" and Dawn of Nemunas.

2024: Gitanas Nausėda re-elected president

Gitanas Nausėda was re-elected in 2024.

2024: Ethnic Lithuanians population

In 2024, 82.6% of Lithuania's 2,809,977 residents were ethnic Lithuanians, speaking Lithuanian as the official language.

2024: European Parliament elections

In 2024, Lithuania had 11 seats in the European Parliament. Elections were held, with specific eligibility criteria for voters and candidates, and eight political parties gained seats.