A quick-reference guide to the essential facts about Lithuania — where it is, how many people live there, the language, the currency and its EU status. A useful starting point before doing business in or visiting the country.

Lithuania at a glance

  • Region: Northeastern Europe — the largest of the three Baltic states, on the Baltic Sea
  • Capital: Vilnius (also the largest city)
  • Population: around 2.8 million people
  • Area: about 65,300 km²
  • Official language: Lithuanian (English is widely used in business)
  • Currency: Euro (EUR), adopted in 2015
  • Memberships: European Union (2004), Eurozone (2015), NATO (2004), OECD, Schengen Area
  • Time zone: Eastern European Time (UTC+2), UTC+3 in summer — about 5–6 hours behind Hong Kong
  • Dialling code: +370

Where is Lithuania?

Lithuania is a country in Northeastern Europe and the largest of the three Baltic states. It sits on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea and borders Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and southeast, Poland to the south, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the southwest. Its main seaport is Klaipėda, and as an EU and Schengen member it offers direct access to the European single market — a key reason it works as a European base for Hong Kong and Asian companies.

How many people live in Lithuania?

Lithuania has a population of roughly 2.8 million people. The largest cities are the capital Vilnius, Kaunas, and the port city of Klaipėda. Despite its modest size, Lithuania has a highly educated, multilingual workforce and one of the faster-growing economies in the EU — see our Lithuania country profile for the economic picture.

What language do they speak in Lithuania?

The official language is Lithuanian, one of the oldest living Indo-European languages. For business, however, English is very widely spoken, especially among younger professionals and in the technology, finance and services sectors; Russian and Polish are also understood by parts of the population. Most international business in Lithuania is conducted comfortably in English — see our guide to Lithuanian business culture and etiquette.

What currency does Lithuania use?

Lithuania uses the euro (EUR), which it adopted on 1 January 2015 when it joined the Eurozone. This removes currency risk for trade and investment within the euro area and simplifies cross-border payments — part of what makes the country attractive to fintech and financial-services firms.

Is Lithuania in the EU?

Yes. Lithuania has been a member of the European Union since 2004, joined the Eurozone in 2015, and is also a member of NATO, the OECD and the Schengen Area. This gives companies established in Lithuania full access to the EU single market of around 450 million consumers. Learn how to get set up in our complete guide to doing business in Lithuania.

Quick FAQ

What is the capital of Lithuania? Vilnius, whose Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When did Lithuania become independent? Lithuania restored its independence in 1990, becoming the first Soviet republic to do so.

Is Lithuania a good place to do business? It is consistently ranked highly for ease of doing business, digital infrastructure and talent — explore how to register a company and the free economic zones and incentives.

Ready to go further? Start with the complete guide to doing business in Lithuania.