The Republic of Lithuania, a small country consisting of 25,174 square miles (65,200 square kilometers), has a population of approximately 3.6 million people, many of whom live in urban areas such as the capital city of Vilnius. 

The country’s official language is Lithuanian, although most Lithuanians also speak Russian.  Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church, although many Christian churches are also open throughout the country, as are Jewish synagogues and Muslim mosques.

Like all countries, Lithuania has its own customs.  Shaking hands with men and kissing the hands of women when greeting one another is quite common.  First names are used in greeting adults only when one is invited to do so.  While conversing with another person, it is considered impolite to speak with one’s hands in his or her pockets.  When paying a visit to a friend’s house, it is considered polite to bring an odd number of flowers, as an even number signifies a somber occasion.  It is also considered inappropriate for adults to chew gum in public. 

Lithuania has its own public school system.  In the second grade (known as a form), students are assigned to one of three levels, with the “A” level reserved for advanced students.  After the compulsory nine years of elementary school, students have the option of continuing their education with three years of secondary school, going to a vocational school, or entering the workplace.  In order to go to one of Lithuania’s 16 universities, one must first pass a difficult entrance exam.

Web resources: Republic of Lithuania
The Lithuanian Bureau of Tourism: http://www.tourism.lt
General Information:  http://www.litnet.lt/litinfo/litinfo.html
Lithuanian Embassies: http://amb.urm.lt/topmenuitems.php?TopMenuID=18&LangID=2
City of Vilnius: http://www.vilnius.lt/new/en/vadovybe.php
Kaunas Region: http://www.kaunasregion.com/contacts.phtml

For more information about Global Democracy Dialogues, contact:

New | About CRF | Programs | Publications | Online Lessons
Contact | Support CRF | Calendar | Links | Search