Lietuvos Respublika

Note: In balloting on October 28, 2012, the Social Democratic Part (LSDP) won 38 parliamentary seats, unseating the majority Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats coalition, which won 33 seats. Algirdas Butkevicius, leader of the LSDP, is the likely successor of Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.

Political Status: Independence from Russia declared February 16, 1918; absorption of independent state by the Soviet Union on August 3, 1940, repudiated on March 11, 1990, by the Lithuanian Supreme Council; independence recognized by the USSR State Council on September 6, 1991; current constitution approved by referendum of October 25, 1992.

Area: 25,174 sq. mi. (65,200 sq. km).

Population: 3,423,403 (2012E—UN); 3,525,761 (2012E—U.S.Census).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): VILNIUS (541,000), Kaunas (364,000), Klaipėda (188,000), Šiauliai (130,000), Panevėžys (116,000).

Official Language: Lithuanian.

Monetary Unit: Litas (official rate ...