FACTS

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Area (only Total) total: 65,200 sq km

Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Population: 3,565,205 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Lithuanian

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital (Name): Vilnius

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union