Lithuania Tourism
Lithuania is the largest of the three Baltic states, covering an area of 65,300 square kilometers (approximately the size of Tasmania). It has a population of 3.5 million people, 80 per cent of whom are ethnic Lithuanians, 9.4 per cent ethnic Russians and 7 per cent ethnic Poles.
Lithuania was the first Baltic country to declare the restoration of its independence from the Soviet Union on 11 March 1990, demanding the withdrawal of Soviet forces from the country. Russia recognised Lithuania's independence in September 1991 and the last Russian troops left the country in 1993.
Lithuania was accepted as one of ten new members for accession to the EU at the Brussels summit in October 2002. In a referendum in May 2003, 91 per cent of voters supported EU accession. Lithuania became a full member of the EU on 1 May 2004.
Lithuania was invited to join NATO in November 2002, in NATO's single largest enlargement. Lithuania became a full member of the organisation on 2 April 2004. Lithuania became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 31 May 2001.
