11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by Soviet Union)
Religions
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)
Exports
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)
External Debt
$31,030,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
litai (LTL) per US dollar - 2.3251 (2008 est.), 2.5362 (2007), 2.7498 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
5
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Area
36,125 km sq
65,300 km sq
Coastline
350 km
90 km
Climate
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
