Lithuania

Did you know?

indicator	value	unit
Population		mil.
Visitors per year		mil.
Renewable energy		%

How’s Life?

Lithuania performs well in few measures of well-being in the Better Life Index, ranking above the average in education and skills, and work-life balance. It is below the average in income and wealth, jobs and earnings, housing, health status, social connections, civic engagement, environmental quality, personal security, and subjective well-being. These rankings are based on available selected data.

Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In Lithuania, the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 21 660 a year, lower than the OECD average of USD 33 604 a year. There is a considerable gap between the richest and poorest – the top 20% of the population earn more than seven times as much as the bottom 20%.

In terms of employment, 70% of people aged 15 to 64 in Lithuania have a paid job, slightly above the OECD employment average of 68%. Some 71% of men are in paid work, compared with 70% of women. In Lithuania, 0.5% of employees work very long hours, considerably less than the OECD average of 11%, with 0.7% of men working very long hours compared with just 0.4% of women.

Good education and skills are important requisites for finding a job. In Lithuania, 93% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 78%. This is truer of women than men, as nearly 95% of women have successfully completed high-school compared with 90% of men. In terms of the quality of the educational system, the average student scored 475 in reading literacy, maths and science in the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), less than the OECD average of 486 points. On average in Lithuania, girls outperformed boys by 15 points, much higher than the average OECD gap of 2 points.

In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in Lithuania is 75 years, five years below the OECD average of 80 years. Life expectancy for women is 80 years, compared with 70 for men. The level of atmospheric PM2.5 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs – is 13.6 micrograms per cubic meter, lower than the OECD average of 13.9 micrograms per cubic meter. Lithuania performs in line with the OECD average in terms of water quality, as 81% of people say they are satisfied with the quality of their water.

Concerning the public sphere, there is a strong sense of community and a moderate level of civic participation in Lithuania, where 88% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need, slightly less than the OECD average of 89%. Voter turnout, a measure of citizens' participation in the political process, was 51% during recent elections, lower than the OECD average of 68%.

In general, Lithuanians are less satisfied with their lives than the OECD average. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Lithuanians gave it a 5.9 grade on average, lower than the OECD average of 6.5.

For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.

Topics

Find Out More

Lithuania in Detail

Housing - Lithuania expand

Living in satisfactory housing conditions is one of the most important aspects of people's lives. Housing is essential to meet basic needs, such as shelter, but it is not just a question of four walls and a roof. Housing should offer a place to sleep and rest where people feel safe and have privacy and personal space; somewhere they can raise a family. All of these elements help make a house a home. And of course there is the question whether people can afford adequate housing.

Housing costs take up a large share of the household budget and represent the largest single expenditure for many individuals and families, by the time you add up elements such as rent, gas, electricity, water, furniture or repairs. In Lithuania, households on average spend about 19% of their gross adjusted disposable income on keeping a roof over their heads, slightly below the OECD average of 20%.

In addition to housing costs it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities. The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and children's development. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In Lithuania, the average home contains 1.5 rooms per person, less than the OECD average of 1.8 rooms per person. In terms of basic facilities, 86.4% of dwellings in Lithuania contain private access to an indoor flushing toilet, less than the OECD average of 95.6%.

More Resources

Indicators

Income - Lithuania expand

While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality education, health care and housing.

Household net-adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after taxes and transfers. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. In Lithuania, the average household net adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 21 660 a year, lower than the OECD average of USD 33 604.

Household net wealth is the total value of a household's financial and non-financial worth, such as money or shares held in bank accounts, the principal residence, other real estate properties, vehicles, valuables and other non-financial assets (e.g other consumer durables). In Lithuania, the average household net wealth is considerably lower than the OECD average of USD 409 880.

More Resources

Indicators

Jobs- Lithuania expand

Having a job brings many important benefits, including: providing a source of income, improving social inclusion, fulfilling one's own aspirations, building self-esteem and developing skills and competencies. In Lithuania, about 70% of the working-age population aged 15 to 64 has a paid job. This figure is slightly higher than the OECD employment average of 68%.

Unemployed persons are defined as those who are not currently working but are willing to do so and actively searching for work. Long-term unemployment can have a large negative effect on feelings of well-being and self-worth and result in a loss of skills, further reducing employability. In Luxembourg, the percentage of the labour force that has been unemployed for a year or longer is currently at 2.7%, higher than the OECD average of 1.8%.

The wages and other monetary benefits that come with employment are an important aspect of job quality. People in Lithuania earn USD 24 287 per year on average, less than the OECD average of USD 43 241.

Another essential factor of employment quality is job security, in terms of expected loss of earnings when someone becomes unemployed. This includes how likely you are to lose your job, how long you are likely to remain unemployed and how much financial assistance you can expect from government. Workers facing a high risk of job loss are more vulnerable, especially in countries with smaller social safety nets. In Lithuania, workers face a lower expected loss of earnings if they become unemployed than the OECD average of 7%.

More Resources

Indicators

Community - Lithuania expand

Humans are social creatures. The frequency of our contact with others and the quality of our personal relationships are thus crucial determinants of our well-being.

A strong social network, or community, can provide emotional support during both good and bad times as well as provide access to jobs, services and other material opportunities. In Lithuania, 88% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, broadly in line with the OECD average of 89%.

A weak social network can result in limited economic opportunities, a lack of contact with others, and eventually, feelings of isolation. Socially isolated individuals face difficulties integrating into society as a contributing member and fulfilling personal aspirations.

More Resources

Indicators

Education - Lithuania expand

A well-educated and well-trained population is essential for a country's social and economic well-being. Education plays a key role in providing individuals with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to participate effectively in society and in the economy. Having a good education greatly improves the likelihood of finding a job and earning enough money. Lithuanians can expect to go through 18.4 years of education between the ages of 5 and 39, more than the OECD average of 17.2 years.

Graduating from upper secondary education has become increasingly important in all countries, as the skills needed in the labour market are becoming more knowledge-based. High-school graduation rates therefore provide a good indication of whether a country is preparing its students to meet the minimum requirements of the job market. In Lithuania, nearly 93% of adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, much higher than the OECD average of 78%.

But graduation rates, while important, speak little to the quality of education received. The OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reviews the extent to which students have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in modern societies. In 2015, PISA focused on examining students' reading ability, skills in maths and level in sciences, as research shows that these skills are more reliable predictors of economic and social well-being than the number of years spent in school.

The average student in Lithuania scored 475 in reading literacy, maths and sciences, slightly under the OECD average of 486. The best-performing school systems manage to provide high-quality education to all students.

More Resources

Indicators

Environment - Lithuania expand

The quality of our local living environment has a direct impact on our health and well-being. Outdoor air pollution is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of people's lives. Despite national and international interventions and decreases in major pollutant emissions, the health impacts of urban air pollution continue to worsen, with air pollution set to become the top environmental cause of premature mortality globally by 2050. Air pollution in urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.

PM2.5 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is monitored in OECD countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In Lithuania, PM2.5 levels are 13.6 micrograms per cubic meter, lower than the OECD average of 13.9 micrograms per cubic meter and slightly higher than the annual guideline limit of 10 micrograms per cubic meter set by the World Health Organization.

Access to clean water is fundamental to human well-being. Despite significant progress in OECD countries in reducing water pollution, improvements in freshwater quality are not always easy to discern. In Lithuania, 81% of people say they are satisfied with water quality, the same as the OECD average.

More Resources

Indicators

Governance - Lithuania expand

Trust in government is essential for social cohesion and well-being. High voter turnout is a measure of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data are available, voter turnout in Lithuania was 51% of those registered. This figure is lower than the OECD average of 68%.

Broader public engagement in the decision-making process is also important for holding the government to account and maintaining confidence in public institutions. The formal process for public engagement in developing laws and regulations is one way to measure the extent to which people can become involved in government decisions on key issues that affect their lives. In Latvia, the level of stakeholder engagement in developing regulations is 2.4 (on a scale between 0 and 4); in line with the OECD average.

For more information on estimates and years of reference, see FAQ section and BLI database.

More Resources

Indicators

Health - Lithuania expand

Most OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past decades, thanks to improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care. Life expectancy at birth in Lithuania stands at almost 75 years, five years below the OECD average of 80 years and one of the lowest in the OECD. Higher life expectancy is generally associated with higher health care spending per person, although many other factors have an impact on life expectancy (such as living standards, lifestyles, education and environmental factors).

When asked "How is your health in general?" 43% of people in Lithuania reported to be in good health, much less than the OECD average of 69%. Caution is required in making cross-country comparisons as the assessment can be affected by factors as cultural background. Despite the subjective nature of this question, answers have been found to be a good predictor of people’s future health care use. Gender, age and social status may affect answers to this question.

More Resources

Indicators

Life Satisfaction - Lithuania expand

Happiness or subjective well-being can be measured in terms of life satisfaction, the presence of positive experiences and feelings, and the absence of negative experiences and feelings. Such measures, while subjective, are a useful complement to objective data to compare the quality of life across countries.

Life satisfaction measures how people evaluate their life as a whole rather than their current feelings. When asked to rate their general satisfaction with life on a scale from 0 to 10, Lithuanians on average gave it a 5.9 grade, lower than the OECD average of 6.5.

More Resources

Indicators

Safety - Lithuania expand

Personal security is a core element for the well-being of individuals. Do you feel safe out walking, alone at night, for example? In Lithuania, about 56% of people say that they feel safe walking alone at night, lower than the OECD average of 68%.

The homicide rate (the number of murders per 100 000 inhabitants) is a more reliable measure of a country's safety level because, unlike other crimes, murders are usually always reported to the police. According to the latest OECD data, Lithuania's homicide rate is 3.4, lower than the OECD average of 3.7.

More Resources

Indicators

Work-Life Balance - Lithuania expand

Finding a suitable balance between work and life is a challenge for all workers, especially working parents. The ability to successfully combine work, family commitments and personal life is important for the well-being of all members in a household. Governments can help to address the issue by encouraging supportive and flexible working practices, making it easier for parents to strike a better balance between work and home life.

An important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardise safety and increase stress. In Lithuania, some 0.5% of employees work very long hours, much less than the OECD average of 11%.

The more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as time with others, leisure activities, eating or sleeping. The amount and quality of leisure time is important for people's overall well-being, and can bring additional physical and mental health benefits. In Lithuania, full-time workers devote more of their day on average, to personal care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socialising with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) than the OECD average of 15 hours.