The depth of Lithuania’s demographic crisis is laid bare by new data showing Lithuania’s population has decreased by more than 418,000 in 10 years. About as many people live in four Šiauliais or more than two Klaipėda-sized cities.
In 2005, Lithuania had a population of 3.32 million population but by 2015 that had fallen to 2.9 million. However, the average Lithuanian’s life expectancy has also increased by three years in this period.
Lithuania’s Department of Statistics said 44,500 people emigrated from Lithuania in 2015 alone. The number of emigrants per 1,000 residents was 15.3 emigrants last year up from 12.5 in 2014.
In 2015 the main destination for Lithuanian emigrants was the UK at around 19,000 (42.7%) emigrants followed by Germany at 3,300 (7.5%) and Ireland at 3,2000 (7.1%).
Although the country’s population has fallen, the average citizen’s income has grown substantially. The average monthly wage in the country increased from €266 in 2005 to €554 last year, which is a €278, or an increase of more than 100%.
The old age pension has also doubled in a decade – from €122 in 2005 to €244 in 2015. However, both wages and pensions lag EU averages significantly.
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