Lithuania

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Lithuania

International Conventions

CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2005), FCPNM (2000), ICCPR (1991), UNCRPD (2010), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

2,760,000

Principal Languages

Lithuanian

Literacy Rate

100% (2015 World Factbook)

General References

Campbell and King 2011

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Lithuania is 13. All are living languages. Of these, 4 are indigenous and 9 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 8 are developing, and 2 are dying. Also listed is 1 unestablished language.

Languages

Belarusian bel: Vilniaus county: primarily Vilnius city; possibly scattered in Alytaus, Panevezio, and Utenos counties. Users: 7,110 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 39,200 (2015 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Belarusan Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
English eng: Users: 1,100,290 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 290 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 1,100,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Anglų Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 68,200 in Lithuania (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 386,530 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 530 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 386,000 (2019). Ethnic population: 2,830 (2015 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Karaim kdr: Vilniaus county: Trakai district municipality; scattered in a few other places. Users: 75 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 270. Total users in all countries: 84. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Lashon kedar, Turkic Karaite Autonym: Karaj Tili Classification: Turkic, Western, Ponto-Caspian
Latvian, Standard lvs: Users: 1,000 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 3,140 (2015 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Lithuanian lit: Widespread. Users: 2,540,000 in Lithuania (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,909,390. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 14). Alternate Names: Lietuviu, Litauische, Litewski, Litovskiy Autonym: Lietuviškai, Lietuvių kalba Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Lithuanian Sign Language lls: Scattered. Users: 8,000 (2021 EUD). Approximately 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 14,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Law on Education, No. XI-1281, Article 30(6), as amended). Alternate Names: LGK, Lietuvių gestų kalba, Lietuviu gestu kalba, LtSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Polish pol: Alytaus, Kauno, Marijampoles, and Vilniaus counties. Users: 618,000 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 164,000 in Lithuania (2015 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 454,000 (European Commission 2006). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Lenku Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Romani, Baltic rml: Siauliu, Utenos, and Vilniaus counties. Users: 1,350 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,060 (2015 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Balt Romani, Balt Slavic Romani, Baltic Slavic Romani, Romani Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Russian rus: Kauno county: Jonava municipality; Klaipedos county: Klaipeda City municipality; Utenos county: Ingalina, Visaginas, and Zarasai municipalities; Vilniaus county: Elektrenai, Švenčionys, Trakai, Vilnius, and Vilnius City municipalities, Naujamiestis and Senamiestis neighborhoods. Users: 2,460,000 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 140,000 in Lithuania (2015 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 2,320,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Rusijos Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Samogitian sgs: Taurages, Telsiu and Klaipedos counties. Users: 500,000 (2009 A. Udovice). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Lowland Lithuanian, Zhemaitish, Žemaičiai, Žemaičių, Žemaitiškai, Žemaitis Autonym: Žemaitiu Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Ukrainian ukr: Klaipedos county: Klaipeda City municipality; Utenos county: Visaginas municipality; Vilniaus county: Elektrenai, Šalčininkai, Švenčionys, and Vilnius City municipalities. Users: 5,340 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 20,200 (2015 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Yiddish, Eastern ydd: Kauno, Klaipedos, Siauliu, and Vilniaus counties. Users: A few hundred speakers. Ethnic population: 2,270 (2015 census). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Lithuanian

[lit] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 14). 2,540,000 in Lithuania (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 2,909,390.

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 1,100,290 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 290 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 1,100,000 (European Commission 2012).

5 (Dispersed)

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 386,530 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 530 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). L2 users: 386,000 (2019). Ethnic population: 2,830 (2015 census).

Polish

[pol] 5* (Dispersed). 618,000 in Lithuania, all users. L1 users: 164,000 in Lithuania (2015 census). , based on nationality. L2 users: 454,000 (European Commission 2006).

Ukrainian

[ukr] 5* (Dispersed). 5,340 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 20,200 (2015 census).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 68,200 in Lithuania (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.

5 (Developing)

Belarusian

[bel] 5* (Developing). 7,110 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 39,200 (2015 census).

Lithuanian Sign Language

[lls] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, Law on Education, No. XI-1281, Article 30(6), as amended). 8,000 (2021 EUD). Approximately 0.3% of total population. Another estimate: 14,500 (2014 IMB).

Romani, Baltic

[rml] 5* (Developing). 1,350 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 2,060 (2015 census).

Samogitian

[sgs] 5* (Developing). 500,000 (2009 A. Udovice).

8a (Moribund)

Karaim

[kdr] 8a (Moribund). 75 in Lithuania (2014 UNSD). Ethnic population: 270. Total users in all countries: 84.

Yiddish, Eastern

[ydd] 8a (Moribund). A few hundred speakers. Ethnic population: 2,270 (2015 census).