Analytics, Demography, EU – Baltic States, Lithuania, Society

The Department of Statistics reports that at the beginning of this year 2.979 million of people were living in Lithuania. Country's population had been going down due to declining birth rate (last year 0.9% less babies were born year-on-year) and, of course, due to emigration.

According to preliminary data, around 43,000 people emigrated abroad in 2012. It is approximately as much as the number of residents in Siauliai or Utena regions. What is next? Just in a year Panevezys city lost its status of major city, which is the 5th largest Lithuania's city. In early 2011, Panevezys had population of 100,000, whereas in 2012 the number dropped to 98,000 residents. Siauliai city is also at risk of losing the status of major city, which currently has population of 107,000. In 4 years the city had lost 18,300 residents. The number of people is also going down in the third largest Lithuania's city – Klaipeda. Since 2009 the number has decreased by 23,000 residents.

However, the largest population decline is recorded in smaller towns. Academician and Professor of social science Romualdas Grigas says that Lithuania does not have regional policy. The Government does not think at all how to create jobs and keep young people in the regions. They do precisely the opposite, schools and hospitals are being optimized. "I would like to remind the Soviet times. Then effort was put to create industry in Marijampole, Utena and Alytus towns. The aim was to allocate power equally. Theatres used to be established in each region in order to create attraction hubs, cultural centers and make province thriving. However, today regions are left without care, there is no common state policy," said the scientist.