Environment at a Glance: Lithuania
Table of contents
The OECD Environment at a Glance Country Notes are designed to support transparent, evidence-based information. They provide concise and descriptive overview of progress across major environmental issues, including climate, air quality, freshwater resources, waste and the circular economy, and biodiversity conservation. They feature selected environmental indicators, building on harmonised datasets available on OECD Data Explorer. Differences with national data sources can occur due to delays in data treatment and publication, or due to different national definitions and measurement methods. See the Reader’s guide to the Environment at a Glance Country Notes for more information.
Lithuania has a small, open and increasingly high-skill economy, supported by a highly educated workforce and growing integration into international trade. Gross domestic product (GDP) more than doubled over the past two decades. The economy is diversified, based on oil refining and industries such as pharmaceutical and chemicals (especially plastics and fertilisers), cement, wood processing, textile, machinery and electronics, food production and agriculture. Transport accounts for approximately 11% of GDP, and is a major source of air and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
With fewer than three million inhabitants, Lithuania is among the least populous OECD countries. Just over half of people lives in cities. Lithuania is a highly centralised, unitary state, divided into 60 municipalities, with marked regional disparities. Vilnius outperforms other regions in GDP per person, employment and productivity growth.
Located on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, Lithuania is a flat, predominantly agricultural and forested country, with abundant, water resources. Its main mineral resources include limestone, clay, sand and gravel.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fuel combustion and energy supply have been decoupled from economic growth. Nevertheless, much of this progress has been concentrated in the years following Lithuania’s independence, in the context of a rapid transition from a planned to a market economy.
Although per person production-based (i.e. produced within the territory) and demand-based (or footprint, i.e. including emissions incorporated in imported goods) GHG emissions have historically been below the OECD averages, overall, they have been increasing since 1995. This is mainly due to the continuous decrease of Lithuania’s population.
Total GHG emissions (excluding land use, land-use change and forestry - LULUCF) have decreased by only 3.2% during 2000-24. Between 1990 and 2000 GHG emissions decreased significantly, following the decline in industrial production and associated fuel consumption. Once the economy started to grow again, emission rose but were partly compensated by reductions achieved through energy efficiency and other measures.
Transport is the largest source of emissions. After increasing until 2019 due to higher road freight volumes and an expanding vehicle fleet, transport emissions have stabilised since 2020. Agriculture is the second-largest source of emissions, with decreasing levels since 2020, consisting mostly of enteric fermentation (CH4) and agricultural soils (N2O). Emissions from industrial processes and product use (mostly ammonia, nitric acid and cement production) represented 12.8% of the total (excluding LULUCF) in 2024, while the energy industries emitted 12.4%. The LULUCF sector emission removals have decreased between 2010-2018 due to reduced forest biomass, rising emissions from settlements, and lower removals from harvested wood products (Lithuania, 2026).
Lithuania imports almost all of the fossil fuels it consumes and hosts the only operating oil refinery in the Baltic States, whose capacity exceeds domestic demand. Renewable energy sources, dominated by biomass (biofuels), represent a relatively large share of the energy mix, 32.5% of total energy supply (TES) in 2025. Electricity imports and natural gas filled the energy gap when the Ignalina nuclear power station closed in 2009. The share of natural gas in TES has since declined, while the share of oil has increased in recent years due to the increasing diesel consumption in transport. Fossil fuels represented 66% of total energy supply in 2025.
Domestic electricity generation is increasingly based on renewable sources, notably onshore wind, hydropower and solid biofuels. The share of renewables in electricity production rose from less than 20% in 2010 to 78% in 2025. Lithuania aims to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, supported by further expansion of wind (including offshore) and solar capacity, grid modernisation, improved energy efficiency and greater prosumer participation. The government is also exploring hydrogen production to help decarbonise industry. In addition, a ban on the use of solid fossil fuels for heating in residential areas, resorts and cities with more than 50 000 inhabitants will take effect in 2026.
Lithuania reached its 2020 emission reduction commitments only for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM2,5). Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) and ammonia (NH3) have decreased during 2005–2024, but not sufficiently. This calls for more effective policies in the agricultural sector, notably the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers, manure management and feed balancing.
Road transport is the main source of NOx emissions. They have decreased since 2000 primarily due to the introduction of more stringent vehicle standards. However, emissions’ reductions are too slow to achieve the national 2020-2029 target. To meet national targets for NMVOC it would be necessary to adopt new technologies and improve production processes, requiring large quantities of solvents.
All emission intensities are below the OECD average but NOx, NMVOC and CO intensities are above the OECD-Europe average.
Air quality in Lithuania is generally good, with some exceptions. In 2023, no exceedances above the limit values established by the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) were registered. Average population exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) nevertheless remains above the 2021 guideline value of 5 µg/m3 recommended by the World Health Organization.
Lithuania has a dense network of rivers that flow into the Baltic Sea, via the Curonian Lagoon or the Gulf of Riga. Many of these rivers are transboundary, flowing through both EU member states and third countries.
Surface water abstraction depends on energy needs, which account for 94–97% of the total amount of surface water abstracted. The fisheries sector accounts for about 2% and industry for about 1% of surface water abstracted. The Klaipeda liquefied natural gas terminal, which began operating in 2015, consumes another 2–3%.
Groundwater abstraction has slightly increased during the past decade, and over 80% of abstracted groundwater is used for the public water supply, the remaining for industry. A small portion of groundwater is used for agriculture and fisheries. The average intensity of groundwater use in Lithuania is about 11% but varies from 5 to 80% in individual groundwater basins.
80.7% of the country's population is connected to public sewage treatment plants. All agglomerations between 2 000 and 10 000 population equivalents benefit from secondary or tertiary treatment. Based on 2024 data, the proportion of wastewater treated to the required standards was 95.2%.
The amount of generated municipal waste per person peaked in 2020 and decreased to 466 kg per person in 2024, below the OECD average. Recycling and composting represent around 53% of municipal waste management, supported by an expanding and improving separate waste collection system. For instance, as of January 1, 2024, mandatory requirements for separate food and kitchen waste, as well as, of January 1, 2025, for separate textile, waste collection, came into effect. Efforts to enhance the waste sorting infrastructure, alongside public education and information campaigns, are ongoing.
Additionally, the deposit return system for beverage containers has encouraged greater public participation in sorting. Residents return more than 90% of containers through this system (in 2022, approximately 93% of polyethylene terephthalate - PET - containers, 94% of metal containers, and 89% of glass containers were returned)
Lithuania’s material productivity has fluctuated but remained largely unchanged since 2000. This has not been accompanied by improved resource efficiency and therefore material consumption per person continues to increase. In 2023 circular use of material was 3.9%, which is much lower than the EU average of around 12% (Eurostat, 2024). The rate has been relatively stable during the past decade. As in many countries, construction materials represent the dominant share, followed by biomass. Consumption of construction minerals has grown the fastest, in line with the strong GDP growth. Fossil energy carriers dominate material imports, reflecting the country’s high reliance on energy imports. In June 2023, Lithuania adopted the Guidelines for the transition to a circular economy by 2035.
Lithuania is a flat and low-lying country with a maximum elevation of just 300 metres above sea level. It is predominantly agricultural, with cropland constituting 37.2% and permanent meadows and pastures 8.4%. Over a third of the country is forested, while wetlands and water bodies account for 1.5% and 4.1% respectively. Urbanised areas cover 3.8% (Fund, 2025). Arable land and forest area have increased over the last 15 years, while grassland/pastures have declined. The expansion of more input-intensive arable farming, land use change and fragmentation and intensive forestry practices are the leading pressures on biodiversity (OECD, Environmental Performance Reviews: Lithuania, 2021).
According to the reporting requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, the conservation status of 37% of Lithuania’s protected species was assessed as good. Concerning birds, 19% of breeding species showed increasing or stable population short-term trends. The main pressures are invasive alien species, forestry and agriculture (BISE, 2025).
Most of the protected areas are mixed-use landscapes or resource management areas (for sustainable forest management). There are three state strict nature reserves and one biosphere reserve. Protected areas are small because the landscape is relatively heterogeneous and fragmented – large areas of continuous natural habitats are rare. Lithuania plans to expand the terrestrial network of protected areas to 30% of land by 2030 (the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework, GBF, target). The area of protected areas in Lithuania is consistently increasing, reaching 18.5% of the country's territory in 2026. In recent years, priority has been given to the protection of habitats and species of European Community importance, and therefore the Natura 2000 network of sites is being expanded. Natura 2000 areas cover 15 % of the country's territory.
According to the management effectiveness 2007 evaluation (Rapid Assessment and Prioritization of Protected Areas Management methodology, Ahokumpu, 2007) Lithuania created a representative network of protected areas that corresponded to its conservation needs, made significant progress with its administrative structures and was successful in preventing threats. After implementation of the evaluations’ proposed measures, the management of protected areas has further improved (Tucker, 2023). After amending the Law on Protected Areas, in 2024 it became possible to establish private protected areas.
This section shows selected policy instruments based on data available for most OECD countries and does not provide a complete overview of countries’ policy mix to achieve their environment-related objectives. Interpretation should consider the country specific context.
Lithuania’s revenue from environmentally related taxes as a share of GDP is below the OECD-Europe average but above the OECD one. As in most other OECD countries, revenues have declined in recent years and energy products – especially motor vehicle fuels – generate most of the revenues. Transport, pollution and resource taxes do not raise much revenue.
In total, 53.7% of GHG emissions in Lithuania were subject to a positive Net Effective Carbon Rate1 (ECR) in 2023. Explicit carbon prices in Lithuania consist of emissions trading system (ETS) permit prices, which cover 20.4% of GHG emissions in CO2 equivalent. Fuel excise taxes, an implicit form of carbon pricing, covered 40.8% of emissions in 2023. Direct fossil fuel subsidies cover 6.9% of emissions. About 49% of GHG emissions have a Net ECR above EUR 60 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, a mid-range estimate of current carbon costs. Net ECRs are highest in the road transport sector, which accounts for 29.1% of the country’s total GHG emissions. The Net ECR is on average negative in the buildings sector. The buildings sector accounts for 5.8% of GHG emissions (OECD, Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2024: Gearing Up to Bring Emissions Down, 2024).
The share of environmentally related government’s research and development (R&D) budget was relatively high in the mid-2000s, peaking at 9.3% in 2006. It then declined sharply, dropping below 1% by 2010 and remaining very low thereafter. Although the share began to increase again from 2019 and reached 0.75% in 2022, it fell by almost half, to 0.39% by 2024.
The share of renewables in public energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) increased from 23.3% in 2020, to a peak of 30.5% in 2022. It then declined and stabilised at around one quarter of total energy RD&D, standing at 25.5% in 2024.
Lithuania remains a marginal eco-innovation performer. Overall, patenting activity in both environmental management and climate change mitigation technologies remains very limited. In 2023, the number of environmentally related innovations (filed for protection in at least two jurisdictions) declined to three, with virtually no inventions filed in climate change mitigation.
In Lithuania, the proportion of innovations in environment-related technologies declined sharply from nearly 29% of all inventions in 2010 to less than 5% in 2023, indicating a significant reduction in the relative share of green innovation.
As an official provider of development co-operation since 2004 and a Development Assistance Committee (DAC) member since 2022, Lithuania’s co-operation focuses on sharing its transition experience and accumulated knowledge in democratic reforms, notably in countries of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership. Most official development assistance (ODA) is channelled through the EU, and represents a mere 0.21% of gross national income. Although the environment and sustainability feature in its priorities, Lithuania’s bilateral ODA targeting climate change has been fluctuating during the past decade and remains at a very low level by DAC standards, at 8.5% in 2023-24. This lack of environmental focus is even more evident in bilateral ODA targeting biodiversity, which decreased from 1.8% in 2015-16 to 0.2% in 2023-24 (OECD, 2026).
References
(EEA), E. E. (2024). Circular economy country profile 2024 – Lithuania. Obtenido de https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/circular-economy/country-profiles-on-circular-economy/circular-economy-country-profiles-2024
BISE. (2025). Biodiversity information system for Europe: Lithuania. Obtenido de https://biodiversity.europa.eu/countries/lithuania?activeTab=97fdb996-56f0-4cae-8998-95f8f5fa4514
Eurostat. (2024). Circular economy - material flows. Highlights. Obtenido de https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?oldid=655955
Fund, L. (2025). Data of the Land Fund of the Republic of Lithuania. Obtenido de https://nzt.lrv.lt/lt/statistine-informacija/lietuvos-respublikos-zemes-fondas
Lithuania. (2026). Lithuania Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2024. Obtenido de https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/LT_NID_2026.pdf
OECD. (2021). Environmental Performance Reviews: Lithuania. OECD Publishing, Paris. doi:10.1787/48d82b17-en
OECD. (2024). Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2024: Gearing Up to Bring Emissions Down. OECD Series on Carbon Pricing and Energy Taxation, OECD Publishing, Paris. doi:10.1787/b44c74e6-en
OECD. (2026). Development Co-operation Profiles. OECD Publishing, Paris. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-profiles_04b376d7-en/lithuania_23ca9a20-en.html
Tucker. (2023). Nature Conservation in Europe. Approaches and Lessons. Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
Further reading
CBD (2022), Country profiles: Lithuania, https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=lt#facts
IEA (2021), Lithuania 2021 Energy Policy Review, IEA Energy Policy Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/db346bb1-en
UNEP-WCMC (2024), “Protected Area Profile for Lithuania”, the World Database of Protected Areas, www.protectedplanet.net
This work is published under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Member countries of the OECD.
This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.
The statistical data for Israel are supplied by and under the responsibility of the relevant Israeli authorities. The use of such data by the OECD is without prejudice to the status of the Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank under the terms of international law.
Note by the Republic of Türkiye
The information in this document with reference to “Cyprus” relates to the southern part of the Island. There is no single authority representing both Turkish and Greek Cypriot people on the Island. Türkiye recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Until a lasting and equitable solution is found within the context of the United Nations, Türkiye shall preserve its position concerning the “Cyprus issue”.
Note by all the European Union Member States of the OECD and the European Union
The Republic of Cyprus is recognised by all members of the United Nations with the exception of Türkiye. The information in this document relates to the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Kosovo: This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99 and the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Kosovo’s declaration of independence.
© OECD 2026
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Attribution – you must cite the work.
Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid.
Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries.
Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement.
You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work.
Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.
← 1. Effective Carbon Rate (ECR) is the sum of fuel excise taxes, carbon taxes and tradeable permits that effectively put a price on carbon emissions. The Net ECR equals the ECR minus fossil fuel subsidies that decrease pre-tax fossil fuel prices.