The 2011 Lithuanian census (Lithuanian: Lietuvos 2011 m. gyventojų ir būsto surašymas) was the most recent comprehensive enumeration of the population and housing conditions in the Republic of Lithuania. It was conducted under the authority of Statistics Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos statistikos departamentas) between 1 March and 30 May 2011.
Scope and methodology
- The census covered all permanent residents of Lithuania, defined as persons who had lived in the country for at least three months prior to the census day.
- Data were collected through a combination of in‑person interviews, self‑administered paper questionnaires, and an online questionnaire platform introduced for the first time in a Lithuanian census.
- The questionnaire gathered information on demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital status), ethnicity, language, education, employment, migration history, and housing attributes (type of dwelling, ownership, amenities).
Key results
| Statistic | Value (2011) |
|---|---|
| Total resident population | 3,034,927 |
| Population change since 2001 | –13.6 % (decrease of ~475 000) |
| Lithuanian ethnicity | 85.9 % (≈2,617,000) |
| Polish ethnicity | 6.7 % (≈203,000) |
| Russian ethnicity | 5.8 % (≈176,000) |
| Belarusian ethnicity | 1.2 % (≈36,000) |
| Ukrainian ethnicity | 0.4 % (≈12,000) |
| Other ethnic groups / unspecified | 0.0 % (≈6,000) |
| Median age (both sexes) | 42.5 years |
| Urban population | 66.8 % of total |
| Number of dwellings counted | 1,308,584 |
| Percentage of households with Internet access | 69.2 % |
Geographic distribution
- The largest urban centers—Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda—accounted for roughly one‑third of the total population.
- The Polish minority remained concentrated in the Vilnius Region, particularly in the Vilnius District Municipality.
- The Russian minority was most prevalent in the eastern counties of Alytus and Marijampolė, as well as in the city of Kaunas.
Significant findings
- The census documented a continued demographic decline driven by low birth rates, high emigration, and an ageing population.
- The proportion of the population aged 65 years or older rose to 16 %, reflecting broader European ageing trends.
- Housing data indicated that 80 % of dwellings were privately owned, and the average household size decreased to 2.5 persons per household.
Publication and use
The detailed results were published in a series of statistical tables and analytical reports by Statistics Lithuania in 2013. The data serve as the primary source for government planning, allocation of EU structural funds, academic research, and monitoring of demographic and social development indicators in Lithuania.
Legal and international context
The census was carried out in accordance with the Lithuanian Law on Population and Housing Census and complied with the United Nations Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses. It also met the data collection standards required by the European Union for the allocation of funding under the Cohesion Policy.
