View source for Counties of Lithuania

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{{Politics of Lithuania}}
{{Administrative division of Lithuania sidebar}}

The territory of [[Lithuania]] is divided into '''10 counties''' ([[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]: singular ''apskritis'', plural ''apskritys''), all named after their capitals. The counties are divided into [[Municipalities of Lithuania|60 municipalities]] (Lithuanian: singular ''savivaldybė'', plural ''savivaldybės''): 9 city municipalities, 43 district municipalities and 8 municipalities. Each municipality is then divided into [[elderate]]s (Lithuanian: singular ''seniūnija'', plural ''seniūnijos''). This division was created in 1994 and slightly modified in 2000. 

Until 2010, the counties were administered by county governors (Lithuanian: singular – ''apskrities viršininkas'', plural – ''apskrities viršininkai'') appointed by the central government in [[Vilnius]]. Their primary duty was to ensure that the municipalities obey the laws and the [[Constitution of Lithuania]]. They did not have great powers vested in them, and so it was suggested that 10 counties are too much for Lithuania as the two smallest counties administer only four municipalities. Therefore, on 1 July 2010, the county administrations were abolished, but the counties themselves are retained for statistical and reporting purposes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dėl apskričių viršininkų administracijų likvidavimo|url=http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=392936|publisher=Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania|access-date=21 August 2011|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212095643/http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=392936|url-status=live}}</ref>

Modern ''apskritys'' should not be confused with ''apskritys'' that existed in the independent Lithuania during the [[interwar period]]. At that time Lithuania had a two-tier administrative division: ''apskritys'' that were subdivided into ''valsčiai.'' Modern ''apskritys'' remain only a territorial and statistical unit, while the top-tier administrative division are the municipalities (''savivaldybės''), followed by elderships (''seniūnijos''), and sub-elderships in some areas (''seniūnaitijos''). See [[subdivisions of Lithuania]] for details.

==Map==
This map shows counties as well as municipalities. Eight city municipalities and two municipalities are marked by numbers:
{|
|-
|valign=top width=225px|
1{{spaced ndash}}[[Vilnius City Municipality]]<br>
2{{spaced ndash}}[[Kaunas City Municipality]]<br>
3{{spaced ndash}}[[Klaipėda City Municipality]]
|valign=top width=225px|
4{{spaced ndash}}[[Panevėžys City Municipality]]<br>
5{{spaced ndash}}[[Šiauliai City Municipality]]<br>
6{{spaced ndash}}[[Alytus City Municipality]]
|
7{{spaced ndash}}[[Birštonas Municipality]]<br>
8{{spaced ndash}}[[Palanga City Municipality]]<br>
9{{spaced ndash}}[[Visaginas Municipality]]<br>
10{{spaced ndash}}[[Neringa Municipality]]<br>
|-
|}
[[file:Municipalities in Lithuania.png]]

==List==
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
|- bgcolor=#cccccc
! # !! County<br><small>([[Wikipedia:media help|media help]])</small>!! Capital !! Area<br>in km<sup>2</sup> (rank) !! Population (2023)<ref name="Population">{{cite web|title=Resident population at the beginning of the year|url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R167#/|access-date=2023-06-08|archive-date=2023-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508162636/https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize?indicator=S3R167#/|url-status=live}}</ref>!!Pop. density<br />(per km<sup>2</sup>) !! GDP (nominal)<br>(billion [[EUR]])<ref name="Counties">{{cite web|title=BENDRASIS VIDAUS PRODUKTAS PAGAL APSKRITIS 2021 M.|url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/informaciniai-pranesimai?eventId=285891|publisher=Statistics Lithuania|access-date=22 November 2018|language=lt|date=25 November 2016|archive-date=16 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216145953/https://osp.stat.gov.lt/informaciniai-pranesimai?eventId=285891|url-status=live}}</ref> !! GDP (per capita)<br>([[EUR]]) !! Average monthly gross salary<br>([[EUR]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://osp.stat.gov.lt/informaciniai-pranesimai?eventId=294179|title=Darbo užmokestis regionuose, apskrityse ir savivaldybėse|access-date=2023-06-08|archive-date=2023-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622050506/https://osp.stat.gov.lt/informaciniai-pranesimai?eventId=294179|url-status=live}}</ref> !! [[HDI]]<br>(2021)<br/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/EST+LVA+LTU/?interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2021|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|language=en|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|access-date=2018-09-13|archive-date=2023-06-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622044952/https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/EST+LVA+LTU/?interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2021|url-status=live}}</ref> !!  Municipalities 
|- align=center valign=top
| 1 
| [[Alytus County]]<br><small>([[Media:Alytus.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Alytus.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTA Alytaus apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Alytus]]
| 5,418 (6)
| 135,367
| 25
| 1.6
| 11,500
| 1,582
| 0.841
| align=left|
* [[Alytus City Municipality|Alytus]]
* [[Alytus District Municipality|Alytus (District)]]
* [[Druskininkai Municipality|Druskininkai]]
* [[Lazdijai District Municipality|Lazdijai]]
* [[Varėna District Municipality|Varėna]]

|- align=center valign=top 
| 2
| [[Kaunas County]]<br><small>([[Media:Kaunas.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Kaunas.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Kauno apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Kaunas]] 
| 8,086 (3) 
| 580,333
| 70
| 11.6
| 20,400
| 1,930
| 0.882
| align=left | 
* [[Birštonas Municipality|Birštonas]]
* [[Jonava District Municipality|Jonava]]
* [[Kaišiadorys District Municipality|Kaišiadorys]]
* [[Kaunas City Municipality|Kaunas]]
* [[Kaunas District Municipality|Kaunas (District)]]
* [[Kėdainiai District Municipality|Kėdainiai]]
* [[Prienai District Municipality|Prienai]]
* [[Raseiniai District Municipality|Raseiniai]]
|-align=center valign=top

| 3
| [[Klaipėda County]]<br><small>([[Media:Lt-Klaipeda.oga|listen]] • [[:file:Lt-Klaipeda.oga|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Klaipėdos apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Klaipėda]] 
| 5,222 (7)
| 336,104
| 61
| 6.0
| 18,400
| 1,802
| 0.876
| align=left | 
* [[Klaipėda City Municipality|Klaipėda]]
* [[Klaipėda District Municipality|Klaipėda (District)]]
* [[Kretinga District Municipality|Kretinga]]
* [[Neringa Municipality|Neringa]]
* [[Palanga City Municipality|Palanga]]
* [[Skuodas District Municipality|Skuodas]]
* [[Šilutė District Municipality|Šilutė]]

|- align=center valign=top
| 4
| [[Marijampolė County]]<br><small>([[Media:Marijampole.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:marijampole.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTA Marijampolės apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Marijampolė]] 
| 4,466 (8)
| 135,891
| 31
| 1.6
| 11,800
| 1,575
| 0.830
| align=left | 
* [[Kalvarija Municipality|Kalvarija]]
* [[Kazlų Rūda Municipality|Kazlų Rūda]]
* [[Marijampolė Municipality|Marijampolė]]
* [[Šakiai District Municipality|Šakiai]]
* [[Vilkaviškis District Municipality|Vilkaviškis]]

|- align=center valign=top
| 5
| [[Panevėžys County]]<br><small>([[Media:Panevezys.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Panevezys.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Panevėžio apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Panevėžys]] 
| 7,878 (4)
| 211,652
| 27
| 3.0
| 14,100
| 1,638
| 0.847
| align=left | 
* [[Biržai District Municipality|Biržai]]
* [[Kupiškis District Municipality|Kupiškis]]
* [[Panevėžys City Municipality|Panevėžys]]
* [[Panevėžys District Municipality|Panevėžys (District)]]
* [[Pasvalys District Municipality|Pasvalys]]
* [[Rokiškis District Municipality|Rokiškis]]

|- align=center valign=top
| 6
| [[Šiauliai County]]<br><small>([[Media:Siauliai.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Siauliai.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Šiaulių apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Šiauliai]] 
| 8,537 (2)
| 261,764
| 31
| 3.9
| 15,000
| 1,649
| 0.847
| align=left |
* [[Akmenė District Municipality|Akmenė]]
* [[Joniškis District Municipality|Joniškis]]
* [[Kelmė District Municipality|Kelmė]]
* [[Pakruojis District Municipality|Pakruojis]]
* [[Radviliškis District Municipality|Radviliškis]]
* [[Šiauliai City Municipality|Šiauliai]]
* [[Šiauliai District Municipality|Šiauliai (District)]]

|- align=center valign=top
| 7
| [[Tauragė County]]<br><small>([[Media:Taurage.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Taurage.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Tauragės apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Tauragė]] 
| 4,349 (9)
| 90,652
| 21
| 1.1
| 10,900
| 1,586
| 0.817
| align=left | 
* [[Jurbarkas District Municipality|Jurbarkas]]
* [[Pagėgiai Municipality|Pagėgiai]]
* [[Šilalė District Municipality|Šilalė]]
* [[Tauragė District Municipality|Tauragė]]

|- align=center valign=top 
| 8
| [[Telšiai County]]<br><small>([[Media:Telsiai.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Telsiai.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Telšių apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Telšiai]] 
| 4,350 (10)
| 131,431
| 30
| 1.8
| 13,500
| 1,724
| 0.847
| align=left | 
* [[Mažeikiai District Municipality|Mažeikiai]]
* [[Plungė District Municipality|Plungė]]
* [[Rietavas Municipality|Rietavas]]
* [[Telšiai District Municipality|Telšiai]]

|-align=center valign=top
| 9
| [[Utena County]]<br><small>([[Media:Utena.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Utena.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Utenos apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Utena, Lithuania|Utena]] 
| 7,191 (5)
| 125,462
| 18
| 1.4
| 11,200
| 1,548
| 0.831
| align=left | 
* [[Anykščiai District Municipality|Anykščiai]]
* [[Ignalina District Municipality|Ignalina]]
* [[Molėtai District Municipality|Molėtai]]
* [[Utena District Municipality|Utena]]
* [[Visaginas Municipality|Visaginas]]
* [[Zarasai District Municipality|Zarasai]]

|-align=center valign=top
| 10
| [[Vilnius County]]<br><small>([[Media:Vilnius.ogg|listen]] • [[:file:Vilnius.ogg|info]])</small><br><br>[[file:LTU Vilniaus apskritis COA.svg|40px]]
| [[Vilnius]]
| 9,730 (1)
| 851,346
| 84
| 24.2
| 29,800
| 2,191
| 0.913
| align=left | 
* [[Elektrėnai Municipality|Elektrėnai]]
* [[Šalčininkai District Municipality|Šalčininkai]]
* [[Širvintos District Municipality|Širvintos]]
* [[Švenčionys District Municipality|Švenčionys]]
* [[Trakai District Municipality|Trakai]]
* [[Ukmergė District Municipality|Ukmergė]]
* [[Vilnius City Municipality|Vilnius]]
* [[Vilnius District Municipality|Vilnius (District)]]

|- align=center valign=top
|  
| [[Lithuania]]
| [[Vilnius]]
| 65,300 
| 2,860,000
| 43
| 56.2
| 20,000
| 1,960
| 0.875
| align=left|
|}

==See also==
* [[Administrative divisions of Lithuania]]
* [[Municipalities of Lithuania|Municipalities]] (Lithuanian: plural – ''savivaldybės'', singular – ''savivaldybė'')
* [[Elderships of Lithuania|Elderships (or wards)]] (Lithuanian: plural – ''seniūnijos'', singular – ''seniūnija'').
* ''[[Seniūnaitija]]'' (sub-eldership)
* [[List of cities in Lithuania|Cities]] (Lithuanian: plural – ''miestai'', singular – ''miestas'')
* [[List of towns in Lithuania|Towns]] (Lithuanian: plural – ''miesteliai'', singular – ''miestelis'')

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Featured list}}
{{Counties of Lithuania}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of European countries}}
{{Lithuania topics}}

[[Category:Counties of Lithuania| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Lists of administrative divisions|Lithuania, Counties]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Europe|Lithuania 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Counties, Lithuania]]
[[Category:Lithuania geography-related lists]]