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List of cities in Lithuania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Snip by Augustas Didzgalvis
Vilnius is the largest city of Lithuania with urban population over 700,000 inhabitants

Lithuania has 103 cities. In Lithuanian, a city is called miestas (singular) or miestai (plural). The Parliament of Lithuania defines a city as a busy area with more than 3,000 people. At least two-thirds of these people must work in factories or provide services. Some places with fewer than 3,000 people are still called cities if they have a long history of being cities.

Smaller places are called miestelis (towns). Even smaller places are called kaimas (villages). Sometimes, people use the word gyvenvietė (settlement) for both towns and villages.

History of Lithuanian Cities

Cities in Lithuania started to grow between the 13th and 14th centuries. This was when the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was forming. Klaipėda was the first city to get special "city rights" in 1257.

City rights were important. They meant a city could have its own markets, taverns, and groups for workers (guilds). They could also have their own courts. Some places that used to be cities, like Kernavė and Merkinė, are now just towns or villages.

Most Lithuanian cities were set up before the 18th century. Their locations were often chosen because they were good for trade and travel. Later, some new cities grew because of railroads. Examples include Kaišiadorys, Vievis, and Radviliškis. In the 20th century, cities like Visaginas and Elektrėnai grew around large industrial areas. Five cities, including Birštonas and Druskininkai, are special resort towns.

City Population in Lithuania

Most cities in Lithuania are quite small. Only 14 cities have more than 20,000 people. Cities are spread out fairly evenly across the country. More and more people are choosing to live in cities. In 2001, about 66.7% of Lithuanians lived in cities. By 2021, this number grew to 68.2%.

Cities with Over 50,000 Inhabitants

# Coat of Arms City Pronunciation Population Change City Rights Granted County Municipalities in Urban Area Urban Area
(2024)
2024 2021 2001
1 Grand Coat of arms of Vilnius.svg Vilnius Listen • Info 5 602,430 546,155 554,281 Template:Number table sorting/negative−1.47% 1387 Vilnius County Vilnius City Municipality Vilnius District Municipality 708,627
2 Coat of arms of Kaunas.svg Kaunas Listen • Info 3 304,210 298,753 378,943 Template:Number table sorting/negative−21.16% 1408 Kaunas County Kaunas City Municipality Kaunas District Municipality 410,475
3 Coat of arms of Klaipeda (Lithuania).svg Klaipėda Listen • Info 1 159,403 152,008 192,954 Template:Number table sorting/negative−21.22% 1257 Klaipėda County Klaipėda City Municipality Klaipėda District Municipality 226,676
4 Coat of arms of Šiauliai Grand (Lithuania).svg Šiauliai Listen • Info 1 110,463 100,653 133,883 Template:Number table sorting/negative−24.82% 1589 Šiauliai County Šiauliai City Municipality Šiauliai District Municipality 151,026
5 Coat of Arms of Panevezys.svg Panevėžys Listen • Info 0 86,606 89,100 119,749 Template:Number table sorting/negative−25.59% 1837 Panevėžys County Panevėžys City Municipality Panevėžys District Municipality 121,977
6 Coat of arms of Alytus (Lithuania).svg Alytus Listen • Info 0 51,353 52,727 71,491 Template:Number table sorting/negative−26.25% 1581 Alytus County Alytus City Municipality Alytus District Municipality 76,815

Cities Between 20,000 and 50,000 Inhabitants

# Coat of Arms City Pronunciation Population Change City Rights Granted County Municipality
2024 2021 2001
1 Marijampole COA.svg Marijampolė Listen • Info 1 36,704 36,727 48,675 Template:Number table sorting/negative−24.55% 1792 Marijampolė County Marijampolė Municipality
2 Coat of arms of Mazeikiai (Lithuania).svg Mažeikiai Listen • Info 1 33,377 33,101 42,675 Template:Number table sorting/negative−22.43% 1924 Telšiai County Mažeikiai District Municipality
3 Coat of arms of Utena (Lithuania).svg Utena Listen • Info 1 27,763 25,343 33,860 Template:Number table sorting/negative−25.15% 1599 Utena County Utena District Municipality
4 Coat of arms of Jonava (Lithuania).svg Jonava Listen • Info 1 26,838 27,381 34,954 Template:Number table sorting/negative−21.67% 1864 Kaunas County Jonava District Municipality
5 Coat of arms of Kedainiai (Lithuania).svg Kėdainiai Listen • Info 1 23,362 23,461 32,048 Template:Number table sorting/negative−26.79% 1590 Kaunas County Kėdainiai District Municipality
6 Telsiai COA.gif Telšiai Listen • Info 1 22,024 22,642 31,460 Template:Number table sorting/negative−28.03% 1791 Telšiai County Telšiai District Municipality
7 Coat of arms of Taurage (Lithuania).svg Tauragė Listen • Info 1 21,216 21,203 29,124 Template:Number table sorting/negative−27.20% 1924 Tauragė County Tauragė District Municipality
8 Ukmergė COA.svg Ukmergė Listen • Info 1 20,928 21,258 28,759 Template:Number table sorting/negative−26.08% 1486 Vilnius County Ukmergė District Municipality

Cities Between 5,000 and 20,000 Inhabitants

# Coat of Arms City Pronunciation
(audio help)		 Population (2024) Population (2021) Population (2001) City Rights Granted County Municipality
1 Visaginas COA.svg Visaginas Listen • Info 19,330 19,446 29,554 1977 Utena County Visaginas Municipality
2 Coat of arms of Palanga (Lithuania).svg Palanga Listen • Info 18,066 16,746 17,623 1791 Klaipėda County Palanga City Municipality
3 Plunge COA.gif Plungė Listen • Info 17,259 17,543 23,436 1792 Telšiai County Plungė District Municipality
4 Kretinga COA.gif Kretinga Listen • Info 16,927 17,249 21,423 1609 Klaipėda County Kretinga District Municipality
5 Coat of arms of Silute (Lithuania).svg Šilutė Listen • Info 16,002 15,952 21,476 1941 Klaipėda County Šilutė District Municipality
6 Radviliškis Coat of Arms.svg Radviliškis Listen • Info 15,518 15,103 20,339 1923 Šiauliai County Radviliškis District Municipality
7 Gargzdai COA.gif Gargždai Listen • Info 15,510 15,065 15,212 1792 Klaipėda County Klaipėda District Municipality
8 Coat of arms of Druskininkai (Lithuania).svg Druskininkai Listen • Info 12,978 12,908 18,233 1893 Alytus County Druskininkai Municipality
9 Elektrenai COA.svg Elektrėnai Listen • Info 12,536 11,255 14,050 1962 Vilnius County Elektrėnai Municipality
10 Jurbarkas COA.gif Jurbarkas Listen • Info 11,455 10,186 13,797 1611 Tauragė County Jurbarkas District Municipality
11 Rokiškis COA.svg Rokiškis Listen • Info 11,388 11,770 16,746 1920 Panevėžys County Rokiškis District Municipality
12 Kursenai COA.gif Kuršėnai Listen • Info 10,570 10,916 14,197 1946 Šiauliai County Šiauliai District Municipality
13 Birzai COA.png Biržai Listen • Info 10,238 10,734 15,262 1589 Panevėžys County Biržai District Municipality
14 Vilkaviškis CoA.svg Vilkaviškis Listen • Info 10,182 10,286 13,283 1660 Marijampolė County Vilkaviškis District Municipality
15 Garliava COA.svg Garliava Listen • Info 10,035 10,366 13,322 1958 Kaunas County Kaunas District Municipality
16 Grigiskes COA.gif Grigiškės Listen • Info 9,829 9,950 11,448 1958 Vilnius County Vilnius City Municipality
17 Lentvaris COA.svg Lentvaris Listen • Info 9,589 9,713 11,773 1946 Vilnius County Trakai District Municipality
18 Raseiniai COA.svg Raseiniai Listen • Info 9,553 9,865 12,541 1492–1506 Kaunas County Raseiniai District Municipality
19 Prienai COA.gif Prienai Listen • Info 8,773 8,796 11,353 1609 Kaunas County Prienai District Municipality
20 Anyksciai COA.gif Anykščiai Listen • Info 8,534 8,697 11,958 1516 Utena County Anykščiai District Municipality
21 Kaisiadorys COA.gif Kaišiadorys Listen • Info 8,480 8,380 10,002 1946 Kaunas County Kaišiadorys District Municipality
22 Coat of arms of Joniskis.svg Joniškis Listen • Info 8,437 8,612 11,329 1616 Šiauliai County Joniškis District Municipality
23 Naujoji Akmenė COA.svg Naujoji Akmenė Listen • Info 8,044 7,985 12,345 1792 Šiauliai County Akmenė District Municipality
24 Varėna COA.svg Varėna Listen • Info 7,866 8,202 10,845 1946 Alytus County Varėna District Municipality
25 Kelmes-herbas.svg Kelmė Listen • Info 7,344 7,688 10,900 1947 Šiauliai County Kelmė District Municipality
26 Herb Soleczników.svg Šalčininkai Listen • Info 6,825 6,857 6,722 1956 Vilnius County Šalčininkai District Municipality
27 Pasvalys COA.svg Pasvalys Listen • Info 6,288 6,451 8,709 1946 Panevėžys County Pasvalys District Municipality
28 Kupiskis COA.gif Kupiškis Listen • Info 6,107 6,218 8,451 1791 Panevėžys County Kupiškis District Municipality
29 Coat of arms of Zarasai.svg Zarasai Listen • Info 5,851 6,077 8,365 1843 Utena County Zarasai District Municipality
30 Trakai (Lithuania) CoA.svg Trakai Listen • Info 5,720 5,426 5,725 1409 Vilnius County Trakai District Municipality
31 Coat of arms of Širvintos (Lithuania).svg Širvintos Listen • Info 5,650 5,827 7,273 1950 Vilnius County Širvintos District Municipality
32 Coat of arms of Moletai (Lithuania).svg Molėtai Listen • Info 5,611 5,782 7,221 1956 Utena County Molėtai District Municipality
33 Coat of arms of Kazlu Ruda (Lithuania).svg Kazlų Rūda Listen • Info 5,457 5,590 7,401 1950 Marijampolė County Kazlų Rūda Municipality
34 Sakiai COA.gif Šakiai Listen • Info 5,348 5,462 6,795 1776 Marijampolė County Šakiai District Municipality
35 Skuodas COA.gif Skuodas Listen • Info 5,231 5,508 7,896 1572 Klaipėda County Skuodas District Municipality

Cities Between 1,000 and 5,000 Inhabitants

# Coat of Arms City Pronunciation
(audio help)		 Population (2024) Population (2021) Population (2001) City Rights Granted County Municipality
1 Coat of arms of Ignalina (Lithuania).svg Ignalina Listen • Info 4,843 5,106 6,591 1950 Utena County Ignalina District Municipality
2 Coa pabrade.png Pabradė Listen • Info 4,636 4,918 6,525 1946 Vilnius County Švenčionys District Municipality
3 Coat of arms of Šilalė.svg Šilalė Listen • Info 4,605 4,729 6,281 1950 Tauragė County Šilalė District Municipality
4 Herb Nowych Święcian.svg Švenčionėliai Listen • Info 4,536 4,748 6,923 1920 Vilnius County Švenčionys District Municipality
5 Nemencine COA.gif Nemenčinė Listen • Info 4,495 4,831 5,892 1955 Vilnius County Vilnius District Municipality
6 Coat of arms of Pakruojis (Lithuania).svg Pakruojis Listen • Info 4,487 4,594 6,057 1950 Šiauliai County Pakruojis District Municipality
7 Herb Święcian.svg Švenčionys Listen • Info 4,292 4,448 5,684 1800 Vilnius County Švenčionys District Municipality
8 Coat of arms of Neringa (Lithuania).svg Neringa Listen • Info 4,265 3,609 2,386 1961 Klaipėda County Neringa Municipality
9 Vievis COA.gif Vievis Listen • Info 4,135 4,311 5,303 1950 Vilnius County Elektrėnai Municipality
10 Kalvarija COA.gif Kalvarija Listen • Info 3,939 3,982 5,090 1791 Marijampolė County Kalvarija Municipality
11 Kybartai COA.gif Kybartai Listen • Info 3,871 4,126 6,556 1947 Marijampolė County Vilkaviškis District Municipality
12 Lazdijai COA.svg Lazdijai Listen • Info 3,817 4,016 5,140 1957 Alytus County Lazdijai District Municipality
13 Rietavas COA.gif Rietavas Listen • Info 3,144 3,234 3,979 1792 Telšiai County Rietavas Municipality
14 Birstonas COA.svg Birštonas Listen • Info 3,011 3,072 3,225 1518? Kaunas County Birštonas Municipality
15 Ziezmariai COA.gif Žiežmariai Listen • Info 2,989 3,158 3,884 1792 Kaunas County Kaišiadorys District Municipality
16 Eisiskes COA.png Eišiškės Listen • Info 2,734 2,908 3,765 1950 Vilnius County Šalčininkai District Municipality
17 Coat of arms of Ariogala.svg Ariogala Listen • Info 2,591 2,743 3,697 1792 Kaunas County Raseiniai District Municipality
18 Seduva COA.gif Šeduva Listen • Info 2,367 2,421 3,400 1654 Šiauliai County Radviliškis District Municipality
19 Coat of arms of Akmenė (Lithuania).svg Akmenė Listen • Info 2,294 2,355 3,140 1792 Šiauliai County Akmenė District Municipality
20 Venta COA.gif Venta Listen • Info 2,150 2,250 3,412 1978 Šiauliai County Akmenė District Municipality
21 LIT Wieksznie COA.jpg Viekšniai Listen • Info 2,133 2,249 2,270 1791 Telšiai County Mažeikiai District Municipality
22 LIT Rudziszki COA.jpg Rūdiškės Listen • Info 1,889 1,985 2,559 1958 Vilnius County Trakai District Municipality
23 TytuvenaiCOA.jpg Tytuvėnai Listen • Info 1,759 1,850 2,851 1956 Šiauliai County Kelmė District Municipality
24 Vilkija COA.gif Vilkija Listen • Info 1,694 1,762 2,338 1792 Kaunas County Kaunas District Municipality
25 Ezerelis COA.svg Ežerėlis Listen • Info 1,580 1,640 2,051 1956 Kaunas County Kaunas District Municipality
26 Pagegiai COA.gif Pagėgiai Listen • Info 1,540 1,576 2,393 1923 Tauragė County Pagėgiai Municipality
27 Gelgaudiskis COA.gif Gelgaudiškis Listen • Info 1,497 1,572 2,029 1958 Marijampolė County Šakiai District Municipality
28 LIT Skaudwile COA.jpg Skaudvilė Listen • Info 1,331 1,427 2,140 1950 Tauragė County Tauragė District Municipality
29 Kudirkos Naumiestis COA.gif Kudirkos Naumiestis Listen • Info 1,305 1,381 1,997 1643 Marijampolė County Šakiai District Municipality
30 Coat of arms of Žagarė.svg Žagarė Listen • Info 1,226 1,326 2,312 1924 Šiauliai County Joniškis District Municipality
31 Priekule COA.gif Priekulė Listen • Info 1,223 1,245 1,725 1948 Klaipėda County Klaipėda District Municipality
32= Linkuva COA.gif Linkuva Listen • Info 1,218 1,283 1,797 1950 Šiauliai County Pakruojis District Municipality
32= Salantai COA.gif Salantai Listen • Info 1,218 1,272 1,942 1746 Klaipėda County Kretinga District Municipality
34 LIT Remigoła COA.png Ramygala Listen • Info 1,183 1,241 1,733 1957 Panevėžys County Panevėžys District Municipality
35 Simnas COA.gif Simnas Listen • Info 1,176 1,247 1,980 1626 Alytus County Alytus District Municipality
36 LIT Wiejsieje COA.gif Veisiejai Listen • Info 1,022 1,141 1,762 1956 Alytus County Lazdijai District Municipality
37 Jieznas COA.gif Jieznas Listen • Info 1,004 1,047 1,476 1956 Kaunas County Prienai District Municipality

Smallest Cities in Lithuania

These cities have fewer than 1,000 people. They are grouped by county, and then by the population of their largest city.

  • Panevėžys County (5 cities): Subačius, Obeliai, Vabalninkas, Pandėlys, Joniškėlis.
  • Utena County (4 cities): Dūkštas, Kavarskas, Dusetos, Troškūnai.
  • Telšiai County (2 cities): Varniai, Seda.
  • Tauragė County (2 cities): Smalininkai, Panemunė.
  • Marijampolė County (1 city): Virbalis.
  • Šiauliai County (1 city): Užventis.
  • Vilnius County (1 city): Baltoji Vokė.
  • Alytus County (1 city): Daugai.

Map of Lithuanian Cities

Images for kids

See also

  • List of towns in Lithuania (Lithuanian: plural – miesteliai, singular – miestelis)
  • List of Lithuanian cities in other languages
  • Administrative divisions of Lithuania
  • Counties (Lithuanian: singular – apskritis, plural – apskritys)
  • Municipalities (Lithuanian: plural – savivaldybės, singular – savivaldybė)
  • Elderships (or wards) (Lithuanian: plural – seniūnijos, singular – seniūnija).
  • Seniūnaitija (sub-eldership)
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