Updated
Overview
Russia has 50 times the population of Lithuania: 143.51 million people against 2.89 million (2025).
Russia's economy is 27 times the size of Lithuania's, at $2.56T versus $95.21B.
Per person, Lithuania is the wealthier of the two: $32,959 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Lithuania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.56T | $95.21B | 2025 | $2.17T / $84.87B |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $32,959 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 3.8% | 2025 | 6.7% / 0.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 6.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 58 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $2,634 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $1,173 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 2.89 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 2.82 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 42.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.22 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 77.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 69% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 65,300 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 44.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 13 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 4.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $2.63B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 3.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 37,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Lithuania is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.0%.
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 3.8%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 58 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Lithuania: $2,634 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 40.3 (Russia) and 42.3 (Lithuania).
Life expectancy is 3.8 years longer in Lithuania (77.2 vs 73.4).
Geography
By land area, Russia is 262 times the size of Lithuania: 17,098,242 km² versus 65,300 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Lithuania is far more densely settled: 44 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 57 times as much on defence as Lithuania: $148.97B versus $2.63B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 3.1%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 37,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Lithuania?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Lithuania covers 65,300 km², so Russia is 262 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Lithuania?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 2.89 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Lithuania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Lithuania is richer: $32,959 against $17,547. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.56T for Russia versus $95.21B for Lithuania.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Lithuania?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $2.63B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).