List of cities in Lithuania

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Vilnius, capital of Lithuania

In Lithuania, there are 103 cities (in Lithuanian: singular – miestas, plural – miestai). The term city is defined by the Parliament of Lithuania as compact urban areas populated by more than 3,000 people of whom at least two thirds work in the industry or service sector. Those settlements which have a population of less than 3,000 but historically had city status are still considered to be cities. Smaller settlements are called miestelis (plural miesteliai) which is translated as towns. Even smaller settlements (villages) are called kaimas (plural kaimai). Often the official status is not clear and people refer to both towns and villages as gyvenvietė (plural gyvenvietės) which in essence means settlement.

The cities started to form in the 13th-14th century together with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first to receive city rights was Klaipėda. According to medieval law, a city could have its own fairs, taverns, guilds, courts, etc. Some former cities lost their status and are now just towns or villages, for example Kernavė or Merkinė. Most of the cities in Lithuania were established before the 18th century. Their location is mostly determined by trade and transportation routes. Some of the newer cities grew because of railroad construction, for example Kaišiadorys, Vievis, Radviliškis, Ignalina or Mažeikiai. In the last century cities grew next to big industrial centers, for example Visaginas, Elektrėnai or Naujoji Akmenė. Five cities – Birštonas, Druskininkai, Neringa, Palanga and Anykščiai – have a special resort status.

Most of the cities are small. There are only 14 cities with a population of more than 20,000. Cities are quite evenly spread out through the territory of Lithuania. At the 2001 census 66.7% of the population lived in cities and the percentage is growing.

Cities with over 20,000 inhabitants[]

# CoA City Pronunciation Population (2020) Population (2001) Change Granted city rights County Municipality Urban area estimate (2020)
1 Grand Coat of arms of Vilnius.svg Vilnius Listen • Info 580,020 554,281 +4.64% 1387 Vilnius County Vilnius City Municipality 700,725
2 Coat of arms of Kaunas.svg Kaunas Listen • Info 289,380 378,943 −23.63% 1408 Kaunas County Kaunas City Municipality 381,007
3 Coat of arms of Klaipeda (Lithuania).svg Klaipėda Listen • Info 149,157 192,954 −22.70% 1257 Klaipėda County Klaipėda City Municipality 209,240
4 Coat of arms of Šiauliai Grand (Lithuania).svg Šiauliai Listen • Info 101,514 133,883 −24.18% 1589 Šiauliai County Šiauliai City Municipality 141,784
5 Coat of Arms of Panevezys.svg Panevėžys Listen • Info 85,885 119,749 −28.28% 1837 Panevėžys County Panevėžys City Municipality 124,412
6 Coat of arms of Alytus (Lithuania).svg Alytus Listen • Info 49,888 71,491 −30.22% 1581 Alytus County Alytus City Municipality 75,775
7 Marijampole COA.svg Marijampolė Listen • Info 34,968 48,675 −28.16% 1792 Marijampolė County Marijampolė Municipality 53,772
8 Coat of arms of Mazeikiai (Lithuania).svg Mažeikiai Listen • Info 32,477 42,675 −23.90% 1924 Telšiai County Mažeikiai District Municipality 51,067
9 Coat of arms of Jonava (Lithuania).svg Jonava Listen • Info 26,427 34,954 −24.39% 1864 Kaunas County Jonava District Municipality 41,163
10 Coat of arms of Utena (Lithuania).svg Utena Listen • Info 25,395 33,860 −25.00% 1599 Utena County Utena District Municipality 37,179
11 Coat of arms of Kedainiai (Lithuania).svg Kėdainiai Listen • Info 22,677 32,048 −29.24% 1590 Kaunas County Kėdainiai District Municipality 45,285
12 Coat of arms of Taurage (Lithuania).svg Tauragė Listen • Info 21,516 29,124 −26.12% 1924 Tauragė County Tauragė District Municipality 37,805
13 Telsiai COA.gif Telšiai Listen • Info 21,294 31,460 −32.31% 1791 Telšiai County Telšiai District Municipality 39,317
14 Ukmergė COA.svg Ukmergė Listen • Info 20,154 28,759 −29.92% 1486 Vilnius County Ukmergė District Municipality 33,471

Cities with under 20,000 inhabitants[]

# CoA City Pronunciation
(audio help) 		Population (2001) Population (2020) Granted city rights County Municipality
15 Visaginas COA.svg Visaginas Listen • Info 29,554 18,024 1977 Utena County Visaginas Municipality
16 Plunge COA.gif Plungė Listen • Info 23,436 16,750 1792 Telšiai County Plungė District Municipality
17 Kretinga COA.gif Kretinga Listen • Info 21,423 16,580 1609 Klaipėda County Kretinga District Municipality
18 Coat of arms of Palanga (Lithuania).svg Palanga Listen • Info 17,623 16,046 1791 Klaipėda County Palanga City Municipality
19 Radviliškis Coat of Arms.svg Radviliškis Listen • Info 20,339 15,154 1923 Šiauliai County Radviliškis District Municipality
20 Coat of arms of Silute (Lithuania).svg Šilutė Listen • Info 21,476 14,986 1941 Klaipėda County Šilutė District Municipality
21 Gargzdai COA.gif Gargždai Listen • Info 15,212 14,402 1792 Klaipėda County Klaipėda District Municipality
22 Coat of arms of Druskininkai (Lithuania).svg Druskininkai Listen • Info 18,233 12,055 1893 Alytus County Druskininkai Municipality
23 Rokiskis COA.gif Rokiškis Listen • Info 16,746 11,765 1920 Panevėžys County Rokiškis District Municipality
24 Elektrenai COA.svg Elektrėnai Listen • Info 14,050 11,588 1962 Vilnius County Elektrėnai Municipality
25 Kursenai COA.gif Kuršėnai Listen • Info 14,197 10,829 1946 Šiauliai County Šiauliai District Municipality
26 Grigiskes COA.gif Grigiškės Listen • Info 11,448 10,808 1958 Vilnius County Vilnius City Municipality
27 Birzai COA.png Biržai Listen • Info 15,262 10,146 1589 Panevėžys County Biržai District Municipality
28 Lentvaris COA.svg Lentvaris Listen • Info 11,773 10,004 1946 Vilnius County Trakai District Municipality
29 Coat of arms of Joniskis.svg Joniškis Listen • Info 11,329 9,900 1616 Šiauliai County Joniškis District Municipality
30 Garliava COA.svg Garliava Listen • Info 13,322 9,873 1958 Kaunas County Kaunas District Municipality
31 Jurbarkas COA.gif Jurbarkas Listen • Info 13,797 9,711 1611 Tauragė County Jurbarkas District Municipality
32 Raseiniai COA.svg Raseiniai Listen • Info 12,541 9,686 1492–1506 Kaunas County Raseiniai District Municipality
33 Vilkaviškis CoA.svg Vilkaviškis Listen • Info 13,283 9,444 1660 Marijampolė County Vilkaviškis District Municipality
34 Anyksciai COA.gif Anykščiai Listen • Info 11,958 8,491 1516 Utena County Anykščiai District Municipality
35 Prienai COA.gif Prienai Listen • Info 11,353 8,451 1609 Kaunas County Prienai District Municipality
36 Varena COA.gif Varėna Listen • Info 10,845 7,892 1946 Alytus County Varėna District Municipality
37 Kelmes-herbas.svg Kelmė Listen • Info 10,900 7,499 1947 Šiauliai County Kelmė District Municipality
38 Kaisiadorys COA.gif Kaišiadorys Listen • Info 10,002 7,367 1946 Kaunas County Kaišiadorys District Municipality
39 Naujoji Akmene COA.gif Naujoji Akmenė Listen • Info 12,345 7,194 1792 Šiauliai County Akmenė District Municipality
40 Herb Soleczników.svg Šalčininkai Listen • Info 6,722 6,715 1956 Vilnius County Šalčininkai District Municipality
41 Pasvalys COA.svg Pasvalys Listen • Info 8,709 6,361 1946 Panevėžys County Pasvalys District Municipality
42 Coat of arms of Zarasai.svg Zarasai Listen • Info 8,365 6,051 1843 Utena County Zarasai District Municipality
43 Kupiskis COA.gif Kupiškis Listen • Info 8,451 5,907 1791 Panevėžys County Kupiškis District Municipality
44 Coat of arms of Kazlu Ruda (Lithuania).svg Kazlų Rūda Listen • Info 7,401 5,666 1950 Marijampolė County Kazlų Rūda Municipality
45 Coat of arms of Širvintos (Lithuania).svg Širvintos Listen • Info 7,273 5,513 1950 Vilnius County Širvintos District Municipality
46 Coat of arms of Moletai (Lithuania).svg Molėtai Listen • Info 7,221 5,497 1956 Utena County Molėtai District Municipality
47 Coa pabrade.png Pabradė Listen • Info 6,525 5,286 1946 Vilnius County Švenčionys District Municipality
48 Skuodas COA.gif Skuodas Listen • Info 7,896 5,163 1572 Klaipėda County Skuodas District Municipality
49 Sakiai COA.gif Šakiai Listen • Info 6,795 4,988 1776 Marijampolė County Šakiai District Municipality
50 Coat of arms of Ignalina (Lithuania).svg Ignalina Listen • Info 6,591 4,836 1950 Utena County Ignalina District Municipality
51 Lazdijai COA.svg Lazdijai Listen • Info 5,140 4,811 1957 Alytus County Lazdijai District Municipality
52 Herb Nowych Święcian.svg Švenčionėliai Listen • Info 6,923 4,726 1920 Vilnius County Švenčionys District Municipality
53 Coat of arms of Šilalė.svg Šilalė Listen • Info 6,281 4,640 1950 Tauragė County Šilalė District Municipality
54 Nemencine COA.gif Nemenčinė Listen • Info 5,892 4,493 1955 Vilnius County Vilnius District Municipality
55 Kybartai COA.gif Kybartai Listen • Info 6,556 4,461 1947 Marijampolė County Vilkaviškis District Municipality
56 Vievis COA.gif Vievis Listen • Info 5,303 4,461 1950 Vilnius County Elektrėnai Municipality
57 Coat of arms of Pakruojis (Lithuania).svg Pakruojis Listen • Info 6,057 4,352 1950 Šiauliai County Pakruojis District Municipality
58 Trakai (Lithuania) CoA.svg Trakai Listen • Info 5,725 4,141 1409 Vilnius County Trakai District Municipality
59 Herb Święcian.svg Švenčionys Listen • Info 5,684 4,065 1800 Vilnius County Švenčionys district
60 Rietavas COA.gif Rietavas Listen • Info 3,979 3,843 1792 Telšiai County Rietavas Municipality
61 Kalvarija COA.gif Kalvarija Listen • Info 5,090 3,766 1791 Marijampolė County Kalvarija Municipality
62 Ziezmariai COA.gif Žiežmariai Listen • Info 3,884 3,759 1792 Kaunas County Kaišiadorys District Municipality
63 Eisiskes COA.png Eišiškės Listen • Info 3,765 3,610 1950 Vilnius County Šalčininkai District Municipality
64 Coat of arms of Ariogala.svg Ariogala Listen • Info 3,697 3,458 1792 Kaunas County Raseiniai District Municipality
65 Coat of arms of Neringa (Lithuania).svg Neringa Listen • Info 2,386 3,371 1961 Klaipėda County Neringa Municipality
66 Seduva COA.gif Šeduva Listen • Info 3,400 3,200 1654 Šiauliai County Radviliškis District Municipality
67 Birstonas COA.svg Bir��tonas Listen • Info 3,225 3,172 1518? Kaunas County Birštonas Municipality
68 Venta COA.gif Venta Listen • Info 3,412 2,959 1978 Šiauliai County Akmenė District Municipality
69 Coat of arms of Akmenė (Lithuania).svg Akmenė Listen • Info 3,140 2,690 1792 Šiauliai County Akmenė District Municipality
69 TytuvenaiCOA.jpg Tytuvėnai Listen • Info 2,851 2,690 1956 Šiauliai County Kelmė District Municipality
71 LIT Rudziszki COA.jpg Rūdiškės Listen • Info 2,559 2,472 1958 Vilnius County Trakai District Municipality
72 Vilkija COA.gif Vilkija Listen • Info 2,338 2,301 1792 Kaunas County Kaunas District Municipality
73 Pagegiai COA.gif Pagėgiai Listen • Info 2,393 2,236 1923 Tauragė County Pagėgiai Municipality
74 LIT Wieksznie COA.jpg Viekšniai Listen • Info 2,270 2,198 1791 Telšiai County Mažeikiai District Municipality
75 Coat of arms of Žagarė.svg Žagarė Listen • Info 2,312 2,115 1924 Šiauliai County Joniškis District Municipality
76 Ezerelis COA.svg Ežerėlis Listen • Info 2,051 2,014 1956 Kaunas County Kaunas District Municipality
77 LIT Skaudwile COA.jpg Skaudvilė Listen • Info 2,140 1,976 1950 Tauragė County Tauragė District Municipality
78 Gelgaudiskis COA.gif Gelgaudiškis Listen • Info 2,029 1,936 1958 Marijampolė County Šakiai District Municipality
79 Kudirkos Naumiestis COA.gif Kudirkos Naumiestis Listen • Info 1,997 1,916 1643 Marijampolė County Šakiai District Municipality
80 Simnas COA.gif Simnas Listen • Info 1,980 1,844 1626 Alytus County Alytus District Municipality
81 Salantai COA.gif Salantai Listen • Info 1,942 1,825 1746 Klaipėda County Kretinga District Municipality
82 Linkuva COA.gif Linkuva Listen • Info 1,797 1,735 1950 Šiauliai County Pakruojis District Municipality
83 LIT Remigoła COA.png Ramygala Listen • Info 1,733 1,695 1957 Panevėžys County Panevėžys District Municipality
84 Priekule COA.gif Priekulė Listen • Info 1,725 1,663 1948 Klaipėda County Klaipėda District Municipality
85 LIT Wiejsieje COA.gif Veisiejai Listen • Info 1,762 1,592 1956 Alytus County Lazdijai District Municipality
86 Coat of arms of Daugai.svg Daugai Listen • Info 1,458 1,432 1792 Alytus County Alytus District Municipality
87 LIT Johaniszkiele COA.jpg Joniškėlis Listen • Info 1,477 1,389 1736 Panevėžys County Pasvalys District Municipality
88 Jieznas COA.gif Jieznas Listen • Info 1,476 1,311 1956 Kaunas County Prienai District Municipality
89 Obeliai COA.gif Obeliai Listen • Info 1,371 1,293 1956 Panevėžys County Rokiškis District Municipality
90 Varniai COA.gif Varniai Listen • Info 1,355 1,258 1950 Telšiai County Telšiai District Municipality
91 Virbalis COA.gif Virbalis Listen • Info 1,351 1,250 1593 Marijampolė County Vilkaviškis District Municipality
92 Seda COA.gif Seda Listen • Info 1,309 1,189 1950 Telšiai County Mažeikiai District Municipality
93 Vabalninkas COA.gif Vabalninkas Listen • Info 1,328 1,155 1775 Panevėžys County Biržai District Municipality
94 Subačius Listen • Info 1,180 1,105 1958 Panevėžys County Kupiškis District Municipality
95 Herb Białej Waki.svg Baltoji Vokė Listen • Info 1,073 1,073 1958 Vilnius County Šalčininkai District Municipality
96 Pandelys COA.gif Pandėlys Listen • Info 1,024 941 1956 Panevėžys County Rokiškis District Municipality
97 Dukstoherbas.PNG Dūkštas Listen • Info 1,070 930 1956 Utena County Ignalina District Municipality
98 Uzventis COA.gif Užventis Listen • Info 898 844 1746 Šiauliai County Kelmė District Municipality
99 Dusetos COA.gif Dusetos Listen • Info 914 831 1950 Utena County Zarasai District Municipality
100 Kavarsko herbas.jpg Kavarskas Listen • Info 809 692 1956 Utena County Anykščiai District Municipality
101 Smalininkai Coat of Arms.jpg Smalininkai Listen • Info 653 600 1945 Tauragė County Jurbarkas District Municipality
102 TroskunaiCOA.svg Troškūnai Listen • Info 525 451 1956 Utena County Anykščiai District Municipality
103 Panemunė Listen • Info 329 319 1837 Tauragė County Pagėgiai Municipality

Map[]

Map showing all cities marked with red dots. Bigger cities are written in larger letters. Click on the map for better resolution.

Lietuva All Cities.png

Gallery[]

See also[]

Notes and sources[]

  • Population sizes are given according to Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (Statistics Lithuania) data for the census of 2001.
  • "City rights" means rights to self-governing. For older cities usually it is the date when Magdeburg rights were granted. Most dates are obtained from Lithuanian Wikipedia which assembled the information from several different sources. One of the main sources was Population Statistics. This information cannot be completely trusted.
  • Counties, municipalities and elderates are given according to Lithuanian Central Internet Gates data.
  • Stasys Vaitiekūnas, Elena Valančienė, Lietuvos geografija (Geography of Lithuania), Alma littera, 2004, pages 160-162. ISBN 9955-08-534-7
  • Lietuvos Respublikos teritorijos administracinių vienetų ir jų ribų įstatymas (Republic of Lithuania Law on Administrative Units and Their Borders), Seimas law database, June 19, 1994, law no. I-558.
  • At the time of 2001 census, there were 106 cities in Lithuania. Government of Republic of Lithuania made these changes:
  • On December 16, 2002 Juodupė lost city status and became a town;
  • On February 25, 2003 Kulautuva lost city status and became a town;
  • On April 8, 2003 Tyruliai lost city status and became a town.
  • Cities without coat of arms image do not have it confirmed by the President of Lithuania. Municipalities share coat of arms with their capitals with the exception of cities which are capitals of more than one municipality (i.e. a city municipality and a district municipality) in which case the city municipality shares the coat of arms with the city, while the district municipality has its own distinct coat of arms. Another notable exception is Trakai town, which has different coat of arms than does its municipality (Trakai District Municipality).
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