According to a new report from STATISTICS LITHUANIA there are now officially 3.24 million people resident in this country. That is about 100,000 fewer than a year ago.

If emigration continues at the same pace over the coming years, Lithuania will, in other words, be completely empty of people in 2043. And these are only the official statistics. Reality is probably even worse.

It is no longer a question of emigration but of evacuation...

FACEBOOK COMMENTS
(Ieva Vozbutaite's comment in bold chosen 'best comment of the day'):

Grant Gochin When this is the public face of LT, why would civilized people stay? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/
people/profiles/women-of-courage-rachel-margolis-2236081.html

Grant Gochin and when this is the conduct of the Government, why would anyone want any association with LT?
http://www.lrytas.lt/-12995610621297582122-auk%C4%85-vaizduojantis-valdininkas-ir-u%C5%BE-jo-ky%C5%A1an%C4%8Dios-m-murzos-retorikos-ausys.htm

Bo B. Randulff I guess that makes property investment a bad idea...

Sergey Kanovich sad

Irma Ramaskaite The smartest will still stay here, do not worry... :)

Thomas Sloan Wilbur You can watch a recent film on LT emigration here, "Shall I?" by Igor Drozdov, http://www.zebra.lt/lt/video/ar-verta-shall-i-dokumentinis-emigrantu-filmas.html

Aage Myhre My private prediction is that in 10 years there will be around 5 million people living here. Just make sure that your real estate agent speaks Russian :)

Sergey Kanovich Aage, then make it double:)

Thomas Danielsen What about all us expats that gave up and left also... The total number of people left the last years must be enormous! 
I will assume Irma is being ironic, or else I would comment quite differently...

Karenkay Ketcheson Sharp what is going on there/????

Knut Eirik Sletbakk where do they all go?

Ieva Vozbutaite
First of all, dramatic headlines attract attention, but very often are far from reality... First of all, just because people, especially young ones leave that does not mean that they leave forever. I think it is a very normal and even desirable thing to go, explore, learn, live in different cultures, societies, etc. Many, however, at least young people, have the plans to come back... And many have come back already... I am one of them and I know a few that have similar stories - came back with education, ph degrees and further develop very successful carriers here... Migration is a normal process... Of course, I am not saying that government does not need to pay attention to obvious facts, but... I would not make drama out of it... :)

Aage Myhre I wish you were right, Ieva. But in terms of emigration / evacuation from Lithuania, I am afraid we still see only the tip of the iceberg. Worst of all, it seems that many young people are so deeply angry and disappointed about the way their home country is managed that it will be very difficult to convince them to move back home again...

Inna Ivanova Hello Aage! that is sad!!!!!!!! 
but we are thinking about coming back to Vilnius - I will serve for Lithuania's wellbeing :)

Ieva Vozbutaite
Yes, very many people are angry... But on the other hand so many of us refuse to make that extra step or even simply start making Lithuania better by changing yourself... Lithuania is us... Are there many problems? - yes... who are going to solve them? hmmmm... guess what... us...:) we elect governments, but so many of us don't even show up to vote... we hate corruption, but so many take the easier way out and bribe the policeman... Change does not happen if don't make it happen... and to me the most disappointing thing is that people who could lead by example - expats, people in higher positions and better financials standing - they so often tend to take the easier way... I know so many foreigners - from Scandinavia, US, Germany - who allow themselves to act in Lithuania very differently then in their home countries... I ask them "why? you know better?"... and the answer is "because it is easier that way"... What have I done to change this country? Hm

Aage Myhre Very, very good, Ieva!! I believe your attitudes are 100% correct and I wish your understanding will start spreading rapidly! Also among foreigners living or visiting...

Thomas Danielsen
Nothing will change the next 30-50 years until those today 35+ die out... Ieva says that she knows many who is planning to come back. Well, I know equally many who says "I will never come back". 
The statistics speaks its case - the dark numbers are surely higher. 
Surely many expats are acting according to the local norm. Why should we not? We are called stupid if we do not... With attitudes like "if I manage to screw you, its your fault that you got screwed". Or like one Lithuanian who is presently in a Norwegian jail said: "All Norwegians can afford to be robbed for at least 100 000 kr" (about 40 000 Litas). You got a long, long way to go Lietuva...
Wake up, look at the facts, smell the reality! Lithuanians call us "stupid and naive". I say, have a look around yourself and shut up!
Ieva do certainly have a point, the country needs to be changed by the people themselves! And it will have to be the people with international experience that does it. However, they will not come back and try to change something which does not want to be changed.

Ieva Vozbutaite Thomas, Lithuania is a land of opportunity!... Is it easy? No; Is it convenient? No... Does it pay as much as US or Sweden? No... But there is no greater excitement and pleasure when you get to do things that you would only dream about in US and Sweden!!!

Thomas Danielsen Sure its a land of opportunity. But what you got to realize is that there are bigger opportunities elsewhere. Surely Lithuania is an entrepreneurial country - as long as you play by her rules (including the corruption and cheaters and all that goes with it). Its a rotten country - from inside to outside. Especially from inside.

Ieva Vozbutaite I am inside, and let me tell you - it is not that rotten... and many things at the end of the day depend on you and principles... I would use the word raw and not rotten... Raw in the sense of everything being very much in the open... From my experience in the US, thing are much better covered, and the core is not that exposed, but it does not mean it is not rotten :)... Also opportunity - of course bigger and better and there are no limits of learning more... I just want to point out that there are many possible different things here as well... I am glad I have the luxury to be able to compare... and learn and go forward...