According to the 2011 census, about 15.8% of Lithuania's population consists of ethnic minorities. The largest minority groups are Poles (6.6%), Russians (5.8%), Belarusians (1.2%), and Ukrainians (0.5%). Lithuanians make up the majority at 84.2% of the population. Smaller traditional minorities include Jews, Germans, Tatars, Latvians, Karaims, and Roma, each comprising 0.1% or less of the population today. Inter-ethnic relations are generally good in Lithuania, with ethnic minorities enjoying public schools where instruction is in their native language.

1. Ethnicities in Lithuania

2. Ethnic groups Total population Population %
ethnic Lithuanians 2.561314 84.2
Poles 200.317 6.6
Russians 176.913 5.8
Belarusians 36.27 1.2
Ukrainians 16.423 0.5
Jews 3.050 0.1 According to the census
Tatars 2.793 0.09 conducted in 2011, about
Germans 2.418 0.07 15.8% of Lithuania's
Roma 2.115 0.07 population was composed
Latvians 2.025 0.06 of ethnic minorities
Armenians 1.233 0.04
Azerbaijani 648 0.02
Moldovans 540 0.01
Georgian 372 0.01
Estonian 314 0.01
Karaims 241 0.008
Other 3.508 0.1

3. Lithuanians
As we see Lithuanians are the majority of the population with around
84.2 percent who like nature and have a strong feeling of a shared
culture that begins as early as primary school where folk music,
national traditions and holidays play an important role. The pride in
surviving a period of repression and difficulty is a focal point of the
national culture. Lithuanian is spoken by nearly everyone in the
country except for a few Russians
and Poles in Vilnius and in the
extreme east and south. It is a
language with many words to
describe a single idea. There are a
lot of nature words, probably
because the people are so fond of
the outdoors. This is particularly
evident in traditional personal
names such as Rūta ("Rue"), Aušra ("Dawn"), and Giedrius ("Dew.)

4. Poles
Poles come second, mostly concentrated in Southeast Lithuania
including Vilnius.
They are known for being direct communicators, i.e. they say what
they are thinking. However, they are also very sensitive to other’s
feelings and let that determine how and what they say. Poles are fun
lovers who enjoy festivities, traditions and centuries-old Polish
customs.

5. Russians
Russians are third with their liveliest communities in cities. It
certainly is the most visible ethnic group. You can hear Russian
music in certain bars and restaurants or see the Russian TV
stations on. Russian people are hospitable, risk-taking and
warm-hearted.

6. Belarusians and Ukrainians
The fourth largest ethnicity in Lithuania are the Belarusians, the
fifth are the Ukrainians. Together with the other ethnicities of
former Soviet Union these two are sometimes labeled
Russophobes and are also concentrated primarily in the cities

7. Other traditional minorities in Lithuania are the Jews, Germans,
Tatars, Latvians, Karaimsand Gypsies, each of them centuries-old
but consisting of 0,1% or less population today.
Both Tatars and Karaims have Turkic roots and their presence in
Lithuania dates to the 15th century when the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania spanned from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Tatars’ and
Karaims’ ancestors were brought to Lithuania by Grand Duke
Vytautas the Great to serve as soldiers. They settled around the
capital city Vilnius.

8. Jews
Jews began living in Lithuania as early as the 8th century. Once a
mighty Jewish urban community which made majority in some
towns of Lithuania was greatly hit by the Nazi Germany and its
Holocaust (1941-1945). The remaining Jews largely emigrated to
Israel, Palestine and South Africa.

9. Latvians
Latvians, together with the Lithuanians, are the only nations
speaking Baltic languages left in the world. Their relations are
generally very good, and they call each other brothers. Perhaps
because of their cultural similarity to Lithuanians the Latvians of
Lithuania generally receive less public attention than other
traditional minorities of similar size.

10. Gypsies
Gypsies (Romani people) make up only a small portion of
Lithuanian population (2 500 people) but they are very visible.
Family is of utmost importance and Gypsies have more children
than any other Lithuania's community. Unregistered teenage
marriages (14-16 year old girls) are common. Some children
attend school yet others do not as education is not valued.

11. Inter-ethnic relations are generally good in Lithuania. Unlike in
many European nations the Lithuania’s largest ethnic minorities
enjoy public schools where the language of instruction is their
native one rather than the official Lithuanian language. Their
different characteristics, manners, habits and ways of life from
the majority are respected.