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10 Things to Know About the Baltic States
The Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – sit on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. Though often grouped together, each nation has its own language, culture and economic profile. This article presents ten essential facts that explain what unites them and what sets them apart.
A concise guide covering the geography, politics, economy, languages and history of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – the three countries that make up the Baltic States.
The Baltic States are Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
The term "Baltic States" is a geopolitical grouping that refers specifically to the three sovereign countries on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: Estonia in the north, Latvia in the middle and Lithuania in the south. All three are internationally recognised as independent nations.
All three belong to NATO, the EU, the Eurozone and the OECD
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are full members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union, the Eurozone and the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development. They also cooperate through the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.
They share a common maritime border and land neighbours
The three countries line the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. To the north they face the Gulf of Finland, to the east lies Russia, to the south‑east Belarus, and to the south‑west the Polish‑Belarusian border region. This strategic position has shaped their security policies.
Capitals: Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius
Each state has a historic capital city: Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania). All three capitals feature well‑preserved medieval old towns that are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Population sizes differ markedly
Estonia is the smallest by population with about 1.37 million residents, Latvia has roughly 1.85 million, and Lithuania is the largest with near 2.9 million people. Decades of emigration have reduced Latvia’s population below two million.
Estonia leads on GDP per capita, Lithuania follows, Latvia trails
In 2024 Estonia’s GDP per capita exceeded US $31,000, Lithuania’s was above US $28,000 and Latvia’s stood around US $23,000. All three are classified as high‑income economies, but Estonia’s digital‑focused economy gives it the edge.
Independence was first recognised after World War I
Estonia’s independence was confirmed by the Treaty of Tartu with Soviet Russia on 2 October 1920. Latvia’s sovereignty was recognised by the Treaty of Riga on 18 March 1921. Lithuania declared independence in 1918 and secured it through subsequent conflicts.
All three were Soviet republics until 1991
From 1940 to 1991 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were incorporated into the Soviet Union as constituent republics. They restored full independence in 1991 following the failed Moscow coup and the subsequent collapse of the USSR.
The Kaliningrad Oblast is sometimes grouped with the Baltic States
Some geopolitical definitions extend the term "Baltic States" to include Russia’s Kaliningrad Oblast, an exclave on the Baltic coast between Lithuania and Poland. However, the core grouping remains the three sovereign nations.
All three are members of the Schengen Area
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Schengen Agreement in 2007, allowing passport‑free travel across their borders and with most other EU members. This facilitates tourism and cross‑border business.
Every numbered claim above was required to carry source evidence before this topic could be published.