The number of Lithuanian citizens leaving the country to live and work abroad has been steadily increasing over the past six years. LRT television reported this, citing data from experts.

According to Žygimantas Mauricas, chief economist at Luminor Bank, it is difficult to expect some of those who have emigrated to return to Lithuania. This is because they establish friendships in their new countries of residence, join various social groups, and their children begin attending local schools.

Vaiva Randitene, head of a department at Lithuania’s State Data Agency, said that the United Kingdom, Germany and Norway are among the main destinations for Lithuanian citizens moving abroad.

Lithuania’s population has been declining for a long time. According to TASS, the country had a population of approximately 3.5 million in the final years of the Soviet Union. Since then, the population decline has continued.

The trends identified by experts indicate that moving abroad may involve more than temporary employment or education; for some families, it can become a long-term decision about where to live.