The wealth of Estonian households has increased significantly, while wealth inequality has remained relatively stable over 2013-2024, according to the Bank of Estonia and Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. The household finance and consumption surveys showed that the median household had net wealth of EUR 103,300 in 2024, which was up more than double from EUR…
Lithuanian parties are discussing the possibility of signing a long-term national accord on demographic policy, following a proposal from Mindaugas Sinkevicius, chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), LRT reported. Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the opposition Homeland Union, welcomed the proposal, while Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, leader of the opposition Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS),…
The share of people living in households with dependent children who were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) in the Baltic States was highest in Lithuania in 2025, Eurostat reported. The AROPE rate for people living in households with dependent children stood at 18.3% in Lithuania in 2025, which was down from 20.9%…
Estonia’s Minister of Finance, Jürgen Ligi, has rejected a proposal to lower the excise duty on diesel fuel temporarily, ERR reports. Ligi argued that broad-based tax cuts would have a very large and lasting negative impact on the state budget, and that targeted measures to support vulnerable households and sectors would be more sensible. In…
Life satisfaction in the Baltic States was highest in Lithuania in 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. Lithuanian residents said that their overall satisfaction with life stood at 7.2 out of 10 points, which was the same as the EU average and unchanged from 2023. Meanwhile, life satisfaction was 7.1 (7.2) in Estonia and…
The Latvian parliament, the Saeima, has approved amendments to introduce a reduced 12% value-added tax rate on selected basic food products in 2026, LETA reports. Under the amendments, the lower VAT rate will apply to various bread products, milk, poultry meat, and eggs. The reduced VAT will apply from 1 July 2026 to 30 June…
Lithuania recorded the largest increase in net electricity generation in the EU over 2013-2023, according to data from Eurostat, LSM reports. Lithuania’s net electricity production rose by 28.2% in the ten-year period. Latvia recorded a slight increase in electricity generation as well. Meanwhile, Estonia’s electricity generation decreased by as much as 58.5% over the same…
Altogether 564,800 households in Estonia, which is 95% of all households, now have internet access, which is 20,000 more than in 2024, according to Statistics Estonia’s survey, Estonian World reports. The survey shows that almost 100% of people aged 16-54 years use the internet. Also, internet use has increased markedly among the elderly as people…
Lithuania’s GDP rose by 3% over a year in 2024 to EUR 79bn at current prices, according to the State Data Agency’s (VDA) revised data, BNS reports. Gross value added in manufacturing rose by 2.9% and in wholesale and retail trade by 2.6% in constant prices. Growth in professional, scientific, and technical activities stood at…