Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
In Lithuania, national accounts (NA) are compiled by three divisions of Statistics Lithuania: the National Accounts division (NAD), the Government Finance Statistics division (GFSD) and the division of Methodology and Data Science group (MDSG). Therefore, these three divisions are involved in the estimation of annual GDP data.
National Accounts division is responsible for the compilation of annual main aggregates of NA (basic and detailed breakdowns of main NA aggregates).
Government Finance Statistics division is responsible for the compilation of all annual transactions of general government sector.
Methodology and Data Science group is responsible for the first annual GDP (flash) estimate (sum of quarters) and the second annual GDP estimate by the production approach (sum of quarters).
The Bank of Lithuania is responsible for the compilation of Balance of Payments statistics.
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), 29 Gedimino Ave., LT-01500 Vilnius, Lithuania
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
28 November 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 November 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
28 November 2025
3.1. Data description
National accounts are a coherent and consistent set of macroeconomic indicators, which provide an overall picture of the economic situation and are widely used for economic analysis and forecasting, policy design and policy making.
Gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the key aggregates in the European system of accounts (ESA). GDP is a measure of the total economic activity taking place on an economic territory which leads to output meeting the final demands of the economy.
There are three ways of measuring GDP at market prices:
the production approach, as the sum of the values added by all activities which produce goods and services, plus taxes less subsidies on products;
the expenditure approach, as the total of all final expenditures made in either consuming the final output of the economy, or in adding to wealth, plus exports less imports of goods and services;
the income approach, as the total of all incomes earned in the process of producing goods and services plus taxes on production and imports less subsidies.
Data published in the following tables reflect these 3 approaches.
Breakdowns provided are based on the ESA Transmission Programme, which list all tables requested from the countries (including Lithuania).
The annual tables under this collection are the following:
nama_10_gdp GDP and main components (output, expenditure and income)
nama_10_pc Main GDP aggregates per capita
nama_10_a10 Gross value added and income components by A*10 industry
nama_10_a64 Gross value added and income components by A*64 industry
nama_10_exi Exports and imports by counterpart area
Most of the Lithuanian data, which is published in Eurobase, can be found in the national Database of Indicators (see section 10.3 for more information).
3.2. Classification system
The standard followed is the European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA 2010). This is the newest internationally compatible EU accounting framework for a systematic and detailed description of an economy. From September 2014 the data transmission from Member States to Eurostat follows ESA 2010 rules.
Breakdowns exist for variables by economic activity, type of non-financial asset, final consumption by purpose and by durability.
Economic activity
ESA 2010 uses aggregation levels of the NACE Rev.2 classification to define industry breakdowns (NACE stands for Nomenclature générale des Activités économiques dans les Communautés Européennes). NACE Rev.2 is a classification of economic activities widely used in statistics and in other domains. Requirements for the transmission of NACE Rev.2 series have been specified in the Commission Regulation (EC) No 715/2010 of 10 August 2010.
Lithuanian classification of Economic Activities (EVRK Rev 2) is a national version of the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE). The periodicity of update of the classification directly depends on the periodicity of update of NACE.
The most detailed level, which is published nationally (NACE A*64) as well as transmitted to Eurostat, is the same.
AN.113 + AN.114 machinery and equipment + weapon systems
AN.1131 transport equipment
AN.1132 ICT equipment*
AN.1139 + AN.114 other machinery and equipment + weapon systems*
AN.115 cultivated biological resources
AN.117 intellectual property products
(*) on voluntary basis.
Lithuania transmits to Eurostat these voluntary data.
Durability Household final consumption expenditure (domestic concepts) are presented according ESA 2010 transmission programme data Table 1 by durability. Breakdown by durability for annual accounts: durable goods, semi-durable goods, non-durable goods, services.
For a complete review of classifications used, please refer either to:
ESA 2010 Chapter 23 'Classifications'
Annex B of EU Regulation 2023/734 amending the European system of regional and national accounts
Annual national accounts refer to the whole economy, but breakdowns by sectors are provided by the annual sector accounts.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The following are brief definitions of concepts and variables from the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). In general, the ESA 2010 which was published in the Official Journal as Annex A of Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 and amended by EU regulation 2023/734, may be referred to for more detailed explanations on methodology.
GDP - Gross domestic product
GDP at market prices is the final result of the production activity of resident producer units. It is defined in three ways:
a. GDP Output approach
From the production point of view GDP can be measured as the sum of the following components:
GDP = Total gross value added (B.1G) + Taxes less subsidies on products (D.21 less D.31)
where:
Gross Value Added (GVA)= Output (P.1) - Intermediate consumption (P.2)
b. GDP Expenditure approach
From the expenditure side, GDP can be measured as follows:
GDP =
Household and non-profit institutions serving households final expenditure (P.3 in S.14+S.15)
+ government final consumption expenditure (P.3 in S.13)
+ gross fixed capital formation (P.51)
+ changes in inventories (P.52)
+ acquisition less disposal of valuables (P.53)
+ exports (P.6)
- imports (P.7)
c. GDP Income approach
GDP =
Compensation of employees (D.1)
+ gross operating surplus and mixed income (B.2g and B.3g)
+ taxes less subsidies on production and imports (D.2 and D.3)
Note: GDP income components and other income measures are only available at current prices.
3.5. Statistical unit
National accounts aim to capture economic activity within the domestic territory. They combine data from a host of base statistics, and thus they have no common sampling reference frame. The elementary building blocks of ESA 2010 statistics are statistical units and their groupings. ESA 2010 defines two types of units, institutional units and local kind-of-activity units (ESA 2010, 1.54).
Lithuanian national accounts are based on institutional units, which correspond to the concept of legal unit in Lithuania.
The Statistical Register of Economic Entities (SREE) is the main tool to carry out statistical surveys and serves as a sampling frame for business surveys. This register is maintained by Statistics Lithuania. It includes information about all types of units from the administrative Register of Legal Entities determining their active/inactive status. The SREE is the base for statistical units, sample frames, business demography and for serving user needs. For statistical purposes the Register, apart from the administrative part of information from administrative registers of units, includes a statistical part of information as well.
3.6. Statistical population
National accounts combine data from many source statistics. The concept of statistical population is not applicable in a national accounts’ context.
Lithuanian national accounts are exhaustive. This means that all resident statistical units are covered directly through data sources (surveys/administrative data) or through inclusion of exhaustiveness adjustments.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area in Lithuanian national accounts is the economic territory of Republic of Lithuania.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The ESA 2010 Transmission Programme requests a time coverage from 1995.
The length of time series of the data (according to the ESA 2010 requirements) delivered to Eurostat and national database correspond to ESA 2010 transmission programme.
The time series of GDP data by production and expenditure approaches at current prices and chain-linked volumes are available starting 1995 until the most recent year; the data at previous year’s prices are available starting 1996. Exports and Imports data by geographical breakdown at current prices and chain-linked volumes are available starting from the year 2004, the year when Lithuania joined the EU, the data at previous year’s prices are available accordingly from the year 2005 until the most recent year.
Some historical NA data are available at the national database; however, it is not consistent with ESA 2010 time series and presents only historical value.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable. The Regulation (EU) 2023/734 requires previous year prices and volume estimates to be presented in chain-linked series.
Lithuania currently uses 2021as the reference year for the compilation of chain-linked volumes.
GDP and its components by production and expenditure approaches are presented in Lithuanian Database of Indicators (as well as Eurobase) at current, previous year’s prices and chain-linked volumes in million units of national currency, which is Euro in Lithuania. GDP components by income approach are presented at current prices in million units of national currency.
The structure of aggregates, as a percentage of total GDP for expenditure and income approaches is published in national database; the structure of gross value added by activities as a percentage of total GVA is published for production approach.
Growth rates and indexes of GDP and its components by production and expenditure approaches compared to the previous period, to the year 2021 are published, with some exceptions of aggregates in Expenditure approach, because chain-linking method is not applicable for time series of variables, which can take positive or negative values.
The implicit deflators and their percentage changes compared to the previous period are available in Eurobase, this information is not published on the national Database of Indicators, nevertheless the implicit deflator of total GDP and its changes is available in predefined tables in Official Statistics portal.
Main GDP aggregates are also published per capita in Eurobase, total GDP per capita is published in national database.
Lithuania adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2015. NA data in national currency that Lithuania transmits to Eurostat correspond to nationally published figures. These series are converted into euros using the irrevocably fixed exchange rate and are published on Eurobase as Euro series (CP MEUR). The litas (former national currency) was pegged to the euro at a rate of 3.4528 to 1 on 2 February 2002 and litas became part of the ERM (European Exchange Rate Mechanism) II on 28 June 2004. This exchange rate did not change until Lithuania joined the euro area on 1 January 2015. The series at national currency and euro coincide from 2003 onwards, but differ for earlier years due to market exchange rate movements.
The reference period used for presenting national accounts data is the calendar year for annual data.
See also section 3.9 on reference year for the compilation of chain-linked volumes.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
National accounts are compiled in accordance with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) which was published in the Official Journal as Annex A of Regulation (EU) No 549/2013, amended by Council Regulation (EU) 2023/734 of 15 March 2023.
Data received via the transmission programme are shared with other institutions in accordance with specific agreements, notably with the ECB and the OECD. A protocol for co-operation between Eurostat and the OECD in the area of National Accounts signed in June 2024 specifies agreed data exchange and data validation arrangements.
Lithuanian national accounts data are used by different national and international organizations, policy makers, analysts. All data presented in the national Database of indicators are accessible to everyone.
Data are transmitted via Eurostat to other international organisations as Statistics Lithuania is part of the European Statistical System and coordinates and shares data with the Commission (Eurostat).
Statistical information and data are exchanged with the Bank of Lithuania in accordance with the Statistical Information and Data Agreement No STAT-97 of 6 October 2022.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
In the process of statistical data collection, processing and analysis and dissemination of statistical information, the State Data Agency fully guarantees confidentiality of the data submitted by respondents (households, enterprises, institutions, organisations and other statistical units), as defined in the Confidentiality policy guidelines of the State Data Agency.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Lithuanian guidance on confidential data treatment is presented in the Statistical Disclosure Control Manual, approved by Order No DĮ-26 of 19 January 2024 of the Director General of the State Data Agency. The State Data Governance Information System Data Security Regulations and Rules for the Secure Management of Electronic Information in the State Data Governance Information System, approved by Order No DĮ-163 of 20 August 2024 of the Director General of the State Data Agency.
Lithuania is reporting some confidential time series to Eurostat for internal use only; the data are marked as confidential statistical information (primary and secondary confidentiality).
8.1. Release calendar
Statistical information is published in accordance with an approved release calendar placed on the Official Statistics Portal of Lithuania. Release calendar is usually approved around mid-December for the following year. Any amendments to release calendar are approved by the order of Director General of State Data Agency as soon as they are known.
The advance release calendar includes events such as: news releases, publications, indicators database.
Release calendar of predefined data tables (published in Excel format) are presented on the portal under link (only in Lithuanian - Statistinių teminių lentelių, formuojamų ne iš Rodiklių duomenų bazės kalendorius).
8.2. Release calendar access
Approved release calendar of Statistics Lithuania. Search by area “Economy and finance (macroeconomics)”, topic “National accounts” and sub-theme "Gross domestic product (GDP)" are available for selection.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Statistical information is prepared and disseminated under the principle of impartiality and objectivity, i.e. in a systematic, reliable and unbiased manner, following professional and ethical standards (the European Statistics Code of Practice), and the policies and practices followed are transparent to users and survey respondents.
All users have equal access to statistical information. All statistical information is published at the same time – at 9 a.m. on the day of publication of statistical information as indicated in the calendar on the Official Statistics Portal. Relevant statistical information is sent automatically to news subscribers.
The President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, their advisers, the Ministers of Finance, Economy and Innovation, as well as Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania or their authorized persons, as well as, in exceptional cases, external experts and researchers have the right to receive early statistical information. The specified persons are entitled to receive statistical reports on GDP, inflation, employment and unemployment and other particularly relevant statistical reports one day prior to the publication of this statistical information on the Official Statistics Portal. Before exercising the right of early receipt of statistical information, a person shall sign an undertaking not to disseminate the statistical information received before it has been officially published.
Statistical information is published following the Official Statistics Dissemination Policy Guidelines and the Rules for Information Dissemination and Communication of the State Data Agency, approved by Order No DĮ-221 of 14 October 2025 of the Director General of the State Data Agency.
The transmission requirements for each dataset are defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) transmission programme
Frequency of dissemination of Lithuanian national accounts data is in line with European transmission programme.
For annual Lithuanian GDP data these are, in principle:
GDP flash estimate: t+30 days.
Main GDP aggregates: t+2 months, t+3 months and t+9 months.
Basic breakdowns of main GDP aggregates: t+2 months, t+3 months and t+9 months.
Detailed breakdowns of main GDP aggregates: t+9 months and t+21 months.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The most important results of national accounts are issued in news releases. New key national accounts data may also be presented in press conferences or press briefings. The exact dates are pre-announced in release calendars (see section 8.1 above).
News releases on the first and the second GDP estimates are published, respectively, on the 30th day and within 2 months after the end of the reference year.
News release on annual national accounts aggregates is usually published in the first days of October.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Currently, in Lithuania, there is no publication dedicated specifically for national accounts, the last publication “National Accounts of Lithuania” was released in December 2017.
Annual national accounts data are disseminated in publication: “Lithuania in figures”.
Publications are available in electronic form through E-library. Publications are released in Lithuanian and English.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Lithuanian national accounts data are available to users in Database of Indicators. All statistical data are available by entering navigation tree under ‘Economy and finance (macroeconomics)‘ and then by selecting navigation tree ‘National accounts (ESA 2010)’.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
In addition to news releases and other publications (see sections 10.1 and 10.2), information on national accounts may be posted using social media.
Statistics Lithuania uses of social media of Facebook, X, LinkedIn YouTube.
Besides the above-mentioned methodological framework ESA 2010 for compilations of NA in EU countries and various guides, handbooks, Statistics Lithuania publishes some national methodological documentation on the Official Statistics Portal. Most of the documentation is in Lithuanian language; this includes methodology on the estimation of GDP first and second estimates.
Metadata on Annual national accounts is publicly available on the website under ‘Metadata’.
Chapter 1 of the Lithuanian GNI Inventory is available in CircaBC webpage.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
The importance of national accounts requires that documentation should be available on the procedures applied for quality management and quality assessment. Examples of such documentation are national accounts quality reports, quality studies and reports on revision analysis.
The quality (in terms of accuracy), revision analysis of Lithuanian annual GDP is documented in the news releases and available in Official Statistics Portal (e.g. news release on Annual aggregates of national accounts).
For quality assurance and quality management-assessment see sections 11.1 and 11.2.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality is assured by strict application of ESA 2010 concepts and by thorough validation of the data delivered by countries.
In 2007, a quality management system, conforming to the requirements of the international quality management system standard ISO 9001, was introduced at Statistics Lithuania. Main trends in activity of Statistics Lithuania aimed at quality management and continuous development in the institution are established in the Quality Policy.
Monitoring of the quality indicators of statistical processes and their results and self-evaluation of statistical survey managers is regularly carried out in order to identify areas which need improvement and to promptly eliminate shortcomings.
More information on assurance of quality of statistical information and its preparation is published in the Quality Management section on the State Data Agency website.
The ESA 2010 Regulation stipulates that the quality of national and regional accounts data sent to Eurostat are to be assessed according to the quality criteria set out by the Regulation on European statistics (Regulation (EC) No 223/2009). The modalities, structure and assessment indicators of the quality assessment process are set out in a Commission implementing act (Regulation (EU) 2016/2304).
Each year, in accordance with Article 4(2) of the ESA 2010 Regulation, Member States report on the quality of national and regional accounts data sent to Eurostat. Based on their national quality reports, Eurostat prepares an overall assessment in accordance with Article 4(4).
Every year, not later than 31 May, Lithuania provides Eurostat with the completed quality report. The quality report on national and regional accounts contains quantitative indicators and qualitative descriptions of the quality of the data sent in the previous year. These reports are not published nationally.
Lithuania also provides to Eurostat the yearly Report on quality of GNI data and the GNI questionnaire. Report is not available to the users. The structure and format of the GNI Questionnaires and Reports on Quality are approved each year by the GNI Expert Group.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
ESA 2010 data transmissions are subject to regular quality assessment reviews. Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 (ESA 2010 Regulation) specifies that the data covered by that Regulation is subject to the quality criteria, namely relevance, accuracy, timeliness and punctuality, accessibility and clarity, comparability and coherence, as set out in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Member States are to provide the Commission with a report on the quality of the transmitted data on national and regional accounts. The modalities, structure, periodicity and assessment indicators of the quality reports on data transmitted have been specified in a Commission Implementing Regulation 2016/2304 of 19 December 2016. The implementation of the quality reporting and assessment exercise started in 2017 and is carried out annually. As part of the annual exercise, Eurostat assesses the results, prepares and publishes an overall assessment based on the national quality reports and other available information.
See also section 11.1.
The quality of information is analysed during the estimation of indicators. Additional quality control of statistical data is performed at the macro level. Statistical indicator estimates are compared with the estimates of the previous periods and the data from other relevant statistical surveys and administrative sources.
Eurostat periodically checks the quality of the reported annual National Accounts data through the annual GNI questionnaires and the GNI quality reports. Eurostat also assesses countries' GNI Inventories of sources and methods, and the compliance of the compiled indicators with the requirements of EU legislation. GNI verification visits are carried out to gather additional information that is necessary to identify possible weaknesses in the statistical sources and methods used to calculate GNI and its components.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
National accounts data provide key information for economic policy monitoring and decision making, for forecasting, for administrative purposes, for informing the general public about economic developments (directly or indirectly via news agencies), and as input for economic research.
The main users of statistical information on Lithuanian National Accounts are State and municipal authorities and agencies, international organisations, the media, research and business communities, students, whose needs are satisfied without a breach of the confidentiality principle.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
From 2005, user opinion surveys have been conducted on a regular basis. Official Statistics Portal traffic is monitored; website visitor opinion polls, general opinion poll on the products and services of Statistics Lithuania, target user group opinion polls and other surveys are conducted. In 2007, the compilation of a user satisfaction index was launched. The said surveys are aimed at the assessment of the overall demand for and necessity of statistical information in general and specific statistical indicators in particular.
More information on user opinion surveys and results thereof are published in the User Surveys section on the State Data Agency website.
12.3. Completeness
According to quality reports issued by Eurostat (see section 11.1 for more information) overall completeness of Lithuanian National Accounts data as required by ESA 2010 Transmission Programme was very high.
Lithuania provides the mandatory annual GDP data required by the ESA 2010 transmission programme and some information on a voluntary basis.
Lithuania has a derogation until autumn 2027 for the implementation of COICOP 2018 in the 1995–2019 time series.
Durability breakdowns of HFCE for 1995-2019 years are based on COICOP, and starting from the year 2020 based on COICOP2018, therefore year 2020 is flagged by (b) break in time series flag. The break in the time series is due to differences in classifications, not for conceptual differences of HFCE data in principle.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
National accounts aggregates estimated in Lithuania are based on various data sources: a large number of statistical surveys, administrative data, using direct and indirect estimation methods, benchmarking and extrapolations. The accuracy of NA aggregates largely depends on the quality of the different data sources used. Conceptual and exhaustiveness adjustments are made to the data coming from the different data sources to meet the requirements and definitions of ESA 2010.
GDP is key aggregate of national accounts. GDP volume estimates, using final information coming from the data sources (transmitted at t+21 months after the reference period) are considered more accurate than first estimates of GDP using modelling, short-term statistics data. The most accurate GDP estimates are made after the balancing procedure of Supply-Use tables (transmitted at t+36 months after the reference period). The supply and use framework forms the basis for the balancing process by type of product and provides important indications as regards the consistency of the GDP production and expenditure approaches.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Member States are required to transmit their data to Eurostat in compliance with the European System of Accounts ESA 2010 transmission programme, subject to derogations.
Lithuanian national accounts are sent to Eurostat respecting the deadlines specified in ESA 2010 data transmission programme.
Annual NA data are disseminated nationally in a timely manner according to approved release calendar (see sections 8.1-8.3 for more information).
14.2. Punctuality
Eurostat releases its estimates of European aggregates in line with the pre-announced release schedule (see release calendar in dedicated section). Member states' data are revised according to national schedules, and revisions are applied to Eurostat’s online database as soon as they are processed by Eurostat.
In Lithuania, statistical information is published in accordance with an Official Statistics Calendar. In case of delay, users are notified in advance by indicating the reason and a new date of publication.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The comparability is ensured by the application of common definitions (European System of Accounts ESA 2010).
Lithuanian national accounts are produced according to the requirements and definitions of ESA 2010. Lithuanian NA aggregates should be comparable with the same NA aggregates of other countries, which use the common definitions of ESA 2010 for production of their NA data. However, full comparability cannot always be ensured, as different countries may use different methods and different data sources for the estimation of NA aggregates.
15.2. Comparability - over time
By using a common framework, the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010), data are comparable over time. The length of comparable time series is according to the requirements of ESA 2010 Transmission programme of data, and depends on the corresponding data table. The comparable time series for the main aggregates of NA are starting the year 1995.
The temporal breaks in time series can sometimes occur with the major or benchmark revisions of time series, changes in the classifications.
A new version of the classification of individual consumption expenditure by purpose – COICOP 2018 – has been introduced in the Household final consumption expenditure estimations for the period starting 2020. Lithuania has a derogation until autumn 2027 for the implementation of COICOP 2018 in the 1995–2019 time series.
Durability breakdowns of HFCE for 1995-2019 years are based on COICOP, and starting from the year 2020 based on COICOP2018, therefore year 2020 is flagged by (b) break in time series flag. The break in the time series is due to differences in classifications, not for conceptual differences of HFCE data in principle.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Primary statistics like structural business statistics (SBS), short-term statistics (STS), labour force statistics (LFS), etc. are widely used as input for national accounts. However, there is no full consistency between these statistical domains and national accounts. Main reasons are differences in concepts/definitions and in coverage. Balance of payments is also used as an important source for national accounts. The definitions and coverage of balance of payments, as defined in the BPM6 manual, are fully harmonised with those in ESA 2010. Therefore, balance of payments variables are in principle fully coherent with the corresponding national accounts variables.
The coherence of Lithuanian National Accounts data are very high in terms of internal consistency between and within the data tables, sub-annual and annual statistics, totals and sums of components.
Some differences between the tables during the year may occur due to the vintage effect. This mainly concerns coherence with the general government accounts.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The internal coherence of the assessed Lithuanian data is very high, Lithuanian data are also coherent in terms of additivity of series. The internal coherence is checked between annual and quarterly NA data tables in respect to coherence within and between tables, totals and sum of components.
One of the most important aspects of internal coherence is the consistency of Lithuanian GDP measured by three approaches. GDP estimation methods (by production, income and expenditure approaches) are adequate and yield the same result. Annual GDP and its components in all three approaches are consistent with quarterly GDP and its components.
The national accounts indicators are estimated using information from other statistical surveys, carried out by the Statistics Lithuania, and administrative data sources, so there is no additional statistical reporting burden on respondents.
Regarding revision policy implementation, the recommended harmonized revision policy is applied in Lithuania; some temporary inconsistencies can occur due to the vintage effect.
Revision policy and its harmonization are also discussed in the Interinstitutional group on Macroeconomic statistics. This group is represented by experts from the State Data Agency, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Lithuania, the State Tax Inspectorate, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the National Audit Office of Lithuania (as an observer).
The last benchmark revision of NA indicators was performed in September 2024, and affected the time series of indicators starting 1995.
The benchmark revision involved several changes addressing the outstanding TSR 1 and action points received in verification visit of March 2023, as well as numerous other changes improving the methods of GDP compilation, affecting diverse lengths of GDP/GNI time series.
The routine annual revision of NA indicators usually affects time series up to the year t-4.
For the Relative Mean Absolute Revision of GDP and related indicators, please see nationally published metadata concept 17.2.1 Data revision - average size
17.2. Data revision - practice
In Lithuania, the published national accounts aggregates can regularly be affected by the revisions. Two types of revisions are distinguished in national accounts practice: routine revisions and major/benchmark revisions. Regular update of data sources is a major cause of the routine revisions, while methodological provisions updates, improvement of estimation methods, emergence of new sources of information are the reasons for major revisions of National Accounts indicators.
The revisions in Lithuania are usually scheduled and results are published in accordance to advance release calendar, indicating the length of time series to be revised. In the case of unexpected non-scheduled revisions, the changes to release calendar are approved by the order of Director General of State Data Agency and users are informed about them.
See also section 17.1
18.1. Source data
National Accounts in Lithuania are estimated using various data sources: statistical surveys, administrative data, fiscal data. Some data sources are used for estimation of NA components, while others are used for verification purposes. The list of the main data sources broken down by three GDP approaches is presented in Chapter 1 of Lithuanian GNI Inventory (see section 1.9 Main data sources used). More detailed information about these main data sources is provided in GNI Inventory chapter 10, however, it is not publicly available.
In Lithuanian NA, the production and expenditure approaches are the main ones to determine the level of GDP. Even though expenditure approach is an independent approach, preference is given to GDP measured by the production method, as latter being based on more ‘solid’ data sources. In the third approach– income approach– the operating surplus and mixed income are derived residually; therefore this approach is not independent.
As for specific data sources for annual GDP and related aggregates (which are not available for quarterly estimates): there are many of them available only on annually basis, one of most important one is SBS data, the other ones are: Annual survey on earnings, Annual survey on trade and catering enterprises, HBS, Labour cost survey, Fuel and energy balances, Survey on education finance statistics, Research and experimental development surveys, Survey on education finance statistics, etc.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
National accounts are usually compiled from other primary statistics. Some of the data sources can be used for estimation of GDP and its components in all three approaches (e.g. SBS), some are used only for one estimation approach (e.g. investment surveys, BOP data are used only for estimation expenditure side GDP).
The frequency of data collection of primary statistics varies according to the nature of the data source. For example, SBS, survey on non-profit institutions, survey on insurance companies, annual survey on trade and catering enterprises, fuel and energy balances, survey on education finance statistics, research and experimental development surveys are received annually; survey on service enterprise activity, BOP data, general government statistics data is received quarterly. Some of the data sources are available every few years, e.g. HBS every 4-5 years, structural earnings and labour cost surveys available every 4 years, surveys on the composition of trade enterprises turnover – every five years, and some data sources like Population and housing census available every 10 years.
The Schedule of the exchange of information between the units inside Statistics Lithuania is approved by the Director General every year. This document specifies for every Statistics Lithuania unit what data, at which detail, when and to whom has to be delivered.
Agreements between Statistics Lithuania and other administrative data providers are also made. The agreements specify what data and at what level of detail should be provided, to whom, format and method of data provision, frequency and provision deadline of the data.
18.3. Data collection
National accounts departments typically do not collect data themselves but receive them from other departments or institutions.
See also the State Data Agency information on the data collection from economic entities and population under the link.
The data collection in Lithuania is organised according to the schedule of the exchange of information between the units inside Statistics Lithuania; via signed agreements with external data providers. Please see section 18.2 for more information.
National accountants in Lithuania are often involved in advising on the contents of surveys, updates and development of the questionnaires of other units in Statistics Lithuania.
18.4. Data validation
The confrontation of data from different sources is an integral part of the national accounts compilation. Statistical data quality is ensured through data analysis, verification and validation of the data. Statistical data are compared with data from previous periods and with information from additional data sources. Analysis of the statistical data, identification of outliers are carried out. In the event of significant deviations, the reasons for the deviation are investigated and the errors identified are corrected.
For the validation of national accounts data, Lithuania also applies validation rules agreed with Eurostat and provides metadata to support the validation process with respect to revisions and outliers
18.5. Data compilation
The national accounts for the Republic of Lithuania are compiled by State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania). In the Lithuanian NA, the production and expenditure approaches are the main approaches to determine the level of GDP. The third approach – the income approach – is also applied; nevertheless, it is not independent.
Publicly available Chapter 1 of Lithuanian GNI Inventory gives the outline of the compilation process of Lithuanian GDP by three approaches, balancing and integration procedure, overview of the allowances for exhaustiveness.
First GDP estimate (t–1) (sum of quarters) is published within 30 days after the end of the reference year. The estimate is obtained through application of econometric models based on available statistical data; usually source statistics do not have full information on the last quarter of t-1 year.
Second GDP estimate (t–1) (sum of quarters) is published within 2 months after the end of the reference year. The estimate is obtained through application of econometric models based on available statistical data for full quarters of year t-1.
Third GDP estimate (t–1) (sum of quarters) is published within 3 months after the end of the reference year. The estimate is obtained through application of econometric models, indirect and direct estimation methods. For the third estimate, information on general government sector, financial corporations sector indicators are received, quarterly BOP data and additional information from other quarterly data sources are available.
Fourth GDP estimate (t–1) (based on provisional annual data) is published within 9 months after the end of the reference year. The estimates are obtained using direct (survey–based, administrative data –based) and indirect estimation methods (e.g. quantity–price, commodity flow, benchmark extrapolations, other estimation models).
Fifth GDP estimate (t–2) (based on all available final annual data) is published within 21 months after the end of the reference year. The estimates are obtained using direct (survey–based, administrative data –based) and indirect estimations methods (e.g. quantity–price, commodity flow, benchmark extrapolations, other estimation models).
Final GDP estimate (t–3) (after the preparation of preliminary supply and use tables) is published within 33 months after the end of the reference year.
Final GDP estimate (t-4) – the finalisation of supply–use tables may lead to a revision of GDP within 45 months. Some other updates may be incorporated, if necessary, e.g. updates due to EDP related action points, reclassification of units between institutional sectors, etc.
The GDP is produced using the three approaches and is balanced at any stage of estimation in the Lithuanian NA. Starting with the preliminary estimates and followed by the semi-final and final ones, the balancing is performed at a more detailed level every time. This is determined by the availability of more detailed data sources and conversion of data from the original classification to the classifications applicable in NA, and in particular in SUT, i.e. by products. For annual t-1, t-2 GDP estimates, as production approach is considered the most reliable one, the remaining balancing differences may be included in changes in inventories indicator of expenditure approach.
When estimating preliminary and semi-definitive volume estimates of GVA for T-1 and T-2 year, single extrapolation method is used - output is deflated using appropriate price indices, then volume index of output is estimated and this output volume index is used to extrapolate the volume of gross value added. During SUT compilation for the T-3 year, double deflation is used.
The supply and use framework forms the basis for the balancing process by type of product and provides important indications as regards the consistency of the GDP production and expenditure approaches. The balancing of the supply and use of goods and services in this framework is used as a tool for the final adjustment in the GDP compilation process. SUTs are produced at current and previous year prices, therefore GDP volume estimates are also validated through the supply–use framework.
18.6. Adjustment
Seasonal and working days adjustment are made only for quarterly indicators.
Economy and finance dedicated data and meta information can be found in Official Statistics Portal of Statistics Lithuania.
National accounts are a coherent and consistent set of macroeconomic indicators, which provide an overall picture of the economic situation and are widely used for economic analysis and forecasting, policy design and policy making.
Gross domestic product (GDP) is one of the key aggregates in the European system of accounts (ESA). GDP is a measure of the total economic activity taking place on an economic territory which leads to output meeting the final demands of the economy.
There are three ways of measuring GDP at market prices:
the production approach, as the sum of the values added by all activities which produce goods and services, plus taxes less subsidies on products;
the expenditure approach, as the total of all final expenditures made in either consuming the final output of the economy, or in adding to wealth, plus exports less imports of goods and services;
the income approach, as the total of all incomes earned in the process of producing goods and services plus taxes on production and imports less subsidies.
Data published in the following tables reflect these 3 approaches.
Breakdowns provided are based on the ESA Transmission Programme, which list all tables requested from the countries (including Lithuania).
The annual tables under this collection are the following:
nama_10_gdp GDP and main components (output, expenditure and income)
nama_10_pc Main GDP aggregates per capita
nama_10_a10 Gross value added and income components by A*10 industry
nama_10_a64 Gross value added and income components by A*64 industry
nama_10_exi Exports and imports by counterpart area
Most of the Lithuanian data, which is published in Eurobase, can be found in the national Database of Indicators (see section 10.3 for more information).
28 November 2025
The following are brief definitions of concepts and variables from the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). In general, the ESA 2010 which was published in the Official Journal as Annex A of Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 and amended by EU regulation 2023/734, may be referred to for more detailed explanations on methodology.
GDP - Gross domestic product
GDP at market prices is the final result of the production activity of resident producer units. It is defined in three ways:
a. GDP Output approach
From the production point of view GDP can be measured as the sum of the following components:
GDP = Total gross value added (B.1G) + Taxes less subsidies on products (D.21 less D.31)
where:
Gross Value Added (GVA)= Output (P.1) - Intermediate consumption (P.2)
b. GDP Expenditure approach
From the expenditure side, GDP can be measured as follows:
GDP =
Household and non-profit institutions serving households final expenditure (P.3 in S.14+S.15)
+ government final consumption expenditure (P.3 in S.13)
+ gross fixed capital formation (P.51)
+ changes in inventories (P.52)
+ acquisition less disposal of valuables (P.53)
+ exports (P.6)
- imports (P.7)
c. GDP Income approach
GDP =
Compensation of employees (D.1)
+ gross operating surplus and mixed income (B.2g and B.3g)
+ taxes less subsidies on production and imports (D.2 and D.3)
Note: GDP income components and other income measures are only available at current prices.
National accounts aim to capture economic activity within the domestic territory. They combine data from a host of base statistics, and thus they have no common sampling reference frame. The elementary building blocks of ESA 2010 statistics are statistical units and their groupings. ESA 2010 defines two types of units, institutional units and local kind-of-activity units (ESA 2010, 1.54).
Lithuanian national accounts are based on institutional units, which correspond to the concept of legal unit in Lithuania.
The Statistical Register of Economic Entities (SREE) is the main tool to carry out statistical surveys and serves as a sampling frame for business surveys. This register is maintained by Statistics Lithuania. It includes information about all types of units from the administrative Register of Legal Entities determining their active/inactive status. The SREE is the base for statistical units, sample frames, business demography and for serving user needs. For statistical purposes the Register, apart from the administrative part of information from administrative registers of units, includes a statistical part of information as well.
National accounts combine data from many source statistics. The concept of statistical population is not applicable in a national accounts’ context.
Lithuanian national accounts are exhaustive. This means that all resident statistical units are covered directly through data sources (surveys/administrative data) or through inclusion of exhaustiveness adjustments.
The reference area in Lithuanian national accounts is the economic territory of Republic of Lithuania.
The reference period used for presenting national accounts data is the calendar year for annual data.
See also section 3.9 on reference year for the compilation of chain-linked volumes.
National accounts aggregates estimated in Lithuania are based on various data sources: a large number of statistical surveys, administrative data, using direct and indirect estimation methods, benchmarking and extrapolations. The accuracy of NA aggregates largely depends on the quality of the different data sources used. Conceptual and exhaustiveness adjustments are made to the data coming from the different data sources to meet the requirements and definitions of ESA 2010.
GDP is key aggregate of national accounts. GDP volume estimates, using final information coming from the data sources (transmitted at t+21 months after the reference period) are considered more accurate than first estimates of GDP using modelling, short-term statistics data. The most accurate GDP estimates are made after the balancing procedure of Supply-Use tables (transmitted at t+36 months after the reference period). The supply and use framework forms the basis for the balancing process by type of product and provides important indications as regards the consistency of the GDP production and expenditure approaches.
GDP and its components by production and expenditure approaches are presented in Lithuanian Database of Indicators (as well as Eurobase) at current, previous year’s prices and chain-linked volumes in million units of national currency, which is Euro in Lithuania. GDP components by income approach are presented at current prices in million units of national currency.
The structure of aggregates, as a percentage of total GDP for expenditure and income approaches is published in national database; the structure of gross value added by activities as a percentage of total GVA is published for production approach.
Growth rates and indexes of GDP and its components by production and expenditure approaches compared to the previous period, to the year 2021 are published, with some exceptions of aggregates in Expenditure approach, because chain-linking method is not applicable for time series of variables, which can take positive or negative values.
The implicit deflators and their percentage changes compared to the previous period are available in Eurobase, this information is not published on the national Database of Indicators, nevertheless the implicit deflator of total GDP and its changes is available in predefined tables in Official Statistics portal.
Main GDP aggregates are also published per capita in Eurobase, total GDP per capita is published in national database.
Lithuania adopted the euro as its national currency on 1 January 2015. NA data in national currency that Lithuania transmits to Eurostat correspond to nationally published figures. These series are converted into euros using the irrevocably fixed exchange rate and are published on Eurobase as Euro series (CP MEUR). The litas (former national currency) was pegged to the euro at a rate of 3.4528 to 1 on 2 February 2002 and litas became part of the ERM (European Exchange Rate Mechanism) II on 28 June 2004. This exchange rate did not change until Lithuania joined the euro area on 1 January 2015. The series at national currency and euro coincide from 2003 onwards, but differ for earlier years due to market exchange rate movements.
The national accounts for the Republic of Lithuania are compiled by State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania). In the Lithuanian NA, the production and expenditure approaches are the main approaches to determine the level of GDP. The third approach – the income approach – is also applied; nevertheless, it is not independent.
Publicly available Chapter 1 of Lithuanian GNI Inventory gives the outline of the compilation process of Lithuanian GDP by three approaches, balancing and integration procedure, overview of the allowances for exhaustiveness.
First GDP estimate (t–1) (sum of quarters) is published within 30 days after the end of the reference year. The estimate is obtained through application of econometric models based on available statistical data; usually source statistics do not have full information on the last quarter of t-1 year.
Second GDP estimate (t–1) (sum of quarters) is published within 2 months after the end of the reference year. The estimate is obtained through application of econometric models based on available statistical data for full quarters of year t-1.
Third GDP estimate (t–1) (sum of quarters) is published within 3 months after the end of the reference year. The estimate is obtained through application of econometric models, indirect and direct estimation methods. For the third estimate, information on general government sector, financial corporations sector indicators are received, quarterly BOP data and additional information from other quarterly data sources are available.
Fourth GDP estimate (t–1) (based on provisional annual data) is published within 9 months after the end of the reference year. The estimates are obtained using direct (survey–based, administrative data –based) and indirect estimation methods (e.g. quantity–price, commodity flow, benchmark extrapolations, other estimation models).
Fifth GDP estimate (t–2) (based on all available final annual data) is published within 21 months after the end of the reference year. The estimates are obtained using direct (survey–based, administrative data –based) and indirect estimations methods (e.g. quantity–price, commodity flow, benchmark extrapolations, other estimation models).
Final GDP estimate (t–3) (after the preparation of preliminary supply and use tables) is published within 33 months after the end of the reference year.
Final GDP estimate (t-4) – the finalisation of supply–use tables may lead to a revision of GDP within 45 months. Some other updates may be incorporated, if necessary, e.g. updates due to EDP related action points, reclassification of units between institutional sectors, etc.
The GDP is produced using the three approaches and is balanced at any stage of estimation in the Lithuanian NA. Starting with the preliminary estimates and followed by the semi-final and final ones, the balancing is performed at a more detailed level every time. This is determined by the availability of more detailed data sources and conversion of data from the original classification to the classifications applicable in NA, and in particular in SUT, i.e. by products. For annual t-1, t-2 GDP estimates, as production approach is considered the most reliable one, the remaining balancing differences may be included in changes in inventories indicator of expenditure approach.
When estimating preliminary and semi-definitive volume estimates of GVA for T-1 and T-2 year, single extrapolation method is used - output is deflated using appropriate price indices, then volume index of output is estimated and this output volume index is used to extrapolate the volume of gross value added. During SUT compilation for the T-3 year, double deflation is used.
The supply and use framework forms the basis for the balancing process by type of product and provides important indications as regards the consistency of the GDP production and expenditure approaches. The balancing of the supply and use of goods and services in this framework is used as a tool for the final adjustment in the GDP compilation process. SUTs are produced at current and previous year prices, therefore GDP volume estimates are also validated through the supply–use framework.
National Accounts in Lithuania are estimated using various data sources: statistical surveys, administrative data, fiscal data. Some data sources are used for estimation of NA components, while others are used for verification purposes. The list of the main data sources broken down by three GDP approaches is presented in Chapter 1 of Lithuanian GNI Inventory (see section 1.9 Main data sources used). More detailed information about these main data sources is provided in GNI Inventory chapter 10, however, it is not publicly available.
In Lithuanian NA, the production and expenditure approaches are the main ones to determine the level of GDP. Even though expenditure approach is an independent approach, preference is given to GDP measured by the production method, as latter being based on more ‘solid’ data sources. In the third approach– income approach– the operating surplus and mixed income are derived residually; therefore this approach is not independent.
As for specific data sources for annual GDP and related aggregates (which are not available for quarterly estimates): there are many of them available only on annually basis, one of most important one is SBS data, the other ones are: Annual survey on earnings, Annual survey on trade and catering enterprises, HBS, Labour cost survey, Fuel and energy balances, Survey on education finance statistics, Research and experimental development surveys, Survey on education finance statistics, etc.
The transmission requirements for each dataset are defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) transmission programme
Frequency of dissemination of Lithuanian national accounts data is in line with European transmission programme.
For annual Lithuanian GDP data these are, in principle:
GDP flash estimate: t+30 days.
Main GDP aggregates: t+2 months, t+3 months and t+9 months.
Basic breakdowns of main GDP aggregates: t+2 months, t+3 months and t+9 months.
Detailed breakdowns of main GDP aggregates: t+9 months and t+21 months.
Member States are required to transmit their data to Eurostat in compliance with the European System of Accounts ESA 2010 transmission programme, subject to derogations.
Lithuanian national accounts are sent to Eurostat respecting the deadlines specified in ESA 2010 data transmission programme.
Annual NA data are disseminated nationally in a timely manner according to approved release calendar (see sections 8.1-8.3 for more information).
The comparability is ensured by the application of common definitions (European System of Accounts ESA 2010).
Lithuanian national accounts are produced according to the requirements and definitions of ESA 2010. Lithuanian NA aggregates should be comparable with the same NA aggregates of other countries, which use the common definitions of ESA 2010 for production of their NA data. However, full comparability cannot always be ensured, as different countries may use different methods and different data sources for the estimation of NA aggregates.
By using a common framework, the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010), data are comparable over time. The length of comparable time series is according to the requirements of ESA 2010 Transmission programme of data, and depends on the corresponding data table. The comparable time series for the main aggregates of NA are starting the year 1995.
The temporal breaks in time series can sometimes occur with the major or benchmark revisions of time series, changes in the classifications.
A new version of the classification of individual consumption expenditure by purpose – COICOP 2018 – has been introduced in the Household final consumption expenditure estimations for the period starting 2020. Lithuania has a derogation until autumn 2027 for the implementation of COICOP 2018 in the 1995–2019 time series.
Durability breakdowns of HFCE for 1995-2019 years are based on COICOP, and starting from the year 2020 based on COICOP2018, therefore year 2020 is flagged by (b) break in time series flag. The break in the time series is due to differences in classifications, not for conceptual differences of HFCE data in principle.
