Belarusians second-largest ethnic minority group in Lithuania

January 17, BPN. Lithuania’s Migration Department registered 48,800 Belarusians legally residing in the country as of late 2022, the Lithuanian interior ministry reported.

They account for about a quarter of all foreigners in Lithuania being second only to Ukrainians (94,891 people; 50 percent), and followed by Russians (15,706; about 8 percent).

The number of foreigners residing in Lithuania rose by 44,293 in six months alone reaching a record high of 189,411 at the end of 2022. Foreigners accounted for about 7 percent of Lithuania’s population in early 2023.

In 2022, Lithuanian migration authorities issued a total of 117,091 temporary residence permits and 53,445 work permits, including 25,556 (48 percent) to Belarusians.