Lithuanians

Lithuanians are a Baltic ethnic group, associated with Lithuania and the Lithuanian language. Most of them live in Lithuania - nearly 3 million according to the 2001 census. About another million make up the Lithuanian diaspora. The Lithuanian ethnos has been influenced by Slavic and Germanic peoples in the past. Most Lithuanians belong to the Roman Catholic Church, with significant minorities of Protestants and members of the Eastern Orthodox church. The Lithuanian language is part of the Indo-European linguistic family.

Genetics

Genetically Lithuanians are one of tallest peoples in the world. Height acceleration was fast through the 20th century although now it has slowed down. One eighth of Lithuanians are immune to HIV which is also one of the highest percentages of immunity in the world.

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Although blondes, especially blonde girls, tend to be talked about much in the Lithuanian folklore, the actual pecentage of them is low and is on the decline.

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Genetic divisions between the different Lithuanian groups were more pronounced earlier--in the 19th and early 20th centuries for example. However, an increasing number of marriages between the varying subgroups has severely reduced these genetic distinctions. The genetic distinction of Lithuanians as a nation might be threatened due to the increasing rate of marriage with outsiders, the number of which increased during the Soviet occupation, and increases still more due to immigration and integration into the European Union.

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