Lithuania is a Northern European country and the largest of the three Baltic states, known for its advanced economy, high Human Development Index ranking, and strong digital infrastructure. It is a parliamentary democracy and a member of the EU, NATO, and the Eurozone, with a population of approximately 2.8 million people. The country's history includes a powerful medieval empire, a union with Poland, and periods of Russian and Soviet occupation before regaining independence in 1990. Lithuania's landscape features low-lying plains and hilly uplands, a significant coastline along the Baltic Sea, and numerous lakes and forests.