Kaunas: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Kaunas: Employees in Kaunas city municipality earned €2,741 a month before tax on average in April to June 2026, 2nd highest of 60 Lithuanian municipalities; the Lithuanian average was €2,628.
- Health in Kaunas: Circulatory diseases killed 577 people per 100,000 (age-standardised) in Kaunas city municipality in 2025, 10th lowest of 60 Lithuanian municipalities; the national rate was 630.
- Poverty and living standards in Kaunas: Social assistance benefit went to 13.2 people per 1,000 population in Kaunas city municipality in 2025, 12th lowest of 60 Lithuanian municipalities; the national rate was 21.2.
- Government budget and revenue in Kaunas: Kaunas city municipality took in €757.71 million of budget revenue in 2025, up 188% on 2016.
What is the population of Kaunas?
Kaunas had 302,875 inhabitants (city proper) on 1 January 2023, according to an official estimate (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Kaunas rank among cities in Lithuania?
Of the 4 cities the UN table lists for Lithuania (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is 2nd largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Kaunas?
Women and girls made up 54.9% of residents (166,184 female, 136,691 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow much does Kaunas spend on schools?
Education is the biggest item in municipal budgets in Kaunas city municipality: €364.50 million in 2025, 46.9% of all spending, 8th highest of 60 Lithuanian municipalities.
Source: State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal · saved copyWhat is the population of Kaunas?
Kaunas had 304,114 residents on 1 January 2025 according to the EU Urban Audit; 14.5% were under 15 and 22.1% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Kaunas growing?
The population shrank by 2.1% between 2012 and 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Kaunas?
72% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2025 (722 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Kaunas?
35,819 students were enrolled in higher education in Kaunas in 2025, 118 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Municipal education spending in Kaunas city municipality grew from €139.04 million in 2016 to €364.50 million in 2025. Source: State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal · saved copy
Who runs Kaunas?
In Lithuania, cities and towns are run by regional development councils: Made up of mayors, councillors and state representatives. Regional planning; the former county governor offices were abolished in 2010.
How local power works in Lithuania
Cities of a similar size in Lithuania
Up a level: all cities in Lithuania · Lithuania · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal: Ratio of the registered unemployed to the working-age population by administrative territory and sex (S3R421_M3050101_2), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 db2007034013…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal: Municipal budget expenditure by administrative territory and function of government, COFOG (S7R248_M2040203), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1d0ff4e9f711…)
- State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal: Average earnings (monthly) by administrative territory, sector, sex and type (S3R0050_M3060322), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fd5ea14bd535…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
- State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal: Municipal budget revenue by administrative territory and type of revenue (S7R249_M2040204), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 978b37179961…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal: Number of recipients of social assistance benefit per 1 000 population, by administrative territory and sex (S3R0243_M3160702), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9ccff1df58ae…)
- State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania), Official Statistics Portal: Standardised mortality by cause of death per 100 000 population, by administrative territory and sex (S3R0275_M9070353), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5404d8e326a2…)
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