What is the quality of life in rural municipalities?
In 2013-2021, the quality of life improved in all rural municipalities, with the most developed educational services and public infrastructure. Kalvarija made the greatest progress ranking last in the municipal quality of life index (QLI) in 2013-2020, and in 2021, rising to the 55th position.
The latest QLI of municipalities can be found on the website Lietuvosfinansai.lt managed by the Ministry of Finance. Using the QLI, it is possible to see the general assessment, individual areas and rates of each municipality, compare municipalities with each other or observe changes in 2013-2021. The QLI covers six areas related to the quality of life in municipalities. The group of rural municipalities includes 38 out of 60 Lithuanian municipalities (more information about the division of municipalities into clusters is available here).
Position of rural municipalities according to the QLI and sub-indices in 2021
According to the general QLI for 2021, the highest positions in the QLI ranking are held by the following rural municipalities: Kėdainiai district - 14th, Jonava district - 16th, Pakruojis district - 19th, Panevėžys district – 20th, Kazlų Rūda – 21st.
According to individual QLI sub-indices, the rural municipalities rank as follows among all 60 municipalities: according to material living conditions, Kėdainiai district - 10th, Jonava district - 12th, Pakruojis district – 13th, Plungė district – 15th, Alytus district – 16th; according to the entrepreneurship and business competitiveness of residents, Kazlų Rūda – 11th, Kėdainiai district – 12th, Jonava district – 15th, Plungė district – 22nd, Akmenė district – 23rd; according to health services, Rokiškis district - 8th, Kėdainiai district - 14th, Tauragė district – 15th, Molėtai district – 18th, Telšiai district – 19th; according to education services, rural municipalities rank relatively very high among all municipalities – Raseiniai district - 3rd, Zarasai district - 4th, Molėtai district - 5th, Ukmergė district – 6th, Pakruojis district – 7th; according to demography, civic and social activity, Šilalė district - 8th, Panevėžys district - 12th, Rietavas - 13th, Kazlų Rūda - 15th, Plungė district – 17th; according to public infrastructure, the quality and safety of the living environment, rural municipalities also rank relatively high - Ignalina district - 3rd, Pakruojis district - 5th, Lazdijai district – 8th, Kretinga district - 9th, Vilkaviškis district - 12th.
Changes in the QLI and sub-indices of rural municipalities in 2013-2021
Analysing rural municipalities, the highest increase in the QLI in the group of these municipalities from 2013 to 2021 is fixed in Kalvarija municipality (94%), which in 2013-2020 ranked last, and in 2021, rose to the 55th position. Great progress was also made by Ignalina district (93 %), Pakruojis district (88 %), Radviliškis district (79%) and Prienai district (77%) municipalities.
According to the increase in 2013-2021 in separate sub-indices in the group of rural municipalities, the municipalities are ranked as follows: according to the increase in sub-indices of material living conditions and residents' entrepreneurship and business competitiveness, Kalvarija municipality leads; according to health services - Skuodas district, according to education services - Ignalina district; according to demographics, civic and social activity - Radviliškis district; according to the sub-index of public infrastructure, living environment quality and safety - Pagėgiai municipality.
Rural municipalities according to individual QLI sub-index rates in 2021 and the change in rates in the period 2013-2021
In 2021, the average monthly net salary in the group of rural municipalities was the highest in Kėdainiai district (EUR 969), Jonava district (EUR 943), Akmenė district (EUR 887) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Panevėžys district (about 2 times, i.e. from EUR 386 to EUR 826), Plungė district (about 2 times, i.e. from EUR 413 to EUR 882), Šiauliai district (about 2 times, i.e. from EUR 375 to EUR 785) municipalities.
The share of employed residents among the working-age population was the highest in Kretinga district (0.82), Rietavas (0.8), Pakruojis district (0.76) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Rietavas (46.8 %, i.e. from 0.55 to 0.8), Prienai district (46.5 %, i.e. from 0.47 to 0.69), Radviliškis district (33.3 %, i.e. from 0.51 to 0.68) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in such municipalities as Rietavas (29.2 %, i.e. from 0.63 to 0.8) and Ignalina district (29.2 %, i.e. from 0.49 to 0.63).
According to the largest usable area (m²) per person, in 2021, rural municipalities lined up as follows: Ignalina district (56.2), Alytus district (53.3), Molėtai district (53.3). The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Kretinga district (30.3 %, i.e. from 28.7 to 37.4), Molėtai district (28.7 %, i.e. from 41.4 to 53.3), Šilalė district (28.3 %, i.e. from 27.2 to 34.9) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Šiauliai district (3.6 %, i.e. from 41.5 to 43) municipality.
The part of renovated apartment buildings in 2021 was the largest in Prienai district (0.59), Ignalina district (0.52), Molėtai district (0.44) in municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Ukmergė district (i.e. from 0 to 0.18), Ignalina district. (i.e. from 0 to 0.52), Kretinga district. (i.e. from 0 to 0.17) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Kalvarija (more than 2 times, i.e. from 0.034 to 0.083), Kazlų Rūda (60.7 %, i.e. from 0.026 to 0.041), Švenčionys district (57 %, i.e. from 0.16 to 0.26) municipalities.
The number of operating economic entities per 1,000 persons among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Panevėžys district (30.2), Tauragė district (30.2), Kretinga district (29.2). The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Alytus district (76.5 %, i.e. from 14.6 to 25.8), Kalvarija (58.3 %, i.e. from 12.8 to 20.3), Lazdijai district (44.4 %, i.e. from 14 to 20.2) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Lazdijai district (14.7 %, i.e. from 17.6 to 20.2), Rietavas (11.3 %, i.e. from 25.9 to 28.9), Alytus district (10.7 %, i.e. from 23.2 to 25.8) municipalities.
The largest material investments (thousands of EUR) per 1,000 persons, in 2021 was in Jonava district (EUR 5268.6 thousand), Kazlų Rūda (EUR 3671.6 thousand), Akmenė district (EUR 3099.2 thousand) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Jonava district (more than 3 times, i.e. from EUR 1610 to EUR 5269 thousand), Jurbarkas district (3 times, i.e. from EUR 626.4 to EUR 1901 thousand), Šilutė district (2.7 times, i.e. from EUR 1035.5 to EUR 2798.8 thousand) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Rietavas (2.3 times, i.e. from 870.5 to 2045.5 thousand EUR), Akmenė district (2 times, i.e. from EUR 1533.3 to EUR 3099.2 thousand), Jurbarkas district (71.5 %, i.e. from EUR 1108 to EUR 1901 thousand) municipalities.
Foreign direct investments (EUR) per capita among the rural municipalities in 2021 were the highest in Švenčionys district (EUR 7153), Kėdainiai district (EUR 6348), Akmenė district (EUR 4514 EUR) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in the municipalities of Rietavas (i.e. from EUR 1 to EUR 415), Pagėgiai (i.e. from EUR 28 to EUR 3332), Kalvarija (i.e. from EUR 15 to EUR 421). In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Kelmė district (2.3 times, i.e. from EUR 119 to EUR 276), Jurbarkas district (2.1 times, i.e. from EUR 114 to EUR 244 EUR), Šilalė district (2 times, i.e. from EUR 46 to EUR 94) municipalities.
Turnover of companies (thousands of EUR) per 1,000 persons among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the largest in Kėdainiai district (EUR 42,662 thousand), Jonava district (EUR 35,271 thousand), Kazlų Rūda (EUR 28,144.4 thousand) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Panevėžys district (2.7 times, i.e. from EUR 9275 to EUR 24610 thousand), Alytus district (2.6 times, i.e. from EUR 5267 to EUR 13656 thousand), Kalvarija (2.5 times, i.e. from EUR 6657 to EUR 16705 thousand) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Rietavas (37.4 %, i.e. from EUR 14,995 to EUR 20,610 thousand), Anykščiai district (36.7 %, i.e. from EUR 11,621 to EUR 15,888 thousand), Kalvarija (33.4 %, i.e. from EUR 12,523 to EUR 16,705 thousand) municipalities.
The added value in terms of cost of manufacturing (thousand EUR) per 1,000 persons among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Kazlų Rūda (EUR 10,114 thousand), Kėdainiai district (EUR 9860 thousand), Jonava district (EUR 7344 thousand) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Kalvarija (3.7 times, i.e. from EUR 949 to EUR 3520 thousand), Jonava district (3.2 times, i.e. from EUR 2278 to EUR 7344 thousand), Kėdainiai district (3.2 times, i.e. from EUR 3091 to EUR 9860 thousand) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Pagėgiai (50 %, i.e. from EUR 2755 to EUR 4136 thousand), Kėdainiai district (49 %, i.e. from EUR 6,623 to EUR 9,860 thousand), Kazlų Rūda (43 %, i.e. from EUR 7,068 to EUR 10,114 thousand) municipalities.
The number of practicing health care specialists per 10,000 persons among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Rokiškis district (134), Tauragė district (120), Kėdainiai district (113) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Tauragė district (30 %, i.e. from 92 to 120), Molėtai district (17 %, i.e. from 79 to 92), Akmenė district (7.5 %, i.e. from 82 to 88) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was observed in Pagėgiai (20.4 %, i.e. from 38 to 46), Šiauliai district (17.6 %, i.e. from 34 to 41) and Akmenė district (15.4 %, i.e. from 76 to 88) municipalities.
The number of palliative care, care, nursing and supportive treatment beds per 1,000 persons was the highest in Panevėžys district (7), Varėna district (4.5), Rietavas (4.4) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Varėna district (2 times, i.e. from 2.2 to 4.5), Kupiškis district (90 %, i.e. from 1.8 to 3.4), Biržai district (80 %, i.e. from 1.3 to 2.4) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Šilutė district (2.7 times, i.e. from 0.6 to 1.6) municipality.
The number of participants in sports competitions and wellness events per 1,000 persons among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Kėdainiai district (777), Ukmergė district (366), Prienai district (329) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Kėdainiai district (2.4 times, i.e. from 319 to 777), Kazlų Rūda (58.4%, i.e. from 170 to 270), Ukmergė district (56 %, i.e. from 235 to 366) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Molėtai district (4.9 times, i.e. from 60 to 295), Rokiškis district (4 times, i.e. from 66 to 265), Zarasai district (2 times, i.e. from 72 to 148) municipalities.
The share of children participating in pre-school education in 1-6 aged population among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the largest in Kupiškis district (1.1), Molėtai district (1), Radviliškis district (1) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Alytus district (4.7 times, i.e. from 0.19 to 0.9), Kalvarija (2.2 times, i.e. from 0.36 to 0.8), Pagėgiai (2.3 times, i.e. from 0.3 to 0, 7) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Alytus district (3.5 times, i.e. from 0.26 to 0.9), Kupiškis district (77 %, i.e. from 0.6 to 1.1), Kalvarija (56 %, i.e. from 0.5 to 0.8) municipalities.
According to the proportion of graduates who took the Matura examination in the Lithuanian language, whose examination results were evaluated with the highest scores in the interval from 86 to 100 %, in 2021 Pakruojis district (0,2), Zarasai district (0.2), Raseiniai district (0.2) municipalities were the leaders among the rural municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Rietavas (4.6 times, i.e. from 0.013 to 0.06), Joniškis district (4.6 times, i.e. from 0.03 to 0.14), Raseiniai district (4 times, i.e. from 0.05 to 0.2) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Ignalina district (about 5 times, i.e. from 0.027 to 0.14), Alytus district (about 3 times, i.e. from 0.06 to 0.17), Rietavas (more than 2 times, i.e. from 0.027 to 0.06) municipalities.
According to the proportion of graduates who took the Matura examination in Mathematics, whose examination results were evaluated with the highest scores in the interval from 86 to 100 %, in 2021 Biržai district (0.067), Jonava district (0.065), Varėna district (0.061) municipalities were the leaders among the rural municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Prienai district (about 6 times, i.e. from 0.008 to 0.049), Pasvays district (about 4.4 times, i.e. from 0.012 to 0.053), Joniškis district (2.9 times, i.e. from 0.015 to 0.043) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Telšiai district (6.5 times, i.e. from 0.004 to 0.026), Varėna district (6.6 times, i.e. from 0.009 to 0.06), Joniškis district (4.3 times, i.e. from 0.01 to 0.043) municipalities.
The share of highly qualified teachers among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Tauragė district (0.58), Radviliškis district (0.57), Švenčionys district (0.57) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Pagėgiai (43.9 %, i.e. from 0.22 to 0.32), Ignalina district (36 %, i.e. from 0.32 to 0.43), Telšiai district (34 %, i.e. from 0.25 to 0.33) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in the municipality of Pagėgiai (15 %, i.e. from 0.28 to 0.32).
The share of pupils transported to school by yellow buses in the municipality among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Alytus district (0.66), Panevėžys district (0.59), Pasvalys district (0.59) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Pagėgiai (20 %, i.e. from 0.48 to 0.58), Kupiškis district (19.5 %, i.e. from 0.38 to 0.45), Kalvarija (15.3 %, i.e. from 0.41 to 0.47) municipalities. In 2020-2021, the highest increase in the rate was established in Kretinga district (13.5 %, i.e. from 0.16 to 0.19) and Varėna district (8 %, i.e. from 0.34 to 0.37) municipalities.
According to the number of persons who arrived and left (net migration) per 1,000 persons, in 2021 Alytus district (9.8), Panevėžys district (8.2), Šiauliai district (5.6) municipalities were the leaders. During the 2013-2021 period, a negative value of the rate is recorded in all rural municipalities, which shows that there are more persons who left the respective municipality than those who arrived. In the period 2020-2021, a positive trend of the rate was established in Kėdainiai district (several times, i.e. from 0.19 to 3.25), Prienai district (more than 4 times, i.e. from 0.99 to 4.3), Ukmergė district (5.8 %, i.e. from 0.7 to 0.74) municipalities.
The number of participants in cultural centres per 1,000 persons among the rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Panevėžys district (68.5), Plungė (43.8), Varėna district (38.7) municipalities. Although in 2013-2021 a negative trend of the rate was observed in most municipalities, but the increase in the rate was recorded in Ignalina district (more than 100 %, i.e. from 11 to 22.5), Radviliškis district (70 %, i.e. from 14.4 to 24.5), Rietavas (51.5 %, i.e. from 23.9 to 36.3) municipalities. In 2020-2021, a significant change in the rate was recorded in Rokiškis district (81 %, i.e. from 6.9 to 12.5) and Telšiai district (30 %, i.e. from 17.2 to 22.4) municipalities.
The number of registered crimes and misdemeanours per 100,000 persons in 2021 was the lowest in Kretinga district (834), Skuodas district (916), Švenčionys district (1010) municipalities. During the period 2013-2021, a decrease in the number of crimes was recorded in all rural municipalities.
According to the length of bicycle paths (km.) at the end of the year per 1,000 persons, in 2021 Rietavas (2.7 km.), Joniškis district (2.28), Kelmė district (2 km.) municipalities were the leaders. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Kelmė district (10 times, i.e. from 0.2 to 2 km.), Jonava district (about 8 times, i.e. from 0.25 to 1.98 km.), Raseiniai districts. (more than 3 times, i.e. from 0.04 to 0.13 km.) municipalities. In 2020-2021, a significant change in the rate was recorded in Prienai district (about 4.7 times, i.e. from 0.22 to 1.03 km.) and Švenčionys district (2.5 times, i.e. from 0.06 to 0.15 km.) municipalities.
The number of nights provided in all types of accommodation facilities per 1,000 persons among the rural municipalities was the highest in 2021 in Molėtai district (3645), Lazdijai district (2408), Kalvarija (1913) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Kretinga district (more than 10 times, i.e. from 164 to 1716), Lazdijai district (6 times, i.e. from 399 to 2408), Zarasai district (about 6 times, i.e. from 184 to 1097) municipalities. In 2020-2021, a significant change in the rate was recorded in Rietavas (i.e. from 0.8 to 37), Kelmė district (about 3.6 times, i.e. from 94 to 340), Akmenė district (about 2.5 times, i.e. from 383 to 975) municipalities.
The number of cultural centres per 1,000 persons among rural municipalities in 2021 was the highest in Ignalina district (1.1), Varėna district (0.9), Panevėžys (0.8) municipalities. The highest increase in the rate in 2013-2021 was fixed in Ignalina district (about 6 times, i.e. from 0.18 to 1.1), Pagėgiai (about 2.5 times, i.e. from 0.11 to 0.28), Radviliškis district (about 2.4 times, i.e. from 0.05 to 0.12) municipalities. In 2020-2021, a significant change in the rate was established in Telšiai district (86 %, i.e. from 0.15 to 0.28) municipality.
Additional information:
- The QLI was presented to the public for the first time in November 2021.
- The QLI consists of 41 rates in 6 areas: material living conditions; population entrepreneurship and business competitiveness; health services; educational services; demography, civic and social activism; public infrastructure, quality and safety of the living environment.
- The QLI of municipalities was created in order to assess the social and economic differences between the municipalities of the country. Until now, Lithuania has not had such a comprehensive tool that would allow comparing any municipality with other similar, county or simply all 60 Lithuanian municipalities in six areas and seeing changes.
- It is expected that the index will contribute to data-based decision-making in the public sector and reduce the gap between municipalities. Also, that using LQI rates, other social partners, academic institutions, institutions and organizations will be more actively involved in solving public management problems.
Last updated: 22-05-2023
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