According to official data, Vilnius overtook Riga this year. Although according to the data of the municipality, the Registers Center and the Territorial Health Insurance Fund, Vilnius should have overtaken the neighboring capital long ago, according to the State Data Agency, this happened only in 2025. This prompted us to ask the people of Vilnius which city should become a role model for Vilnius.
14 percent (129 votes) of those surveyed believe that it should be Warsaw. Another 125 Vilnius residents believe that Helsinki should become an example for us. 12 percent (109 votes) of respondents say that the best example for us is Stockholm, Sweden. And the other 132 respondents say that it should be some other city, but do not specify which one.
"Warsaw is also good, but it's still bigger. Helsinki is a very cozy and modern city, a role model. There's more to learn from them than blindly copying the infrastructure and urban solutions of cities that don't get snow," residents write.
Instead, 11 percent (97 votes) say that Amsterdam is a model city for Vilnius. Another 82 votes went to Prague, 40 to Berlin, and only 25 votes to London. At the end of the list were Lisbon (21 votes), Paris (20 votes), Rome (17 votes), and Brussels (14 votes). The list was completed by Madrid with 13 votes.
"If we're talking about the conversion of the city's industrial districts, solving transportation problems, and offering culture and entertainment - this is definitely London," the comments read.
Another 96 people found this question irrelevant.
A total of 920 residents participated in the MadeinVilnius.lt survey. The survey was conducted from Monday, January 27, to Friday, January 31.
According to official data, Vilnius overtook Riga this year. Although according to data from the municipality, the Centre of Registers and the Territorial Health Insurance Fund, Vilnius should have overtaken its neighbouring capital long ago, according to the State Data Agency, this happened only in 2025.
Lithuanian statistical data show that in 2025, Vilnius will have a population of 607, which is 404 more than was estimated last year. Meanwhile, last year, Riga had a population of 5.
Considering that the population of Riga is decreasing every year (as recently as 2023, the city had 609 people), this year the population of Riga may decrease even more. This means that Vilnius will officially become the largest city in the Baltic States by population.
