Europa XXI (2026) vol. 51
Navigating Between Periphery and Metropolis: The Shifting Dynamics of Regional Centres in Lithuania
Europa XXI (2026) vol. 51, pp. 1 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2026.51.1
Abstract
Lithuania’s medium-sized cities, historically shaped by deindustrialization and population decline, have experienced a new demographic shift since 2020. Events such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine have reversed long-term shrinkage, with immigration driving growth and reshaping urban dynamics. The purpose of this study is to examine transformations in Lithuania’s medium-sized cities since 1990, with a focus on population dynamics, emphasizing the turbulent period after 2020 marked by intensified immigration. This study examines 11 regional centres, combining demographic analysis with an assessment of refugee settlement and integration. Results indicate that Lithuania’s urban population increased by 3.5% between early 2022 and 2025, with immigrants addressing labour shortages, particularly in services, and in some cases contributing high-skilled expertise. At the same time, challenges have emerged, including housing pressures, rising rents, and linguistic barriers. The article also reviews key support initiatives for Ukrainian war refugees. Findings suggest that contemporary regional centres embody both the vulnerabilities of long-term decline and the regenerative potential of migration, illustrating how medium-sized cities can leverage incoming skills to strengthen local economies and communities.
Keywords: medium-sized cities, regional centres, deindustrialization, immigration and interaction, population dynamics, post-industrial cities, Lithuania
[gintarei.pociutei@gmail.com], Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology
[baranauskiene.viktorija@gmail.com], Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology
Citation
APA: Pociūtė-Sereikienė, G., & Baranauskienė, V. (2026). Navigating Between Periphery and Metropolis: The Shifting Dynamics of Regional Centres in Lithuania. Europa XXI, 51, 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2026.51.1
MLA: Pociūtė-Sereikienė, Gintarė and Baranauskienė, Viktorija. "Navigating Between Periphery and Metropolis: The Shifting Dynamics of Regional Centres in Lithuania". Europa XXI, vol. 51, 2026, pp. 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2026.51.1
Chicago: Pociūtė-Sereikienė, Gintarė and Baranauskienė, Viktorija. "Navigating Between Periphery and Metropolis: The Shifting Dynamics of Regional Centres in Lithuania". Europa XXI 51 (2026): 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2026.51.1
Harvard: Pociūtė-Sereikienė, G., & Baranauskienė, V. 2026. "Navigating Between Periphery and Metropolis: The Shifting Dynamics of Regional Centres in Lithuania". Europa XXI, vol. 51, pp. 1. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2026.51.1