The share of Lithuanians taking part in protests and support rallies doubled in 2025 as citizens grew more optimistic about their ability to influence major decisions, according to the latest Civil Power Index study released Tuesday by the Civil Society Institute.
“While 2024 was an election year, 2025 has effectively become a year of protests. Our data shows that conventional participation and engagement in various forms of civic action have strengthened,” said Ieva Petronytė-Urbonavičienė, a political scientist at Vilnius University’s Institute of International Relations and Political Science.
Nearly one in ten respondents reported participating in protests or rallies last year, Petronytė-Urbonavičienė added.
The overall Civil Power Index rose to 38.5 points out of 100 in 2025, up 1.7 points from 2024. Researchers attributed the increase to a more favourable perception of the influence of non-governmental organisations and local communities on major decisions.
Participation in demonstrations, protests, or support rallies doubled to 12% of respondents. Online petition signatures rose 4 percentage points to 26%, while the number of people buying or boycotting products for moral or political reasons grew to 19% and 21%, respectively.
Teacher protests over working conditions received the highest public backing, supported by roughly 68% of respondents. Protests against proposed changes to the public broadcaster LRT law and actions by the cultural community were supported by 52% and 44%, respectively.
In contrast, protests against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip received more cautious responses: 27% of respondents expressed no clear opinion, and 19% said they lacked sufficient information. The LGBTQ community’s Baltic Pride march drew the most negative sentiment, with nearly half of respondents opposing the event and only about 10% expressing support.
Past protests also received mixed retrospective support. The 2022 rallies for Ukraine and 2024 farmer protests maintained roughly 58% public support, while anti-Covid-19 measure protests and the Great Family Defence March were viewed more critically, with 27% and 24% of respondents expressing disapproval, respectively.
The Civil Power Index, first measured in 2007, tracks public interest in civic affairs, participation levels, and perceptions of personal and societal civic power. The latest survey was conducted by the market research company Vilmorus between December 12 and 30, 2025, polling 1,000 Lithuanian residents.
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