Lithuanian Emigration History: Where and Why Lithuanians Left (19th Century to 1940)

Emigration is more than just the movement of people from one country to another. It is a mosaic of thousands of personal stories—of unfulfilled hopes, irreversible decisions, and often painful goodbyes. From the late 19th century until the beginning of World War II, Lithuania experienced one of the most significant waves of emigration in its history. But how many people truly left the country? And what drove them to make such a choice?

Early Footprints — As Far Back as the 17th Century

Although most historians trace Lithuanian emigration to the second half of the 19th century, historian Alfonsas Eidintas highlights a surprising fact: the first known Lithuanian resident to appear in American history dates back to the 17th century. This was Aleksandras Karolis Kuršius, a physician and the head of the first high school in New York.

19th Century: Exile, Repression, and the Threat of Famine

Waves of emigration were largely driven by Russian imperial repression following the failed uprisings of 1830–1831 and 1863–1864. Some insurgents fled westward in search of safety and a new life. After 1868, mass emigration began among Lithuanian peasants—primarily to the United States. Following the 1905 revolution, the Tsarist regime even encouraged the departure of “dangerous elements,” which only intensified emigration flows.

Emigration Peak: 1899–1914

In 1899, the U.S. began officially recording Lithuanians as a distinct ethnic group. Prior to that, all arrivals from the region were registered simply as originating from the Russian Empire, and many migrants didn’t even identify themselves as Lithuanians. This change allowed for the first somewhat reliable emigration statistics.
This period saw one of the highest emigration surges, driven by the Russo-Japanese War, Tsarist crackdowns, and the fallout from the 1905–1907 revolutions. An estimated 250,000 people may have left Lithuania before the outbreak of World War I.

South America – An Alternative Dreamland

When the U.S. imposed strict immigration quotas in 1924, emigration routes shifted to South America. Brazil and Argentina became the primary destinations. Foreign shipping companies offered “free” passage—emigrants paid for their trip through hard labor on plantations. While this was a harsh form of labor exploitation, it was often the only available option.

Complaints from South America

In 1926, the Lithuanian government began receiving numerous complaints about the severe conditions faced by emigrants in South America. In contrast, there were few such reports from Lithuanian communities in the U.S., Canada, or Western Europe. The situation became serious enough that the government even considered establishing Lithuanian colonies in South America to provide more structured support and direction to emigration flows.

Numbers That Raise Questions

According to official data, between 1920 and 1940, 102,511 people emigrated from Lithuania. Most went to the U.S. (30,869), Brazil (24,982), Argentina (16,794), Canada (7,942), and Uruguay (4,437). Another 7,215 went to South Africa, and 5,008 to Palestine, most of whom were of Jewish descent.
However, researchers argue that these numbers may significantly underestimate the real scale. It's believed that between 70,000 and 102,000 Lithuanians could have been living in South America alone during that period. Around 70,000 Lithuanian Jews may have emigrated to South Africa.

The inaccuracy of the data stems from several factors. First, Lithuanian consulates were not initially instructed to monitor or record emigration flows. Second, a single foreign passport could cover entire families, making tracking difficult. Finally, illegal emigration likely played a role as well—it's known that forged passports and visas were not uncommon in Lithuania at the time.