Panevėžys, the capital of Aukštaitija Ethnographic Region, has been the fifth largest city in Lithuania for more than a century. It occupies 50 square kilometers with more than 112 thousand inhabitants, the majority of whom (96 per cent) are Lithuanians. The rest are Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Byelorussian, Jewish people.

Panevėžys is situated in the middle of Lithuania; it is halfway between two Baltic capitals - Vilnius and Riga. The city lies in a good geographical position which plays a major role in communication with other Lithuanian cities and the city of Kaliningrad. The Via Baltica highway runs through the city and connects it to many Scandinavian and West European countries.

Panevėžys is a member of the Union of  the Baltic Cities. It has 10 partner towns abroad: L