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How loud is Kaunas, Lithuania?

In Kaunas, Lithuania, most noise-exposed residents face average day-evening-night (Lden) transport noise of 45–60 dB, mostly from road traffic, dropping to 40–55 dB at night. That ranks Kaunas #311 of 314 European cities by measured EEA exposure, below the European median — quieter than most cities in the ranking.

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Noise map of Kaunas, Lithuania: road-traffic noise contours from the EU strategic noise maps, shaded yellow (≈55 dB Lden) through orange and red to dark purple (≈75 dB+), over the city's street network.
Kaunas's road-traffic noise, mapped: each band is a measured Lden contour from the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2022 round) — yellow ≈55 dB rising to dark purple ≈75 dB+. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors, © CARTO.
Kaunas at a glance (measured EEA data)
European rank (of 314) #311
Daytime Lden range 45–60 dB
Night Lnight range 40–55 dB
vs. WHO guideline ≈ 0 dB above the 53 dB Lden road-noise guideline (night guideline: 45 dB)
Dominant source road traffic
Population 298,753
Data confidence high

Kaunas houses 298,753 people. Its noise-exposed residents experience Lden levels of 45–60 dB by day and 40–55 dB at night, driven mainly by road traffic, which puts it #311 of 314 in the measured European ranking — below the European median — quieter than most cities in the ranking. Among Lithuania's 3 ranked agglomerations, Kaunas is the 3rd-loudest. Across Europe it sits just below Brussels, Belgium (#310) and just above Tallinn, Estonia (#312).

The WHO road-traffic guideline is 53 dB Lden by day and 45 dB Lnight at night, so Kaunas's exposed residents run close to the daytime guideline. The figures count road, rail, aircraft and industry only, so sirens, nightlife and construction sit outside the model — which is why measured exposure can differ from a city's reputation for noise.

These are measured values, not estimates: they come from Lithuania's strategic noise maps reported under the EU Environmental Noise Directive (2022 round) and harmonised by the European Environment Agency. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only people above the 55 dB Lden reporting threshold are counted, so the range describes the noise-exposed population, not the city's quietest streets.

Kaunas noise: the numbers

  • Ranks #311 of 314 European cities by measured day-evening-night (Lden) transport-noise exposure.
  • Exposed residents face Lden 45–60 dB by day and Lnight 40–55 dB at night.
  • Dominant noise source: road traffic. Population 298,753.
  • The 3rd-loudest of Lithuania's 3 ranked agglomerations.

These are measured values from the EU Environmental Noise Directive strategic noise maps (2022 round), harmonised by the European Environment Agency — see the methodology on the European city ranking. Lden is the annual-average day-evening-night level; only residents above the 55 dB Lden threshold are reported.

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