According to contemporary
Russian Empire statistics, from 1889 the Suwałki Governorate was predominantly Lithuanian since they comprised 57.8% of the population. Lithuanians formed a majority only in the northern part of the governorate in the counties of Kalvarija, Marijampolė, Naujamiestis, Vilkaviškis as well as the eastern part of the Sejny county. Poles were in a majority in the southern part of the governorate in the counties of Suwałki, Augustów and in the western part of the Sejny county. Before World War I, the Suwałki Governorate was economically the least developed area of Congress Poland. It was characterised by the lowest
agricultural productivity and profitability. In 1912, the governorate had a
population density of just 45 persons per km2, compared to Congress' average of 103 persons per km2. ==Administrative divisions==