Gitanas Nauseda, a political novice, won Lithuania's presidential runoff in a race marked by low populist sentiment and concerns over inequality in the Baltic eurozone state.

Although Lithuanian presidents do not directly craft economic policy, bread-and-butter issues have dominated the race.

Experts also noted that by choosing between two pro-EU, center-right candidates in the runoff, Lithuanians who see the EU as a source of prosperity and security bucked growing eurosceptic and populist sentiment in the bloc.

Vowing to build a "welfare state," Nauseda said he would bridge the gap between the rich and the poor in Lithuania, which is among the most pronounced in the 28-member EU, adding that he would also seek to bring urban and rural Lithuanians closer together.

"All people can live with dignity in this small country," the 55-year-old former bank advisor and economist told reporters as he claimed victory at his campaign headquarters in the capital Vilnius following Sunday's vote.

Challenger Ingrida Simonyte, a conservative-backed independent MP conceded defeat, telling public broadcaster LRT she had wished Nauseda "success in uniting Lithuanian people." 

Nauseda scored 65.86 percent of the vote ahead of 32.86 percent for Simonyte based on full official results from all 1,972 polling stations. 

Vilnius voter Jonas Jovaisas, 25, said that Nauseda's lack of party affiliation made him the most suitable to lead the nation.

"He doesn't depend on any political party and that will help him to work with any parliament or government," he told AFP.