After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
64,589 sq km
land
63,589 sq km
water
1,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries
total
1,368 km
border countries
Belarus 167 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 282 km
Coastline
531 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain
low plain
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point
Galzina Kalns 312 m
Natural resources
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Land use
arable land
28.19%
permanent crops
0.45%
other
71.36% (2005)
Irrigated land
200 sq km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (2003)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Population
2,259,810 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
13.6% (male 157,451/female 150,184)
15-64 years
69.6% (male 764,910/female 808,848)
65 years and over
16.7% (male 123,952/female 254,465) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
39.6 years
male
36.6 years
female
42.7 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.648% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
9.43 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
13.64 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.048 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.946 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.487 male(s)/female
total population
0.862 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
9.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male
11.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female
7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
71.6 years
male
66.39 years
female
77.1 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.28 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
7,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality
noun
Latvian(s)
adjective
Latvian
Ethnic groups
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Religions
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
99.7%
male
99.8%
female
99.7% (2000 census)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of Latvia
conventional short form
Latvia
local long form
Latvijas Republika
local short form
Latvija
former
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
name
Riga
geographic coordinates
56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence
18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution
15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since
Legal system
based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch
chief of state
President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007)
head of government
Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
elections
president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 31 May 2007 (next to be held 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders
First Party of Latvia or LPP [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS, Nils USAKOVS]; Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Ivars GODMANIS, Ainars BERZINS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE, Krisjanis KARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Indulis EMSIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maris SELGA
chancery
2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 328-2840
FAX
[1] (202) 328-2860
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Catherine Todd BAILEY
embassy
7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address
American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone
[371] 703-6200
FAX
[371] 782-0047
Flag description
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
Economy - overview
Latvia's economy experienced average GDP growth of more than 7.0% over the past several years. In 2006 it reached 10.2% real GDP growth. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account deficit - more than 15% of GDP in 2006 - and inflation remain major concerns.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$36.49 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$16.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
11.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$16,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
3.7%
industry
26.3%
services
70% (2006 est.)
Labor force
1.136 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
13%
industry
19%
services
68% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate
6.5% (December 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.8%
highest 10%
26.1% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
35 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.8% (December 2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
31.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$6.172 billion
expenditures
$6.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt
11% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
Industries
buses, vans, street and railroad cars; synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Industrial production growth rate
8.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production
4.55 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel
29.1%
hydro
70.9%
nuclear
0%
other
0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption
6.329 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports
707 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports
2.855 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
47,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports
0 bbl/day (2004)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports
1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance
-$2.538 billion (2006 est.)
Exports
$6.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners
Lithuania 14.1%, Estonia 12.2%, Russia 11.6%, Germany 9.8%, UK 7.7%, Sweden 6.3%, Denmark 4.8% (2006)
Imports
$10.33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners
Germany 15.4%, Lithuania 13%, Russia 8%, Estonia 7.7%, Poland 7.2%, Finland 5.7%, Sweden 5%, Belarus 4.7% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.61 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$18.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$96.2 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code)
Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code
LVL
Exchange rates
lati per US dollar - 0.5597 (2006), - 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
731,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1.872 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector, beginning in 2003; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony expands
domestic
3 wireless service providers including Lattelekom, the incumbent monopoly
international
country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
Radio broadcast stations
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios
1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions
1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code
.lv
Internet hosts
65,858 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
41 (2001)
Internet users
1.03 million (2005)
Airports
46 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
24
2,438 to 3,047 m
7
1,524 to 2,437 m
3
914 to 1,523 m
1
under 914 m
13 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
22
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
2
under 914 m
19 (2006)
Pipelines
gas 1,097 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2006)
Railways
total
2,303 km
broad gauge
2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)
narrow gauge
33 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)
Roadways
total
69,532 km
paved
69,532 km (2004)
Waterways
300 km (2006)
Merchant marine
total
21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 250,559 GRT/336,136 DWT
by type
cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries
105 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas 1, Belize 6, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 4, Dominica 1, Gibraltar 2, Liberia 14, Malta 40, Marshall Islands 7, Panama 3, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18) (2006)
Ports and terminals
Riga, Ventspils
Military branches
Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005)
Military service age and obligation
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 19-49
517,713
females age 19-49
519,631 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 19-49
361,098
females age 19-49
422,913 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
19,137
females age 19-49
18,505 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.2% (2005 est.)
Disputes - international
Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to Latvian insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration referencing Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses; Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documentation in preparation; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia
Illicit drugs
transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
