Statistical information Latvia 1994
Latvia in the World
top of pageBackground: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe, Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in 1994.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal area total: 64,100 km²
Land: 64,100 km²
Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
ElevationNatural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land useArable land: 27%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 13%
Forest and woodland: 39%
Other: 21%
Irrigated land: 160 km² (1990)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 2,749,211 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 0.5% (1994 est.)
Nationality: noun:Latvian(s)
Ethnic groups: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.5% (1994 est.)
Birth rate: 13.84 births/1000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate: 12.61 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.74 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 21.5 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 69.44 years
Male: 64.37 years
Female: 74.75 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Latvia
Conventional short form:local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form; Latvija
Former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type: republic
Capital: Riga
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, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Saeima elected President ULMANIS in the third round of balloting on 7 July 1993
Head of government: Prime Minister Valdis BIRKAVS (since 20 July 1993)
Legislative branch: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Parliament Saeima: elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) LC 36, LNNK 15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representationFrom the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ints M, SILINS
From the us chancery: 4,325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,011
From the us telephone: 46-9-882-0046
From the us embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226,050
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us FAX: 46-9-882-0047
Flag description: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Latvia is rapidly becoming a dynamic market economy, rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states in the speed of its transformation. The transition has been painful with GDP falling over 45% in 1992-93, according to official statistics, and industrial production experiencing even steeper declines. Nevertheless, the government's tough monetary policies and reform program, which foster the development of the private sector and market mechanisms, have kept inflation low, created a dynamic private sector - much of which is not captured in official statistics - and expanded trade ties with the West. Much of agriculture is already privatized and the government plans to step up the pace of privatization of state enterprises. The economy is now poised for recovery and will benefit from the country's strategic location on the Baltic Sea, its well-educated population, and its diverse - albeit largely obsolete - industrial structure.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: -5% (1993 est.)
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: employs 16% of labor force; principally dairy farming and livestock feeding; products - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; fishing and fish packing
Industries: employs 41% of labor force; highly diversified; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -38% (1992 est.)
Labor force: 1.407 million
By occupation industry and construction: 41%
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 16%
By occupation other: 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (December 1993)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues:$NA
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $429 million from non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodities: oil products, timber, ferrous metals, dairy products, furniture, textiles
Partners: Russia, other CIS countries, Western Europe
Imports: $NA
Commodities: fuels, cars, ferrous metals, chemicals
Partners: Russia, other CIS countries, Western Europe
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $NA
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.5917 (January 1994), 1.32 (March 1993)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 5.8 billion kWh
Electricity consumptionPer capita: 2,125 kWh (1992)
Electricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: 176 million rubles, 3%-5% of GDP; note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 50
Usable: 15
With permanentsurface runways: 11
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 7
With runways 10602439 m: 7
Note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Merchant marine: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 850,840 GRT/1,107,403 DWT, cargo 15, container 2, oil tanker 41, refrigerated cargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8
Ports and terminalsLatvia - Transnational issues 1994
top of pageDisputes international: the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export