Map of Latvia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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Background: 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. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has become a growing problem.


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Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 64,100 km²
Land: 64,100 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,150 km
Border countries: (4) Belarus 141 km; , Estonia 339 km; , Lithuania 453 km; , Russia 217 km

Coastline: 531 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 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
Extremes highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite

Land use
Arable land: 27%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 13%
Forests and woodland: 46%
Other: 14% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 160 km² (1993 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography


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Population: 2,385,396 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: -1.41% (1998 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Latvian(s)
Adjective: Latvian

Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%

Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 19% (male 227,634; female 218,321)
15-64 years: 66% (male 754,416; female 829,801)
65 years and over: 15% (male 113,925; female 241,299) (July 1998 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: -1.41% (1998 est.)

Birth rate: 8.14 births/1000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate: 15.78 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current 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
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 17.44 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 67.11 years
Male: 61.02 years
Female: 73.5 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.2 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 99% (1989 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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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: 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, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Dependent areas

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms

Legal system: based on civil law system

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Guntars KRASTS (since 7 August 1997)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
Elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June 1999); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote_Guntis ULMANIS 53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms)
Elections: last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held 3 October 1998)
Election results: percent of vote by party_Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%; seats by party - Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Parliament

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
In the us chancery: 4,325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,011
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 726-8,213, 8,214
In the us fax: [1] (202) 726-6,785
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER
From the us embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
From the us mailing address: American Embassy, Riga, PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 9,723
From the us telephone: [371] (2) 210-0005, 782-0046
From the us fax: [371] (2) 722-6,530, 782-0047

Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: In 1997 Latvia scored the most impressive economic achievements since independence in 1991, with GDP growing by 6% and inflation at 7.4%. GDP is expected to grow 5% in 1998 and inflation to range between 6% and 7%. In 1997 Latvia continued its strict fiscal policy and apparently ended the year with a small fiscal surplus, reflecting higher-than-expected income from customs revenues, excise and business taxes, and restraints on government spending. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in 1997 was a record $880 million by yearend. Prospects for increasing FDI in 1998 are good if Latvia privatizes at least some of its large companies, including Venspils Nafta (the state oil company). Although Latvia was disappointed that it was not included among the five Central and East European states invited to start EU accession talks in spring 1998, it is likely to join the WTrO in 1998. Latvia's growing current account and trade deficits remain a cause for concern, reaching nearly 10% by yearend. Latvia's trade deficit may even reach 22% of GDP in 1998.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9%
Industry: 34%
Services: 57% (1995)

Agriculture products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish

Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products

Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1996 est.)

Labor force
Total: 1.4 million (1997)
By occupation industry: 41%
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 16%
By occupation services: 43% (1990)

Unemployment rate: 7% (1996)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $N/A
Expenditures: $N/A, including capital expenditures of $N/A

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: total value:$1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: wood and wood products, textiles, foodstuffs
Partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK

Imports: total value:$2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK, Finland

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1_0.595 (January 1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993)


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Electricity access

Electricity production: 4.095 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity consumption
Per capita: 2,300 kWh (1995)

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics
Domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population
International: international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: 176 million rubles (1994; note_conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
Percent of gdp: 3% to 5% (1994)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
With paved runways total: 36
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 14
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Airports with paved runways
Total: 36
2438 to 3047 m: 6
15-24 to 2437 m: 2
914 to 1523 m: 1
Under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)

Airports with unpaved runways
Total: 14
2438 to 3047 m: 2
914 to 1523 m: 2
Under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)

Railways
Total: 2,412 km
Broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)
Narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

Roadways

Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable

Merchant marine
Total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 293,799 GRT/440,575 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4 (1997 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, Latvia had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over boundary dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; produces illicit amphetamines for export