Map of Latvia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. 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.


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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: 64,589 km²
Land: 63,589 km²
Water: 1,000 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
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
Extremes highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Natural resources: peat limestone dolomite amber hydropower wood arable land

Land use
Arable land: 29.67%
Permanent crops: 0.47%
Other: 69.86% (2001)

Irrigated land
Note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 km² or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east


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Population: 2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)
Growth rate: -0.71% (2004 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: Latvian
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)

Languages: Latvian (official) Lithuanian Russian other

Religions: Lutheran Roman Catholic Russian Orthodox

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 15% (male 177,223; female 169,241)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 772,496; female 823,410)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 118,035; female 245,901) (2004 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 38.8 years
Male: 35.6 years
Female: 41.9 years (2004 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.71% (2004 est.)

Birth rate: 8.87 births/1000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate: 13.73 deaths/1000 population (2004 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.23 migrant(s)/1000 population (2004 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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 and 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
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male/female
Total population: 0.86 male/female (2004 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.67 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 11.45 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.8 deaths/1000 live births (2004 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.86 years
Male: 65.91 years
Female: 76.09 years (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 5,000 (2001 est.)
Deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

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: 99.8%
Male: 99.8%
Female: 99.8% (2003 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 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

Dependent areas

Independence: 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution: 15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law which had supplemented the constitution

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 Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
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 reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
Election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)

Political parties and leaders: Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; First Party of Latvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs]; Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Union for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; United Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP

International organization participation: Australia Group BIS CBSS CE EAPC EBRD EIB EU (new member) FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt ICFTU ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM ISO (correspondent) ITU MIGA NIB NSG OAS (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA PFP UN UNCTAD UNESCO UPU WCO WEU (member affiliate) WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS
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 Catherine Todd-Bailey
From the us embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
From the us mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 9,723
From the us telephone: [371] 703-6,200
From the us fax: [371] 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: Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. 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. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 7.4% (2003 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.5%
Industry: 24.5%
Services: 70.9% (2003)

Agriculture products: grain sugar beets potatoes vegetables; beef pork milk eggs; fish

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% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 1.18 million (2003 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 15%
By occupation industry: 25%
By occupation services: 60% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate: 8.6% (2003 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.9%
Highest 10: 25.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income gini index: 32 (1999)

Budget
Revenues: $3.691 billion
Expenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 14.4% of GDP (2003)

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.9% (2003 est.)

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: $-955.9 million (2003)

Exports: $3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: wood and wood products machinery and equipment metals textiles foodstuffs
Partners: UK 15.6% Germany 14.8% Sweden 10.5% Lithuania 8.2% Estonia 6.6% Denmark 6% Russia 5.4% (2003)

Imports: $4.921 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment chemicals fuels vehicles
Partners: Germany 16.1% Lithuania 9.7% Russia 8.7% Finland 7.4% Estonia 6.4% Sweden 6.3% Poland 5.1% Italy 4.4% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $6.793 billion (2003 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: lati per US dollar - 0.5715 (2003) 0.6182 (2002) 0.6279 (2001) 0.6065 (2000) 0.5852 (1999)


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Electricity
Production: 4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Consumption: 6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Exports: 703 million kWh (2001)
Imports: 2.69 billion kWh (2001)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Consumption: 1.7 billion m³ (2001 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2001 est.)
Imports: 1.7 billion m³ (2001 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 653,900 (2003)
Mobile cellular: 1,219,600 (2003)

Telephone system
General assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
Domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications
International: country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .lv
Hosts: 51,758 (2004)
Users: 936,000 (2003)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $87 million (FY01)
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (FY01)

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: 51 (2003 est.)
With paved runways total: 27
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 16 (2003 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 24
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 20 (2003 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 1097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)

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 (2003)

Roadways

Waterways: 300 km (2004)

Merchant marine
Total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT
By type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1
Foreign owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Ukraine 1
Registered in other countries: 96 (2004 est.)

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies exchange firms and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting corruption extortion stolen cars and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds