Background: The name 'Latvia' originates from the ancient Latgalians one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans Poles Swedes and finally Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia 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.

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: 1,382 km
Border countries: (4) Belarus 171 km; , Estonia 343 km; , Lithuania 576 km; , Russia 292 km

Coastline: 498 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: 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
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 (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 49.9 km³ (2005)

Natural hazards: NA

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

Population: 2,245,423 (July 2008 est.)
Growth rate: -0.629% (2008 est.)

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) 58.2% Russian 37.5% Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)

Religions: Lutheran 19.6% Orthodox 15.3% other Christian 1% other 0.4% unspecified 63.7% (2006)

Age structure
0-14 years: 13.4% (male 154,077/female 146,825)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 760,976/female 803,106)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 124,658/female 255,781) (2008 est.)

Median age
Total: 39.9 years
Male: 36.9 years
Female: 43 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.629% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 9.62 births/1000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 13.63 deaths/1000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.29 migrant(s)/1000 population (2008 est.)

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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male/female
Total population: 0.86 male/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 8.96 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 10.85 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 6.97 deaths/1000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 71.88 years
Male: 66.68 years
Female: 77.35 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2001 est.)
People living with hivaids: 7,600 (2001 est.)
Deaths: fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
Vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2004)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.7%
Male: 99.8%
Female: 99.7% (2000 census)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 17 years (2006)

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 Ivars GODMANIS (since 20 December 2007)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament
Elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 May 2007 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament
Election results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39

Legislative branch
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; note - seats by party as of February 2008 - TP 21, ZZS 17, SC 17, JL 14, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 5, PCTVL 6, independents 10

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/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS Ivars GODMANIS]; 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 Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; 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 [Augusts BRIGMANIS]

International organization participation: Australia Group BA BIS CBSS CE EAPC EBRD EIB EU FAO IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt ICRM IDA IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITU ITUC MIGA NATO NIB NSG OAS (observer) OIF (observer) OPCW OSCE PCA Schengen Convention UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNWTO UPU WCO WEU (associate partner) WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS
In the us chancery: 2,306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 328-2,840
In the us fax: [1] (202) 328-2,860
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Charles LARSON Jr.
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] 670-36,200
From the us fax: [371] 678-20,047

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

Economy overview: Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07. 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 22% of GDP in 2007 - and inflation - at nearly 10% per year - remain major concerns.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $40.05 billion (2007 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 10.3% (2007 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $17,700 (2007 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.3%
Industry: 22%
Services: 74.7% (2007 est.)

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: 5.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force: 1.167 million (2007 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 13%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 68% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.7% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.5%
Highest 10: 29.1% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 37.7 (2003)

Budget
Revenues: $10.47 billion
Expenditures: $10.29 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 7.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate consumer prices: 10.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate: 6% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 10.91% (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit: $27.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares: $2.705 billion (2006)

Current account balance: -$6.231 billion (2007 est.)

Exports: $8.143 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: wood and wood products machinery and equipment metals textiles foodstuffs
Partners: Lithuania 15.1% Estonia 13.8% Russia 13% Germany 8.3% Sweden 7.4% UK 6.5% (2007)

Imports: $14.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Commodities: machinery and equipment chemicals fuels vehicles
Partners: Germany 15.1% Lithuania 13.8% Russia 8.7% Estonia 8% Poland 6.9% Finland 5.1% Sweden 4.9% (2007)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $5.758 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt external: $33.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $8.62 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $699 million (2007 est.)

Exchange rates: lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5162 (2007) 0.5597 (2006) 0.5647 (2005) 0.5402 (2004) 0.5715 (2003)

Electricity
Production: 4.734 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Consumption: 6.424 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Exports: 1.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Imports: 4.671 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Consumption: 2.04 billion m³ (2007 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2007 est.)
Imports: 2.04 billion m³ (2007 est.)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 644,000 (2007)
Mobile cellular: 2.217 million (2007)

Telephone system
General assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephone service expands
Domestic: number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 125 per 100 persons
International: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden (2007)

Internet
Country code: .lv
Hosts: 220,082 (2008)
Users: 1.177 million (2007)

Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2006)

Airports: 42 (2007)
With paved runways total: 21
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 7
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 9 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 21
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Pipelines: gas 948 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2007)

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 (2006)

Roadways
Total: 69,675 km
Paved: 69,675 km (2006)

Waterways: 300 km (2006)

Merchant marine
Total: 22
By type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
Foreign owned: 2 (Estonia 2)
Registered in other countries: 118 (Antigua and Barbuda 13, Belize 12, Cambodia 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, Jamaica 1, Liberia 21, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 16, Panama 8, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Riga Ventspils

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 has implemented 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