Background: Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form 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 the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.

Area
Total: 64,589 km²
Land: 62,249 km²
Water: 2,340 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries
Total: 1,370 km
Border countries (4): (4) Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km

Coastline: 498 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters

Terrain: low plain

Elevation
Highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 87 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 31.7% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Forest: 55.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 12.8% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 6 km² (2016)
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

Natural hazards: large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

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

Population
Total: 1,801,246 (2024 est.)
Male: 836,982
Female: 964,264
Distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Growth rate: -1.14% (2024 est.)

Languages: Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: data represent language usually spoken at home

Religions: Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 136,482/female 128,492)
15-64 years: 63% (male 562,754/female 572,850)
65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 137,746/female 262,922)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 55.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 23.5 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.1 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 45.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 41.6 years
Female: 49.2 years

Population growth rate: -1.14% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 8.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

Urbanization
Urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72 years
Female: 81 years

Total fertility rate: 1.55 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.3% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 6.8% (2024 est.); 6.5% (2023 est.); 6.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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
Etymology: the name's origin is unclear; it may derive from the Old Lithuanian word ringa, meaning 'bend' or 'curve' and referring to the city's location on the Western Dvina River; alternatively, it may come from the Latvian word ridzina, meaning 'stream'

Administrative divisions: 36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular - valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)
Municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils
Cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils

Legal system: civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament
Election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament
Most recent election date: 31 May 2023
2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-39
2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39
Expected date of next election: 2,027

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament (Saeima)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 100 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 10/1/2022
Parties elected and seats per party: New Unity (VIENOTIBA) (26); Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) (16); United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party (15); National Alliance of All for Latvia!' - 'For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK' (NA) (13); For Stability! (11); Progressives (10); Latvia First (9)
Percentage of women in chamber: 31%
Expected date of next election: October 2026

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

National anthem
Title: 'Dievs, sveti Latviju!' (God Bless Latvia)
Lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS
History: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 when Latvia was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: -0.4% (2024 est.); 2.9% (2023 est.); 1.8% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: -0.4% (2024 est.); 2.9% (2023 est.); 1.8% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 62.7% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 20.2% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 66.5% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -70.2% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 4.1% (2024 est.)
Industry: 19.9% (2024 est.)
Services: 63.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics

Industrial production growth rate: -4% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 954,900 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 6.8% (2024 est.); 6.5% (2023 est.); 6.9% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 6.8% (2024 est.); 6.5% (2023 est.); 6.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $14.58 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $15.432 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $28.117 billion (2024 est.); $28.294 billion (2023 est.); $29.364 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $29.234 billion (2024 est.); $29.875 billion (2023 est.); $31.206 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 3.428 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 3.271 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 4.075 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 342.238 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 12,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 39,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 6.427 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 41,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 4.861 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 1.526 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 142,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 2.26 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 92% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 489,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 3.7% of GDP (2025 est.); 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.); 3% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Airports: 55 (2025)

Heliports: 5 (2025)

Railways
Total: 2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

Merchant marine
Total: 83 (2023)
By type: container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41