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Introduction | Latvia

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.

Geography | Latvia

Location: | Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: | 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: | Europe
Area: | total: 64,589 sq km land: 63,589 sq km water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: | total: 1,150 km border countries: 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 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: | 200 sq km note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | NA
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
Environment - 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east

People | Latvia

Population: | 2,290,237 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 14.4% (male 169,284/female 161,648) 15-64 years: 69.4% (male 770,839/female 819,309) 65 years and over: 16.1% (male 120,306/female 248,851) (2005 est.)
Median age: | total: 39.12 years male: 35.95 years female: 42.15 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate: | -0.69% (2005 est.)
Birth rate: | 9.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate: | 13.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate: | -2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.05 years male: 65.78 years female: 76.6 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 7,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Latvian(s) 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)
Religions: | Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: | Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Government | Latvia

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
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
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: | unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - JL 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, TP 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - JL 26, PCTVL 24, TP 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Political parties and leaders: | First Party of Latvia or LPP [Juris LUJANS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Tatjana ZDANOKA, Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; Harmony Center or SC [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; Latvian Green Party or LZP [Indulis EMSIS, Viesturs SILENIEKS, Raimonds VEJONIS]; Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Ivars GODMANIS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Aivars DATAVS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
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, NATO, 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 chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214 FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine TODD-BAILEY embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] 703-6200 FAX: [371] 782-0047
Flag description: | three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Economy | Latvia

Economy - overview: | Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the 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. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. 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. A growing perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicit activity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $26.53 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 7.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 4.4% industry: 24.8% services: 70.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force: | 1.17 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: | 8.8% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line: | NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 32 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 6% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 26.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $4.231 billion expenditures: $4.504 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)
Public debt: | 11.8% of GDP (2004 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: | 8.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production: | 4.547 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 5.829 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports: | 1.1 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports: | 2.7 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA
Oil - imports: | NA
Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance: | $-1.251 billion (2004 est.)
Exports: | $3.569 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities: | wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners: | UK 12.8%, Germany 12%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 9.1%, Estonia 8%, Russia 6.4%, Denmark 5.4% (2004)
Imports: | $5.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners: | Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 12.2%, Russia 8.7%, Estonia 7%, Finland 6.3%, Sweden 6.1%, Poland 5.4%, Belarus 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $1.65 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external: | $7.368 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | $96.2 million (1995)
Currency (code): | Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code: | LVL
Exchange rates: | lati per US dollar - 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use: | 653,900 (2003)
Telephones - 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)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: | 1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: | 1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code: | .lv
Internet hosts: | 51,758 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 41 (2001)
Internet users: | 936,000 (2003)

Transportation | Latvia

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 (2004)
Highways: | total: 60,472 km paved: 57,206 km unpaved: 3,265 km (2002)
Waterways: | 300 km (2004)
Pipelines: | gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)
Ports and harbors: | Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine: | total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1 registered in other countries: 86 (2005)
Airports: | 50 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military | Latvia

Military branches: | Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military service age and obligation: | 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 19-49: 517,713 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 19-49: 361,098 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males: 19,137 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.2% (FY01)

Transnational Issues | Latvia

Disputes - international: | the Latvian-Russian boundary treaty of 1997 remains unsigned and unratified with Russia linking it to better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians and Latvian politicians demanding Russian agreement to a declaration that admits Soviet aggression during the Second World War and other issues; 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 must implement the strict Schengen border rules
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 and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005