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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 continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions.

Contents 1 Geography 2 People 3 Government 4 Economy 5 Communications 6 Transportation 7 Military 8 Transnational Issues

Geography

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
water: 1,000 sq km
land: 63,589 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 

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM

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, hydropower, wood, arable land, minimal; amber

Land use 

arable land: 29.01%
permanent crops: 0.48%
other: 70.51% (1998 est.)

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, 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

Environment - international agreements 

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

Geography - note 

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

People

Population 

2,366,515 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 191,116; female 182,692)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 775,481; female 847,261)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 120,304; female 249,661) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

-0.77% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

8.27 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

14.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

14.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 69 years
female: 75.17 years (2002 est.)
male: 63.13 years

Total fertility rate 

1.18 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

1,792 (15 January 2002)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

36 (15 January 2002)

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%

Religions 

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Languages 

Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Country name 

conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Latvijas Republika

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 of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution 

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

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 Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed to produce a clear winner); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%

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 - 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)]; CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS]; Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Andris BERZINS]; Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]

Political pressure groups and leaders 

NA

International organization participation 

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON
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] 781-4088

Flag description 

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

Economy

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. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership over the next few years continues as a top foreign policy goal. The high current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $20 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

4.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 5%
industry: 26%
services: 70% (2001)

Population below poverty line 

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 26% (1998) (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index 

32 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

2% (2002 est.)

Labor force 

1.1 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate 

7.6% (2001 est.)

Budget 

revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)

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 

5.7% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production 

3.301 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 33%
hydro: 67%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

5.16 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

500 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

2.59 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Exports 

$2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities 

wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners 

Germany 17%, UK 16%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 8%, Russia 6% (2001 est.)

Imports 

$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities 

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners 

Germany 17%, Russia 9%, Lithuania 8%, Finland 8%, Sweden 7% (2001 est.)

Debt - external 

$3.4 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

$96.2 million (1995)

Currency 

Latvian lat (LVL)

Currency code 

LVL

Exchange rates 

lati per US dollar - 0.6384 (January 2002), 0.628 (2001), 0.607 (2000), 0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997)

Fiscal year 

calendar year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

734,693 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

401,263 (2000)

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: 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 Service Providers (ISPs) 

41 (2001)

Internet users 

312,000 (2001)

Transportation

Railways 

total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2001)

Highways 

total: 59,178 km
paved: 22,843 km
unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.)

Waterways 

300 km (perennially navigable)

Pipelines 

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

Ports and harbors 

Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Merchant marine 

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,119 GRT/30,572 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4

Airports 

25 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2002)

Military

Military branches 

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard

Military manpower - military age 

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 591,592 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 464,843 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 19,114 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

1.2% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

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

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; money laundering remains a concern