1996 Edition

Description

two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

Location

57 00 N, 25 00 E -- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than West Virginia

land area

64,100 sq km

total area

64,100 sq km

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

531 km

Environment

current issues

air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

international agreements

party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection

natural hazards

NA

Geographic coordinates

57 00 N, 25 00 E

International disputes

the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; the maritime borders with Lithuania and Estonia

Irrigated land

160 sq km (1990)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km

total

1,078 km

Land use

arable land

27%

forest and woodland

39%

meadows and pastures

13%

other

21%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite

Terrain

low plain

highest point

Gaizinkalns 312 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 20% (male 254,664; female 244,502) 15-64 years: 66% (male 775,690; female 848,128) 65 years and over: 14% (male 108,814; female 237,184) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

10.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%

Infant mortality rate

21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.27 years (1996 est.)

male

60.84 years

total population

66.91 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)

female

99%

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

Latvian

noun

Latvian(s)

Net migration rate

-9.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

2,468,982 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.39% (1996 est.)

Religions

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Sex ratio

all ages

0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Capital

Riga

Constitution

newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution

Data code

LG

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS

telephone

[1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Supreme Council

chief of state

President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) was elected by Parliament (Saeima) in the third round of balloting; election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996)

head of government

Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December 1995) was appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 726-6785

[371] (2) 226-530

Flag

two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Saeima

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Latvia

conventional short form

Latvia

former

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Latvijas Republika

local short form

Latvija

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Parliament (Saeima)

elections last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%; seats - (100 total) Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party "Saimnieks" (DPS), Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman; Latvia's Way (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS; People's Movement For Latvia, Joachim SIEGERIST; Fatherland and Freedom (TB), Maris GRINBLATS; Latvian Unity Party (LVP), A. KAULS; Latvian National Conservative Party (LNNK), A. SEILE; Green Party (LSZ), O. BATAREVSK; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), A. ROZENTALS; Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), P. KLAVINS; National Harmony Party (TSP), Janis JURKANS; Latvian Socialist Party (LSP), F. STROGANOVS; Latvian Liberal Party (LLP), J. DANOSS; Political Association of the Underprivileged (MPA), B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS; Latvian Democratic Labor Party (LDDP), J. BOJARS; Party of Russian Citizens (LKPP), V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis AUGSTKALNS; Political Union of Economists (TPA), E. KIDE; Latvian National Democratic Party (LNDP), A. MALINS; "Our Land" (MZ), M. DAMBEKALNE; Anticommunist Union (PA), P. MUCENIEKS; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP); Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party (LNP), V. KONOVALOUS

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER

embassy

Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga

mailing address

PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723

telephone

[371] (2) 210-005

Agriculture

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993

Economic aid

note

commitments from the West and international institutions, $525 million (1992-95)

recipient

ODA, $122 million (1993)

Economic overview

Latvia's economic transformation to a modern market economy - rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states - faltered in 1995 as a result of banking and budget crises. Latvia's largely unregulated financial sector suffered a series of bank failures, including the collapse of the country's largest commercial bank - Bank Baltija - due largely to criminal activity by the owners. The government's attempts to compensate depositors of failed banks exacerbated an existing budget shortfall; poor revenue collection and a soft treasury bill market had already caused the government to incur a larger than expected deficit early in the year. As a result of the crises, Latvia's budget deficit for 1995 was $168 million, double that originally planned. In addition, GDP growth came to a halt. The Central Bank maintained its tough monetary policies - severely limiting credits to the state, despite the budget problems - helping to keep annual inflation the lowest among the Baltic states, at about 20%. New Prime Minister SKELE wants to invigorate the privatization of industry; agriculture already is mainly in private hands.

Electricity

capacity

2,080,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,864 kWh (1993)

production

5.5 billion kWh

Exchange rates

lats per US$1 - 0.544 (January 1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)

Exports

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

timber, textiles, dairy products

partners

Russia, Germany, Sweden, UK, Lithuania

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

9%

industry

31%

services

60% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$5,300 (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP real growth rate

-1.5% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export

Imports

$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)

commodities

fuels, cars, chemicals

partners

Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Lithuania, Finland

Industrial production growth rate

-9.5% (1994 est.)

Industries

buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

20% (1995 est.)

Labor force

1.407 million

by occupation

industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

Unemployment rate

6.5% (1995 est.)

Branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Defense expenditures

176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

583,134

males fit for military service

457,067

males reach military age (18) annually

16,180 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are 25 radio broadcast stations of unknown type

Radios

1.4 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system

service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics

domestic

an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population

international

international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail

Telephones

660,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

30

Televisions

1.1 million (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

50

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

6

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1

with paved runways under 914 m

27

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2

with unpaved runways under 914 m

10 (1994 est.)

Highways

paved

12,076 km

total

66,718 km

unpaved

54,642 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 7, oil tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1995 est.)

total

56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 519,859 GRT/678,987 DWT

Pipelines

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

Ports

Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Railways

broad gauge

2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)

narrow gauge

33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

total

2,412 km

Waterways

300 km perennially navigable