1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
Along with most of the other small nations of Europe, Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in 1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.
Geography
Area
total: 64,589 sq km land: 64,589 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline
531 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
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
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
Geographic coordinates
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Irrigated land
160 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 1,150 km border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use
arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 46% other: 14% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
NA
Natural resources
minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Terrain
low plain
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242) 15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988) 65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
8.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
15.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Infant mortality rate
17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 67.3 years male: 61.24 years female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 99% (1989 est.)
Nationality
noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Net migration rate
-4.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
2,353,874 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-1.25% (1999 est.)
Religions
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Capital
Riga
Constitution
the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
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
Data code
LG
Executive branch
chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21 November 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote--Guntis ULMANIS 53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%
Flag description
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Independence
6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
International organization participation
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS]; V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front ADAMSONS]
Legal system
based on civil law system
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms--amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997) elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: percent of vote by party--People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats by party--People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Economy
Agriculture--products
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Budget
revenues: $1.33 billion expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Currency
1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Debt--external
$212 million (1998)
Economic aid--recipient
$96.2 million (1995)
Economy--overview
Developments in 1998 include an invitation to join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring initially hit Latvia's exporters--Russia is among Latvia's top three trade partners--but also prompted them to seek alternative markets. Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft 1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%. Privatization of large state utilities--especially the energy sector--was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold growth to around 2.5% in 1999.
Electricity--consumption
6.18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
3.28 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
3.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 28.12% hydro: 71.88% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
lats (LVL) per US$1--0.570 (January 1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)
Exports
$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports--commodities
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports--partners
Russia 21%, Germany 14%, UK 14%, Sweden 8% (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$9.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 7% industry: 28% services: 65% (1997)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
3.6% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)
Imports
$3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports--commodities
fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports--partners
Russia 16%, Germany 16%, Finland 10%, Sweden 8% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
3% (1998 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)
4.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force
1.4 million (1997)
Labor force--by occupation
industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
9.2% (1998)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note--there are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European languages
Radios
1.4 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system
Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on the waiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service is available throughout Latvia domestic: local--two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSM standards provide service nationwide; over 75% of population covered; intercity--two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic rings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3 service centers international: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden
Telephones
710,848 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
30 (origin of TV broadcasts must be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)
Televisions
NA; note--almost 100% of the population have TV access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)
Transportation
Airports
50 (1994 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Highways
total: 55,942 km paved: 21,426 km unpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992) Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Railways
total: 2,412 km broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Waterways
300 km perennially navigable
Military and Security
Military branches
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$60 million (1999)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
0.9% (1999)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 16,883 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is 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; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export