2000 Edition

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

Area

land

64,589 sq km

total

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

highest point

Gaizinkalns 312 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 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

border countries

Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km

total

1,150 km

Land use

arable land

27%

forests and woodland

46%

other

14% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

13%

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, hydropower, arable land

Terrain

low plain

Age structure

0-14 years: 17% (male 212,483; female 203,417) 15-64 years: 68% (male 777,289; female 849,967) 65 years and over: 15% (male 116,575; female 245,195) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

7.8 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

14.88 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%

Infant mortality rate

15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.62 years (2000 est.)

male

62.48 years

total population

68.41 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99% (1989 est.)

male

100%

total population

100%

Nationality

adjective

Latvian

noun

Latvian(s)

Net migration rate

-1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

2,404,926 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.84% (2000 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: 0.48 male(s)/female

total population

0.85 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.13 children born/woman (2000 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, 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

former

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Latvijas Republika

local short form

Latvija

Data code

LG

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

telephone

721-0005

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Aivis RONIS

telephone

(202) 726-8213, 8214

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament

chief of state

President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)

election results

Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%

elections

president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)

FAX

(202) 726-6785

782-0047

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, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament

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 terms on 4 December 1997)

election results

percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8

elections

last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Political parties and leaders

Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Association of Latvian Social Democrats [Juris BOJARS, Janis ADAMSONS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS ; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front of Latvia or LTF) ; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB , merged with LNNK; Green Party or LZP ; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP ; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK ; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP ; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP ; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP ; Latvian Unity Party or LVP ; Latvia's Way or LC ; National Harmony Party or TSP ; New Party ; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People ; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA ; People's Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$1.33 billion

Currency

1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims

Debt - external

$212 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$96.2 million (1995)

Economy - overview

In 1999 Latvia, a transitional economy, experienced zero GDP growth as it continued to feel the impact of the August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in February 1999 - the first Baltic state to join - band was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December 1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment reached 9.6% in 1999, up from 9.2% in 1998 and 6.7% in 1997. Privatization of large state-owned utilities, especially the energy sector, faced more delays in 1999, but is expected to accelerate in the next two years. Latvia projects 3.5% GDP growth, 3% inflation, and a 2% fiscal deficit in 2000. Preparing for EU membership by 2003 remains a top foreign policy priority.

Electricity - consumption

4.882 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

400 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

850 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

4.766 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

29.58%

hydro

70.42%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

lats (LVL) per US$1 - 0.583 (January 2000),0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995)

Exports

$1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 16%, UK 14%, Russia 12%, Sweden 10% (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

29%

services

63% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)

Imports

$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners

Germany 17%, Russia 12%, Finland 10%, Sweden 7% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate

-5% (1999 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)

3.2% (1999 est.)

Labor force

1.4 million (1997)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

9.6% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

11 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.76 million (1997)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

748,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

175,348 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

74 (1998)

Televisions

1.22 million (1997)

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

paved

22,843 km

total

59,178 km

unpaved

36,335 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 6 (1999 est.)

total

14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 58,699 GRT/64,043 DWT

Pipelines

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

Ports and harbors

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

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$60 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 590,236 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 463,254 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

18,239 (2000 est.)

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

LEBANON