2007 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 14% (male 162,562/female 155,091) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 769,004/female 815,042) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 121,646/female 251,390) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

46 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

13 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m

19 (2006)

Area

land

63,589 sq km

total

64,589 sq km

water

1,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Background

After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. 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

Birth rate

9.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$6.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$6.172 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

56 57 N, 24 06 E

name

Riga

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

531 km

Constitution

15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since

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

Currency (code)

Latvian lat (LVL)

Currency code

LVL

Current account balance

$-2.538 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

13.66 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$18.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maris SELGA

telephone

[1] (202) 328-2840

Disputes - international

Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to Latvian insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration referencing Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses; Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documentation in preparation; 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 with Russia

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.03 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

$96.2 million

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 deficit - 15.7% of GDP in 2006 - remains a major concern. The perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicit activity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector.

Electricity - consumption

6.329 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

636 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

2.733 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

4.55 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

29.1%

hydro

70.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Gaizinkalns 312 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

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

Ethnic groups

Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)

Exchange rates

lati per US dollar - 0.55991 (2006), - 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002)

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 reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast

elections

president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by July 2007); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)

Exports

$6.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Lithuania 11%, Estonia 10.8%, Germany 10.2%, UK 10.2%, Russia 7.9%, Sweden 7.8%, Denmark 5.3%, Poland 5.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2860

[371] 782-0047

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Latvia

Flag description

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.7%

industry

26.3%

services

70% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$15,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.3% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.13 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$35.08 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

7,600 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.1% (1998)

lowest 10%

2.8%

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; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$10.33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners

Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 13.6%, Russia 8.6%, Estonia 7.9%, Poland 6.4%, Finland 5.9%, Belarus 5.8%, Sweden 5.1% (2005)

Independence

18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

Industrial production growth rate

8.5% (2006 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

Infant mortality rate

female

7.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

11.31 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.3% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.lv

Internet hosts

65,858 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

41 (2001)

Internet users

1.03 million (2005) Transportation Latvia

Investment (gross fixed)

31.4% of GDP (2006 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 (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)

Labor force

1.136 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

15%

industry

25%

services

60% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Belarus 167 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 282 km

total

1,368 km

Land use

arable land

28.19%

other

71.36% (2005)

permanent crops

0.45%

Languages

Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)

Latvian Republic Defense Force

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005)

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists across five districts through direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6

elections

last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held October 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.85 years (2006 est.)

male

66.08 years

total population

71.33 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2003 est.) Government Latvia

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 19-49

519,631 (2005 est.)

males age 19-49

517,713

Manpower fit for military service

females age 19-49

422,913 (2005 est.)

males age 19-49

361,098

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 19-49

18,505 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

19,137

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

Median age

female

42.4 years (2006 est.)

male

36.3 years

total

39.4 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1

registered in other countries

105 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas 1, Belize 6, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 4, Dominica 1, Gibraltar 2, Liberia 14, Malta 40, Marshall Islands 7, Panama 3, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18) (2006)

total

21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 250,559 GRT/336,136 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY01) Transnational Issues Latvia

Military service age and obligation

19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2004)

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

Nationality

adjective

Latvian

noun

Latvian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land

Net migration rate

-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

47,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 1,097 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

First Party of Latvia or LPP [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS, Nils USAKOVS]; 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, Ainars BERZINS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE, Krisjanis KARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Indulis EMSIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

Population

2,274,735 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

-0.67% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Riga, Ventspils Military Latvia

Public debt

11% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.76 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)

narrow gauge

33 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)

total

2,303 km

Religions

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.61 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

69,532 km (2004)

total

69,532 km

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Telephone system

domestic

two wireless service providers in addition to Lattelekom, the incumbent monopoly

general assessment

recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector, beginning in 2003; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony expands

international

country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden

Telephones - main lines in use

731,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.872 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

1.22 million (1997)

Terrain

low plain

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.7% (2006 est.)

Waterways

300 km (2005)