2008 Edition

Background

The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia 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.

Area

total: 64,589 sq km land: 63,589 sq km water: 1,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

498 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Galzina Kalns 312 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.25 cu km/yr (55%/33%/12%) per capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003)

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

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)

Land boundaries

total: 1,382 km border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 km

Land use

arable land: 28.19% permanent crops: 0.45% other: 71.36% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

low plain

Total renewable water resources

49.9 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 13.4% (male 154,077/female 146,825) 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 760,976/female 803,106) 65 years and over: 16.9% (male 124,658/female 255,781) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

13.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

5.1% of GDP (2004)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

7,600 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 8.96 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.88 years male: 66.68 years female: 77.35 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2000 census)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Median age

total: 39.9 years male: 36.9 years female: 43 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Net migration rate

-2.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

2,245,423 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.629% (2008 est.)

Religions

Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years male: 14 years female: 17 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.29 children born/woman (2008 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, 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

Capital

name: Riga geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles LARSON Jr. embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] 670-36200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840

Executive branch

chief of state: President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since 20 December 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 May 2007 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2860

[371] 678-20047

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

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, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) 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; note - seats by party as of February 2008 - TP 21, ZZS 17, SC 17, JL 14, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 5, PCTVL 6, independents 10

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

Political parties and leaders

First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS, Ivars GODMANIS]; 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 Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; 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 [Augusts BRIGMANIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $10.47 billion expenditures: $10.29 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.91% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

lat (LVL)

Currency code

LVL

Current account balance

-$6.231 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$33.53 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

37.7 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

$162 million (2004)

Economy - overview

Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07. 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 - more than 22% of GDP in 2007 - and inflation - at nearly 10% per year - remain major concerns.

Electricity - consumption

6.424 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.676 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

4.671 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

4.734 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5162 (2007), 0.5597 (2006), 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003)

Exports

$8.143 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Lithuania 15.1%, Estonia 13.8%, Russia 13%, Germany 8.3%, Sweden 7.4%, UK 6.5% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.3% industry: 22% services: 74.7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$17,700 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

10.3% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$27.34 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$40.05 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.1% (2003)

Imports

$14.82 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners

Germany 15.1%, Lithuania 13.8%, Russia 8.7%, Estonia 8%, Poland 6.9%, Finland 5.1%, Sweden 4.9% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

5.4% (2007 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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

32.5% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

1.167 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.705 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

2.04 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2.04 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

35,180 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

10,070 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

45,340 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

7.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.758 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$699 million (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$8.62 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$27.56 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$8.196 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$5.113 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

5.7% (2007 est.)

Internet country code

.lv

Internet hosts

220,082 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

41 (2001)

Internet users

1.177 million (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.76 million (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephone service expands domestic: number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 125 per 100 persons international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

644,000 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.217 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

1.22 million (1997)

Airports

42 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 9 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 22 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Estonia 2) registered in other countries: 118 (Antigua and Barbuda 13, Belize 12, Cambodia 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, Jamaica 1, Liberia 21, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 16, Panama 8, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 948 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Riga, Ventspils

Railways

total: 2,303 km broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total: 69,675 km paved: 69,675 km (2006)

Waterways

300 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 568,683 females age 16-49: 565,826 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 412,849 females age 16-49: 468,827 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 14,506 female: 13,982 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2006)

National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku)

Ground Forces, Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Border Guard, Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2008)

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 has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs

transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; 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 18 December, 2008