2021 Edition

Background

Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form 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 26% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.

Area

land

62,249 sq km

total

64,589 sq km

water

2,340 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

498 km

Elevation

highest point

Gaizina Kalns 312 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation

87 m

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

12 sq km (2012)

note

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Belarus 161 km, Estonia 333 km, Lithuania 544 km, Russia 332 km

total

1,370 km

Land use

agricultural land

29.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)

forest

54.1% (2018 est.)

other

16.7% (2018 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

limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

Terrain

low plain

Age structure

0-14 years

15.32% (male 148,120/female 140,028)

15-24 years

9% (male 87,372/female 81,965)

25-54 years

40.41% (male 380,817/female 379,359)

55-64 years

14.77% (male 125,401/female 152,548)

65 years and over

20.5% (male 128,151/female 257,471) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

8.96 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

6.2% (2018)

Death rate

14.63 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.9

potential support ratio

3 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

59

youth dependency ratio

26.1

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 98.2% of population

improved: total

total: 98.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 1.4% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.2% of population

Education expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2018)

Ethnic groups

Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,600 (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

5.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.93 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%; note - data represent language usually spoken at home (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s)

World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.33 years (2021 est.)

male

71.19 years

total population

75.65 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.9% (2018)

male

99.9%

total population

99.9%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2020)

vectorborne diseases

tickborne encephalitis

Major urban areas - population

628,000 RIGA (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

48 years (2020 est.)

male

40.5 years

total

44.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.3 years (2019 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Latvian

noun

Latvian(s)

Net migration rate

-5.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.6% (2016)

Physicians density

3.19 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

1,862,687 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

Population growth rate

-1.1% (2021 est.)

Religions

Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 84.6% of population

improved: total

total: 94.3% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 15.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 5.7% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2019)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.82 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.5 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.54 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

15.5% (2020 est.)

male

14.4%

total

14.9%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

68.4% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

of the several theories explaining the name's origin, the one relating to the city's role in Baltic and North Sea commerce is the most probable; the name is likely related to the Latvian word "rija," meaning "warehouse," where the 'j' became a 'g' under the heavy German influence in the city from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century

geographic coordinates

56 57 N, 24 06 E

name

Riga

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019

history

several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Latvia

conventional short form

Latvia

etymology

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.)

former

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

local long form

Latvijas Republika

local short form

Latvija

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John Leslie CARWILE (since 5 November 2019)

email address and website

askconsular-riga@state.govhttps://lv.usembassy.gov/

embassy

1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510

FAX

[371] 6710-7050

mailing address

4520 Riga Place, Washington DC  20521-4520

telephone

[371] 6710-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Maris SELGA (since 16 September 2019)

email address and website

embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lvhttps://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2860

telephone

[1] (202) 328-2840

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament

chief of state

President Egils LEVITS (since 8 July 2019)

election results

Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61 votes, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Krisjanis KARINS (since 23 January 2019)

Flag description

three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

district (city) and regional courts

Legal system

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - S 19.8%, KPV LV 14.3%, JKP 13.6%, AP! 12%, NA 11%, ZZS 9.9%, JV 6.7%, other 12.7%; seats by party - S 23, KPV LV 16, JKP 16, AP! 13, NA 13, ZZS 11, JV 8; composition (as of October 2021) - men 71, women 29, percent of women 29%

elections

last held on 6 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Karlis BAUMANIS

name

"Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)

note

note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

National holiday

Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union

National symbol(s)

white wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white

Political parties and leaders

Development/For! or AP! [Daniels PAVLUTS, Juris PUCE]National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" or NA [Raivis DZINTARS] New Conservative Party or JKP [Janis BORDANS]Social Democratic Party "Harmony" or S [Janis URBANOVICS] Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Armands KRAUZE] New Unity or JV [Arvils ASERADENS]Who Owns the State? or KPV LV (disbanded 2021)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, pork, poultry

Budget

expenditures

11.53 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

11.39 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

A- (2014)

Moody's rating

A3 (2015)

Standard & Poors rating

A+ (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2018

-$99 million (2018 est.)

Current account balance 2019

-$222 million (2019 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$42.488 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$40.164 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing more than half of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia's low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality.Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07, but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the slowing world economy. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged by more than 14% in 2009 and, despite strong growth since 2011, the economy took until 2017 return to pre-crisis levels in real terms. Strong investment and consumption, the latter stoked by rising wages, helped the economy grow by more than 4% in 2017, while inflation rose to 3%. Continued gains in competitiveness and investment will be key to maintaining economic growth, especially in light of unfavorable demographic trends, including the emigration of skilled workers, and one of the highest levels of income inequality in the EU.In the wake of the 2008-09 crisis, the IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro in exchange for the government's commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011, although, the austerity measures imposed large social costs. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 80% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 and the EU in May 2004. Latvia also joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.

Exchange rates

currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

0.885 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.87789 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.90338 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.82771 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$21.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$20.5 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports 2020

$20.23 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

lumber, broadcasting equipment, whiskey and other hard liquors, wheat, packaged medicines (2019)

Exports - partners

Lithuania 16%, Estonia 10%, Russia 9%, Germany 7%, Sweden 6%, United Kingdom 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

60.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

18.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

61.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-61.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

19.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

1.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3.9% (2017 est.)

industry

22.4% (2017 est.)

services

73.7% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$34.084 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2014

35.4 (2014)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

35.6 (2017 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.3% (2015)

lowest 10%

2.2%

Imports

Imports 2018

$21.38 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$20.79 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports 2020

$19.84 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2020 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, packaged medicines, aircraft (2019)

Imports - partners

Russia 21%, Lithuania 14%, Germany 9%, Poland 7%, Estonia 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

10.6% (2017 est.)

Industries

processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

2.9% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

2.5% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.8% (2019 est.)

Labor force

885,000 (2020 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

7.7%

industry

24.1%

services

68.1% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line

22.9% (2018 est.)

Public debt

note

note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Public debt 2016

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$57.88 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$59.06 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$56.92 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

3.23% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

4.2% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2.08% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$30,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$30,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$29,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$3.514 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$4.614 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2018

6.51% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate 2019

6.14% (2019 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

15.5% (2020 est.)

male

14.4%

total

14.9%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

6.798 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

3.795 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

53% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

4.828 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.932 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

6.241 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.246 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

44,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

16,180 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

54,370 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26.71 (2020 est.)

total

503,804 (2020)

Broadcast media

several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations

Internet country code

.lv

Internet users

percent of population

88.9% (2020 est.)

total

1.67 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line 12 per 100 and mobile-cellular 109 per 100 subscriptions (2019)

general assessment

recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed-line phones is decreasing as mobile-cellular telephone service expands; EU regulatory policies, and framework provide guidelines for growth; government adopted measures to build a national fiber broadband network, partially funded by European Commission; new competition in mobile markets with extensive LTE-A technologies and 5G service growth; developing sophisticated digital economy with e-commerce and e-government widely available; operator working on cable to Sakhalin in Russia’s Far East (2020)

international

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

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11.23 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

211,849 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108.8 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

2,051,359 (2020)

Airports

total

42 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

3

over 3,047 m

1

total

18

under 914 m

7 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

24

under 914 m

24 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YL

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 22, oil tanker 9, other 39 (2021)

total

70

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

4.01 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

4,058,762 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

53

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

Pipelines

1,213 km gas, 417 km refined products (2018)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Riga, Ventspils

Railways

broad gauge

1,826 km 1.520-m gauge (2018)

narrow gauge

34 km 0.750-m gauge (2018)

total

1,860 km (2018)

Roadways

paved

15,158 km (2018)

total

70,244 km (2018)

unpaved

55,086 km (2018)

Waterways

300 km (navigable year-round) (2010)

Military - note

Latvia officially became a member of NATO in 2004 since 2017, Latvia has hosted a multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; the battlegroup is led by Canada and had about 1,500 troops on a continuous rotational basis as of 2021 NATO also has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations

Military and security forces

National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (2021)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the National Armed Forces of Latvia have approximately 6,500 active duty troops (5,500 Land Forces; 500 Naval Force/Coast Guard; 500 Air Force; note - some Land Forces are considered joint forces); 8,200 National Guard (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Latvian military's inventory is limited and consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and more modern--mostly second-hand--European and US equipment; since 2010, it has received  limited amounts of equipment from several European countries, as well as the US (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.44% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.59% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

2.06% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

2.03% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.27% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (abolished 2007); under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2021)

Disputes - international

Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; 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 Baltic 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

209,167 (2020); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

7 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

1.85 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

12.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Environment - current issues

while land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

29.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)

forest

54.1% (2018 est.)

other

16.7% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2020)

vectorborne diseases

tickborne encephalitis

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.94 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

61.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

25.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

94.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

68.4% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

857,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

181,941 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

21.2% (2015 est.)