2023 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 25% 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

6 sq km (2016)

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

14.92% (male 139,877/female 131,839)

15-64 years

63.37% (male 570,902/female 583,578)

65 years and over

21.71% (2023 est.) (male 134,809/female 260,745)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

21.1% (2020/21) NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

7.5% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

49.1% (2023 est.)

Death rate

14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

34.4

potential support ratio

2.9 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

59.3

youth dependency ratio

24.9

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 98.6% of population

improved: total

total: 99.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.1% of population

Education expenditures

6% of GDP (2020 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.76 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

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

80.8 years

male

71.8 years

total population

76.2 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.9% (2021)

male

99.9%

total population

99.9%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2023)

vectorborne diseases

tickborne encephalitis

Major urban areas - population

621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

18 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

48.9 years

male

41.3 years

total

45.2 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.3 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Latvian

noun

Latvian(s)

Net migration rate

-5.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.6% (2016)

Physicians density

3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

1,821,750 (2023 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

-1.13% (2023 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: 85.3% of population

improved: total

total: 94.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 98.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 14.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 5.4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.1% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2020)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.52 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.87 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

23.7% (2020 est.)

male

50.3% (2020 est.)

total

37% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.55 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

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 Christopher ROBINSON (since 21 February 2023)

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 Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)

election results

2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS 52, Uldis Pīlēns 25 third round on 31 May 20232019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61, 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 31 May 2023 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)

note

note: on 15 September 2023, Parliament voted 53-39 to approve Prime Minister Evika SILINA

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, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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 - JV 19.2%, ZZS 12.6%, AS 11.1%, NA 9.4%, S! 6.9%, LPV 6.3%, and PRO 6.2%; seats by party - JV 26, ZZS 16, AS 15, NA 13, S! 11, LPV 9, and PRO 10

elections

last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held no later than 3 October 2026)

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 heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldiga

total World Heritage Sites

3 (both cultural)

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, Ivars IJABS]For Stability or S! [Aleksejs ROSLIKOVS]Latvia First [Ainars SLESERS]Latvian Green Party or LZP (Edgars TAVARS)National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" or NA [Raivis DZINTARS] New Unity or JV [Arturs Krišjānis KARINS]Social Democratic Party "Harmony" or S [Janis URBANOVICS]The Progressives or PRO [Kaspars BRISKENS]Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Aivars LEMBERGS]United List or AS [Uldis PILENS] (electoral coalition including the Latvian Green Party or LZP, Latvian Association of Regions or LRA, Liepaja Party)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

7.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

17.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$14.242 billion (2020 est.)

revenues

$12.931 billion (2020 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

A- (2014)

Moody's rating

A3 (2015)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

A+ (2020)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$200.203 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$918.67 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$1.7 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$42.488 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$40.164 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, EU-member Baltic economy; export-driven; Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a temporary labor force surge and impacted growth due to Russian trade reliance; highly developed transit services

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

0.885 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.847 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$20.539 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$20.768 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$25.248 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

lumber, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, fuel woods, hard liquors (2021)

Exports - partners

Lithuania 17%, Estonia 9%, United Kingdom 8%, Germany 7%, Russia 7% (2021)

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 2019

34.5 (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

26.3% (2015)

lowest 10%

2.2%

Imports

Imports 2019

$20.765 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$20.427 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$26.622 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, electricity, cars, natural gas (2021)

Imports - partners

Lithuania 15%, Russia 14%, Germany 9%, Poland 8%, Estonia 8% (2021)

Industrial production growth rate

1.93% (2021 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.81% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

0.22% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

3.28% (2021 est.)

Labor force

955,000 (2021 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 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$59.403 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$58.094 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$60.457 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2.57% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-2.2% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.07% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$31,000 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$30,600 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$32,100 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$4.48 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$5.29 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$5.491 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.77% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

6.31% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

8.1% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

7.6% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

19.6%

male

12%

total

15.5% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

2.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

5.693 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

8.45 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

39,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

40,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

6.706 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports

2.548 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

4.173 billion kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

3.089 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

377 million kWh (2020 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

15.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

33.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

47.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

86.645 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

1.068 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

1.068 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

39,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

1,600 bbl/day (2021 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 (2020 est.)

total

490,569 (2020 est.)

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

91% (2021 est.)

total

1.729 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line roughly 10 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 115 per 100 subscriptions (2021)

general assessment

the telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fiber-based infrastructure; there is effective competition in the mobile market; these multi-service operators have focused investment on fiber networks and on expanding the reach of 5G (2023)

international

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

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

191,798 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

115 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

2,161,725 (2021 est.)

Airports

42 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

18

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

24

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YL

Heliports

1 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 9, other 39

total

80 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

4.01 million (2018) mt-km

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

total

2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

Roadways

paved

15,158 km (2018)

total

70,244 km (2018)

unpaved

55,086 km (2018)

Transportation - note

Latvia operates one PC 5 or 6 class icebreaker in the Baltic Seanote - PC indicates a Polar Class vessel: PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)

Waterways

300 km (2010) (navigable year-round)

Military - note

the National Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory; they also have some domestic security responsibilities, including coast guard functions, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and providing support to other internal security services, including the State Border Service, the State Police, and the State Security Service; the Military Police provides protection to the president and other government officials, foreign dignitaries, and key facilities; for external defense, Latvia’s primary security focus is Russia, which has only increased since the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022; in 2004, it joined NATO and the EU, which it depends on to play a decisive role in Latvia’s security policy; Latvia is actively engaged in both NATO and the EU, as well as bilaterally with its allies in order to bolster its own security and that of the surrounding region; the Latvian military has participated in NATO and EU missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with NATO and EU partner forces; Latvia also hosts NATO partner forces and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regionsthe Land Forces have a single mechanized brigade; since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia; the Land Forces are supplemented by the National Guard, which has four regionally based infantry brigades that are manned mostly by part-time personnel supplemented by some full-time professional soldiers; in peacetime, the brigades participate in emergency, fire and rescue operations, and in the “elimination of consequences caused by emergency situations”the Air Force has no combat aircraft; NATO has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Baltics Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; the Naval Forces feature a few patrol vessels and minesweepers; the military also has logistics, military police, special operations forces, and training commands (2023)

Military and security forces

National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze) (2023)

note

note: the armed forces, the Defense Intelligence and Security Service, the Constitution Protection Bureau, and the National Guard are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense; the State Police, State Border Guards, and State Security Service are under the Ministry of Interior; the State Border Guard may become part of the armed forces during an emergency

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 7,000 regular military forces; approximately 9,500 National Guard (2023)

Military deployments

130 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Latvian military's inventory consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and limited amounts of more modern, Western-produced systems acquired since the country joined NATO in 2004; in recent years, the UK and US have been the leading suppliers of military equipment (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

2% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

2.2% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

2.1% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 2007) (2023)

note

note 1: in 2023, the Latvian Parliament approved a plan to reinstate mandatory military service for men aged 18-27 (women voluntarily) beginning in 2024; service would be for 12 months in the Land Forces or alternatively in internal affairs, health, or welfare structuresnote 2: as of 2022, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel

Disputes - international

Latvia-Belarus: Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008 Latvia-Estonia: demarcation reportedly completed in 1998 Latvia-Lithuania: boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights Latvia-Russia: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; 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

refugees (country of origin)

32,470 (Ukraine) (as of 15 August 2023)

stateless persons

195,354 (2022); 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

12.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.94 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

90 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

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.)