|
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. |
|
Location: |
Eastern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
57 00 N, 25 00 E |
|
Map references: |
Europe |
|
Area: |
total: 64,589 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
water: 1,000 sq km |
|
Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than West
Virginia |
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 1,348 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 588
km, Russia 276 km |
|
Coastline: |
498 km |
|
Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate: |
maritime; wet, moderate winters
|
|
Terrain: |
low plain |
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Baltic Sea
0 m
highest point: Galzina Kalns 312 m |
|
Natural resources: |
peat, limestone, dolomite,
amber, hydropower, wood, arable land |
|
Land use: |
arable land: 28.19%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 71.36% (2005) |
|
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) |
|
Total renewable water resources: |
49.9 cu km (2005) |
|
Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 0.25 cu km/yr
(55%/33%/12%)
per capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003) |
|
Natural hazards: |
NA |
|
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
|
|
Geography - note: |
most of the country is composed
of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east |
|
Population: |
2,245,423 (July 2008 est.)
|
|
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.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 39.9 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 43 years (2008 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
-0.629% (2008 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
9.62 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
13.63 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
-2.29 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.) |
|
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.) |
|
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.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 71.88
years
male: 66.68 years
female: 77.35 years (2008
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
1.29 children born/woman (2008
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.6% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
7,600 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 500 (2003 est.)
|
|
Major infectious diseases: |
degree of risk:
intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
(2008) |
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Nationality: |
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%,
Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
(2002) |
|
Religions: |
Lutheran, Roman Catholic,
Russian Orthodox |
|
Languages: |
Latvian (official) 58.2%,
Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census) |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2000 census)
|
|
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 |
|
Government type: |
parliamentary democracy |
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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 |
|
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 |
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Independence: |
18 November 1918 (from Soviet
Russia) |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Legal system: |
based on civil law system with
traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
|
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal for
Latvian citizens |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court (judges'
appointments are confirmed by Parliament); Constitutional Court (judges'
appointments are confirmed by Parliament) |
|
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] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Headquarters for the Protection
of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV] |
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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), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS
chancery: 2306 Massachusetts
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860 |
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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] 703-6200
FAX:
[371] 782-0047 |
|
Flag description: |
three horizontal bands of
maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon |
|
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. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$40.04 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
GDP (official exchange rate): |
$27 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
10.3% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$17,700 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 21.3%
services: 75.2% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force: |
1.136 million (2006 est.)
|
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
services: 68% (2005 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
5.9% (2007 est.) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.1% (2003) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
37.7 (2003) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
9.6% (2007 est.) |
|
Investment (gross fixed): |
35.8% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $8.975 billion
expenditures: $8.88 billion (2007 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
8.8% of GDP (2007 est.) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
grain, sugar beets, potatoes,
vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish |
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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 |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
5.9% (2007 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
4.778 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 29.1%
hydro: 70.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
|
|
Electricity - consumption: |
6.09 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
707 million kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
2.855 billion kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption: |
34,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports: |
6,765 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports: |
39,190 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
1.861 billion cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
1.861 billion cu m (2005)
|
|
Current account balance: |
-$5.839 billion (2007 est.)
|
|
Exports: |
$7.551 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
wood and wood products,
machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs |
|
Exports - partners: |
Lithuania 14.2%, Estonia 12.3%,
Russia 11.5%, Germany 9.8%, UK 7.6%, Sweden 6.3%, Denmark 4.8% (2006)
|
|
Imports: |
$13.7 billion f.o.b. (2007
est.) |
|
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment,
chemicals, fuels, vehicles |
|
Imports - partners: |
Germany 15.5%, Lithuania 12.9%,
Russia 8%, Estonia 7.7%, Poland 7.2%, Finland 5.7%, Sweden 5%, Belarus
4.7% (2006) |
|
Economic aid - recipient: |
$162 million (2004) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$5.16 billion (31 December 2007
est.) |
|
Debt - external: |
$29.85 billion (30 June 2007)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$6.418 billion (2006 est.)
|
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$442 million (2006 est.) |
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$2.705 billion (2006) |
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Currency (code): |
lat (LVL) |
|
Currency code: |
LVL |
|
Exchange rates: |
lati per US dollar - 0.5162
(2007), 0.5597 (2006), 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003) |
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use: |
657,400 (2006) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
2.184 million (2006) |
|
Telephone system: |
general assessment:
recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications
sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony
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 |
|
Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
|
|
Radios: |
1.76 million (1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations: |
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
|
|
Televisions: |
1.22 million (1997) |
|
Internet country code: |
.lv |
|
Internet hosts: |
234,014 (2007) |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
41 (2001) |
|
Internet users: |
1.071 million (2006)
|
|
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) |
|
Pipelines: |
gas 948 km; oil 82 km; refined
products 415 km (2007) |
|
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: 69,532 km
paved: 69,532 km (2004) |
|
Waterways: |
300 km (2006) |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 22 ships (1000
GRT or over) 201,684 GRT/221,186 DWT
by type: cargo 9,
liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Estonia 1)
registered in other
countries: 122 (Antigua and Barbuda 9, Belize 14, Cambodia 2, Cyprus
1, Dominica 2, Jamaica 2, Liberia 15, Malta 36, Marshall Islands 10,
Panama 5, Russia 2, St Kitts and Nevis 4, St Vincent and The Grenadines
20) (2007) |
|
Ports and terminals: |
Riga, Ventspils |
|
Military branches: |
Latvian Republic Defense Force:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Spelki), Border Guard,
Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2007) |
|
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)
|
|
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 military service age annually: |
males age 16-49: 14,506
females age 16-49: 13,982 (2008 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.2% (2005 est.)
|
| Transnational Issues |
Latvia |
|
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 |
|
