Latvia Population: 2,204,708
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east | |
| Location: | Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania |
| Geographic coordinates: | 57 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Area: | total: 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km Size comparison: slightly larger than West Virginia |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,382 km border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 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 |
| Climate: | maritime; wet, moderate winters |
| Terrain: | low plain |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m |
| Natural resources: | peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land |
| Land use: | arable land: 28.19% permanent crops: 0.45% other: 71.36% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 8 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 (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 2,204,708 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 13.5% (male 152,706/female 145,756) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 747,044/female 785,521) 65 years and over: 16.9% (male 121,570/female 252,111) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 40.6 years male: 37.6 years female: 43.7 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.597% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 9.96 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.054 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 72.68 years male: 67.56 years female: 78.07 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.32 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.7% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 8,600 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian |
| Ethnic groups: | Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009) |
| Religions: | Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006) |
| Languages: | Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2000 census) |
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| Government | |
| 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 |
| 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: | 109 municipalities (novadi, singular-novads) and 9 cities municipalities: Adazu Novads, Aglonas Novads, Aizkraukles Novads, Aizputes Novads, Aknistes Novads, Alojas Novads, Alsungas Novads, Aluksnes Novads, Amatas Novads, Apes Novads, Auces Novads, Babites Novads, Baldones Novads, Baltinavas Novads, Balvu Novads, Bauskas Novads, Beverinas Novads, Brocenu Novads, Burtnieku Novads, Carnikavas Novads, Cesu Novads, Cesvaines Novads, Ciblas Novads, Dagdas Novads, Daugavpils Novads, Dobeles Novads, Dundagas Novads, Durbes Novads, Engures Novads, Erglu Novads, Garkalnes Novads, Grobinas Novads, Gulbenes Novads, Iecavas Novads, Ikskiles Novads, Ilukstes Novads, Incukalna Novads, Jaunjelgavas Novads, Juanpiebalgas Novads, Jaunpils Novads, Jekabpils Novads, Jelgavas Novads, Kandavas Novads, Karsavas Novads, Keguma Novads, Kekavas Novads, Kocenu Novads, Kokneses Novads, Kraslavas Novads, Krimuldas Novads, Krustpils Novads, Kuldigas Novads, Lielvardes Novads, Ligatnes Novads, Limbazu Novads, Livanu Novads, Lubanas Novads, Ludzas Novads, Madonas Novads, Malpils Novads, Marupes Novads, Mazsalacas Novads, Nauksenu Novads, Neretas Novads, Nicas Novads, Ogres Novads, Olaines Novads, Ozolnieku Novads, Pargaujas Novads, Pavilostas Novads, Plavinu Novads, Preilu Novads, Priekules Novads, Priekulu Novads, Raunas Novads, Rezeknes Novads, Riebinu Novads, Rojas Novads, Ropazu Novads, Rucavas Novads, Rugaju Novads, Rujienas Novads, Rundales Novads, Salacgrivas Novads, Salas Novads, Salaspils Novads, Saldus Novads, Saulkrastu Novads, Sejas Novads, Siguldas Novads, Skriveru Novads, Skrundas Novads, Smiltenes Novads, Stopinu Novads, Strencu Novads, Talsu Novads, Tervetes Novads, Tukuma Novads, Vainodes Novads, Valkas Novads, Varaklanu Novads, Varkavas Novads, Vecpiebalgas Novads, Vecumnieku Novads, Ventspils Novads, Viesites Novads, Vilakas Novads, Vilanu Novads, Zilupes Novads cities: Daugavpils, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Valmiera, Ventspils |
| Independence: | 4 May 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared its 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 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since |
| Legal system: | civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Andris BERZINS (since 8 July 2011) head of government: Prime Minister Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (since 12 March 2009) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 June 2011 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: Andris BERZINS elected president; parliamentary vote - Andris BERZINS 53, Valdis ZATLERS 41 |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 17 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - SC 28.4%, Zatlers 20.8%, Unity 18.8%, National Alliance 13.9%, ZZS 12.2%; seats by party - SC 31, Zatlers 22, Unity 20, National Alliance 14, ZZS 13 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament) |
| Political parties and leaders: | All For Latvia! [Irnants PARADNIEKS, Raivis DZINTARS]; Civic Union [Sandra KALNIETE, Girts Valdis KRISTOVSKIS]; First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS, Tatjana ZDANOKA]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS, Janis URBANOVICS]; National Alliance (alliance of TB/LNNK, All For Latvia!) [Gaidis BERZINS, Raivis DZINTARS]; New Era Party or JL [Solvita ABOLTINA, Dzintars ZAKIS]; Society for Different Politics or SCP [Aigars STOKENBERGS; Artis PABRIKS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Unity [Solvita ABOLTINA]; Zatlers' Reform Party [Valdis ZATLERS] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS] |
| International organization participation: | Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, 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 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Judith G. GARBER embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 mailing address: American Embassy Riga, US Department of State, 4520 Riga Place, Washington, DC 20520-4520 telephone: [371] 670-36200 FAX: [371] 678-20047 |
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| Economy | |
| Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing significantly to its 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 electronic devices. The bulk of the country's economic activity, however, is in the services sector. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting FDI flows 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 softening world economy. GDP plunged 18% in 2009 - the three Baltic states had the world's worst declines that year. Thanks to strong export growth in 2009 and 2010, the economy experienced its first real quarterly GDP growth in over two years (2.9%) in the third quarter of 2010. 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. This agreement calls for reduction of Latvia's fiscal deficit to below 3% of GDP by 2012, in order to meet the Maastricht Treaty criteria for euro adoption. DOMBROVSKIS' government enacted major spending cuts to reduce the fiscal deficit to a maximum of 8.5% of GDP in 2010, and Latvia has approved a 2011 budget with a projected deficit of 5.4% of GDP. 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. Latvia's current major financial policy goal, entrance into the euro zone, is targeted for 2014. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $32.51 billion (2010 est.) $32.62 billion (2009 est.) $39.76 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $24.05 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -0.3% (2010 est.) -18% (2009 est.) -4.2% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $14,700 (2010 est.) $14,600 (2009 est.) $17,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 4% industry: 21.7% services: 74.4% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.178 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 12.1% industry: 25.8% services: 61.8% (2005 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 18.4% (2010 est.) 17.1% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.6% (2008) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 35.7 (2008) 32 (1999) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): -1.1% (2010 est.) 3.5% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 18% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $8.459 billion expenditures: $10.3 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 44.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 36.7% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | grain, rapeseed, potatoes, vegetables; pork, poultry, milk, eggs; fish |
| Industries: | processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 14.3% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 5.114 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 6.836 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 2.605 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 1.654 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 41,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 3,457 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 37,520 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 1.56 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 1.56 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $871 million (2010 est.) $2.283 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $8.989 billion (2010 est.) $7.387 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | food products, wood and wood products, metals, machinery and equipment, textiles |
| Exports - partners: | Russia 15.2%, Lithuania 15.2%, Estonia 12.6%, Germany 8.2%, Sweden 5.9%, Poland 4.7% (2010) |
| Imports: | $10.54 billion (2010 est.) $9.209 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, fuels, vehicles |
| Imports - partners: | Lithuania 16.3%, Germany 11.4%, Russia 10%, Poland 7.5%, Estonia 7%, Finland 4.8% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $7.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.907 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $39.93 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $41.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $11.97 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.63 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $1.011 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $996.8 million (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $1.252 billion (31 December 2010) $1.824 billion (31 December 2009) $1.609 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5422 (2010) 0.5056 (2009) 0.4701 (2008) 0.5162 (2007) 0.5597 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 644,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 92 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 2.243 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as mobile-cellular 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 exceeds 125 per 100 persons international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .lv |
| Internet hosts: | 289,478 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 1.504 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 42 (2010) country comparison to the world: 101 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 19 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 7 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 948 km; refined products 415 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,239 km broad gauge: 2,206 km 1.520-m gauge narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 73,074 km paved: 14,459 km unpaved: 58,615 km (2010) |
| Waterways: | 300 km (navigable year round) (2010) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 13 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Estonia 4) registered in other countries: 90 (Antigua and Barbuda 16, Belize 10, Cambodia 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 1, Dominica 1, Georgia 1, Liberia 9, Malta 11, Marshall Islands 18, Panama 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Riga, Ventspils |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Land Forces, Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2009) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 546,090 females age 16-49: 540,810 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 401,691 females age 16-49: 447,638 (2010 est.) |
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