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.

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

slightly larger than West Virginia

maritime; wet, moderate winters

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

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

most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east

2,204,708 (July 2011 est.)

9.96 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

-2.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

RIGA (capital) 711,000 (2009)

1.32 children born/woman (2011 est.)

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

urban: 100% of population

rural: 96% of population

total: 99% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 4% of population

total: 1% of population (2008)

urban: 82% of population

rural: 71% of population

total: 78% of population

urban: 18% of population

rural: 29% of population

total: 22% of population (2008)

Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009)

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

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

parliamentary democracy

109 municipalities (novadi, singular-novads) and 9 cities

4 May 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

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

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

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

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

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 a Good Latvia (alliance of TP, LPP/LC); 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!); New Era Party or JL [Solvita ABOLTINA, Dzintars ZAKIS]; People's Party or TP [Andris SKELE]; Society for Different Politics or SCP [Aigars STOKENBERGS; Artis PABRIKS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Unity bloc (alliance of Civic Union, New Era, SCP)

Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS]

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

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

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.

$32.51 billion (2010 est.)

$32.62 billion (2009 est.)

$39.76 billion (2008 est.)

$24.05 billion (2010 est.)

1.178 million (2010 est.)

15.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

46.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

36.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

4% (31 December 2009)

6% (31 December 2008)

16.23% (31 December 2009 est.)

11.85% (31 December 2008 est.)

$5.769 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$5.893 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$11.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$11.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$27.59 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$27.76 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.824 billion (31 December 2009)

$1.609 billion (31 December 2008)

$3.111 billion (31 December 2007)

grain, rapeseed, potatoes, vegetables; pork, poultry, milk, eggs; fish

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

4.62 billion kWh (2007 est.)

6.822 billion kWh (2007 est.)

2.123 billion kWh (2008 est.)

4.643 billion kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

5,873 bbl/day (2007 est.)

43,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

1.527 billion cu m (2009 est.)

1.743 billion cu m (2009 est.)

$1.62 billion (2010 est.)

$2.53 billion (2009 est.)

$7.894 billion (2010 est.)

$7.223 billion (2009 est.)

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

Lithuania 15.19%, Estonia 13.57%, Russia 13.17%, Germany 8.13%, Sweden 5.7% (2009)

$9.153 billion (2010 est.)

$8.906 billion (2009 est.)

machinery and equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Lithuania 16.36%, Germany 11.34%, Russia 10.68%, Poland 8.11%, Estonia 7.69% (2009)

$7.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$6.907 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$37.28 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$41.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$11.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$11.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.097 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.037 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

lati (LVL) per US dollar -

2.243 million (2009)

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 are available; publicly-owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations (2007)

1.504 million (2009)

gas 948 km; refined products 415 km (2010)

300 km (navigable year round) (2010)

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)

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)

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

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

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