Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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Background:
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After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It 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 continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions.
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Location:
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Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
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Geographic coordinates:
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57 00 N, 25 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 64,589 sq km
water: 1,000 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than West Virginia
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
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Coastline:
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531 km
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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maritime; wet, moderate winters
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Terrain:
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low plain
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
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Natural resources:
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peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, wood, arable land, minimal; amber
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Land use:
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arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 71% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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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 (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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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, and 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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
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Geography - note:
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most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
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Population:
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2,366,515 (July 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15.8% (male 191,116; female 182,692)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 775,481; female 847,261)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 120,304; female 249,661) (2002 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.77% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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8.27 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Death rate:
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14.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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14.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 69 years
female: 75.17 years (2002 est.)
male: 63.13 years
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Total fertility rate:
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1.18 children born/woman (2002 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.12% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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1,792 (15 January 2002)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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36 (15 January 2002)
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Nationality:
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noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian
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Ethnic groups:
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Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
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Religions:
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Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
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Languages:
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Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: NA%
female: NA%
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Latvijas Republika
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Government type:
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parliamentary democracy
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Capital:
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Riga
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Administrative divisions:
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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:
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21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
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Constitution:
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the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed to produce a clear winner); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 7%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TB/LNNK 17, TSP 16, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; Christian People's Party or KTP [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; For Human Rights in a United Latvia [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSKI]; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDWU [Juris BOJARS and Janis ADAMSONS]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; New Christian Party [Ainars SLESERS]; New Faction [Ingrida UDRE]; New Party [leader NA]; New Times Party [Einars REPSE]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone: [371] 721-0005
FAX: [371] 782-0047
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Flag description:
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three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
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Economy - overview:
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Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 - the first Baltic state to join - and was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December 1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Preparing for EU membership over the next few years remains a top foreign policy goal. The high current account deficit remains a major concern.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $18.6 billion (2001 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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6.3% (2001 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2001 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 5%
industry: 24%
services: 71% (2000)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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32 (1999)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.5% (2001)
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Labor force:
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1.1 million (2001 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.6% (2001 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
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Industries:
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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:
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6.4% (2001 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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3.301 billion kWh (2000)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 33.02%
hydro: 66.98%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.16 billion kWh (2000)
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Electricity - exports:
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500 million kWh (2000)
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Electricity - imports:
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2.59 billion kWh (2000)
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Agriculture - products:
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grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
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Exports:
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$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
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Exports - commodities:
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wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 17%, UK 16%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 8% (2001 est.)
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Imports:
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$3.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
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Imports - partners:
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Germany 17%, Russia 9%, Lithuania 8%, Finland 8%, Sweden 7% (2001 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$2.6 billion (2000 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$96.2 million (1995)
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Currency:
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Latvian lat (LVL)
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Currency code:
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LVL
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Exchange rates:
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lati per US dollar - 0.6384 (January 2002), 0.628 (2001), 0.607 (2000), 0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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total: 2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2001)
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Highways:
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total: 59,178 km
paved: 22,843 km
unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.)
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Waterways:
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300 km (perennially navigable)
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Pipelines:
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crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
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Ports and harbors:
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Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
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Merchant marine:
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total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,119 GRT/30,572 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4
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Airports:
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25 (2001)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2001)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2001)
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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