| Background: |
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. |
| 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: 64,589 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly larger
than West Virginia |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339
km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
continental
shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
maritime; wet,
moderate winters |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m |
| Natural
resources: |
minimal; amber,
peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, arable land |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
27%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 13%
forests and woodland: 46%
other: 14% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
160 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Environment
- current issues: |
air and water
pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment;
Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted;
contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and
petroleum products at military bases |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
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 |
| Population: |
2,385,231 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
16.55% (male 201,746; female 193,036)
15-64 years: 68.15% (male 776,509; female
848,908)
65 years and over: 15.3% (male 118,110; female
246,922) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
-0.81% (2001
est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
8.03 births/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
14.8 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
15.34
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 68.7 years
male: 62.8 years
female: 74.9 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
1.15 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.11% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
1,250 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
less than 100
(1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Latvian 56.5%,
Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish
2.6%, other 3.4% |
| Religions: |
Lutheran, Roman
Catholic, Russian Orthodox |
| Languages: |
Latvian or
Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 99% (1989 est.) |
| 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 |
| 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, Leipaja*,
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 |
| Independence: |
18 November 1991
(from Soviet Union) |
| National
holiday: |
Independence Day,
18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of
independence from Soviet Russia, 18 November 1991 is the
date of independence from the Soviet Union |
| Constitution: |
the 1991
Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution,
provides for basic rights and freedoms |
| Legal
system: |
based on civil
law system |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal for Latvian citizens |
| Executive
branch: |
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 NA 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);
percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%,
Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9% |
| Legislative
branch: |
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 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court
(judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
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, leaders]; Latvian Unity
Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei
PANTELEJEVS]; New Christian Party [Ainars SLESERS]; New
Faction [Ingrida UDRE]; "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] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
| International
organization participation: |
BIS, CBSS, CCC,
CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory
user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,
WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES
embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78,
Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone: [371] 721-0005
FAX: [371] 782-0047 |
| Flag
description: |
three horizontal
bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon |
| Economy
- overview: |
In 2000, 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. 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. Unemployment
fell to 7.8% in 2000, down from 9.6% in 1999, and 9.2% in
1998. Privatization of large state-owned utilities and the
shipping industry faced more delays in 2000, and political
instability will continue to delay completion of the
privatization process over the next year. Latvia projects 6%
GDP growth, 2.5%-3.0% inflation, and a 1.7% fiscal deficit
in 2001. Preparing for EU membership over the next few years
remains a top foreign policy goal. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $17.3 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
5.5% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $7,200 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
5%
industry: 33%
services: 62% (1999) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
2.7% (2000) |
| Labor
force: |
1.4 million (2000
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 10%,
industry 25%, services 65% (2000 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
7.8% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$1.33 billion
expenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) |
| 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, raw materials, and
intermediate products |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
6.3% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
3.996 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
31.78%
hydro: 68.22%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
4.316 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
400 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
1 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
grain, sugar
beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish |
| Exports: |
$2.1 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
wood and wood
products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,
foodstuffs |
| Exports
- partners: |
Germany 16%, UK
11%, Sweden 11%, Russia 7% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$3.2 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and
equipment, chemicals, fuels |
| Imports
- partners: |
Russia 15%,
Germany 10%, Finland 9%, Sweden 7% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$800 million
(2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$96.2 million
(1995) |
| Currency: |
Latvian lat (LVL) |
| Exchange
rates: |
lati per US
dollar - 0.614 (January 2001), 0.607 (2000), 0.585 (1999),
0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
748,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
77,100 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to
provide an international capability independent of the
Moscow international switch; more facilities are being
installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk
line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still
many unsatisfied subscriber applications
international: international connections are
now available via cable and a satellite earth station at
Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998) |
| 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
Service Providers (ISPs): |
42 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
234,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
2,412 km
broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km
electrified) (1992)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994) |
| Highways: |
total:
59,178 km
paved: 22,843 km
unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.) |
| Waterways: |
300 km
(perennially navigable) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 750 km;
refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Daugavpils,
Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,984 GRT/29,978 DWT
ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3,
refrigerated cargo 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
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 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
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 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Ground Forces,
Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border
Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 590,784 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 463,944 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
19,114 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$60 million
(FY99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.9% (FY99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
draft treaty
delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; has
not ratified 1998 maritime boundary agreement with Lithuania
(primary concern is oil exploration rights) |
| Illicit
drugs: |
transshipment
point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest
Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American
cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS;
limited production of illicit amphetamine, ephedrine, and
ecstasy for export |
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