Latvia

Internet country code

.lv

Internet hosts

51,758 (2004)

Internet users

936,000 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

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: country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)

Telephones - main lines in use

653,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,219,600 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Agriculture - products

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Budget

revenues: $3.691 billion expenditures: $3.871 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Currency

Latvian lat (LVL)

Currency code

LVL

Current account balance

$-955.9 million (2003)

Debt - external

$6.793 billion (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32 (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$96.2 million (1995)

Economy - overview

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, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.

Electricity - consumption

6.046 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

703 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

2.69 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

4.365 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

lati per US dollar - 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000), 0.5852 (1999)

Exports

$3 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 15.6%, Germany 14.8%, Sweden 10.5%, Lithuania 8.2%, Estonia 6.6%, Denmark 6%, Russia 5.4% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $23.9 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4.5% industry: 24.5% services: 70.9% (2003)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.4% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)

Imports

$4.921 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners

Germany 16.1%, Lithuania 9.7%, Russia 8.7%, Finland 7.4%, Estonia 6.4%, Sweden 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, Italy 4.4% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2003 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 and raw materials

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

27.1% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

1.18 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

14.4% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$1.535 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

8.6% (2003 est.)

Area

total: 64,589 sq km land: 63,589 sq km water: 1,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

531 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

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, 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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic coordinates

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

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

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,150 km border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km

Land use

arable land: 29.67% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 69.86% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

low plain

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

Capital

Riga

Constitution

15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine Todd-Bailey 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214 FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785

Executive branch

chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast

Flag description

three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

Political parties and leaders

Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; First Party of Latvia [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For Our Latvia or ML [Rihards Jablokovs]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [Jevgenijs Osiopovs]; Latvian National Front [Aivars GARDA]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Alfred RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC; Light of Latgale or LG; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; New Politics Party or JP [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Union for the Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; United Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP

Political pressure groups and leaders

Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

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 joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 594,596 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 466,659 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 19,209 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15% (male 177,223; female 169,241) 15-64 years: 69.2% (male 772,496; female 823,410) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 118,035; female 245,901) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

8.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

13.73 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.45 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.86 years male: 65.91 years female: 76.09 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 38.8 years male: 35.6 years female: 41.9 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Net migration rate

-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.71% (2004 est.)

Religions

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over 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; vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies, exchange firms, and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

Airports

51 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 20 (2003 est.)

Highways

total: 73,202 km paved: 28,256 km unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)

Merchant marine

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1 foreign-owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Ukraine 1 registered in other countries: 96 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

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 (2003)

Waterways

300 km (2004)