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Background:
| Latvia | Geography |
| Location: | Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania |
| Geographic coordinates: | 57 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Map references: | Europe |
| 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 |
| Coastline: | 531 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 |
| Terrain: | low plain |
| 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.) |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| 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 |
| Latvia | People |
| 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.) |
| Latvia | 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: | Riga |
| 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 |
| Latvia | Economy |
| 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) |
| Currency code: | 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 |
| Latvia | Communications |
| 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) |
| Latvia | Transportation |
| 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: | 25 (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.) |
| Latvia | Military |
| 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) |
| Latvia | Transnational Issues |
| 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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