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Latvia
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 Map references: Europe Area:
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia Land boundaries:
Coastline: 531 km Maritime claims:
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain: low plain Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, arable land Land use:
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:
Population: 2,404,926 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: -0.84% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 7.8 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 14.88 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -1.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 15.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 1.13 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
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: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other Literacy:
Country name:
Data code: LG 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: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918) 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:
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms - amended from three-year terms on 4 December 1997)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament Political parties and leaders: Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Association of Latvian Social Democrats [Juris BOJARS, Janis ADAMSONS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front of Latvia or LTF) [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSK]; 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 LSDSP [Janis BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Sergejs DIAMANIS]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; New Party [Raimonds PAULS]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People [leader NA]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]; People's Party [Andris SKELE] 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 (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
Economy - overview: In 1999 Latvia, a transitional economy, experienced zero GDP growth as it continued to feel the impact of the August 1998 Russian financial crisis. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO) in February 1999 - the first Baltic state to join - band was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December 1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment reached 9.6% in 1999, up from 9.2% in 1998 and 6.7% in 1997. Privatization of large state-owned utilities, especially the energy sector, faced more delays in 1999, but is expected to accelerate in the next two years. Latvia projects 3.5% GDP growth, 3% inflation, and a 2% fiscal deficit in 2000. Preparing for EU membership by 2003 remains a top foreign policy priority. GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.8 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,200 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.2% (1999 est.) Labor force: 1.4 million (1997) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 16%, industry 41%, services 43% (1990) Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1999 est.) Budget:
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products Industrial production growth rate: -5% (1999 est.) Electricity - production: 4.766 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 4.882 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 850 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999) Exports - commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs Exports - partners: Germany 16%, UK 14%, Russia 12%, Sweden 10% (1998) Imports: $2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998) Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels Imports - partners: Germany 17%, Russia 12%, Finland 10%, Sweden 7% (1998) Debt - external: $212 million (1998) Economic aid - recipient: $96.2 million (1995) Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1 - 0.583 (January 2000),0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995) Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 748,000 (1997) Telephones - mobile cellular: 175,348 (1999) Telephone system:
inadequate but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 1.76 million (1997) Television broadcast stations: 74 (1998) Televisions: 1.22 million (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (1999)
Railways:
Highways:
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:
Airports: 50 (1994 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Airports - with unpaved runways:
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:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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; ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute 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 amphetamines, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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