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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 583,134 males fit for military service: 457,067 males reach military age (18) annually: 16,180 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are 25 radio broadcast stations of unknown type

Radios [time series]

1.4 million (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population international: international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

660,000 (1993 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

1.1 million (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993) note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525 million (1992-95)

Economic overview [time series]

Latvia's economic transformation to a modern market economy - rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states - faltered in 1995 as a result of banking and budget crises. Latvia's largely unregulated financial sector suffered a series of bank failures, including the collapse of the country's largest commercial bank - Bank Baltija - due largely to criminal activity by the owners. The government's attempts to compensate depositors of failed banks exacerbated an existing budget shortfall; poor revenue collection and a soft treasury bill market had already caused the government to incur a larger than expected deficit early in the year. As a result of the crises, Latvia's budget deficit for 1995 was $168 million, double that originally planned. In addition, GDP growth came to a halt. The Central Bank maintained its tough monetary policies - severely limiting credits to the state, despite the budget problems - helping to keep annual inflation the lowest among the Baltic states, at about 20%. New Prime Minister SKELE wants to invigorate the privatization of industry; agriculture already is mainly in private hands.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 2,080,000 kW production: 5.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,864 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

lats per US$1 - 0.544 (January 1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)

Exports [time series]

$1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: timber, textiles, dairy products partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, UK, Lithuania

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 9% industry: 31% services: 60% (1994 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$5,300 (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

-1.5% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export

Imports [time series]

$1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: fuels, cars, chemicals partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, Lithuania, Finland

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

-9.5% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

20% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.5% (1995 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 64,100 sq km land area: 64,100 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline [time series]

531 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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 natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection

Geographic coordinates [time series]

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; the maritime borders with Lithuania and Estonia

Irrigated land [time series]

160 sq km (1990)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,078 km border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Capital [time series]

Riga

Constitution [time series]

newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) was elected by Parliament (Saeima) in the third round of balloting; election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held NA June 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December 1995) was appointed by the president cabinet: Council of Ministers was nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Supreme Council

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 726-6785

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[371] (2) 226-530

Flag [time series]

two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)

Independence [time series]

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Saeima

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Legislative branch (Parliament (Saeima)) [time series]

elections last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held NA October 1998); results - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%; seats - (100 total) Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Democratic Party "Saimnieks" (DPS), Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman; Latvia's Way (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS; People's Movement For Latvia, Joachim SIEGERIST; Fatherland and Freedom (TB), Maris GRINBLATS; Latvian Unity Party (LVP), A. KAULS; Latvian National Conservative Party (LNNK), A. SEILE; Green Party (LSZ), O. BATAREVSK; Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), A. ROZENTALS; Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), P. KLAVINS; National Harmony Party (TSP), Janis JURKANS; Latvian Socialist Party (LSP), F. STROGANOVS; Latvian Liberal Party (LLP), J. DANOSS; Political Association of the Underprivileged (MPA), B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS; Latvian Democratic Labor Party (LDDP), J. BOJARS; Party of Russian Citizens (LKPP), V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis AUGSTKALNS; Political Union of Economists (TPA), E. KIDE; Latvian National Democratic Party (LNDP), A. MALINS; "Our Land" (MZ), M. DAMBEKALNE; Anticommunist Union (PA), P. MUCENIEKS; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (LSDSP); Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party (LNP), V. KONOVALOUS

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-005

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 20% (male 254,664; female 244,502) 15-64 years: 66% (male 775,690; female 848,128) 65 years and over: 14% (male 108,814; female 237,184) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.91 years male: 60.84 years female: 73.27 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 99%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Net migration rate [time series]

-9.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

2,468,982 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-1.39% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female all ages: 0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 50 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 6 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 27 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 66,718 km paved: 12,076 km unpaved: 54,642 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 519,859 GRT/678,987 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)

Ports [time series]

Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Railways [time series]

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)

Waterways [time series]

300 km perennially navigable