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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.lv

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

51,758 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

936,000 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

653,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1,219,600 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Latvian lat (LVL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

LVL

Current account balance [time series]

$-955.9 million (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$6.793 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

32 (1999)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$96.2 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

6.046 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

703 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

2.69 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

4.365 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7.4% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners [time series]

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 [time series]

8% (2003 est.)

Industries [time series]

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) [time series]

2.9% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

27.1% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

1.18 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

14.4% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$1.535 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.6% (2003 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate [time series]

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline [time series]

531 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

low plain

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, 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 [time series]

Riga

Constitution [time series]

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

Country name [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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 [time series]

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 [time series]

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 (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

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 [time series]

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 (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Introduction

Background [time series]

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

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.2% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

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

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

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

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

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 [time series]

males: 19,209 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

5,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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 [time series]

Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

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

Median age [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Net migration rate [time series]

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

Population [time series]

2,306,306 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.71% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

1.25 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

51 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Railways [time series]

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 [time series]

300 km (2004)