Latvia

total: 490,569 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)

several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations

.lv

total: 1.729 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 91% (2021 est.)

general assessment: the telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fiber-based infrastructure; there is effective competition in the mobile market; these multi-service operators have focused investment on fiber networks and on expanding the reach of 5G (2023) domestic: fixed-line roughly 10 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 115 per 100 subscriptions (2021) international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber-optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden

total subscriptions: 191,798 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions: 2,161,725 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2021 est.)

wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, pork, poultry

on food: 17.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 7.9% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

revenues: $12.931 billion (2020 est.) expenditures: $14.242 billion (2020 est.)

-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fitch rating: A- (2014) Moody's rating: A3 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

-$1.7 billion (2021 est.) $918.67 million (2020 est.) -$200.203 million (2019 est.)

$40.164 billion (2019 est.) $42.488 billion (2018 est.)

high-income, EU-member Baltic economy; export-driven; Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a temporary labor force surge and impacted growth due to Russian trade reliance; highly developed transit services

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.) 0.893 (2019 est.) 0.847 (2018 est.) 0.885 (2017 est.)

$25.248 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.768 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.539 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

lumber, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, fuel woods, hard liquors (2021)

Lithuania 17%, Estonia 9%, United Kingdom 8%, Germany 7%, Russia 7% (2021)

calendar year

$34.084 billion (2019 est.)

household consumption: 61.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.9% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 60.6% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -61.9% (2017 est.)

agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.) industry: 22.4% (2017 est.) services: 73.7% (2017 est.)

34.5 (2019 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 26.3% (2015)

$26.622 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.427 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars $20.765 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

refined petroleum, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, electricity, cars, natural gas (2021)

Lithuania 15%, Russia 14%, Germany 9%, Poland 8%, Estonia 8% (2021)

1.93% (2021 est.)

processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics

3.28% (2021 est.) 0.22% (2020 est.) 2.81% (2019 est.)

955,000 (2021 est.)

22.9% (2018 est.)

36.3% of GDP (2017 est.) 37.4% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

$60.457 billion (2021 est.) $58.094 billion (2020 est.) $59.403 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

4.07% (2021 est.) -2.2% (2020 est.) 2.57% (2019 est.)

$32,100 (2021 est.) $30,600 (2020 est.) $31,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars

$5.491 billion (31 December 2021 est.) $5.29 billion (31 December 2020 est.) $4.48 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

21.77% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

7.6% (2021 est.) 8.1% (2020 est.) 6.31% (2019 est.)

total: 15.5% (2021 est.) male: 12% female: 19.6%

8.45 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 5.693 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.) from consumed natural gas: 2.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.) consumption: 39,000 metric tons (2020 est.) exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.) imports: 40,000 metric tons (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity: 3.089 million kW (2020 est.) consumption: 6.706 billion kWh (2020 est.) exports: 2.548 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 4.173 billion kWh (2020 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 377 million kWh (2020 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

fossil fuels: 33.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) hydroelectricity: 47.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.) biomass and waste: 15.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

86.645 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) consumption: 1.068 billion cubic meters (2020 est.) exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.) imports: 1.068 billion cubic meters (2020 est.) proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

total petroleum production: 1,600 bbl/day (2021 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 39,900 bbl/day (2019 est.) crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

16,180 bbl/day (2017 est.)

54,370 bbl/day (2017 est.)

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 12.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 7 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.85 megatons (2020 est.)

maritime; wet, moderate winters

while land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.7% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)

34.94 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal: 90 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 857,000 tons (2015 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 181,941 tons (2015 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.2% (2015 est.)

total: 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia

maritime; wet, moderate winters

498 km

highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m mean elevation: 87 m

57 00 N, 25 00 E

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

6 sq km (2016) 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

total: 1,370 km border countries (4): Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km

agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.) forest: 54.1% (2018 est.) other: 16.7% (2018 est.)

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

Europe

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

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

largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

low plain

36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils

name: Riga geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October etymology: of the several theories explaining the name's origin, the one relating to the city's role in Baltic and North Sea commerce is the most probable; the name is likely related to the Latvian word "rija," meaning "warehouse," where the 'j' became a 'g' under the heavy German influence in the city from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

history: several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993 amendments: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019

conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: the name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.)

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher ROBINSON (since 21 February 2023) embassy: 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510 mailing address: 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520 telephone: [371] 6710-7000 FAX: [371] 6710-7050 email address and website: askconsular-riga@state.gov https://lv.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Maris SELGA (since 16 September 2019) chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860 email address and website: embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa

chief of state: President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 May 2023 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: 2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS 52, Uldis Pīlēns 25 third round on 31 May 2023 2019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39 note: on 15 September 2023, Parliament voted 53-39 to approve Prime Minister Evika SILINA

three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280

parliamentary republic

18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

description: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held no later than 3 October 2026) election results: percent of vote by party - JV 19.2%, ZZS 12.6%, AS 11.1%, NA 9.4%, S! 6.9%, LPV 6.3%, and PRO 6.2%; seats by party - JV 26, ZZS 16, AS 15, NA 13, S! 11, LPV 9, and PRO 10

name: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia) lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

total World Heritage Sites: 3 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga ; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldiga

Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union

white wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white

Development/For! or AP! [Daniels PAVLUTS, Ivars IJABS] For Stability or S! [Aleksejs ROSLIKOVS] Latvia First [Ainars SLESERS] Latvian Green Party or LZP (Edgars TAVARS) National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" or NA [Raivis DZINTARS] New Unity or JV [Arturs Kri jānis KARINS] Social Democratic Party "Harmony" or S [Janis URBANOVICS] The Progressives or PRO [Kaspars BRISKENS] Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Aivars LEMBERGS] United List or AS [Uldis PILENS] (electoral coalition including the Latvian Green Party or LZP, Latvian Association of Regions or LRA, Liepaja Party)

18 years of age; universal

Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia 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 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.

the National Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country s sovereignty and territory; they also have some domestic security responsibilities, including coast guard functions, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and providing support to other internal security services, including the State Border Service, the State Police, and the State Security Service; the Military Police provides protection to the president and other government officials, foreign dignitaries, and key facilities; for external defense, Latvia s primary security focus is Russia, which has only increased since the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022; in 2004, it joined NATO and the EU, which it depends on to play a decisive role in Latvia s security policy; Latvia is actively engaged in both NATO and the EU, as well as bilaterally with its allies in order to bolster its own security and that of the surrounding region; the Latvian military has participated in NATO and EU missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with NATO and EU partner forces; Latvia also hosts NATO partner forces and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions the Land Forces have a single mechanized brigade; since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia; the Land Forces are supplemented by the National Guard, which has four regionally based infantry brigades that are manned mostly by part-time personnel supplemented by some full-time professional soldiers; in peacetime, the brigades participate in emergency, fire and rescue operations, and in the elimination of consequences caused by emergency situations the Air Force has no combat aircraft; NATO has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Baltics Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; the Naval Forces feature a few patrol vessels and minesweepers; the military also has logistics, military police, special operations forces, and training commands (2023)

National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze) (2023) note: the armed forces, the Defense Intelligence and Security Service, the Constitution Protection Bureau, and the National Guard are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense; the State Police, State Border Guards, and State Security Service are under the Ministry of Interior; the State Border Guard may become part of the armed forces during an emergency

approximately 7,000 regular military forces; approximately 9,500 National Guard (2023)

130 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2023)

the Latvian military's inventory consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and limited amounts of more modern, Western-produced systems acquired since the country joined NATO in 2004; in recent years, the UK and US have been the leading suppliers of military equipment (2023)

2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.1% of GDP (2021) 2.2% of GDP (2020) 2% of GDP (2019)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (abolished 2007) (2023) note 1: in 2023, the Latvian Parliament approved a plan to reinstate mandatory military service for men aged 18-27 (women voluntarily) beginning in 2024; service would be for 12 months in the Land Forces or alternatively in internal affairs, health, or welfare structures note 2: as of 2022, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel

0-14 years: 14.92% (male 139,877/female 131,839) 15-64 years: 63.37% (male 570,902/female 583,578) 65 years and over: 21.71% (2023 est.) (male 134,809/female 260,745)

total: 12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

8.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

21.1% (2020/21) NA

NA

7.5% of GDP (2020)

49.1% (2023 est.)

14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

total dependency ratio: 59.3 youth dependency ratio: 24.9 elderly dependency ratio: 34.4 potential support ratio: 2.9 (2021 est.)

improved: urban: 99.9% of population rural: 98.6% of population total: 99.5% of population unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population rural: 1.4% of population total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)

6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.)

0.76 (2023 est.)

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)

total: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.) male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%; note - data represent language usually spoken at home (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

total population: 76.2 years (2023 est.) male: 71.8 years female: 80.8 years

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.9% male: 99.9% female: 99.9% (2021)

degree of risk: intermediate (2023) vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis

621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

18 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

total: 45.2 years (2023 est.) male: 41.3 years female: 48.9 years

27.3 years (2020 est.)

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

-5.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

23.6% (2016)

3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

1,821,750 (2023 est.)

largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

-1.13% (2023 est.)

Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)

improved: urban: 98.9% of population rural: 85.3% of population total: 94.6% of population unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population rural: 14.7% of population total: 5.4% of population (2020 est.)

total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2020)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

total: 37% (2020 est.) male: 50.3% (2020 est.) female: 23.7% (2020 est.)

1.55 children born/woman (2023 est.)

urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Latvia-Belarus : Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008 Latvia-Estonia : demarcation reportedly completed in 1998 Latvia-Lithuania : boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights Latvia-Russia : Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Baltic countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

refugees (country of origin): 32,470 (Ukraine) (as of 15 August 2023) stateless persons: 195,354 (2022); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem

42 (2021)

18 note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the typical length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

24 note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

YL

1 (2021)

total: 80 (2022) by type: container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 9, other 39

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 53 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,058,762 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.01 million (2018) mt-km

1,213 km gas, 417 km refined products (2018)

major seaport(s): Riga, Ventspils

total: 2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

total: 70,244 km (2018) paved: 15,158 km (2018) unpaved: 55,086 km (2018)

Latvia operates one PC 5 or 6 class icebreaker in the Baltic Sea note - PC indicates a Polar Class vessel: PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)

300 km (2010) (navigable year-round)