Latvia

§1. Latvia Introduction

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.

§2. 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 kmē
  land: 64,589 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

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 kmē (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

§3. 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.)

§4. 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

§5. 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

§6. 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)

§7. 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.)

§8. 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)

§9. 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
