 |
|
| Geography |
| Most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east |
| Location: | Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania |
| Geographic coordinates: | 57 00 N, 25 00 E |
| Area: | total: 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km
Size comparison: slightly larger than West Virginia |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,382 km border countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 km |
| Coastline: | 498 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
| Climate: | maritime; wet, moderate winters |
| Terrain: | low plain |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Galzina Kalns 312 m |
| Natural resources: | peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land |
| Land use: | arable land: 28.19% permanent crops: 0.45% other: 71.36% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 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 (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| Current Environment Issues: | 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, as well as 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 Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
|
| People |
| Population: | 2,231,503 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 13.3% (male 152,472/female 145,161) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 756,469/female 797,505) 65 years and over: 17% (male 124,432/female 255,464) (2009 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 40.1 years male: 37.1 years female: 43.3 years (2009 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.614% (2009 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 9.78 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Death rate: | 13.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 72.15 years male: 66.98 years female: 77.59 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.3 children born/woman (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.8% (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 10,000 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 500 (2007 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian |
| Ethnic groups: | Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002) |
| Religions: | Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006) |
| Languages: | Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.7% (2000 census) |
|
| 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: | 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 |
| 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, 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 |
| Independence: | 18 November 1918 (from the Soviet Russia) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union |
| Constitution: | 15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since |
| Legal system: | based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007) head of government: Prime Minister Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (since 12 March 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 31 May 2007 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament election results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39 |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 6.9%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6; note - seats by party as of November 2009 - TP 21, SC 18, ZZS 17, JL 15, LPP/LC 10, Civic Union 6, TB/LNNK 5, PCTVL 5, independents 3 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Civic Union [Sandra KALNIETE, Girts Valdis KRISTOVSKIS]; First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS, Tatjana ZDANOKA]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS, Janis URBANOVICS]; New Era Party or JL [Solvita ABOLTINA, Dzintars ZAKIS]; People's Party or TP [Andris SKELE]; Society for Different Politics or SCP [Aigars STOKENBERGS; Artis PABRIKS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS] |
| International organization participation: | Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Andrejs PILDEGOVICS chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Judith G. GARBER embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] 670-36200 FAX: [371] 678-20047 |
|
| Economy |
| Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07; but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the softening world economy. GDP plunged nearly 18% in 2009 - the three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst declines last year. The IMF, EU, and other donors provided assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro and reduce the fiscal deficit to about 5% of GDP. 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. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account- and budget-deficits remain major concerns. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $32.4 billion (2009 est.) $39.42 billion (2008 est.) $41.32 billion (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $24.2 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -17.8% (2009 est.) -4.6% (2008 est.) 10% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $14,500 (2009 est.) $17,600 (2008 est.) $18,300 (2007 est.) note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.6% industry: 24% services: 72.4% (2009 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.205 million (2009 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 12.1% industry: 25.8% services: 61.8% (2005 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 16.6% (2009 est.) 7.452% (2008 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.4% (2004) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 36 (2005) 32 (1999) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (2009 est.) 15.4% (2008 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 26.2% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $9.501 billion expenditures: $12.15 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: | 32.5% of GDP (2009 est.) 19.5% of GDP (2008 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish |
| 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 and raw materials |
| Industrial production growth rate: | -17.5% (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 4.62 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 6.822 billion kWh (2007 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 2.123 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 4.643 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 39,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 5,873 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 43,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 2.05 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2008 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 2.05 billion cu m (2008 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $1.64 billion (2009 est.) $-4.492 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports: | $6.721 billion (2009 est.) $9.634 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs |
| Exports - partners: | Lithuania 15.5%, Russia 14.7%, Estonia 13.2%, Germany 7.7%, Sweden 6.2%, Denmark 4.3% (2008) |
| Imports: | $8.849 billion (2009 est.) $15.65 billion (2008 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles |
| Imports - partners: | Lithuania 16.1%, Germany 12.9%, Russia 10.7%, Poland 7%, Estonia 7%, Sweden 4.4%, Finland 4.3% (2008) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $5.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $5.248 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $38.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $42.26 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $11.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $11.21 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $1.103 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $1.083 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $1.609 billion (31 December 2008) $3.111 billion (31 December 2007) $2.705 billion (31 December 2006) |
| Exchange rates: | lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5157 (2009), 0.4701 (2008), 0.5162 (2007), 0.5597 (2006), 0.5647 (2005) |
|
| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | 644,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 92 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 2.234 million (2008) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephone service expands domestic: number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership exceeds 125 per 100 persons international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden (2008) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 8, FM 62, shortwave 1 (2008) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 37 (plus 31 repeaters) (2008) |
| Internet country code: | .lv |
| Internet hosts: | 257,414 (2009) |
| Internet users: | 1.254 million (2008) |
|
| Transportation |
| Airports: | 43 (2009) country comparison to the world: 100 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 20 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 8 (2009) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2009) |
| Pipelines: | gas 948 km; refined products 415 km (2008) |
| Railways: | total: 2,298 km broad gauge: 2,265 km 1.520-m gauge narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 69,675 km paved: 69,675 km (2006) |
| Waterways: | 300 km (2007) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 22 by type: cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Estonia 2) registered in other countries: 118 (Antigua and Barbuda 13, Belize 12, Cambodia 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Dominica 1, Jamaica 1, Liberia 21, Malta 19, Marshall Islands 16, Panama 8, Russia 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17) (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: | Riga, Ventspils |
|
| Military |
|
| Military branches: | National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Ground Forces, Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Border Guard, Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2009) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2009) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 568,683 females age 16-49: 565,826 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 410,374 females age 16-49: 463,144 (2009 est.) |
0 comments:
Post a Comment