Latvia
Republic of LatviaLatvijas Republika
parliamentary democracyIndependence 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Latvia as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Geography
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia | and Lithuania
17 fieldsLand useshare of 64,100 sq km
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, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 19% (male 227,634; female 218,321)
- 15-64 years:
- 66% (male 754,416; female 829,801)
- 65 years and over:
- 15% (male 113,925; female 241,299) (July 1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.9 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.47 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Prime Minister Guntars KRASTS (since 7 August 1997)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Saeima, 100 seats, elected 30 September-1 October 1995one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
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
Constitution
the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Guntars KRASTS (since 7 August 1997)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
- elections:
- president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
- election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June 1999);
- prime minister appointed by the president
- election results:
- Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote-Guntis ULMANIS 53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held 3 October 1998)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party-Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%;
- seats by party - Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6
Political parties and leaders
- Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman];
- Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS];
- Popular Movement For Latvia or TKL [Joachim SIEGERIST];
- For Fatherland and Freedom or TVB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK;
- Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS];
- Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS];
- Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSK];
- Latvian Farmers Union or LZS [Andris ROZENTALS];
- Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS];
- National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS];
- Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Sergejs DIAMANIS];
- Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS];
- Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS];
- Latvian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS];
- Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV];
- Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly Peoples Front of Latvia or LTF) [Uldis AUGSTKALNS];
- Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE];
- Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS];
- "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE];
- Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS];
- Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP [Janis DINEVICS];
- Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People;
- Latvian Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]
note: former Prime Minister Andris SKELE announced 18 December 1997 that he is forming a new, as yet unnamed, party
International organization participation
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
- chancery:
- 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER
- embassy:
- Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga
- mailing address:
- American Embassy, Riga, PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723
- telephone:
- [371] (2) 210-0005, 782-0046
Economy
28 fieldsEconomy-overview
In 1997 Latvia scored the most impressive economic achievements since independence in 1991, with GDP growing by 6% and inflation at 7.4%. GDP is expected to grow 5% in 1998 and inflation to range between 6% and 7%. In 1997 Latvia continued its strict fiscal policy and apparently ended the year with a small fiscal surplus, reflecting higher-than-expected income from customs revenues, excise and business taxes, and restraints on government spending.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in 1997 was a record $880 million by yearend. Prospects for increasing FDI in 1998 are good if Latvia privatizes at least some of its large companies, including Venspils Nafta (the state oil company). Although Latvia was disappointed that it was not included among the five Central and East European states invited to start EU accession talks in spring 1998, it is likely to join the WTrO in 1998.
Latvia's growing current account and trade deficits remain a cause for concern, reaching nearly 10% by yearend. Latvia's trade deficit may even reach 22% of GDP in 1998.
Labor force
- total:
- 1.4 million (1997)
- by occupation:
- industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)
Industries
- 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
Exports
- total value:
- $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
- commodities:
- wood and wood products, textiles, foodstuffs
- partners:
- Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK
Imports
- total value:
- $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
- commodities:
- fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals
- partners:
- Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK, Finland
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993) note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525 million (1992-95)
Exchange rates
lats (LVL) per US$1-0.595 (January 1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993)
Telephone system
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
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 24 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
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)
Military
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, | Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military expenditures-dollar figure
176 million rubles (1994); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes-international
- based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, Latvia had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944;
- draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed;
- ongoing talks over boundary dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs
- transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia;
- produces illicit amphetamines for export LEBANON
Introduction
1 fieldCurrent issues
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if Accord-the blueprint for national reconciliation-the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government.
Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed five cabinets and conducted two legislative elections. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country.
Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border.
The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord.
Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Latvia.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/latvia/1998.