Latvia
Republic of LatviaLatvijas Republika
parliamentary democracyIndependence 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Latvia as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 106 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Along with most of the other small nations of Europe, Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in 1994.
The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.
Geography
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between | Estonia and Lithuania
17 fieldsLand useshare of 64,589 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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1999 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)
- 15-64 years:
- 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)
- 65 years and over:
- 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.91 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.47 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993); Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21 November 1998)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Saeima, 100 seats, elected 3 October 1998one 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 Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21 November 1998)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
- elections:
- president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997);
- election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 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 four-year terms--amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997)
- 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%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%;
- seats by party--People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
Political parties and leaders
- New Party [Raimonds PAULS];
- V. IVANOV];
- Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's Front ADAMSONS]
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 (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS
- chancery:
- 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
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
Economy
Developments in 1998 include an invitation to | join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country | invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced | inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997).
31 fieldsGDP--composition by sector(1997)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy--overview
Developments in 1998 include an invitation to join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial troubles.
Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring initially hit Latvia's exporters--Russia is among Latvia's top three trade partners--but also prompted them to seek alternative markets. Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus.
Its draft 1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%. Privatization of large state utilities--especially the energy sector--was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999.
EU accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold growth to around 2.5% in 1999.
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
Exchange rates
lats (LVL) per US$1--0.570 (January 1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
- Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans to privatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns;
- 50,000 people are on the waiting list to receive telephone service;
- Internet service is available throughout Latvia
- domestic:
- local--two cellular service providers;
- NMT-450 and GSM standards provide service nationwide;
- over 75% of population covered;
- intercity--two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-optic rings form the national backbone;
- 11 digital switching centers, 3 service centers
- international:
- Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity to Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable to Sweden
Radio broadcast stations
- AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA;
- note--there are 25 stations of unknown type;
- 75% of commercial broadcasts must be in the Latvian language;
- remainder mostly in Russian and European languages
Television broadcast stations
30 (origin of TV broadcasts must be 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)
Televisions
NA; note--almost 100% of the population have TV access, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 11 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 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)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes--international
- draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed;
- ongoing talks over maritime boundary dispute 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 amphetamines, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Latvia.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/latvia/1999.