Latvia
Republic of LatviaLatvijas Republika
parliamentary democracyIndependence 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Latvia as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 123 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
18 fieldsLand useshare of 64,589 sq km
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 (1998 est.)
Environment - current 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, and 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
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
Geography - note
most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
People
19 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2003 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)
- 15-64 years:
- 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)
- 65 years and over:
- 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.92 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.49 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999); Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)
18 fieldsParliament or Saeima, 100 seats, elected 5 October 2002one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Latvia
- conventional short form:
- Latvia
- local short form:
- Latvija
- former:
- Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
- local long form:
- Latvijas Republika
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
National holiday
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
- elections:
- president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term;
- election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007);
- prime minister appointed by the president
- election results:
- Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%;
- seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)];
- CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS];
- First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS];
- For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS];
- For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement;
- Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS];
- Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA];
- Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS];
- Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS];
- Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS];
- Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS];
- New Era Party [Einars REPSE];
- Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS];
- Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA];
- People's Party [Andris SKELE];
- Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE];
- Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS];
- Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS];
- Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS];
- United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
International organization participation
BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Aivis RONIS
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 726-6785
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
- chancery:
- 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON
- embassy:
- 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
- mailing address:
- American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
- telephone:
- [371] 703-6200
- FAX:
- [371] 781-0047
Economy
41 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2001)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
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. 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. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.
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
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 2,347 km
- broad gauge:
- 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Merchant marine
- total:
- 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
- ships by type:
- cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Military
Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia;
- the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over 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;
- money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Latvia.” The World Factbook 2003. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/latvia/2003.