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Latvia
Form of Government: Republic
Area: 64 594 sq km
Population: 1 893 223 inhab. (estimate 2021)
Density: 29.31 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 58° - 55° N; long. 21° - 28° E
Capital: Rīga (capital) 614 618 inhab. (2021);
Currency: euro (100 cents)
Human development index: 0.866 (rank: 37)
President: Egils Levits (independent), since 8 July 2019
Prime Minister: Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš (Unity), since 23 January 2019
Parliament: seats (July 2021 update): Social Democratic Party “Harmony” (pro-Russian), 19; JKP (New Conservative Party), 14; AP! (“Development/For!”, liberal), 12; NA (National Alliance, conservative), 12; ZZS (Union of Greens and Farmers), 10; Unity (liberal-conservative coalition), 8; PCL (“For a Humane Latvia”, populist), 6; others, 19
Internet: www.csb.gov.lv (Central Statistical Bureau)
Member of Council of Europe, EBRD, EU, NATO, OAS observer, OECD, OSCE, UN, WTO
Latvia
Useful informationInternational license plate code LV
International dialling code 00371
Travel vaccinations requirement none
Electricity (Voltage) 220/230
Driving side rigth
Internet code .lv
GMT +2
DST +3
DST duration (start-end) late March-late October
Annual average temperature (°C) Rīga 6
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Rīga -5/17
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Rīga 10/1
Annual average precipitation (mm) Rīga 635
Days of rainfall (annual average) Rīga 121
Politics and current affairsIn 2021, Latvia was at the centre of diplomatic spats with Belarus following the hijacking of Ryanair flight 4978, which culminated in the expulsion of diplomatic staff from both countries. Relations with Russia remain tense.
Geography.
Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north-east, Russia to the east, Belarus to the south-east and Lithuania to the south. The Baltic Sea lies off its west coast. The country, which is flat in the centre and corrugated in the west (Courland) and east (Livonia), is crossed by the River Daugava (Western Dvina). There are many lakes.
It has a temperate, rainy climate.
Government
Having been independent since 1918, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It regained its independence on 21 August 1991 and the 1922 Constitution was reinstated on 6 July 1993. On 1 May 2004, the country joined the EU. The Parliament (100 members elected by direct suffrage for four years) elects the President of the Republic with a four-year mandate.
Administrative division
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rīga | 614 618 | inhab. | 2021 |
| Daugavpils | 80 627 | inhab. | 2021 |
Population
| Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| MALE | AGE | FEMALE | ||||||
After independence, Latvian citizenship was only granted to those who had been Latvian in 1940 and their descendants, effectively excluding those who had arrived during the Soviet regime (who were mostly Russian). Since 1995, about 150 000 persons have been naturalized, mostly of Russian origin.
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth rate | 9.2 | ‰ | 2020 |
| Death rate | 15.2 | ‰ | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreigners, total | 260 405 | units | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latvian | 62.7 | % | 2021 |
| Russian | 24.5 | % | 2021 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lutheran | 37$ | % | 2019 |
| nonreligious/atheist | 31$ | % | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Latvian (official) |
| Lithuanian |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 years | 15.3 | % | 2020 |
| 15-29 years | 15$ | % | 2020 |
Economy
The economy fell by 3.6% in 2020 due to the effects of the pandemic. The GDP is expected to gain ground in 2021. The unemployment rate is improving in the first half of 2021. The economy is expected to accelerate in 2022 (+5.2%) due to the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The investments in the Real Baltica rail project with Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland are important. Cooperation with neighbouring countries deepens to reduce the nation’s energy dependence on Russia.
Agriculture, livestock farming and fishing are well developed. Key industrial sectors include the chemical and petrochemical (at Ventspils) and construction segments, the production of railway rolling stock and cars (at Jelgava), and some of the hi-tech sectors (pharmaceuticals, electro-technical and telecommunications equipment).
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 139.21 | index | 2016 |
| Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 104.26 | index | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active population | 971 700 | units | 2020 |
| Active population, Females | 49.9 | % | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 8.1 | % | 2020 |
| Unemployment rate, Females | 43$ | % | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expenses | 7 986.3 | M LCU | 2020 |
| Revenues | 6 565.6 | M LCU | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| agriculture | 7.2 | % | 2020 |
| industry | 23.583 | % | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| agriculture | 4.343 | % | 2020 |
| industry | 22.06 | % | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency in circulation | 5.222 | BN LCU | 2020 |
| International reserves | 5 289.64 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| arable land | 20.986 | % | 2018 |
| forests | 54.808 | % | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| barley | 305.4 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| cereals, total | 3 163.2 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| potatoes | 223.7 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| roots and tubers, total | 223.7 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cabbages | 23.1 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| carrots and turnips | 13.95 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| beans, dry | 80.5 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| broad beans, dry | 73.5 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| rapeseed | 408.3 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| sugar beet | 0$ | 1000 t | 2017 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| flax fibre and tow | 0.2 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| linseed | 0.1 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| apples | 10.39 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| blueberries | 0.47 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| mushrooms | 0.066 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| barley | 86.8 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| oats | 83.2 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| potatoes | 10$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cabbages | 0.67 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| carrots and turnips | 0.51 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| beans, dry | 39.7 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
| broad beans, dry | 24.9 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| rapeseed | 139.4 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| sugar beet | 5.782 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| flax fibre and tow | 0.158 | 1000 ha | 2018 |
| linseed | 0.1 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| hemp tow waste | 0.2 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| apples | 3.44 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
| blueberries | 0.51 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| timber | 12 942 170 | m³ | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cattle | 395.32 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| cattle and buffaloes | 395.32 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| pigs | 314.2 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| sheep | 99.82 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| goats | 11.69 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| equines, total | 8.4 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| horses | 8.4 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| birds | 2 339 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| honey | 2.152 | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| butter | 3.1 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| cheese | 58.05 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| crustaceans and molluscs | 1 319 | t | 2019 |
| freshwater fishes | 1 502.21 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| peat | 1 900 | 1000 t | 2020 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| gypsum | 230 | 1000 t | 2012 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| dolomite | 305.3 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| sand and gravel - t | 12 681.3 | 1000 t | 2018 |
Energy
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| - thermal | 3 051.24 | M kWh | 2019 |
| - hydro | 2 086.92 | M kWh | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| - hydro | 1 565 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
| - thermal | 1 270 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| total net generation | 6 221.23 | M kWh | 2019 |
| total installed capacity | 3 049 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| steel, crude | 5$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| ships | 1 513 | G.T. | 2005 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| computers | 4 100 | no. | 2006 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| soap | 3$ | 1000 t | 2016 |
| synthetic yarn | 11.8 | 1000 t | 2004 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cotton fabrics | 25.1 | M m² | 2004 |
| cotton yarn | 1.1 | 1000 t | 2008 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| footwear | 134 600 | pairs | 2008 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| beer of barley | 130.447 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| fish, frozen | 20.7 | 1000 t | 2016 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| other paper | 16$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
| paper | 16$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| cement | 1 000 | 1000 t | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| chemicals production | 83.358 | M US$ | 2018 |
| food, beverages and tobacco production | 635.274 | M US$ | 2018 |
Trade
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| manufactures | 59.092 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
| food products | 20.821 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuania | 2 344 | M US$ | 2018 |
| Estonia | 1 682 | M US$ | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lithuania | 3 201 | M US$ | 2018 |
| Germany | 1 936 | M US$ | 2018 |
Tourism
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expenditures | 745 | M US$ | 2019 |
| Number of arrivals | 1 935 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil aviation, km flown | 12 800 000 | km flown | 2004 |
| Civil aviation, passengers carried | 4 976.4 | 1000 units | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadband subscribers | 266.892 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
| Computers | 327 | per 1000 pop. | 2008 |
Social and welfare
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected years of schooling | 16.231 | years | 2018 |
| Gradautes, percentage | 35.708 | % | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students, primary level | 121 674 | units | 2018 |
| Students, secondary level | 117 326 | units | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social protection spending | 31.467 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
| Social protection spending | 16.436 | % of GDP | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital beds | 5.5 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
| Physicians | 3.3 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIV | 0.5 | % of adults | 2019 |
| HIV, total | 0.2 | % | 2001 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museums | 153 | units | 2019 |
| Museums, visitors | 3 708 000 | units | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research and development spending | 0.64 | % of GDP | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
| Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |
| DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| clothing, footwear | 4.8 | % | 2019 |
| education | 1.6 | % | 2019 |
