Latvia

Location

• Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
• most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Riga	742,572	Capital
Daugavpils	78,126
Liepāja	67,421
Jelgava	54,834
Jūrmala	52,001
Ventspils	32,723
Rēzekne	26,429
Valmiera	22,812
Ogre	22,767
Jēkabpils	21,014

Size

• 24,938 square miles
• 64,589 square kilometers
• slightly larger than West Virginia

History

Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Terrain

low plain

Languages

Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%  (2011 est.)major-language sample(s): World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.note: data represent language usually spoken at home

Religions

Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)

Government

parliamentary republic

• Constitution: history: several previous (pre-1991 independence); after independence was restored in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced on 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced on 6 July 1993amendment process: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)head of government: Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliamentelection/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliamentmost recent election date: 31 May 2023election results: 2023: Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-392019: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39expected date of next election: 2027
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliament (Saeima)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 100 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 10/1/2022parties elected and seats per party: New Unity (VIENOTIBA) (26); Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) (16); United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party (15); National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) (13); For Stability! (11); Progressives (10); Latvia First (9)percentage of women in chamber: 31%expected date of next election: October 2026

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high-income EU and eurozone member; weak recovery following economic contraction, with slight increase in private consumption and uncertain trade environment; challenges from skilled-labor shortages, capital market access, large informal sector, and green and digital transitions
• Budget: revenues: $14.58 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $15.432 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
• Industries: processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics
• Agricultural Products: wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, chicken (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 31.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 21.8% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 9.7% (2022 est.)forest: 54.9% (2022 est.)other: 13.4% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Lithuania 18%, Germany 11%, Poland 10%, Estonia 8%, Finland 5% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Lithuania 19%, Estonia 6%, Russia 6%, Germany 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports