| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Europe |
| Geographical Location |
57° 00' North Latitude
25° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
64,589 sq km |
| Climate |
Maritime; wet, moderate winters |
| Natural Resources |
Peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Latvia |
| Capital City |
Riga |
| Government Type |
Parliamentary democracy |
| 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 |
| Independence Day |
21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
2,290,237 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Latvian |
| Ethnic Groups |
Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002) |
| Religion |
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox |
| Languages |
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census) |
| Population Growth Rate |
-0.69% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Latvian lat (LVL) |
| 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 |
| Labor Force |
1.17 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish |
| Export Commodities |
Wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs |
| Export Partners |
UK 22.1%, Germany 9.9%, US 8.2%, Sweden 7.3%, France 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Estonia 5.2%, Denmark 4.2%, Russia 4.1% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles |
| Import Partners |
Germany 16.1%, Russia 14.4%, Lithuania 7.6%, Finland 6.5%, Sweden 5.6%, Estonia 5.1%, Italy 4.2%, Poland 4% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
2,303 km |
| Highways |
60,472 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004) |
| Airports |
50 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+371 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.lv |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. |
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| www.kfrawy.com |
