-
You are here:
- Homepage » Latvia
Latvia Country Guide
Explore Latvia in Europe
The topography includes low plain. The average density of population is approximately 35 per km². The notable climate conditions in Latvia can be described as maritime with wet, moderate winters. Possible natural disasters include NA.
To reach someone in Latvia dial +371 prior to a number. There are 644,000 installed telephones. And there are 2,243,000 registered mobile phones. The cellular networks commonly support frequencies of 900/1800 MHz. Websites registered in this country end with the top level domain ".lv". If you want to bring electric equipment on your trip (e.g. laptop power supply), note the local power outlet of 220V - 50Hz.
About the flag and history of Latvia
Three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280.
The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed 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 it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia 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 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
National administrative regions of Latvia
- Adazu Novads
- Aglonas Novads
- Aizkraukles Rajons
- Aizputes Novads
- Aknistes Novads
- Alojas Novads
- Alsungas Novads
- Aluksnes Rajons
- Amatas Novads
- Apes Novads
- Auces Novads
- Babites Novads
- Baldones Novads
- Baltinavas Novads
- Balvu Rajons
- Bauskas Rajons
- Beverinas Novads
- Brocenu Novads
- Burtnieku Novads
- Carnikavas Novads
- Cesu Rajons
- Cesvaines Novads
- Ciblas Novads
- Dagdas Novads
- Daugavpils
- Daugavpils Rajons
- Dobeles Rajons
- Dundagas Novads
- Durbes Novads
- Engures Novads
- Erglu Novads
- Garkalnes Novads
- Grobinas Novads
- Gulbenes Rajons
- Iecavas Novads
- Ikskiles Novads
- Ilukstes Novads
- Incukalna Novads
- Jaunjelgavas Novads
- Jaunpiebalgas Novads
- Jaunpils Novads
- Jekabpils
- Jekabpils Rajons
- Jelgava
- Jelgavas Rajons
- Jurmala
- Kandavas Novads
- Karsavas Novads
- Keguma Novads
- Kekavas Novads
- Kocenu Novads
- Kokneses Novads
- Kraslavas Rajons
- Krimuldas Novads
- Krustpils Novads
- Kuldigas Rajons
- Latvia (general)
- Lielvardes Novads
- Liepaja
- Liepajas Rajons
- Ligatnes Novads
- Limbazu Rajons
- Livanu Novads
- Lubanas Novads
- Ludzas Rajons
- Madonas Rajons
- Malpils Novads
- Marupes Novads
- Mazsalacas Novads
- Mersraga Novads
- Nauksenu Novads
- Neretas Novads
- Nicas Novads
- Ogres Rajons
- Olaines Novads
- Ozolnieku Novads
- Pargaujas Novads
- Pavilostas Novads
- Plavinu Novads
- Preilu Rajons
- Priekules Novads
- Priekulu Novads
- Raunas Novads
- Rezekne
- Rezeknes Rajons
- Riebinu Novads
- Riga
- Rigas Rajons
- Rojas Novads
- Ropazu Novads
- Rucavas Novads
- Rugaju Novads
- Rujienas Novads
- Rundales Novads
- Salacgrivas Novads
- Salas Novads
- Salaspils Novads
- Saldus Rajons
- Saulkrastu Novads
- Sejas Novads
- Siguldas Novads
- Skriveru Novads
- Skrundas Novads
- Smiltenes Novads
- Stopinu Novads
- Strencu Novads
- Talsu Rajons
- Tervetes Novads
- Tukuma Rajons
- Vainodes Novads
- Valkas Rajons
- Valmieras Rajons
- Varaklanu Novads
- Varkavas Novads
- Vecpiebalgas Novads
- Vecumnieku Novads
- Ventspils
- Ventspils Rajons
- Viesites Novads
- Vilakas Novads
- Vilanu Novads
- Zilupes Novads
Geography Quick-Facts
| Summary | Continent: Europe Neighbours: Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus, Russia Capital: Riga |
| Size | 64,589 square kilometers (km² or sqkm) or 24,937 square miles (mi² or sqmi) slightly larger than West Virginia |
| Population | 2,245,000 |
| Currency | Name Lat, Currency Code:LVL |
| Country Top Level Domain (cTLD) | .lv |
| Telephone Country Prefix | +371 |
| Mobile Phone Connections | 2,243,000 |
| Landline Phone Connections | 644,000 |
Country Position in World Rankings
Information about single country attributes and how these compare against the rest of the world. The information below is compiled with data from 2013. As such, it may differ a bit to the Information above in the text (which is from 2010).
Geography
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Area | 64,589 (sq km) | 124 |
People and Society
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,178,443 | 143 |
| Population growth rate | -0.61 (%) | 226 |
| Birth rate | 9.91 (births/1,000 population) | 197 |
| Death rate | 13.60 (deaths/1,000 population) | 15 |
| Net migration rate | -2.36 (migrant(s)/1,000 population) | 168 |
| Maternal mortality rate | 34.00 (deaths/100,000 live births) | 119 |
| Infant mortality rate | 8.08 (deaths/1,000 live births) | 157 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.19 (years) | 123 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.34 (children born/woman) | 210 |
| Health expenditures | 6.70 (% of GDP) | 92 |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 0.70 (%) | 60 |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 8,600 | 105 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 1,000 | 75 |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 24.90 (%) | 62 |
| Education expenditures | 5.00 (% of GDP) | 75 |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | 29.10 (%) | 29 |
Economy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (purchasing power parity) | 37,880,000,000 | 107 |
| GDP - real growth rate | 5.60 (%) | 50 |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | 18,600 | 73 |
| Labor force | 1,139,000 | 140 |
| Unemployment rate | 14.30 (%) | 141 |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 35.20 | 88 |
| Investment (gross fixed) | 22.20 (% of GDP) | 68 |
| Taxes and other revenues | 33.30 (% of GDP) | 77 |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -2.60 (% of GDP) | 100 |
| Public debt | 44.00 (% of GDP) | 79 |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 2.50 (%) | 55 |
| Central bank discount rate | 3.50 (%) | 98 |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate | 6.39 (%) | 136 |
| Stock of narrow money | 8,237,000,000 | 81 |
| Stock of broad money | 12,090,000,000 | 101 |
| Stock of domestic credit | 19,760,000,000 | 86 |
| Market value of publicly traded shares | 1,252,000,000 | 106 |
| Industrial production growth rate | 9.00 (%) | 17 |
| Current account balance | -462,900,000 | 93 |
| Exports | 12,490,000,000 | 85 |
| Imports | 15,920,000,000 | 85 |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | 6,925,000,000 | 81 |
| Debt - external | 39,810,000,000 | 65 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home | 13,360,000,000 | 79 |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad | 1,037,000,000 | 76 |
Energy
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 6,460,000,000 (kWh) | 109 |
| Electricity - consumption | 6,215,000,000 (kWh) | 104 |
| Electricity - exports | 3,100,000,000 (kWh) | 37 |
| Electricity - imports | 3,973,000,000 (kWh) | 40 |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 2,164,000 (kW) | 100 |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 27.30 (% of total installed capacity) | 185 |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 71.00 (% of total installed capacity) | 22 |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 1.80 (% of total installed capacity) | 63 |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 31,340 (bbl/day) | 114 |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 3,126 (bbl/day) | 101 |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 33,730 (bbl/day) | 84 |
| Natural gas - consumption | 1,520,000,000 (cu m) | 83 |
| Natural gas - imports | 1,520,000,000 (cu m) | 52 |
| Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy | 9,066,000 (Mt) | 104 |
Communications
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | 516,300 | 97 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | 2,309,000 | 134 |
| Internet hosts | 359,604 | 58 |
| Internet users | 1,504,000 | 81 |
Transportation
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | 42 | 102 |
| Railways | 2,239 (km) | 67 |
| Roadways | 73,074 (km) | 63 |
| Waterways | 300 (km) | 93 |
| Merchant marine | 11 | 113 |
Military
| Value name | Value | World Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Military expenditures | 1.10 (% of GDP) | 122 |
Data based on CIA facts book 2010 & 2013, wikipedia, national statistical offices and their census releases
List of current world heritage sites
| Name | Since |
|---|---|
| Historic Centre of Riga Riga was a major centre of the Hanseatic League, deriving its prosperity in the 13th–15th centuries from the trade with central and eastern Europe. The urban fabric of its medieval centre reflects this prosperity, though most of the earliest building ... | 1997 |