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Latvia

The Republic of Latvia is located in the Baltic region in Northern Europe. Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, and Belarus and the Russian Federation to the east. The Baltic Sea bounds the nation to the west and the Gulf of Riga bounds to the north. Riga is the capital of Latvia. Latvia is member of the World Trade Organization since 1999, NATO since 2004 and the European Union since 2004.

HISTORY:- The Latvian people settled on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea around 3000 BC. In 1180, Christian missionaries turned up in the region to convert the inhabitants of Latvia, but as they opposed to it, German Crusaders were sent to forcibly convert them. Livonia, the feudal nation was founded by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword with Latvia and Southern Estonia. The state of Livonia controlled Latvia until 1561. In 1562, Poland gained the control of the nation and reigned until 1629 when Sweden occupied it. In 1721, Russian power took control over the region and continued the reign until 1918. After the Russian revolution in 1917, the Latvian republic was declared in 1918. In 1939, Russian Empire re-established their control over the nation, taking advantage of the instable socio-political scenario. Latvia was included into the Soviet Union in 1940. During the World War II, Germany occupied and gained control over Latvia from 1941 to 1944, which again passed to Russia in 1944. In 1991 after the downfall of Soviet Union, Latvia along with Lithuania and Estonia declared independence from Soviet Empire. In 1994, Soviet Union withdrew its military forces from Latvia.

GEOGRAPHY:- Latvia is situated at 57 00 N, 25 00 E in Eastern Europe. The country occupies total 64,589 sq km area on the surface of the world, in which 63,589 sq km is captured by land and 1,000 sq km area is captured by internal water sources. The coastline is 498 km long along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga. The lowest point is Baltic Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Galzina Kalns (312 m). The terrain of Latvia is mostly fertile, low-lying plains largely covered by the pine forests. The Daugava, the Lielupe, the Gauja, the Venta, and the Salaca are the major rivers of the country.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Latvia is humid, continental and temperate with warm summers and wet, moderate winters.

GOVERNMENT:- Latvia has a parliamentary democracy. The constitution was adopted on 15th February 1922 which was re-imposed by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia by the Supreme Council in 1991. The legal system is based on the civil law system with influences of the Socialist legal traditions and decorum. The three major branches of the government and their higher officials are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and the cabinet. The President is elected by the Parliament on a 4-year term. The appointment of the Prime minister is confirmed by the Parliament and carried out by the president. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the Parliament on the nomination of the Prime minister.

Legislative branch comprises the Saeima or the unicameral Parliament (100 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. The Parliament confirms the appointments of all the judges.

People's Party, Greens and Farmers, New Era, Alliance of Political Organizations (Harmony Center), Latvia's First Party and Latvia's Way Union, Fatherland and Freedom, For Human Rights in United Latvia, and independent party are the major political parties of Latvia. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

President Valdis Zatlers

Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Latvia is divided into 26 counties and 7 municipalities.

COUNTIES: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgavas Rajons, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezeknes Rajons, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, and Ventspils Rajons.

MUNICIPALITIES: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Riga, Rezekne, and Ventspils.

CULTURE:- Both Latvian and German influences can be traced in the Latvian culture. J��i is the most popular celebration of Latvia.

ECONOMY:- Since 2000, Latvia has one of the highest GDP growth rates among the European countries. The major portions of financial sectors are privatized though the state controls a few large concerns.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $29.7 billion; per capita $13,000.

Real growth rate: 8.3%.

Inflation: 5.9%.

Unemployment: 8.8%.

Arable land: 30%.

Agriculture: Grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish.

Labor force: 1.11 million; agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.).

Budget:

Revenues: $10.47 billion

Expenditures: $10.29 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 7.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $33.53 billion (31 December 2007)

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.

Natural resources: Peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land.

Exports: $5.749 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs.

Imports: $8.559 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles.

Major trading partners: UK, Germany, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Belarus (2004).

Monetary unit: Lats

LANGUAGE:- Latvian is the official language of Latvia spoken by 58.2% of the entire population. Other spoken languages are Russian (37.5%), Lithuanian and other (4.3%) (2000).

CITIES:- The capital of Latvia- Riga is the largest city of the nation. Other major cities are Daugavpils, Liepaja, Jelgava, Jurmala, Ventspils, and Rezekne.

POPULATION:- The estimated Latvian population is 2,259,810 with a growth rate of –0.6%.

Density per sq mi: 91

Literacy: 100% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

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 believes.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 9.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 13.63 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 8.96 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.88 years

Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 500 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 860

UNICEF:- UNICEF is not active in the country.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 2,347 km (2002).

Highways: total: 73,202 km; paved: 28,256 km; unpaved: 44,946 km (2000).

Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable.

Ports and harbors: Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils.

Airports: 38 (2002).

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