]! ^! 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. 
]" ^" Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania ^# 57 00 N, 25 00 E ^$ Europe ^% `! 64,589 sq km `" 63,589 sq km `# 1,000 sq km ^& slightly larger than West Virginia ^' `! 1,150 km `U Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km ^( 531 km ^) `$ 12 nm `I 200 nm `J 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation ^* maritime; wet, moderate winters ^+ low plain ^, `% Baltic Sea 0 m `& Gaizinkalns 312 m ^- peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land ^. `' 29.67% `( 0.47% `) 69.86% (2001) ^/ 200 sq km note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.) ^0 NA ^1 Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010 _J `K Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands `L none of the selected agreements ^2 most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east 
]# ^3 2,290,237 (July 2005 est.) ^4 `* 14.4% (male 169,284/female 161,648) `+ 69.4% (male 770,839/female 819,309) `, 16.1% (male 120,306/female 248,851) (2005 est.) ^5 `! 39.12 years `- 35.95 years `. 42.15 years (2005 est.) ^6 -0.69% (2005 est.) ^7 9.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) ^8 13.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) ^9 -2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) ^: `/ 1.05 male(s)/female `0 1.05 male(s)/female `+ 0.94 male(s)/female `, 0.48 male(s)/female `1 0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.) ^; `! 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births `- 11.55 deaths/1,000 live births `. 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.) ^< `1 71.05 years `- 65.78 years `. 76.6 years (2005 est.) ^= 1.26 children born/woman (2005 est.) ^> 0.6% (2001 est.) ^? 7,600 (2001 est.) ^@ less than 500 (2003 est.) ^A `2 Latvian(s) `3 Latvian ^B Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002) ^C Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox ^D Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census) ^E `M age 15 and over can read and write `1 99.8% `- 99.8% `. 99.8% (2003 est.) 
]$ ^F `4 Republic of Latvia `5 Latvia `V Latvijas Republika `W Latvija `X Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic ^H parliamentary democracy ^I Riga ^J 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 ^K 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) ^L Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union ^M 15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution ^N based on civil law system ^O 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens ^P `6 President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999) `7 Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004) `8 Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament `9 president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president `: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast ^Q unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms) `9 last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006) `: percent of vote by party - JL 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, TP 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - JL 26, PCTVL 24, TP 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7 ^R Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) ^S First Party of Latvia or LPP [Juris LUJANS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Tatjana ZDANOKA, Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; Harmony Center or SC [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; Latvian Green Party or LZP [Indulis EMSIS, Viesturs SILENIEKS, Raimonds VEJONIS]; Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Ivars GODMANIS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Aivars DATAVS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS] ^T Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV] ^U Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ^V `N Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS `O 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 `P [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214 `Q [1] (202) 726-6785 ^W `N Ambassador Catherine TODD-BAILEY `Z 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 `[ American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 `P [371] 703-6200 `Q [371] 782-0047 ^X three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon 
]% ^Y Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit. A growing perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicit activity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector. ^Z $26.53 billion (2004 est.) ^[ 7.6% (2004 est.) ^\ purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2004 est.) ^] `; 4.4% `< 24.8% `= 70.8% (2004 est.) ^^ 1.17 million (2004 est.) ^_ agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.) ^` 8.8% (2004 est.) ^a NA _! `> 2.9% `? 25.9% (1998) _d 32 (1999) _" 6% (2004 est.) _P 26.1% of GDP (2004 est.) _# `@ $4.231 billion `A $4.504 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.) _Q 11.8% of GDP (2004 est.) _$ grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish _% 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 _& 8.5% (2004 est.) _' 4.547 billion kWh (2002) _( 5.829 billion kWh (2002) _) 1.1 billion kWh (2002) _* 2.7 billion kWh (2002) _+ 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) _, 44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) _- NA _. NA _S 0 cu m (2001 est.) _T 1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.) _U 0 cu m (2001 est.) _V 1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.) _X $-1.251 billion (2004 est.) _/ $3.569 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) _0 wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs _1 UK 12.8%, Germany 12%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 9.1%, Estonia 8%, Russia 6.4%, Denmark 5.4% (2004) _2 $5.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) _3 machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles _4 Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 12.2%, Russia 8.7%, Estonia 7%, Finland 6.3%, Sweden 6.1%, Poland 5.4%, Belarus 4.8% (2004) _Y $1.65 billion (2004 est.) _5 $7.368 billion (2004 est.) _6 $96.2 million (1995) _7 Latvian lat (LVL) _8 lati per US dollar - 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000) _9 calendar year 
]& _: 653,900 (2003) _; 1,219,600 (2003) _< `B inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use `C expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications `D country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998) _= AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) _> 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995) _? .lv _@ 51,758 (2004) _A 936,000 (2003) 
]' _e `! 2,303 km `e 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified) `c 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2004) _B `! 60,472 km `E 57,206 km `F 3,265 km (2002) _b 300 km (2004) _[ gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004) _C Riga, Ventspils _K `! 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1 `\ 86 (2005) _D 50 (2004 est.) _E `! 26 `G 7 `^ 2 `_ 1 `T 16 (2004 est.) _L `! 24 `G 1 `^ 2 `_ 1 `T 20 (2004 est.) 
]( _F Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) _M 19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004) _] males age 19-49: 517,713 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 19-49: 361,098 (2005 est.) _^ `` 19,137 (2005 est.) _N $87 million (FY01) _O 1.2% (FY01) 
]) _H the Latvian-Russian boundary treaty of 1997 remains unsigned and unratified with Russia linking it to better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians and Latvian politicians demanding Russian agreement to a declaration that admits Soviet aggression during the Second World War and other issues; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia must implement the strict Schengen border rules _I transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds 