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 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

slightly larger than West Virginia

maritime; wet, moderate winters

peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land

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

most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east

2,231,503 (July 2010 est.)

9.78 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

13.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.31 children born/woman (2010 est.)

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009)

Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)

Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)

parliamentary democracy

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

18 November 1918 (from the Soviet Russia)

Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since

based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament)

Civic Union [Sandra KALNIETE, Girts Valdis KRISTOVSKIS]; First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS, Tatjana ZDANOKA]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS, Janis URBANOVICS]; New Era Party or JL [Solvita ABOLTINA, Dzintars ZAKIS]; People's Party or TP [Andris SKELE]; Society for Different Politics or SCP [Aigars STOKENBERGS; Artis PABRIKS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]

Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07 but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the softening world economy. GDP plunged nearly 18% in 2009 - the three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst declines last year. The IMF, EU, and other donors provided assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro and reduce the fiscal deficit to about 5% of GDP. 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.

$32.22 billion (2009 est.)

$39.29 billion (2008 est.)

$41.19 billion (2007 est.)

$26.25 billion (2009 est.)

1.186 million (2009 est.)

21.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

36.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

19.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

6% (31 December 2008)

6% (31 December 2007)

11.85% (31 December 2008)

$6.688 billion (31 December 2008)

$8.196 billion (31 December 2007)

$5.572 billion (31 December 2008)

$5.113 billion (31 December 2007)

$28.96 billion (31 December 2008)

$27.56 billion (31 December 2007)

$1.872 billion (31 December 2009)

$1.609 billion (31 December 2008)

$3.111 billion (31 December 2007)

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

4.62 billion kWh (2007 est.)

6.822 billion kWh (2007 est.)

2.123 billion kWh (2008 est.)

4.643 billion kWh (2008 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

5,873 bbl/day (2007 est.)

43,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

2.05 billion cu m (2008 est.)

$2.53 billion (2009 est.)

-$4.493 billion (2008 est.)

$7.223 billion (2009 est.)

$9.634 billion (2008 est.)

wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Lithuania 15.19%, Estonia 13.57%, Russia 13.17%, Germany 8.13%, Sweden 5.7% (2009)

$8.906 billion (2009 est.)

$15.65 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Lithuania 16.36%, Germany 11.34%, Russia 10.68%, Poland 8.11%, Estonia 7.69% (2009)

$6.907 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$5.248 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$38.01 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$42.26 billion (31 December 2008)

$11.61 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$11.54 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$1.037 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$1.054 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

lati (LVL) per US dollar - 0.5157 (2009), 0.4701 (2008), 0.5162 (2007), 0.5597 (2006), 0.5647 (2005)

2.234 million (2008)

several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly-owned; system supplemented by privately-owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts are available; publicly-owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations (2007)

1.254 million (2008)

gas 948 km; refined products 415 km (2009)

National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Ground Forces, Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Border Guard, Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2010)

18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; conscription abolished January 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2009)

1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documentation in preparation; 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 has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds