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.

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

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

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

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

2,191,580 (July 2012 est.)

9.97 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

RIGA (capital) 711,000 (2009)

34 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.33 children born/woman (2012 est.)

2.988 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

6.42 beds/1,000 population (2009)

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

parliamentary democracy

110 municipalities (novadi, singular-novads) and 9 cities

4 May 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared its 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 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt 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)

Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS, Janis URBANOVICS]; National Alliance (alliance of TB/LNNK, All For Latvia!) [Gaidis BERZINS, Raivis DZINTARS]; Unity [Solvita ABOLTINA]; Zatlers' Reform Party [Valdis ZATLERS]

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

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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, 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

white wagtail (bird)

Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing significantly to its GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronic devices. Export growth contributed to the economic recovery, however the bulk of the country's economic activity is in the services sector. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia''s low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality. 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. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged 18% in 2009. A rebound in the export sector contributed to the economy''s first real quarterly GDP growth in over two years (2.9%) in the third quarter of 2010. The IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency''s peg to the euro in exchange for the government''s commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011. The government of Prime Minister Valdis DOMBROVSKIS reduced the fiscal deficit to 7.7% of GDP in 2010, and to 4% of GDP in 2011. Riga plans to reduce the budget deficit to less than 3% of GDP in 2012 in order to meet its goal of joining the euro zone in 2014. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 99.8% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February, 1999 and the EU in May 2004.

$35.37 billion (2011 est.)

$33.54 billion (2010 est.)

$33.65 billion (2009 est.)

$28.25 billion (2011 est.)

1.169 million (2011 est.)

22.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

35.3% of GDP (2011 est.)

-4% of GDP (2011 est.)

44.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

44.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

3.5% (31 December 2011 est.)

3.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

6.39% (31 December 2011 est.)

9.56% (31 December 2010 est.)

$8.009 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$7.186 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$12.24 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$12.28 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$27.15 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$26.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.076 billion (31 December 2011)

$1.252 billion (31 December 2010)

$1.824 billion (31 December 2009)

grain, rapeseed, potatoes, vegetables; pork, poultry, milk, eggs; fish

processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics

-$363 million (2011 est.)

$731 million (2010 est.)

$12.03 billion (2011 est.)

$9.107 billion (2010 est.)

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

Russia 17.7%, Lithuania 16.5%, Estonia 12.9%, Germany 7.9%, Sweden 5.6%, Poland 5.5% (2011)

$14.83 billion (2011 est.)

$10.8 billion (2010 est.)

machinery and equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Lithuania 17.8%, Germany 11.8%, Russia 8.4%, Poland 7.5%, Estonia 7.1%, Finland 4.5%, Italy 4.3% (2011)

$6.383 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$7.606 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$38.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$39.56 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$13.56 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$12 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.108 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.017 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

lati (LVL) per US dollar -

6.46 billion kWh (2010 est.)

6.215 billion kWh (2010 est.)

3.1 billion kWh (2010 est.)

3.973 billion kWh (2010 est.)

2.164 million kW (2009 est.)

27.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

71% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

1.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

31,340 bbl/day (2011 est.)

3,126 bbl/day (2010 est.)

33,730 bbl/day (2008 est.)

1.52 billion cu m (2010 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

9.066 million Mt (2010 est.)

2.309 million (2011)

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 available; publicly-owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations (2007)

1.504 million (2009)

gas 948 km; refined products 415 km (2010)

300 km (navigable year round) (2010)

National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2011)

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)

1.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; 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