]! ^! After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. 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 ^' `! 1,368 km `Y Belarus 167 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 282 km ^( 531 km ^) `$ 12 nm `N 200 nm `O 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation ^* maritime; wet, moderate winters ^+ low plain ^, `% Baltic Sea 0 m `& Galzina Kalns 312 m ^- peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land ^. `' 28.19% `( 0.45% `) 71.36% (2005) ^/ 200 sq km `* 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 (2003) ^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 _P `P 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 `Q none of the selected agreements ^2 most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east 
]# ^3 2,259,810 (July 2007 est.) ^4 `+ 13.6% (male 157,451/female 150,184) `, 69.6% (male 764,910/female 808,848) `- 16.7% (male 123,952/female 254,465) (2007 est.) ^5 `! 39.6 years `. 36.6 years `/ 42.7 years (2007 est.) ^6 -0.648% (2007 est.) ^7 9.43 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^8 13.64 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^9 -2.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^: `0 1.05 male(s)/female `1 1.048 male(s)/female `, 0.946 male(s)/female `- 0.487 male(s)/female `2 0.862 male(s)/female (2007 est.) ^; `! 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births `. 11.08 deaths/1,000 live births `/ 7.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) ^< `2 71.6 years `. 66.39 years `/ 77.1 years (2007 est.) ^= 1.28 children born/woman (2007 est.) ^> 0.6% (2001 est.) ^? 7,600 (2001 est.) ^@ less than 500 (2003 est.) ^A `3 Latvian(s) `4 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 `5 age 15 and over can read and write `2 99.8% `. 99.8% `/ 99.8% (2003 est.) 
]$ ^F `6 Republic of Latvia `7 Latvia `Z Latvijas Republika `[ Latvija `\ Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic ^H parliamentary democracy ^I `8 Riga `9 56 57 N, 24 06 E `: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) `p +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October ^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 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia) ^L 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 ^M 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 ^N based on civil law system ^O 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens ^P `; President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999) `< Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004) `= Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament `> president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by July 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 proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms) `> last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010) `? percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6 ^R Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) ^S First Party of Latvia or LPP [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS, Nils USAKOVS]; 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, Ainars BERZINS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE, Krisjanis KARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Indulis EMSIS] ^T Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV] ^U Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO ^V `R Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maris SELGA `S 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 `T [1] (202) 328-2840 `U [1] (202) 328-2860 ^W `R Ambassador Catherine Todd BAILEY `_ 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510 `` American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723 `T [371] 703-6200 `U [371] 782-0047 ^X three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon 
]% ^Y Latvia's economy experienced average GDP growth of more than 7.0% over the past several years. In 2006 it reached 10.2% real GDP growth. 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 deficit - more than 15% of GDP in 2006 - and inflation remain major concerns. ^Z $35.08 billion (2006 est.) ^[ $16.13 billion (2006 est.) ^\ 10.2% (2006 est.) ^] $15,400 (2006 est.) ^^ `@ 3.7% `A 26.3% `B 70% (2006 est.) ^_ 1.136 million (2006 est.) ^` `@ 13% `A 19% `B 68% (2005 est.) ^a 6.5% (December 2006 est.) _! NA% _" `C 2.8% `D 26.1% (1998) _d 35 (2003) _# 6.8% (December 2006 est.) _V 31.4% of GDP (2006 est.) _$ `E $6.172 billion `F $6.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.) _% 11% of GDP (2006 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% (2006 est.) _) 4.55 billion kWh (2004) _* 6.329 billion kWh (2004) _+ 707 million kWh (2005) _, 2.855 billion kWh (2005) _- 0 bbl/day (2004 est.) _. 47,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) _/ 0 bbl/day (2004) _0 0 bbl/day (2004) _1 0 cu m (2004 est.) _2 1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.) _X 0 cu m (2004 est.) _Y 1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.) _Q $-2.538 billion (2006 est.) _3 $6.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _4 wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs _5 Lithuania 11%, Estonia 10.8%, Germany 10.2%, UK 10.2%, Russia 7.9%, Sweden 7.8%, Denmark 5.3%, Poland 5.3% (2005) _6 $10.33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _7 machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles _8 Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 13.6%, Russia 8.5%, Estonia 7.9%, Poland 6.4%, Finland 5.9%, Belarus 5.8%, Sweden 5.1% (2005) _[ $2.61 billion (2006 est.) _9 $18.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.) _: $96.2 million (2002 est.) _; Latvian lat (LVL) _< lati per US dollar - 0.5597 (2006), - 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002) _= calendar year 
]& _> 731,000 (2005) _? 1.872 million (2005) _@ `G recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector, beginning in 2003; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony expands `H 3 wireless service providers including Lattelekom, the incumbent monopoly `I country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden _A AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) _B 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995) _C .lv _D 65,858 (2006) _E 1.03 million (2005) 
]' _F 46 (2006) _G `! 24 `J 7 `b 3 `c 1 `W 13 (2006) _R `! 22 `b 1 `c 2 `W 19 (2006) _^ gas 1,097 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2006) _e `! 2,303 km `r 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified) `n 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2005) _H `! 69,532 km `K 69,532 km (2004) _b 300 km (2005) _S `! 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 250,559 GRT/336,136 DWT by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1 `d 105 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas 1, Belize 6, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 4, Dominica 1, Gibraltar 2, Liberia 14, Malta 40, Marshall Islands 7, Panama 3, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18) (2006) _I Riga, Ventspils 
]( _J Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005) _T 19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2004) _K males age 19-49: 517,713 females age 19-49: 519,631 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 19-49: 361,098 females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.) _L males age 18-49: 19,137 females age 19-49: 18,505 (2005 est.) _U 1.2% (2005 est.) 
]) _N Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to Latvian insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration referencing Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses; 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 must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia _O 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 