|
|
Latvia Profile |
|
Quick Facts About Latvia
|
Source: CIA World Factbook
|
Capital
|
name: Riga
geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
|
Country Name
|
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
|
Dependency Status
|
*
|
Type of Government
|
parliamentary democracy
|
Background
|
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.
|
Branches
|
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)
|
Age Structure
|
0-14 years: 13.4% (male 152,059/female 144,891)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 751,912/female 791,640)
65 years and over: 17% (male 123,289/female 254,178) (2010 est.)
|
Languages
|
Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
|
Population
|
2,217,969 (July 2010 est.)
|
Religions
|
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
|
Internet Users
|
1.254 million (2008)
|
Area - Comparative
|
slightly larger than West Virginia
|
Area
|
total: 64,589 sq km
land: 62,249 sq km
water: 2,340 sq km
|
Terrain
|
low plain
|
Climate
|
maritime; wet, moderate winters
|
Natural Hazards
|
NA
|
|
|
|
| Latvia |
 |
Source:
CIA World Factbook |
|
