Security issues dominated foreign affairs in Latvia in2015, with the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukrainethat sparked concerns about Russia’s ambitions in

the countries of the former Soviet Union. In SeptemberLatvian armed forces led Silver Arrow, a joint trainingexercise that drew more than 1,000 troops from five otherNATO countries. On thedomestic front RaimondsVKjonis was elected presidentin June, making him the firstGreen Party politician toserve as an EU head of state.Although the office of presi-dent was largely ceremonial,the failure of the ruling par-ties to coalesce around a sin-gle candidate was seen as asign of potential rifts in thecoalition.

DemographyPopulation (2015): 1,978,000.Density (2015): persons per sq mi79.3, persons per sq km 30.6.

Sex distribution (20142): male45.82%; female 54.18%.

Population projection: (2020)1,872,000; (2030) 1,628,000.

Major cities (20152): Riga641,007; Daugavpils 86,435;Liepaja 71,125; Jelgava57,180; Jurmala 49,646.

Urban-rural (2014):

Vital statisticsBirth rate per 1,000 pop-ulation (2013): 10.2(world avg. 19.5).

Death rate per 1,000population (2013): 14.3(world avg. 8.1).

Life expectancy at birth(2013): male 69.5 years;female 79.0 years.

Age breakdown (2014):

Ethnic composition (20142): Religious affiliation (2005):

Latvia

Official name: Latvijas Republika(Republic of Latvia).

Form of government: unitary multipartyrepublic with one legislative house(Parliament, or Saeima [100]).

Head of state: President RaimondsVKjonis.

Head of government: Prime MinisterLaimdota Straujuma.

Capital: Riga.Official language: Latvian.Official religion: none.Monetary unit: euro (>)1; valuation

(Sept. 1, 2015) 1 U.S.$ = >0.89; 1£ = >1.36.

Area and population3

area population area population

20152 20152

Planning region sq km estimate Planning region sq km estimate

Kurzeme 13,601 254,722CitiesLiepaja 61 71,125Ventspils 55 36,274AmalgamatedMunicipalities (18) 13,485 147,323

Latgale 14,547 281,581CitiesDaugavpils 72 86,435Re–zekne 18 29,317AmalgamatedMunicipalities (19) 14,457 165,829

Pieriga 10,134 367,609CityJurmala 100 49,646AmalgamatedMunicipalities (28) 10,034 317,963

Riga 307 641,007CityRiga 307 641,007

Vidzeme 15,258 199,027CityValmiera 18 23,432AmalgamatedMunicipalities (25) 15,240 175,595

Zemgale 10,742 242,150CitiesJe–kabpils 26 23,019Jelgava 60 57,180AmalgamatedMunicipalities (20) 10,656 161,951

TOTAL 64,589 1,986,096

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National economyBudget (2009)4. Revenue: Ls 4,589,000,000 (indirect taxes 29.7%, socialsecurity contributions 22.1%, personal income taxes15.7%, nontax revenue 14.7%, EU grants 12.2%,other taxes 5.6%). Expenditures: Ls 6,279,000,000(current expenditure 91.3%, capital expenditure8.7%).

Production (metric tons except as noted).Agriculture, forestry, fishing (2013): wheat 1,435,000,rapeseed 296,600, barley 232,600, potatoes 226,800,oats 134,200, rye 75,600, cabbages 62,1495; livestock(number of live animals) 393,000 cattle, 355,200pigs; roundwood 12,708,310 cu m, of which fuel-wood 11%; fisheries production (2012) 95,067 (fromaquaculture 1%). Mining and quarrying (2012): peat1,378,000; limestone (2008) 515,900; gypsum 230,000. Manufacturing(value added in Ls ’000,000; 2009): food and food products 276.4;wood and wood products (excluding furniture) 222.3; printing andpublishing 87.1; fabricated metal products 84.3; chemicals and chemi-cal products 75.0; furniture 60.0. Energy production (consumption):electricity (kW-hr; 2013–14) 5,181,000,000 ([2011] 7,339,000,000), bysource (2012): fossil fuels 32.2%; renewable energy 67.8%, of whichhydroelectric 61.1%, biomass 4.8%, wind energy 1.9%; coal (metrictons; 2010–11) none (160,000); crude petroleum (barrels; 2012)365,000 (n.a.); petroleum products (metric tons; 2010–11) none(1,235,000); natural gas (cu m; 2010–11) none (1,767,000,000).

Average household size (20112): 2.5.Gross national income (GNI; 2014): U.S.$31,160,000,000 (U.S.$15,660per capita); purchasing power parity GNI (U.S.$23,150 per capita).

Public debt (central government; 2014): >9,505,000,000.Population economically active (2014): total 1,496,000; participationrates: ages 15–74, male 66.5%; female 53.4%; unemployed 10.8%, ofwhich youth (ages 15–24) 19.6%.

Land use as % of total land area (2011): in temporary crops c. 17.8%,left fallow 1.1%, in permanent crops 0.1%, in pasture 10.5%, forestarea 54.1%.

Foreign trade8

Imports (2013): >12,635,000,000 (machinery andelectrical equipment 18.4%, mineral products17.2%, chemicals and chemical products 9.4%,base metals and articles thereof 8.7%, transportequipment 7.7%). Major import sources:

Exports (2013): >10,021,300,000 (wood and woodproducts 15.9%, machinery and electrical equip-ment 15.6%, base metals and articles thereof10.5%, prepared foods and beverages 9.4%, miner-al products 8.7%). Major export destinations:

Transport and communicationsTransport. Railroads: length (20142) 1,155 mi, 1,859 km;passenger-km (2013) 729,000,000; metric ton-km cargo(2013–14) 19,894,300,000. Roads (2013): total length45,012 mi, 72,440 km (paved 20%); passenger-km (20132)9 2,319,000,000; metric ton-km cargo(2013–14) 13,147,100,000. Vehicles (20142): pas-senger cars 634,603; trucks and buses 84,888.

Education and healthLiteracy (2011): virtually 100%.Health (20142): physicians 7,991 (1 per 250 persons);

hospital beds 11,673 (1 per 171 persons); infantmortality rate per 1,000 live births (2013) 4.4;undernourished population (2006–08) less than 5%of total population based on the consumption of aminimum daily requirement of 1,930 calories.

MilitaryTotal active duty personnel (November 2014):5,310 (army 23.5%, navy 10.4%, air force5.8%, joint staff 49.0%, national guard11.3%); reserve 7,850. Military expenditureas percentage of GDP (2013): 1.0%; percapita expenditure U.S.$149.

1The euro (>) replaced the lats (Ls) on Jan. 1, 2014, at an exchange rate of >1 = Ls 0.70. 2January 1. 3Newadministrative scheme from July 2009. 4General government. 52012. 6Indirect taxes less subsidies.7Includes 216,100 unemployed. 8Imports c.i.f.; exports f.o.b. 9Buses only. 10Subscribers.

Internet resources for further information:• Bank of Latvia www.bank.lv/en/• Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia www.csb.gov.lv/en

Structure of gross domestic product and labour force2010

in value % of total labour % of labourLs ’000,000 value force force

Agriculture, forestry, fishing 510.1 4.0 82,500 7.1Mining and quarrying 70.9 0.6 … …Manufacturing 1,534.4 12.0 159,200 13.8Public utilities 534.8 4.2Construction 677.0 5.3 66,400 5.7Transp. and commun. 1,834.6 14.4 111,000 9.6Trade, restaurants 2,080.8 16.3 179,000 15.5Finance, real estate 2,200.5 17.3 92,800 8.0Pub. admin., defense 848.6 6.7 62,500 5.4Services 1,129.6 8.9 187,100 16.2Other 1,317.46 10.36 216,5007 18.77

TOTAL 12,738.7 100.0 1,157,000 100.0

Communications units unitsnumber per 1,000 number per 1,000

Medium date in ’000s persons Medium date in ’000s persons

TelephonesCellular 2014 2,53510 1,24210

Landline 2014 387 189

Internet users 2009 1,503 668Broadband 2014 50510 24710

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