Latvia

Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form 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 the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.

Land

62,249 sq km

Total

64,589 sq km

Water

2,340 sq km

slightly larger than West Virginia

maritime; wet, moderate winters

498 km

Europe

Highest point

Gaizina Kalns 312 m

Lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

87 m

57 00 N, 25 00 E

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

6 sq km (2016)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Border countries

Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km

number of neighbors

4

Total

1,370 km

Agricultural land

31.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)

arable land

21.85%

Forest

55.5% (2023 est.)

Other

12.8% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.16%

No

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/iQpUkH7ghq31ZtXe9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/72594

Europe

Continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Exclusive economic zone

limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

Territorial sea

12 nm

large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

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

largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country

Northern Europe

low plain

UTC+02:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

14.7% (male 136,482/female 128,492)

15-64 years

63% (male 562,754/female 572,850)

65 years and over

22.2% (2024 est.) (male 137,746/female 262,922)

Beer

4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

7.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0.5%

0.3% (2021 est.)

49.6% (2021 est.)

14.68 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

76 per 1,000

adult male

227 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

33 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

3 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

56.2 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

23.3 (2025 est.)

improved total

97.01%

Improved: rural

rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.9% national budget (2022 est.)

4 % of GDP

Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.)

0.61 (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.19%

5.3 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

2 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%&nbsp; (2011 est.)

Major-language sample(s)

<br>World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent language usually spoken at home

number of languages

1

Female

81 years

Male

72 years

Total population

76.4 years (2024 est.)

621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

49.2 years

Male

41.6 years

Total

43.8 years (2025 est.)

27.3 years (2020 est.)

Adjective

Latvian

Noun

Latvian(s)

-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

23.6% (2016)

3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

1,011,785

Male

876,654

Total

1,888,439 (2025 est.)

-1.27% (2025 est.)

Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)

improved total

92.53%

Female

17 years (2023 est.)

Male

15 years (2023 est.)

Total

16 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.98 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.52 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

16.4% (2025 est.)

Male

43.5% (2025 est.)

Total

28.8% (2025 est.)

1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

-0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

measles

98%

36 municipalities (<em>novadi</em>, singular - <em>novads</em>) and 7 state cities (<em>valstpilsetu pasvaldibas</em>, singular - <em>valstspilsetas pasvaldiba</em>) <br><br><strong>municipalities:</strong> Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils <br><br><strong>cities:</strong> Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

the name's origin is unclear; it may derive from the Old Lithuanian word <em>ringa</em>, meaning "bend" or "curve" and referring to the city's location on the Western Dvina River; alternatively, it may come from the Latvian word <em>ridzina</em>, meaning "stream"

Geographic coordinates

56 57 N, 24 06 E

Name

Riga

Time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/lv.svg

Amendment process

proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate

History

several previous (pre-1991 independence); after independence was restored in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced on 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced on 6 July 1993

alternative spellings

LV, Republic of Latvia, Latvijas Republika

Conventional long form

Republic of Latvia

Conventional short form

Latvia

Etymology

the name originates from the Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.)

FIFA code

LVA

Former

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

Local long form

Latvijas Republika

local long form (lav)

Latvijas Republikas

Local short form

Latvija

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Julia JACOBY (since December 2025)

Email address and website

<br>askconsular-riga@state.gov<br><br>https://lv.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510

FAX

[371] 6710-7050

Mailing address

4520 Riga Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-4520

Telephone

[371] 6710-7000

Chancery

2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024)

Email address and website

<br>embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv<br><br>https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2860

Telephone

[1] (202) 328-2840

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament

Chief of state

President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)

Election results

<em><br>2023: </em>Edgars RINKEVICS elected president in the third round; Parliament vote - Edgars RINKEVICS (Unity Party) 52, Uldis Pīlēns (independent) 25; Evika SILINA confirmed as prime minister 53-39<br><em><br>2019:</em> Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS (independent) 61, Didzis SMITS (KPV LV) 24, Juris JANSONS (independent) 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed as prime minister 61-39

Election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament

Expected date of next election

2027

Head of government

Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)

Most recent election date

31 May 2023

<strong>description:</strong> three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon<br><br><strong>history:</strong> the flag is one of the older banners in the world -- a medieval chronicle mentions Latvian tribes using a red standard with a white stripe around 1280

The flag of Latvia has a carmine-red field with a thin white horizontal band across the middle of the field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/lv.svg

parliamentary republic

18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)

Judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70

Subordinate courts

district (city) and regional courts

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

October 2026

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament (Saeima)

Most recent election date

10/1/2022

Number of seats

100 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

New Unity (VIENOTIBA) (26); Union of Farmers and Greens (ZZS) (16); United List - Latvian Green Party, Latvian Regional Alliance, Liepāja Party (15); National Alliance of All for Latvia!" - "For Fatherland and Freedom / LNNK" (NA) (13); For Stability! (11); Progressives (10); Latvia First (9)

Percentage of women in chamber

31%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

maroon, white

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga

Total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of statehood and independence from the Soviet Union

white wagtail (bird)

For Stability or S!<br>For Latvia's Development or LA<br>Harmony or S<br>Honor to Serve Riga! or GKR<br>Latvia First or LPV<br>National Alliance or NA<br>New Unity or JV<br>People. Land. Statehood. or TZV<br>The Progressives or PRO<br>Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS<br>United List or AS<br>We for Talsi and Municipality or MTuN

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, chicken (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

19.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$15.432 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$14.58 billion (2023 est.)

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

$-687,874,801

Current account balance 2022

-$2.082 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.663 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$923.266 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

<p>high-income EU and eurozone member; weak recovery following economic contraction, with slight increase in private consumption and uncertain trade environment; challenges from skilled-labor shortages, capital market access, large informal sector, and green and digital transitions</p>

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

$28.54 billion

Exports 2022

$29.364 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$28.294 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$28.117 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Lithuania 19%, Estonia 6%, Russia 6%, Germany 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$1.51 billion

Exports of goods and services

66.5% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

20.2% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

62.7% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-70.2% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

24.7% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

-0.1% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

4.1% (2024 est.)

Industry

19.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

63.1% (2024 est.)

$43.521 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$23,409

35.1 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

33.7 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$42.78 billion

$21,630

21 % of GDP

Highest 10%

25.8% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.6% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$29.24 billion

Imports 2022

$31.206 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$29.875 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$29.234 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Lithuania 18%, Germany 11%, Poland 10%, Estonia 8%, Finland 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-4% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

1.27%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

17.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

8.9% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

954,900 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

946,983 persons

agriculture

6.66%

industry

21.84%

services

71.5%

22.5% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<strong>note:</strong> data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Public debt 2017

36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

$80.98 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$70.817 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$72.838 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$72.516 billion (2024 est.)

-0.05%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

1.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-0.4% (2024 est.)

$43,394

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$37,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$38,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$38,900 (2024 est.)

$1.34 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

$5.14 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.46 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.957 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$5.141 billion (2024 est.)

32 % of GDP

17 % of GDP

16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

6.57%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

6.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.8% (2024 est.)

Female

11.9% (2024 est.)

Male

13% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

12.5% (2024 est.)

Consumption

20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

12,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

39,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

3,617 kWh

Exports

3.271 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

4.075 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

3.428 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

342.238 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

59.4%

Hydroelectricity

59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

63.6%

Solar

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

2,240 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

44%

per 100 inhabitants

26 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2023 est.)

Total

489,000 (2023 est.)

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; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations

.lv

Percent of population

92% (2023 est.)

LV-####

+371

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

142,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

120 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

2.27 million (2024 est.)

passengers carried

4.48 million passengers

registered carrier departures

43,243 departures

55 (2025)

YL

Right

5 (2025)

By type

container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41

Total

83 (2023)

Key ports

Lielupe, Liepaja, Riga, Salacgriva, Ventspils

Large

1

Medium

2

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

0

Total ports

5 (2024)

Very small

2

Total

2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

LV

armored vehicles

tanks

the National Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory; they also have some domestic security responsibilities, including coast guard functions, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and providing support to other internal security services; the Military Police provides protection to the president and other government officials, foreign dignitaries, and key facilities; Latvia’s primary external security focus is Russia<br><br>in 2004, Latvia joined NATO and the EU, both of which it depends on to play a decisive role in Latvia’s security policy; the Latvian military has participated in EU and NATO missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with EU and NATO partner forces; Latvia also hosts NATO partner forces; since 2017, it has hosted a Canadian-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, NATO has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Baltics Air Policing mission<br><br>Latvia is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025)

National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze)<br><br>Ministry of Interior: State Police, State Border Guards, State Security Service  (2025)

active duty personnel

9,000

note

<strong>note: </strong>the State Border Guard may become part of the armed forces during an emergency

percent of total labor force

0.92 %

approximately 9,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

140 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2025)

the Latvian military's inventory consists of European and US armaments (2025)

3 % of GDP

current USD

$1,425,694,079

Military Expenditures 2021

2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

3.7% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

7.49 %

percent of GDP

3.26 % of GDP

mandatory military service for all men 18-24; men and women 18-27 may volunteer for military service; service length 11 months in the Armed Forces or National Guard, or 5 years in the National Guard as a whole, with a minimum of 21 days of individual training and a maximum of 7 days of collective training each year (2026)

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> conscription was reintroduced in 2024<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> as of 2024, women comprised about 16.5% of the military's full-time personnel

PowerIndex score

2.2316

Refugees

49,483 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

173,891 (2024 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke

41,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

1.526 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

4.861 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

6.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

some soil, water, and air pollution&nbsp;

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

15.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

18 % of total land area

17 % of total

34.94 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

1 % of internal resources

Agricultural

50.098 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

30.291 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

91.945 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

839,700 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

31.3% (2022 est.)