2020 Edition

Background

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.

Area

land

62,249 sq km

total

64,589 sq km

water

2,340 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

498 km

Elevation

highest point

Gaizina Kalns 312 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation

87 m

Geographic coordinates

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

6 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,370 km

Land use

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.)

forest

55.5% (2023 est.)

other

12.8% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

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

Terrain

low plain

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.3% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

49.6% (2021 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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.)

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

9.9% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.61 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

female

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

81 years

male

72 years

total population

76.4 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

49.2 years

male

41.6 years

total

43.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

27.3 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Latvian

noun

Latvian(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.6% (2016)

Physician density

3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

1,011,785

male

876,654

total

1,888,439 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.27% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2023 est.)

male

15 years (2023 est.)

total

16 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

16.4% (2025 est.)

male

43.5% (2025 est.)

total

28.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

68.7% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular - valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: 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 cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils

Capital

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 ringa, meaning "bend" or "curve" and referring to the city's location on the Western Dvina River; alternatively, it may come from the Latvian word ridzina, 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

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

Constitution

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

Country name

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.)

former

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

local long form

Latvijas Republika

local short form

Latvija

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Julia JACOBY (since December 2025)

email address and website

askconsular-riga@state.gov 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 20521-4520

telephone

[371] 6710-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024)

email address and website

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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2860

telephone

[1] (202) 328-2840

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)

election results

2023: 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 2019: 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

Flag

description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon history: 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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

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

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

Legislative branch

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

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 when Latvia was part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

lyrics/music

Karlis BAUMANIS

title

"Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)

National color(s)

maroon, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

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

total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

white wagtail (bird)

Political parties

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

19.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$15.432 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$14.58 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

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.)

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$29.364 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$28.294 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$28.117 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

4.1% (2024 est.)

industry

19.9% (2024 est.)

services

63.1% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$43.521 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

33.7 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.8% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$31.206 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$29.875 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$29.234 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

-4% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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.)

Labor force

954,900 (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

22.5% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

6.9% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.5% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

11.9% (2024 est.)

male

13% (2024 est.)

total

12.5% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

12,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

39,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.)

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2023 est.)

total

489,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.lv

Internet users

percent of population

92% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

142,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

2.27 million (2024 est.)

Airports

55 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

YL

Heliports

5 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

83 (2023)

Ports

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

Railways

total

2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

Military - note

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 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 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)

Military and security forces

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) Ministry of Interior: State Police, State Border Guards, State Security Service  (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military deployments

140 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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

Military expenditures

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.)

Military service age and obligation

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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

49,483 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

173,891 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

Environmental issues

some soil, water, and air pollution

International environmental agreements

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

Particulate matter emissions

15.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

34.94 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

50.098 million cubic meters (2022)

industrial

30.291 million cubic meters (2022)

municipal

91.945 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

839,700 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

31.3% (2022 est.)