Latvia

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

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Europe

64,589 sq km

62,249 sq km

2,340 sq km

Slightly larger than West Virginia

1,370 km

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

498 km

12 nm

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

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Maritime; wet, moderate winters

Low plain

Gaizina Kalns 312 m

Baltic Sea 0 m

87 m

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

31.7% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)

55.5% (2023 est.)

12.8% (2023 est.)

6 sq km (2016)

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

Large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage

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

1,888,439 (2025 est.)

876,654

1,011,785

Latvian(s)

Latvian

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

56.2 (2025 est.)

23.3 (2025 est.)

33 (2025 est.)

3 (2025 est.)

43.8 years (2025 est.)

41.6 years

49.2 years

-1.27% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

68.7% of total population (2023)

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

621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)

1.05 male(s)/female

1.06 male(s)/female

0.98 male(s)/female

0.52 male(s)/female

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

27.3 years (2020 est.)

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

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

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

4.3 deaths/1,000 live births

76.4 years (2024 est.)

72 years

81 years

1.25 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.61 (2025 est.)

Urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)

Urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)

9% of GDP (2021)

12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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

23.6% (2016)

12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

28.8% (2025 est.)

43.5% (2025 est.)

16.4% (2025 est.)

0.3% (2021 est.)

49.6% (2021 est.)

4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

9.9% national budget (2022 est.)

16 years (2023 est.)

15 years (2023 est.)

17 years (2023 est.)

Some soil, water, and air pollution

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

None of the selected agreements

Maritime; wet, moderate winters

31.7% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)

55.5% (2023 est.)

12.8% (2023 est.)

68.7% of total population (2023)

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

6.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

4.861 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

1.526 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

15.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

839,700 tons (2024 est.)

31.3% (2022 est.)

91.945 million cubic meters (2022)

30.291 million cubic meters (2022)

50.098 million cubic meters (2022)

34.94 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Republic of Latvia

Latvia

Latvijas Republika

Latvija

Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

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.)

Parliamentary republic

Riga

56 57 N, 24 06 E

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

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

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"

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

Civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices

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

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

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

No

At least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia

No

5 years

18 years of age; universal

President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)

Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)

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

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

31 May 2023

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

2027

Parliament (Saeima)

Unicameral

100 (all directly elected)

Proportional representation

Full renewal

4 years

10/1/2022

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)

31%

October 2026

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

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

District (city) and regional courts

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

Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024)

2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

[1] (202) 328-2840

[1] (202) 328-2860

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

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

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

4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520

[371] 6710-7000

[371] 6710-7050

Askconsular-riga@state.gov https://lv.usembassy.gov/

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

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

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

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

White wagtail (bird)

Maroon, white

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

Karlis BAUMANIS

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

3 (all cultural)

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

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

$72.516 billion (2024 est.)

$72.838 billion (2023 est.)

$70.817 billion (2022 est.)

-0.4% (2024 est.)

2.9% (2023 est.)

1.8% (2022 est.)

$38,900 (2024 est.)

$38,800 (2023 est.)

$37,700 (2022 est.)

$43.521 billion (2024 est.)

1.3% (2024 est.)

8.9% (2023 est.)

17.3% (2022 est.)

4.1% (2024 est.)

19.9% (2024 est.)

63.1% (2024 est.)

62.7% (2023 est.)

20.2% (2023 est.)

24.7% (2023 est.)

-0.1% (2023 est.)

66.5% (2023 est.)

-70.2% (2023 est.)

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

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

-4% (2024 est.)

954,900 (2024 est.)

6.8% (2024 est.)

6.5% (2023 est.)

6.9% (2022 est.)

12.5% (2024 est.)

13% (2024 est.)

11.9% (2024 est.)

22.5% (2022 est.)

33.7 (2022 est.)

19.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

2.6% (2022 est.)

25.8% (2022 est.)

3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

$14.58 billion (2023 est.)

$15.432 billion (2023 est.)

36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

-$923.266 million (2024 est.)

-$1.663 billion (2023 est.)

-$2.082 billion (2022 est.)

$28.117 billion (2024 est.)

$28.294 billion (2023 est.)

$29.364 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

$29.234 billion (2024 est.)

$29.875 billion (2023 est.)

$31.206 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

$5.141 billion (2024 est.)

$4.957 billion (2023 est.)

$4.46 billion (2022 est.)

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.924 (2024 est.)

0.925 (2023 est.)

0.95 (2022 est.)

0.845 (2021 est.)

0.876 (2020 est.)

100% (2022 est.)

3.428 million kW (2023 est.)

6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.)

3.271 billion kWh (2023 est.)

4.075 billion kWh (2023 est.)

342.238 million kWh (2023 est.)

22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

12,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

39,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

142,000 (2023 est.)

8 (2023 est.)

2.27 million (2024 est.)

121 (2024 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

92% (2023 est.)

489,000 (2023 est.)

26 (2023 est.)

YL

55 (2025)

5 (2025)

2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified

83 (2023)

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

5 (2024)

1

2

0

2

3

Lielupe, Liepaja, Riga, Salacgriva, Ventspils

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)

3.7% of GDP (2025 est.)

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

2.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

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

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)

140 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2025)

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)

49,483 (2024 est.)

173,891 (2024 est.)