Latvia

Radio broadcast stations

25 (unknown type)

Radios

1.4 million (1993 est.)

Telephone system

service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population international: international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail

Telephones

660,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

30

Televisions

1.1 million (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures : $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Currency

1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims; introduced NA March 1993

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993) note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525 million (1992-95)

Economy - overview

In the five years following the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, the Latvian economy has made substantial progress toward establishing a modern market economy and widening economic ties with the West. Two major long-term concerns are the growing trade deficit and the impact of organized crime. The economy in 1996 has largely recovered from the mid-1995 collapse of several commercial banks - including Latvia's large bank, Bank Baltija - and a severe government budget crisis. Prime Minister SKELE has stated that he expects the country's GDP to grow 5% in 1997 through the implementation of the government's new economic reform program. In December 1996, the government passed a balanced 1997 budget - its first - that SKELE predicts will reduce inflation to 10% to 12% in 1997. Unemployment, which has held steady at about 6% over the past two years, reached roughly 7.5% in 1996. One of SKELE's key objectives for 1997 is to speed up the privatization program, which has lagged behind other areas of reform.

Electricity - capacity

2.018 million kW (1993)

Electricity - consumption per capita

2,197 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

4.27 billion kWh (1994)

Exchange rates

lats (LVL) per US$1 - 0.563 (January 1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)

Exports

total value: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, timber, textiles, foodstuffs partners : Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 9% industry : 34% services: 57% (1994)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities : fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK, Finland

Industrial production growth rate

2% (1996 est.)

Industries

buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products

Inflation rate - consumer price index

13.2% (1996 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.268 million (1995) by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (1996 official est.)

Area

total: 64,100 sq km land: 64,100 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than West Virginia

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Coastline

531 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point : Gaizinkalns 312 m

Environment - current issues

air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases

Environment - international agreements

party to : Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Irrigated land

160 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,150 km border countries : Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km

Land use

arable land: 27% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 46% other: 14% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite

Terrain

low plain

Administrative divisions

26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Constitution

the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms

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

Data code

LG

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission : Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-005

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

Executive branch

chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held by 20 June 1997); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote - 53%

FAX

[1] (202) 726-6785

FAX

[371] (2) 226-530

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Parliament

Legal system

based on civil law system

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections : last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held NA October 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%; seats by party - Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6

National capital

Riga

National holiday

Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; Latvia's Way or LC [Valdis BIRKAVS]; For Latvia [Joachim SIEGERIST]; Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [A. KAULS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Anna SEILE]; Green Party or LSZ [O. BATAREVSK]; Latvian Farmers Union or LZS [A. ROZENTALS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Maris VITOLDS]; National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [F. STROGANOVS]; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Political Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Latvian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Peoples Front of Latvia or LTF [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [E. KIDE]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Current issues

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed five cabinets and conducted two legislative elections. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

176 million rubles (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3% to 5% (1994)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 575,121 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 450,640 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 16,323 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 238,793; female 229,160) 15-64 years : 66% (male 762,635; female 836,839) 65 years and over: 15% (male 112,989; female 240,747) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

8.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

15.72 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%

Infant mortality rate

17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.91 years male: 60.8 years female: 73.33 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 100% male: 100% female: 99% (1989 est.)

Nationality

noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Net migration rate

-8.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

2,421,163 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.56% (1997 est.)

Religions

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.21 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, Latvia had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; disputes maritime border with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; produces illicit amphetamines for export LEBANON

Airports

50 (1994 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)

Highways

total: 60,046 km paved: 22,998 km unpaved: 37,048 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 491,582 GRT/639,414 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1996 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)

Ports and harbors

Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Railways

total: 2,412 km broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

Waterways

300 km perennially navigable