Latvia

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 1997 Latvia scored the most impressive economic achievements since independence in 1991, with GDP growing by 6% and inflation at 7.4%. GDP is expected to grow 5% in 1998 and inflation to range between 6% and 7%. In 1997 Latvia continued its strict fiscal policy and apparently ended the year with a small fiscal surplus, reflecting higher-than-expected income from customs revenues, excise and business taxes, and restraints on government spending. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in 1997 was a record $880 million by yearend. Prospects for increasing FDI in 1998 are good if Latvia privatizes at least some of its large companies, including Venspils Nafta (the state oil company). Although Latvia was disappointed that it was not included among the five Central and East European states invited to start EU accession talks in spring 1998, it is likely to join the WTrO in 1998. Latvia's growing current account and trade deficits remain a cause for concern, reaching nearly 10% by yearend. Latvia's trade deficit may even reach 22% of GDP in 1998.

Electricity-capacity

2.035 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

2,300 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

4.095 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

lats (LVL) per US$1-0.595 (January 1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993)

Exports

total value: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: wood and wood products, textiles, foodstuffs partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$10.4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 9% industry: 34% services: 57% (1995)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$4,260 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

6% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.3 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

7.4% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.4 million (1997) by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)

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.)

Unemployment rate

7% (1996)

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, Preilu 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: American Embassy, Riga, PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-0005, 782-0046

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 Guntars KRASTS (since 7 August 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote-Guntis ULMANIS 53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%

FAX

[1] (202) 726-6785

FAX

[371] (2) 722-6530, 782-0047

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, 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 3 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 [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; Popular Movement For Latvia or TKL [Joachim SIEGERIST]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TVB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSK]; Latvian Farmers Union or LZS [Andris ROZENTALS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Sergejs DIAMANIS]; 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]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly Peoples Front of Latvia or LTF) [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins 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 [Janis DINEVICS]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS] note: former Prime Minister Andris SKELE announced 18 December 1997 that he is forming a new, as yet unnamed, party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

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: 569,745 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 446,562 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 16,594 (1998 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19% (male 227,634; female 218,321) 15-64 years: 66% (male 754,416; female 829,801) 65 years and over: 15% (male 113,925; female 241,299) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

8.14 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

15.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%

Infant mortality rate

17.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67.11 years male: 61.02 years female: 73.5 years (1998 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

-6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

2,385,396 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

-1.41% (1998 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: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.2 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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 while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. 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 25,000 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.

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; draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over boundary dispute 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 Introduction

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: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 293,799 GRT/440,575 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4 (1997 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