LATVIA : FACTBOOK
 
  • Country name : Republic of Latvia, Latvia
     
  • Capital : Riga
     
  • Location : Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania.
     
  • Area : 64,589 sq km., slightly larger than West Virginia.
     
  • Climate : maritime; wet, moderate winters.
     
  • Terrain : low plain.
     
  • Geography : most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east.
     
  • Population : 2,348,784 (July 2003 est.).
     
  • Ethnic groups : Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%.
     
  • Languages : Latvian (official), Russian, Lithuanian, other
     
  • Religions : Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox.
     
  • Government type : parliamentary democracy.
     
  • Administrative divisions : 26 counties and 7 municipalities.
     
  • Currency : Latvian lat (LVL)
     
  • GDP : $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
     
  • GDP - per capita : $8,900 (2002 est.)
     
  • Industries : buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials.
     
  • Exports : $2.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
     
  • Exports - commodities : wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs.
     
  • Exports - partners : UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002).
     
  • Imports : $3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002)
     
  • Imports - commodities : machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles.
     
  • Imports - partners : Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002).
     
    •