Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
26 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
489,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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
Communications: Internet country code
.lv
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
92.71% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
8 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
142,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
121 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2.27 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, chicken (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
7.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
19.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$15.432 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$14.58 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$841.2 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$466.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$33.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$476.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$450.5 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$127.7 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$57.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$1.032 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.579 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.082 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$1.663 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$923.266 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.529392 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.752728 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.901296 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.903421 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.885206 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.846773 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.893276 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.875506 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845494 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.949624 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.924840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$16.424 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$19.248 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$16.491 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$16.793 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$18.851 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$21.235 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$20.699 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$20.916 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$25.511 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$29.364 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$28.294 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$28.117 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
66.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
20.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
62.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-70.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
24.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
4.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
19.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
63.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$43,394 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$43.521 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$80.979 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
34.2 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
34.3 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
35.6 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
35.1 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
34.5 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
35.7 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
34.3 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
33.7 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
34.0 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
25.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$13.259 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$16.804 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$16.650 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$18.979 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$21.400 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$20.772 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$20.437 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$26.723 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$31.206 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$29.875 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$29.234 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.17% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.14% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
2.93% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.53% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.22% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.28% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
17.31% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
8.94% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1.27% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
954,900 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
22.50% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$42.973 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$44.581 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$47.153 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$50.040 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$61.623 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$62.223 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$69.560 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$70.817 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$72.838 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$72.516 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
3.78% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.55% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.40% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.31% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
0.68% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-3.47% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.94% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
1.91% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-0.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$21,554 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$22,544 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$24,063 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$25,764 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$32,199 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$32,741 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$36,912 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$40,559 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$42,576 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.604 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$1.553 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$1.336 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$1.088 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$1.317 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
3.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
3.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$3.446 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$3.512 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$4.613 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$4.371 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$4.480 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$5.290 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$5.491 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.46 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$4.957 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$5.141 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
16.7% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
6.31% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
8.10% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
7.51% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
6.82% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
6.46% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
6.90% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
11.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
13% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
12.5% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
20,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
12,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
39,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
6.822 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
3.271 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
4.075 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.428 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
342.238 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
65.908 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
786.523 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
33,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
41,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
1.526 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
4.861 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
6.427 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Environment: Environmental issues
some soil, water, and air pollution
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
31.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
55.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
12.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
15.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
34.94 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
50.098 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
30.291 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
91.945 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
-0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
68.48% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
839,700 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
31.3% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than West Virginia
Geography: Area: land
62,249 sq km
Geography: Area: water
2,340 sq km
Geography: Coastline
498 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Gaizina Kalns 312 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Baltic Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
87 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east
Geography: Irrigated land
6 sq km (2016)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,370 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
31.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 21.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 9.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
55.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
12.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
low plain
Government: 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
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: 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"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
56 57 N, 24 06 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Latvia
Government: Country name: 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.)
Government: Country name: former
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
Government: Country name: local long form
Latvijas Republika
Government: Country name: local short form
Latvija
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Julia JACOBY (since December 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
askconsular-riga@state.gov https://lv.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[371] 6710-7050
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
4520 Riga Place, Washington DC 20521-4520
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[371] 6710-7000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Elita KUZMA (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 328-2860
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 328-2840
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
31 May 2023
Government: 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: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
district (city) and regional courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
October 2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Saeima)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
10/1/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
100 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
31%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: 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
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Karlis BAUMANIS
Government: National color(s)
maroon, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918)
Government: National symbol(s)
white wagtail (bird)
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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: 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: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 9,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
140 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Latvian military's inventory consists of European and US armaments (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.07% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.50% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.65% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
2.13% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.09% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.23% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.16% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.25% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
2.97% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
3.26% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
3.7% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
14.7% (male 136,482/female 128,492)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
63% (male 562,754/female 572,850)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
22.2% (2024 est.) (male 137,746/female 262,922)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
7.24 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
0.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.28% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
49.6% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
14.68 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
33 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
56.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
23.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.9% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.32% (2022 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.61 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
12.1% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.50% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
5.0 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
81.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
71.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.90% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
19 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
49.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
41.6 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
27.3 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Latvian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.6% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
1,866,124 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.94% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,011,785
People and Society: Population: male
876,654
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
16 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.98 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.52 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
16.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
43.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
28.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.24 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
-0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
68.48% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
49,483 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
173,891 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
55 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
YL
Transportation: Heliports
5 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
83 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Lielupe, Liepaja, Riga, Salacgriva, Ventspils
Transportation: Ports: large
1
Transportation: Ports: medium
2
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
5 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Transportation: Railways: total
2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.