Latvia

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Latvia's Information


Capital	Riga
Languages	Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%
Ethnic Groups	Latvian 61.8%, Russian 25.6%, Belarusian 3.4%, Ukrainian 2.3%, Polish 2.1%, Lithuanian 1.2%, other 3.6% (2016 est.)
Religion	Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
Government	Parliamentary republic
Independance	4 May 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
Area	64,589.00 km²
Water Area	2,340.00 km²
Land Area	62,249.00 km²
Population	1,965,686.00 Largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Location	Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Belarus 161 km, Estonia 333 km, Lithuania 544 km, Russia 332 km
GDP(PPP)	$50,650,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$25,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Lithuania, Russia, and Estonia.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are foodstuffs, wood and wood products, and metals.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Lithuania, Germany, and Poland.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, and fuels.
Climate	Maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain	Low plain

Where is Latvia?

Located in Eastern Europe, Latvia has a 1,370.00 km border with Belarus (161 km), Estonia (333 km), Lithuania (544 km) and Russia (332 km). It has a 498.00 km coastline. The Latvian parliament has still not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary with Lithuania.

The Latvian language has three different dialects. These are the Livonian dialect, the Middle dialect, and the High Latvian dialect. The Latvian language is said to have a conservative morphology despite the fact that it has an innovative phonology. While Latvian is an Indo-European language, it developed under strong influence from Livonian, fully displacing it but keeping its characters. Middle Latvian is common in central and the Southwestern parts of Latvia. High Latvian on the other hand is spoken predominantly in Eastern Latvia.

Geography

Latvia has a mean elevation of 87 m above sea level.

it has a maritime climate with wet, moderate winters. Its terrain mostly consists of low plains.

Population

Latvia has a population of 1,965,686 making it the 148th largest in the world. The highest concentration of people can be found in and around the capital city of Riga.

Latvian is the official language; Russian widely spoken. The major ethnicity reported is Latvian, followed by Russian and Belarusian. The majority of the population has Christian beliefs, with a large minority identifying as unspecified.

The capital of Latvia is Riga. Riga has a population of approximately 700,000 inhabitants. Riga is a Baltic Port, a cultural center, an industrial center, a military base and a railway junction. Riga has been named as the European Capital of Culture. Riga serves as a key economic and financial center for Latvia because of its port, as it accounts for over half of its county’s Gross Domestic Product and generates more than half of Latvia’s exports. The official currency used in Riga is the Euro. Riga's airport is the largest and busiest airport in the Baltic region.

Government

Latvia is an independent country. It declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Its constitution was last ratified in 1922.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic. It was formerly known as Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic of Latvia, and is represented by unicameral parliament who represent the citizens and also comprises of the cabinet of ministers of the Republic of Latvia who from the executive body of the 3 bodies of the government. The parliament is called the Saeima which is made up of a representation of 100 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation for a period of four years. The Saeima has a 5 member presidium who chair and supervise parliamentary chancery.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Latvia's GDP is $50,650,000,000.00 (USD) with $25,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 108th largest economy and its citizens the 71st richest in the world. The currency of Latvia is the Lat (LVL).

Its major export partners are Lithuania, Russia, and Estonia. Its main exports are foodstuffs, wood and wood products, and metals. Its major import partners are Lithuania, Germany, and Poland. Its major imports include machinery and equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, and fuels.

Flag

The Latvian national flag, often known as Latvian Red, is carmine red with a white horizontal stripe. The flag consists of a red block cut through with a white strip. Latvia’s flag is one of the three oldest flags in existence. The flag was officially adopted in February 27th, 1990, although it was utilized by Latvia from 1918 up until it was amalgamated with the Soviet Union in the year 1940. However, the flag is actually dated back to 1279.