Latvia

Official name Latvijas Republika (Republic of Latvia)
Form of government unitary multiparty republic with one legislative body (Parliament, or Saeima [100])
Head of state President: Andris Berzins
Head of government Prime Minister: Laimdota Straujuma
Capital Riga
Official language Latvian
Official religion none
Monetary unit euro (€)
Population (2013 est.) 2,021,000COLLAPSE
Total area (sq mi) 24,938
Total area (sq km) 64,589
Urban-rural population

Urban: (2011) 67.5%

Rural: (2011) 32.5%

Life expectancy at birth

Male: (2011) 68.8 years

Female: (2011) 78.7 years

Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate

Male: (2009) 100%

Female: (2009) 100%

GNI per capita (U.S.$) (2012) 14,180

Background of Latvia

The name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed 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 it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the eurozone in 2014.

Lavia, country of northeastern Europe and one of the Baltic states. Latvia, which was occupied and annexed by the U.S.S.R. in June 1940, declared its independence on Aug. 21, 1991. The U.S.S.R. recognized its sovereignty on September 6, and United Nations membership followed shortly thereafter. Latvia was admitted to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) in 2004. The capital and chief city is Riga.

Land of Latvia People of Latvia Economy of Latvia Government and Society of Latvia Culture Life of Latvia History of Latvia

Disclaimer

This is not the official site of this country. Most of the information in this site were taken from the U.S. Department of State, The Central Intelligence Agency, The United Nations, [1],[2], [3], [4], [5],[6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14],[15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24],[25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30],[31], [32], [33], [34], and the [35].

Other sources of information will be mentioned as they are posted.