Factbook dossier
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.
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Area
total : 64,589 sq km land: 62,249 sq km water: 2,340 sq km
Natural resources
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Natural hazards
large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
Population
total: 1,888,439 (2025 est.) male: 876,654 female: 1,011,785
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.)
Languages
Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.) major-language sample(s): World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent language usually spoken at home
Religions
Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)
Environmental issues
some soil, water, and air pollution
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Riga geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October 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"
Executive branch
chief of state: President Edgars RINKEVICS (since 8 July 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Evika SILINA (since 15 September 2023) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament 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 most recent election date: 31 May 2023 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 expected date of next election: 2027
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament (Saeima) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 100 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/1/2022 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) percentage of women in chamber: 31% expected date of next election: October 2026
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$72.516 billion (2024 est.) $72.838 billion (2023 est.) $70.817 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$38,900 (2024 est.) $38,800 (2023 est.) $37,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.3% (2024 est.) 8.9% (2023 est.) 17.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
Lithuania 19%, Estonia 6%, Russia 6%, Germany 6%, Sweden 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
Lithuania 18%, Germany 11%, Poland 10%, Estonia 8%, Finland 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
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) note: the State Border Guard may become part of the armed forces during an emergency
Military expenditures
3.7% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)