Population: 2.3 million
Capital: Riga
Major language: Latvian
Major religion: Christianity (Lutheran)
Life expectancy: 66 years (men), 77 years (women)
Monetary unit: 1 lat = 100 santims
Main exports: Machinery and electrical equipment, textiles, timber and timber products, food and agricultural products.
Average annual income: US $5,580
Internet domain: .lv
International dialling code: +371
About Latvia
One of the three Baltic states, Latvia at 64,600 km. sq. is fractionally smaller than its southern neighbour Lithuania but larger than its neighbour to the north, Estonia. Along with its fellow Baltic states it achieved indepedence from the USSR in 1991 and accession into the European Union in 2004.
Latvia is lucky enough to enjoy a large stretch of coast on the Baltic sea, whilst the inland regions are predominantly low-lying swampland, forest and fertile plains, with many small lakes. Latvia's highest points are found in the Morainic Hills in the East. The river Daugava, which springs from the Valdai Hills in Russia and flows through Belarus is the largest in Latvia, draining into the Gulf of Riga.
Latvia's population is made up of only 60 percent of ethnic Latvians (predominantly Letts and Latgalians, two 'tribes' of Latvians), whilst nearly 30 percent is made up by Russians and some ten percent by other minorities of the ex-Soviet states. Only 54% of Russians however hold Latvian citizenship, as a number of measures to stem Russification of Latvia were put in place following independence - however children born to Russian parents after 1991 are now automatically granted citizenship. The Latvian character is said to be calmer than the sometimes hot-headed Lithuanians yet more passionate than the often reserved Estonians.
Overall Latvia is enjoying a prosperous time in its history with plenty of foreign investment and a steep rise in tourism forging one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. In a sense Latvia is enjoying its first secure term as an independent country, the last period of independence being a fleeting glimpse of freedom in the interwar period. The Latvian song festival, which began in 1873, is a symbol of the Latvian national identity (Estonia and Lithuania also have such festivals), and has earned Latvia the tag 'The Land That Sings.'