Data at glance of Latvia - average on period

History

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.

Environment

Area: 64,589 km2

Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters

Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land

Ethnic characteristics

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.)

Government

Capital: Riga

Government type: parliamentary republic

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 Parliamentelection/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 Parliamentmost recent election date: 31 May 2023election 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 53-392019: 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 61-39expected date of next election: 2027

Legislative branch

Description: legislature name: Parliament (Saeima)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 100 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 10/1/2022parties 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