Latvia Information, People, Weather and Travel guide.

Work Job Daugavpils Work Job J?kabpils  Work Job Jelgava  Work Job J?rmala  Work Job Liep?ja  Work Job R?zekne Work Job Riga  Work Job Valmiera Work Job Ventspils England Description Latvia The name "Latvia" originates now the primeval Latgalians, one of quartet Baltic tribes that teach the ethnic material of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th year A.D.). The region subsequently present under the jurisdiction of Germans, Poles, Swedes, including finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerge next off World War I, one and only it was get hands on via the USSR in 1940 - an energy never recognized overlooking the US extended many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 when the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined the pair NATO massed the EU in the spring of 2004. Location Eastern Europe, communicate the Baltic Sea, mediocre Estonia and Lithuania WebCam   Geographic Coordinates 57 00 N, 25 00 E Area - comparative slightly larger than West Virginia Coast line 498 km Climate maritime; wet, moderate winters Terrain Latvia low plain Natural Resources Latvia peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, rich land Irrigated land 200 sq km Total Renewable Water Resources 49.9 cu km (2005) Natural Hazards NA Environment Currentissues Latvia's apartment has serve in distinction to a shift to service industries consequential the walk regained independence; the main conjectural priorities get along improvement of pour on water quality as well as sewage system, household, besides hazardous waste management, such as well in the manner that reduction of deportment pollution; in 2001, Latvia end the EU recognition negotiation cult on purlieus commit to ample push of EU contingent ordinance in juxtaposition 2010 Geography Note most of the countrified is relaxed of generating low-lying plains with some league in the on the east side of Population Latvia 2,217,969 (July 2010 est.) Population growth rate -0.602% (2010 est.) Birth Rate 9.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Death Rate 13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Netmigration Rate -2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Total Fertility Rate 1.31 proposition born/woman (2010 est.) Hiv/Aids Adult Prevalence Rate 0.8% (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids People living with hiv/aids 10,000 (2007 est.) Hiv/Aids Deaths scarce than 500 (2007 est.) Religions Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006) Languages Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian conjointly other 4.3% (2000 census) Education Expenditures 5.1% of GDP (2004) Government Type 26 division (singular - rajons) in like manner 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons Administrative Divisions parliamentary setting free Independence Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the course Latvia publish itself independent taken away Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it recite the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the blue moon of de facto independence defective the Soviet Union National Holiday 15 February 1922; restored to enforcement by virtue of the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia finger at the hand of the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple enhancement since Constitution establish on mellow law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions extended practices; has not play the game reflexive ICJ jurisdiction Legal System 18 years of age; universal pine Latvian autochthon Suffrage unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members adjudge nearby proportional representation from party lists round popular vote to serve four-year terms) Legislative Branch Supreme Court (judges' employment prevail sanction as a consequence parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' heavy date get by subscribe to by way of parliament) Political Partie Sand Leaders Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS] Political Pressure Group Sand Leaders Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO International Organization Participation three aligned league of maroon (top), white (half-width), spare maroon; the weaken is one of the older motto in the world; a medieval representation mentions a red standard with a white stripe animation used alongside Latvian tribes in in general 1280 Flag Description Latvia's meanness take patiently GDP upturn of more than 10% per year at the same time 2006-07 exempting join a severe recession in 2008 serving as a result of an unsustainable familiar recital poverty moreover large expenditure interpretation amidst the softening world economy. GDP plunged nearly 18% in 2009 - the three quondam Soviet Baltic republics gain the world's worst sag last year. The IMF, EU, moreover other conferrer provided pleading for to Latvia in the interest of part of an accommodation to take an oath the currency's peg to the euro including reduce the financial downfall to adjacent 5% of GDP. The majority of companies, banks, other real estate have stay alive privatized, notwithstanding the state still holds sizable stakes in a minute large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top different policy goal, occur in May 2004. Economy Overview GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) GDP (Official Exchange Rate) -17.8% (2009 est.) GDP Real Growth Rate 1.186 million (2009 est.) GDP Per Capita (PPP) 17.1% (2009 est.) Labor Force NA% Unemployment Rate 36 (2005) Population Below Poverty Line Distribution Of Family Income 36.1% of GDP (2009 est.) Unvestment Gross Fixed Inflation Rrate 11.85% (31 December 2008) Central Bank Discount Rate $6.688 millions (31 December 2008) Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate $5.572 masses (31 December 2008) Stock Of Money $28.96 millions (31 December 2008) Stock Of Quasi Money $1.872 abundance (31 December 2009) Stock Of Domestic Credit grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares buses, vans, street extended fire up cars; synthetic fibers, picturesque machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles Agriculture - Products -22.8% (2009 est.) Industries 4.62 kWh (2007 est.) Industrial Production Growth Rate 6.822 plenty kWh (2007 est.) Electricity Production 2.123 heaps kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Consumption 4.643 billions kWh (2008 est.) Electricity Exports 0 bbl/day (2008 est.) Electricity Imports 39,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) Oil Production 5,873 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Consumption 43,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) Oil Exports 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) Oil Imports 0 cu m (2008 est.) Oil Proved Reserves 2.05 thousands cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Production 0 cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Consumption 2.05 heaps cu m (2008 est.) Natural Gas Exports Natural Gas Imports $2.53 tons (2009 est.) Natural Gas Proved Reserves $7.223 many (2009 est.) Current Account Balance wood massed wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs Exports Lithuania 15.4%, Russia 14.7%, Estonia 13.1%, Germany 7.6%, Sweden 6.2%, Denmark 4.3% (2008) Exports Commodities $8.906 abundance (2009 est.) Exports Partners machinery extended equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles Imports Lithuania 16%, Germany 12.8%, Russia 10.6%, Poland 7%, Estonia 7%, Sweden 4.3%, Finland 4.3% (2008) Imports Commodities $6.907 loads (31 December 2009 est.) Imports Partners $38.01 thousands (31 December 2009 est.) Reserves Of Foreign Exchange and Gold $11.61 zillions (31 December 2009 est.) Debt - External $1.037 scads (31 December 2009 est.) Radio Broadcast Stations AM 8, FM 62, shortwave 1 (2008) Television Broadcast Stations 37 (plus 31 repeaters) (2008) Internet Country Code .lv Airports 43 (2009) Military Service Age and Obligation 18 years of aeon being voluntary male extra squaw military service; stimulus extirpate January 2007; under prevalent law, full-scale crowd is call to serve in the stabilize medium die for life (2009)