Latvia Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

Latvia – country information

Country name	Latvia
Official name	Republic of Latvia
Capital	Riga
Continent	Europe
Area	64,600 km²
Population	2,003,900 (2014)
Foundation of a state	8/21/1991
The highest mountains	We see 311 m
Longest rivers	Daugava (West Dvina) 1060 km (in the country 325 km)
State system	a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Riga (capital) 860,000, Daugavpils 120,000, Liepaja 104,000
Official language	Latvian
Ethnicity/National Composition	Latvians 54.5%, Russians 32%, Belarusians 4.3%, Ukrainians 3.3%, Poles 2.2%, Lithuanians 1.3%, Jews 0.6%, others 1.7%
Religious affiliation	Lutherans predominate, followed by Orthodox and Roman Catholics
Currency	1 lat (pl. lat) = 100 centimes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$18,058 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	74.20 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 21%, mining and industry 35%, construction 4%, services 40%

Latvia – neighboring states

State	Capital	Area	Population
Belarus	Minsk	207,600 km²	9,468,100
Estonia	Tallinn	45,100 km²	1,311,870
Lithuania	Vilnius	65,300 km²	2,941,953
Russia	Moscow	17,098,200 km²	143,700,000

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Latvia is a small country that shares many features with its two neighboring republics, Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It lies on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and also shares a common border with the Russian Federation to the east and Belarus to the southeast.

Country data

Location: Eastern Europe

Time zone: CET + 2 (during summer time CET + 1)

Total area: 64,589 km²

Land area: 62,249 km²

Water area: 2,340 km²

Length of the state border: 1,382 km

Bordering countries fall to:
Estonia: 343 km
Lithuania: 576 km
Russian Federation: 292 km
Belarus / Belarus: 171 km

Coastline: 498 km

Capital: Riga

Districts: 119
in addition Novads, Aglonas Novads, Aizkraukles Novads, Aizputes Novads, Aknistes Novads, Alojas Novads, Alsungas Novads, Aluksnes Novads, Amatas Novads, Apes Novads, Auces Novads, Babites Novads, Baldones Novads, Baltinavas Novads, Balvu Novads, Bauskas Novads, Brocenu Novads, Burtnieku Novads, Carnikavas Novads, Cesu Novads, Cesvaines Novads, Ciblas Novads, Dagdas Novads, Daugavpils, Daugavpils Novads, Dobeles Novads, Dundagas Novads, Durbes Novads, Engures Novads, Erglu Novads, Gulbenes Novads, Iecavas Novads, Ikskiles Novads, Ilukstes Novads, Incukalna Novads, Jaunjelgavas Novads, Jaunpiebalgas Novads, Jaunpils Novads, Jekabpils, Jekabpils Novads, Jelgava, Jelgavas Novads, Jurmala, Kandavas Novads, Karsegavas Novads Novads, Kraslavas Novads,Krimuldas Novads, Krustpils Novads, Kuldigas Novads, Liepaja, Lielvardes Novads, Ligatnes Novads, Limbazu Novads, Livanu Novads, Lubanas Novads, Ludzas Novads, Madonas Novads, Malpils Novads, Marupes Novads, Mazsalacas Novads, Mersraga Novads, Nau Nicas Novads, Ogres Novads, Olaines Novads, Ozolnieku Novads, Pargaujas Novads, Pavilostas Novads, Plavinu Novads, Preilu Novads, Priekules Novads, Priekulu Novads, Raunas Novads, Rezekne, Rezeknes Novads, Riebinu Novazuads, Riga, Rucopavas Novads, Riga, Roopavas Novads Novads, Rugaju Novads, Rujienas Novads, Rundales Novads, Salacgrivas Novads, Salas Novads, Salaspils Novads, Saldus Novads, Saulkrastu Novads, Sejas Novads, Siguldas Novads, Skriveru Novads, Skrundas Novads, Smiltenes Novads, Stopinu Novads, Strenalsu Novads, Tervetes Novads, Tukuma Novads,Vainodes Novads, Valkas Novads, Valmiera, Varaklanu Novads, Varkavas Novads, Vecpiebalgas Novads, Vecumnieku Novads, Ventspils, Ventspils Novads, Viesites Novads, Vilakas Novads, Vilanu Novads, Zilupes Novads

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 371 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m

Population

Population: approx. 2.2 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: -0.6% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 34

Life expectancy: 68 (male), 79 (female)

Official language: Latvian

Religions: Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Climate

The summer months are mild to warm and comparable to the Central European.

In winter, which can get very cold, there is frequent snowfall.

Partly heavy rainfall must be expected throughout the year.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Euro (EUR)

Classification: 1 euro = 100 cents

ATMs: Available in most major cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted in larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

800 cigarettes or 200 cigars or 1,000 g tobacco
10 liters of alcoholic beverages

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Travel advice

There is currently no country-specific safety notice for Latvia.

Economy

Due to the lack of raw materials, Latvia is very dependent on imports. Latvia cannot cover the energy it needs itself either.

Industries: building materials, chemistry, electronics, household appliance manufacturing, food manufacturing, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, textiles

Natural resources: wood, limestone, agricultural land, hydropower

Land use: