Latvia is located in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea. The capital and largest city is Riga. The population is around 2.3 million, with Latvians making up around 60% and Russians around 30%. The official language is Latvian, but Russian is also widely spoken. The economy was previously centered around industry and manufacturing but is now focused more on services. Healthcare and education are provided through a combination of public and private systems. Latvia joined both the EU and NATO in 2004.

1. MEVLANA ÜNİVERSİTESİ
COUNTRY REPORT ABOUT LATVİA
Lecturer : Nejla Seyrek
Student : Ahmet Evci

2. Republic of Latvia
Latvijas Republika
CAPITAL: Riga
FLAG: The flag consists of a single w hite horizontalstripe on a maroon field.
ANTHEM: Dievs, svēti Latviju! (God bless Latvia!).
MONETARY UNIT: The lat w as introduced as the officialcurrencyin May 1993; $1 = Ls1.78571 (or $1 = Ls0.56) as of
2005.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric systemis in force.
HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Good Friday (movable); Midsummer Festival, 23–24 June; National Day,
Proclamation of the Republic, 18 November; Christmas, 25–26 December; New Year's Eve, 31 December.
TIME: 2 pm = noon GMT.

3. LOCATION, SIZE, AND EXTENT
The Country is located in northeastern of Europe, bordering by the Baltic Sea, among Sweeden
and Russia. Comparatively, Latvia is more larger than the state of West Virginia, with a total
area of 64,589 sq km (24,938 sq mi). Latvia is sharing boundaries with Estonia on the n, Russia
on the e, Belarus on the s, Lithuania on the sw, and the Baltic Sea on the w. Latvia's land
boundary length totals 1,150 km (713 mi). Its coastline is 531 km (330 mi). Riga is the Capital
City of Latvia, which is located near the southern edge of the Gulf of Riga.
CLIMATE
Latvia’s climate is affected by geographical location and by its nearness to the North Atlantic
Ocean. The temperature in July is between 16.8°c and 17.6°c (62–64°f). In January the average
temperature ranges between–2.8°c and 6.6°c (31–44°f). The rainfall in the country is between
56–79 cm (22–31 in).
ENVIRONMENT
Air and water pollution are beetween Latvia's most important environmental concerns and are
largely related to a lack of waste treatment facilities.
In 2000 the all of carbon dioxide emissions was at 7 million metric tons. All vehicles account for
a majority of the Latvia’s air pollution. Acid rain had contributed to the destruction of Latvia's
forests. Latvia's water supply is perilously polluted with agricultural chemicals and industrial
waste.The Gulf of Riga and the Daugava River are both heavily polluted.

4. POPULATION
Latvia’s population in 2005 was aproximately by the United Nations (UN) at 2,300,000, which
placed it at number 138 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In 2005, approximately
17% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 17% of the population under 15
years of age. There was 84 males for every 100 females in the country. According to the UN,
the annual population rate of change for 2005–10 was expected to be -0.5%, a rate the
government viewed as too low. The country has had low fertility rates since the mid-1990s. The
projected population for the year 2025 was 2,156,000. The population density was 36 per sq km
(92 per sq mi).
The UN estimated that 68% of the population lived in urban areas in 2005, and that population in
urban areas was declining at an annual rate of -0.99%. The capital city, Riga, had a population of
733,000 in that year, and Daugavpils had an estimated of 124,887. There were 75 urban
localities, many located on rivers or coastal areas.
MIGRATION
Some 250,000 Latvians fled Soviet occupation during World War II, and others were sent to
Soviet labor camps. After the war many Russians moved to Latvia.
With independence in 1991, citizenship issues surrounding the large non-Latvian ethnic population
became a problem. Only 55% were ethnic Latvians; 32% were Russians; 3.9% Belarussians; and
9.1% other. Immigration from other former Soviet republics came to 4,590 in 1992. A
breakthrough came in 1998 when the Citizenship Law was changed, abolishing the annual quota of
naturalizations and entitling children born after independence to automatically acquire Latvian
citizenship upon request from their parents. A total of 51,778 persons emigrated when Latvia
gained independence in 1991; almost all of them went to Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus.
In 2000 there were 613,000 migrants living in Latvia. This amounts to about 25% of the total
population. In 2004 noncitizens in Latvia numbered 452,003, and 173 were stateless, all of
concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In 2005,
the net migration rate was an estimated -2.25 migrants per 1,000 population, a change from -8.8
per 1,000 in 1990. The government views the immigration level as too high, but the emigration
level as satisfactory.
ETHNIC GROUPS
According to 2003 guesses, the percentage of ethnic Latvians is about 58.8% of the total
population. Russians constitute about 29.6% of the population; Belarussians make up 4.1%;
Ukrainians account for 2.7%; Poles for 2.5%; Lithuanians for 1.4%; and others 2%. The Romani
population is estimated at about 13,000 to 15,000 people. Nearly half the Russians and
Ukrainians lived in Riga, where Russians formed a majority of the population. All residents of
pre-1940 Latvia and their descendants are citizens. Naturalization requires 16 years' residence
and fluency in Latvian.

5. LANGUAGES
Lettish or Latvian is a kind of Baltic language;which is spoken in Latvia.it is spoken by about
59.3% of the population. It is highly inflected, with eight noun cases and seven verb declensions.
The stresses are on the first syllable. There are three dialects. The macron is used for long
vowels, and there is a hacek for "h." A cedilla adds the y sound. Education is now available in both
Latvian and Russian, the latter of which is spoken by about 36.4% of the population. Lithuania
and other languages are spoken by about 3.2% of the population.
RELIGIONS
After declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, freedom of religion and worship
was restored for the first time since 1941. Christianity had arrived in Latvia in the 12th century,
and the Reformation made Lutheranism the primary religious persuasion after 1530. Currently
the three largest faiths are Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Orthodoxy.
In 2004, the Latvian Justice Ministry had registered more than 1,000 religious congregations,
including 308 Lutheran, 264 Roman Catholic, 125 Orthodox, 96 Baptist, 67 Old Believer (a
breakaway Orthodox sect dating from the 17th century), 50 Seventh-Day Adventist, 15 Muslim,
13 Jehovah's Witnesses, 13 Methodists, 13 Jewish, 11 Hare Krishna, 5 Buddhist, 4 Mormon, and
over 100 others. According to church membership rolls submitted to the Justice Ministry, the
Lutheran Church has about 556,000 members, the Roman Catholic Church has about 430,405
members, and the Orthodox Churches have about 350,000 members. There are only about 6,000
Jews in the country.
The constitution provides for freedom of religion and this right is generally respected in
practice. Though there is no state religion, six religions are recognized by the government as
traditional religions: Lutheranism, Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Old Believers, the Baptist
Church, and Judaism. All other religions are categorized as "new" religions; these groups have
not offered any reports of significant discrimination. Certain Christian holidays are celebrated
as national holidays. The New Religions Consultative offers opinions to the government on
specific issues. The Ecclesiastical Council offers regular input on issues of common concern.
TRANSPORTATION
Rail Road System Of Latvia ,as of 2004, consisted of 2,407 km of broad and narrow gauge
railway that linked the Latvia's port cities with Russia. More than 60% of railway use is for daily
commuting. Of the total rail lines in operation, 2,270 km (1,412 mi) was broad gauge, of which
257 km (160 mi) had been electrified. In 2003, there were 69,919 km (43,490 mi) of highways in
Latvia, all of which were paved. In that same year, there were 619,081 passengers cars and
125,030 commercial vehicles in use. Maritime ports include Riga, Ventspils, and Liepāja. In 2005,
the merchant fleet consisted of 19 ships of 1,000 GRT or more, with a total of 53,153 GRT.
Ventspils is the terminus of the 750 km (466 mi) oil pipeline from Polotsk, Belarus. As of 2004,
the country also had 300 km (186 mi) of navigable waterways.
HISTORY

6. Germans, Poles, Swedes, and Russians competed for influence in what is now Latvia from the
Middle Ages until the 18th century, when it was incorporated into the Russian Empire. During the
19th century, a Latvian nationalist movement arose which by the early 20th century sought
independence. The political chaos in Europe following World War I provided the opportunity for
Latvia to break away from Russia's control.
GOVERNMENT
The 1990 declaration of provisional independence reinstated the 1922 constitution. From 1990
to 1993, Latvia was in a state of transition and authority was held by the Supreme Council. The
new Saeima (parliament) consists of a single chamber with 100 deputies. A party must receive at
least 5% of the national vote to hold a seat in parliament. Deputies are elected to a term of four
years by citizens over the age of 18.
The executive branch of government is made up of the president, prime minister, and the
cabinet. The Saeima elects the president for a four-year term. Executive power lies with the
prime minister, who heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet). In June 1999, the Saeima elected
Vaira Vike-Freiberga to the presidency. He was reelected in 2003 and will remain in office until
the next election, scheduled to take place in June 2007.
Only citizens of Latvia at the time of the 1940 Soviet invasion and their descendants were
allowed to vote in the 1993 elections. This meant that an estimated 34% of the country's
residents (primarily Russians) were ineligible to vote. A citizenship law passed in June 1944
restricted naturalization to fewer than 2,000 resident aliens a year. On 22 July 1994, bowing to
domestic and international pressure, the Saeima amended the citizenship law, eliminating the
quota system. Applicants need a minimum of five years of continuous residence, basic knowledge
of the Latvian language, history, and constitution, and a legal source of income; they must also
take an oath of loyalty to Latvia and renounce any other citizenship. Thus the new citizenship law
accelerates the naturalization process for the several hundred thousand Russian-speakers living
in Latvia.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Latvia was admitted to the United Nations on 17 September 1991 and serves in several
specialized agencies, such as UNESCO, FAO, IFC, the World Bank, WHO, and the ILO. The
country is a member of the WTO, the Council of Europe, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the OSCE, and the Council of the Baltic Sea
States. Latvia joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. Latvia is an observer in the OAS
and a member affiliate of the Western European Union. In environmental cooperation, Latvia is
part of the Basel Convention, Conventions on Biological Diversity and Air Pollution, CITES, the
Kyoto Protocol, the Montréal Protocol, MARPOL, and the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea
and Climate Change.
ECONOMY
Latvia has a relatively well-developed infrastructure and a diversified industrial base, which
accounts for about 26% of GDP. Agriculture constitutes approximately 5% of GDP and centers
around the cultivation of potatoes, cereals, fodder, and other crops, as well as dairy farming.

7. The largest sector of the economy is the service sector, with wholesale and retail trade,
transportation, financial services, communications, and real estate management the most
important industries.
AGRICULTURE
As of 2003, out of a total land area of 6,205,000 hectares (15,333,000 acres), about 30% was
crop land. Agriculture accounted for about 5% of GDP and engaged around 12% of the labor
force in 2003. Agricultural output declined by an annual average of 7% during 1990–2000.
Privatization of agriculture progressed rapidly after 1991. By the beginning of 1993, over 50,000
private farms had been established, and many agricultural facilities were being privatized.
Production of primary crops in 2004 (in thousands of tons) included wheat, 530; barley, 275; rye,
100; potatoes, 628.4; rapeseed, 103.6; and dry beans, 0.5.
INDUSTRY
Latvia's industrial base has centered mainly on heavy industries such as chemicals and
petrochemicals, metal working, and machine building. Major manufactured items include railway
carriages, buses, mopeds, washing machines, radios, electronics, and telephone systems. Since
1995, output of buses has fallen, but there has been an increase in the production of transport
vehicles and passenger rail cars. Base chemical production has also declined slightly, as demand
for household detergents and fibers has fallen. Other important industries include paper,
petrochemicals, mechanical engineering, and communications.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The Latvian Academy of Sciences has divisions of physical and technical sciences and of chemical
and biological sciences.
Fifteen research institutes, most attached to the academy, conduct medical, technical, and
scientific research. The University of Latvia (founded in 1919) has faculties of physics and
mathematics, chemistry, and biology. The Riga Technical University (founded in 1990) has various
engineering faculties. Both are in Riga, as are the Latvian Academy of Medicine (founded in
1951), the Riga Aviation University (founded in 1919), and the Stradin Museum of the History of
Medicine. The Latvian University of Agriculture (founded in 1939) is located in Jelgava, and the
National Botanical Garden is situated in Salaspils.
In 1987–97, science and engineering students accounted for 23% of university enrollment. In
2002, Latvia had 1,478 scientists and engineers and 282 technicians per million people actively
engaged in research and development (R&D). For that same year, Latvia's expenditures on R&D
totaled $100.082 million, or 0.46% of GDP, with government providing the largest portion at
42.7%, followed by foreign sources at 35.6%. Business provided the remaining 21.7%. High
technology exports in 2002 totaled $51 million, or 4% of all manufactured exports.
DOMESTIC TRADE
The traditional, small, privately owned farmer's markets, bakeries, and dairies are still prevalent
throughout the country; however, large supermarkets are making their mark in larger cities.
Latvia's center of domestic commerce is in Riga. One of the countries first malls opened with

8. major investment from a Finnish department store chain. The most widely demanded domestic
services include dressmaking and repair; house construction and repair; and automotive servicing.
As of 2002, privatization of previously state-owned companies and industries was nearly
complete.
Shops are generally open from 9 or 10 am to 7 or 8 pm
HEALTH
Primary care is provided at large urban health centers, hospital and walk-in
emergency facilities, individual and group private practices, rural clinics staffed
by midwives and physicians' assistants, and workplace clinics run by large private
employers and the military. Total health care expenditure was estimated at 6.7%
of GDP. As of 2004, there were an estimated 291 physicians, 509 nurses, 53
dentists, and 21 nurses per 100,000 people. In the same year, Latvia had 151
hospitals, of which 31 were located in Riga (including all specialized hospitals).
EDUCATION
The modern Latvian educational system is based on the reforms introduced in
1991. Compulsory education lasts for nine years beginning at the age of seven. At
this stage, students have a choice between basic vocational school (two or three
years), general secondary school (three years), or vocational secondary school
(four years, offering a diploma that may fulfill the prerequisite for university
studies).
In 2001, about 60% of children between the ages of three and six were enrolled
in some type of preschool program. Primary school enrollment in 2003 was
estimated at about 86% of age-eligible students. The same year, secondary
school enrollment was about 88% of age-eligible students.
MUSEUMS
The larger museums are located in Riga, including the State Museum of Fine Arts, the History
Museum of Latvia, The Latvian Photography Museum, and the Museum of Foreign Art. Riga also
hosts the Museum of Natural History; the Riga Film Museum; the State Museum of Art; the
Literature, Theater, and Music Museum; the Latvian Sports Museum, and the Latvian War
Museum. In 1990, Bauska Castle was converted into a historic museum. The Bauska Art Museum
holds over 8,000 works of art by Russian and Western European artists. With the end of the
Soviet era, a number of new museums devoted to Latvian culture and history opened in the
1990s, including museums of architecture, photography, telecommunications.
TOURISM AND TRAVEL

9. With a population of almost one million, Riga is the major tourism center of the Baltic states. Its
historic architecture has undergone extensive restoration. The white sand beaches offer sailing
and river rafting along with many spas. Latvia boasts 12,310 rivers and 3,000 lakes, which are
popular for boating, as well as country castles and medieval towns. Tennis, horseback riding,
fishing, hunting, sailing, water sports, and winter sports are available to visitors, as well as a ski
marathon in February, the Sport Festival of Riga in May, and the International Riga Marathon in
July.
All visitors need passports valid for at least three months after the planned stay. Visas are not
required for stays of up to 90 days.
FAMOUS LATVIANS
Guntis Ulmanis (b.1939) was president of Latvia from 1993 to 1999. Vaira Vike-Freiberga
(b.1937), Latvia's first female president, succeeded him in 1999, and was reelected in 2003.
Turis Alumans was Latvia's first poet. He started a school of poetry that produced the poets
Krisjanis Barons (1823–1923) and Atis Kronvalds in the 19th century. Romantic literature in the
20th century was symbolized by Janis Rainis's (1865–1929)Fire and Night.

10. Context
LOCATION
CLIMATE
ENVIRONMENT
POPULATION
MIGRATION
ETHNIC GROUPS
LANGUAGES
RELIGIONS
TRANSPORTATION
HISTORY
GOVERNMENT
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRY
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DOMESTIC TRADE
HEALTH
EDUCATION
MUSEUMS
TOURISM AND TRAVEL
FAMOUS LATVIANS
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Latvia
http://wikitravel.org/en/Latvia
http://www.infoplease.com/country/latvia.html
http://www.indexmundi.com/latvia/agriculture_products.html
http://eng.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Latvia
http://eng.meeting.lv/wheretogo/museums.php
http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/population-census-30761.html