Latvia
in Northern Europe
Europe

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Lat - LVL
Spoken languages:
Latvian, Russian, Lithuanian
Local electricity:
230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
LV
Internet top level domain:
.lv
Country phone prefix:
+371
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Latvia in Northern Europe

Safety Score: 2,6 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Latvia.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Latvia. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Latvia

Latvia with its capital Riga is located in Europe (Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea). It covers some 64,590 square kilometers (slightly larger than West Virginia) with a population of 1,944,640. Latvian, Russian and Lithuanian are the languages spoken by people in Latvia (consider regional differences). Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania and Russia are bordering countries.

Latvia is a European state which is situated on the coast of Baltic Sea. One of the three Baltic states, Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus on the south east, and the Baltic Sea on the west. The most famous travel spot is the capital Riga, a World Heritage Site. There are also many other great places to see, both urban and rural, such as Liepaja with its unique former secret military town of Karosta and a magnificent beach. Kuldiga with Europe`s widest waterfall and Cesis with its medieval castle ruins are also interesting. Tourists can also enjoy the wild beauty of Latvia's unspoilt sea coast, which is 500 km long and consists mainly of white, soft sandy beaches. Forests, which cover approximately a half of Latvia's territory, offer many nature trails and nature parks.There are a lot of possibilities to practice winter sports - snowboarding, cross country skiing, downhill skiing etc.

Popular Destinations in Latvia

 

Tukums
 

Riga
 

Liepāja
 

Jūrmala
 

Jelgava
 

Daugavpils

Administrative regions of Latvia

About the country

Website: Latvia Tourism

4 Pils sq.
Riga
LV-1050
Latvia

Phone: +371 7 229945
Fax: +371 7 508468
Mail: tda@latviatourism.lv

The topography is low plain. The average density of population is about 30 per km². The climate in Latvia can be described as maritime with wet, moderate winters. Potential natural disasters are large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage.

To reach someone Latvia dial +371 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".lv". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Lat is LVL.

Three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280.

Flag of Latvia

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 it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 26% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 125) 64,589sq km
Land (World Rank: 123) 62,249sq km
Water (World Rank: 87) 2,340sq km
Forest (World Rank: 126) 10.50%
Comparative slightly larger than West Virginia
Coastline
498
Landborder
1370
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 206) 312m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 140) 29.20%
Arable (World Rank: 61) 18.60%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 180) 0.10%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 126) 10.50%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 166) 12sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues
  • - as well as reduction of air pollution
  • - household and hazardous waste management
  • - improvements have occurred in drinking water quality
  • - Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence
  • - sewage treatment
Agreement party
  • - Air Pollution
  • - Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Endangered Species
  • - Hazardous Wastes
  • - Law of the Sea
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Ship Pollution
  • - Wetlands
Hazzards large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain
low plain

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 149) 1,944,640
Deathrate (World Rank: 4) 1.45%
Birthrate (World Rank: 194) 0.97%
Growthrate (World Rank: 222) -1.08%
Migration rate (World Rank: 164) -0.61%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 193) 1.51%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 41) 39.70
Female (World Rank: 5) 46.90
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 154) 151,195
0 14 female (World Rank: 155) 143,388
15 24 male (World Rank: 156) 94,779
15 24 female (World Rank: 156) 88,952
25 54 male (World Rank: 148) 403,699
25 54 female (World Rank: 146) 408,277
55 64 male (World Rank: 133) 121,993
55 64 female (World Rank: 129) 152,260
65 x male (World Rank: 125) 124,570
65 x female (World Rank: 104) 255,530
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 172) 0.52%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 120) 75years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 84) 80years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 141) 70years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 35) 3.22
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 28) 5.90
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 104) 87.80%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 65) 23.60%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 61) 99.30%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 118) 5,342,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 110) 6,712,000,000kWh
Export (World Rank: 37) 3,795,000,000kWh
Import (World Rank: 40) 4,828,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 168) 39.10%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 34) 54.10%
Source renew (World Rank: 82) 6.70%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 115) 37,680bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 67) 22,640bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 77) 54,060bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 83) 2,200,000,000m³
Import (World Rank: 16) 0m³
Carbon footprint
7600000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 73) 5% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 76) 1% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 107) 6% of GDP
National symbol
white wagtail
National colours
white
Adjective
Latvian
Noun
Latvian(s)
Background
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 it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 26% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.
Flag description
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 108) 50,610,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 131) 2.00%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 72) 25,700USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 148) 3.20%
Source industry (World Rank: 135) 21.90%
Source service (World Rank: 42) 74.90%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 142) 988,600
In poverty (World Rank: 77) 25.50%
Products
Industries
  • - electronics
  • - pharmaceuticals
  • - processed foods
  • - processed metals
  • - processed wood products
  • - railroad cars
  • - synthetic fibers
  • - textiles
Agriculture
  • - eggs
  • - fish
  • - grain
  • - milk
  • - pork
  • - potatoes
  • - poultry
  • - rapeseed
  • - vegetables
Exports
  • - equipment
  • - foodstuffs
  • - machinery
  • - metals
  • - textiles
  • - wood
  • - wood products
Imports
  • - chemicals
  • - consumer goods
  • - equipment
  • - fuels
  • - machinery
  • - vehicles

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 107) 367,195
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 94) 19.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 46) 135.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 119) 1,570,370
Population (World Rank: 44) 79.90%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 83) 18.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 92) 24.00
Heliports (World Rank: 99) 1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 70) 2,239
Road
Total length (World Rank: 65) 72,440
Paved length (World Rank: 67) 14,707
Unpaved length (World Rank: 32) 57,733
Water
Total length (World Rank: 95) 300
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.