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Europe
Page last updated: May 22, 2024
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.
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
57°00' N, 25°00' E
Europe
Total: 64,589 km²
Land: 62,249 km²
Water: 2,340 km²
Slightly larger than West Virginia
Area comparison map:
Total: 1,370 km
Border countries (4): Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km
498 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Maritime; wet, moderate winters
Low plain
Highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 87 m
Peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 54.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 16.7% (2018 est.)
6 km² (2016)
Note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 km² or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage
Largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
Most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east
Total: 1,801,246
Male: 836,982
Female: 964,264 (2024 est.)
Comparison rankings: female 151; male 155; total 153
Noun: Latvian(s)
Adjective: Latvian
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.)
Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%; note - data represent language usually spoken at home (2011 est.)
Major-language sample(s):
World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 136,482/female 128,492)
15-64 years: 63% (male 562,754/female 572,850)
65 years and over: 22.2% (2024 est.) (male 137,746/female 262,922)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 59.3
Youth dependency ratio: 24.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 34.4
Potential support ratio: 2.9 (2021 est.)
Total: 45.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 41.6 years
Female: 49.2 years
-1.14% (2024 est.)
8.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
-4.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
27.3 years (2020 est.)
18 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 76.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72 years
Female: 81 years
1.55 children born/woman (2024 est.)
0.76 (2024 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 99.9% of population
Rural: 98.6% of population
Total: 99.5% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population
Rural: 1.4% of population
Total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)
7.5% of GDP (2020)
3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Improved: urban: 98.9% of population
Rural: 85.3% of population
Total: 94.6% of population
Unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population
Rural: 14.7% of population
Total: 5.4% of population (2020 est.)
Degree of risk: intermediate (2023)
Vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
23.6% (2016)
Total: 12.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 4.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 1.7 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 5.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 37% (2020 est.)
Male: 50.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 23.7% (2020 est.)
21.1% (2020/21) NA
49.1% (2023 est.)
6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.9%
Male: 99.9%
Female: 99.9% (2021)
Total: 16 years
Male: 16 years
Female: 17 years (2020)
While land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea
Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Maritime; wet, moderate winters
Agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 54.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 16.7% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 68.7% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 12.02 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 7 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 1.85 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 857,000 tons (2015 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 181,941 tons (2015 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.2% (2015 est.)
Municipal: 90 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
34.94 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
Conventional short form: Latvia
Local long form: Latvijas Republika
Local short form: Latvija
Former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
Etymology: the name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.)
Parliamentary republic
Name: Riga
Geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
Time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Etymology: of the several theories explaining the name's origin, the one relating to the city's role in Baltic and North Sea commerce is the most probable; the name is likely related to the Latvian word "rija," meaning "warehouse," where the 'j' became a 'g' under the heavy German influence in the city from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century
36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)
Municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils
Cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils
18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
History: several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993
Amendments: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019
Civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
18 years of age; universal
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 Parliament
Elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 May 2023 (next to be held in 2027); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament
Election 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 53-39
2019: 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 61-39
Note: on 15 September 2023, Parliament voted 53-39 to approve Prime Minister Evika SILINA
Description: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 1 October 2012 (next to be held no later than 3 October 2026)
Election results: percent of vote by party - JV 19.2%, ZZS 12.6%, AS 11.1%, NA 9.4%, S! 6.9%, LPV 6.3%, PRO 6.2%; seats by party - JV 26, ZZS 16, AS 15, NA 13, S! 11, LPV 9, PRO 10; composition- men 68, women 32, percentage women 32%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts
Development/For! or AP! [Daniels PAVLUTS, Ivars IJABS]
For Stability or S! [Aleksejs ROSLIKOVS]
Latvia First [Ainars SLESERS]
Latvian Green Party or LZP (Edgars TAVARS)
National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" or NA [Raivis DZINTARS]
New Unity or JV [Arturs Krišjānis KARINS]
Social Democratic Party "Harmony" or S [Janis URBANOVICS]
The Progressives or PRO [Kaspars BRISKENS]
Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Aivars LEMBERGS]
United List or AS [Uldis PILENS] (electoral coalition including the Latvian Green Party or LZP, Latvian Association of Regions or LRA, Liepaja Party)
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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
White wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white
Name: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)
Lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS
Note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
Total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga; Struve Geodetic Arc; Old town of Kuldīga
High-income, EU-member Baltic economy; export-driven; Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a temporary labor force surge and impacted growth due to Russian trade reliance; highly developed transit services
$62.005 billion (2022 est.)
$59.991 billion (2021 est.)
$56.207 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
3.36% (2022 est.)
6.73% (2021 est.)
-3.51% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$33,000 (2022 est.)
$31,800 (2021 est.)
$29,600 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$40.932 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
17.31% (2022 est.)
3.28% (2021 est.)
0.22% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: A- (2014)
Moody's rating: A3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.)
Industry: 22.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 73.7% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 55; industry 128; agriculture 139
Household consumption: 61.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 19.9% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 60.6% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -61.9% (2017 est.)
Wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, pork (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics
-2.16% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
970,000 (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
6.81% (2022 est.)
7.51% (2021 est.)
8.1% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 15.5% (2021 est.)
Male: 12%
Female: 19.6%
22.5% (2021 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
35.7 (2020 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 19.3% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 7.6% of household expenditures (2021 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.5%
Highest 10%: 27.5% (2020 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
3.26% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.34% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.16% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $12.931 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $14.242 billion (2020 est.)
-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
21.92% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
-$1.937 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.579 billion (2021 est.)
$1.017 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$29.374 billion (2022 est.)
$25.43 billion (2021 est.)
$20.932 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Lithuania 18%, Estonia 10%, Germany 6%, Russia 6%, Sweden 5% (2022)
Note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Wood, wheat, natural gas, electricity, broadcasting equipment (2022)
Note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
$31.213 billion (2022 est.)
$26.681 billion (2021 est.)
$20.479 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Lithuania 22%, Estonia 10%, Germany 9%, Poland 9%, Russia 6% (2022)
Note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Natural gas, refined petroleum, electricity, cars, packaged medicine (2022)
Note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
$4.46 billion (2022 est.)
$5.491 billion (2021 est.)
$5.29 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$40.164 billion (2019 est.)
$42.488 billion (2018 est.)
Euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 3.089 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 6.706 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Exports: 2.548 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 4.173 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 377 million kWh (2020 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 79; imports 45; exports 46; consumption 111; installed generating capacity 105
Fossil fuels: 33.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 47.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 15.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 39,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 40,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 1,600 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 39,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
16,180 bbl/day (2017 est.)
54,370 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 1.068 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 1.068 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
8.45 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 149,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 5.693 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 2.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
86.645 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 174,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 2.167 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2022 est.)
General assessment: the telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fiber-based infrastructure; there is effective competition in the mobile market; these multi-service operators have focused investment on fiber networks and on expanding the reach of 5G (2023)
Domestic: fixed-line roughly 10 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 115 per 100 subscriptions (2021)
International: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber-optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
Several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations
.lv
Total: 1.729 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 91% (2021 est.)
Total: 490,569 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 53
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,058,762 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.01 million (2018) mt-km
YL
56 (2024)
5 (2024)
1,213 km gas, 417 km refined products (2018)
Total: 2,216 km (2020) 257 km electrified
Total: 57,972 km (2022)
300 km (2010) (navigable year-round)
Total: 83 (2023)
By type: container ship 2, general cargo 30, oil tanker 10, other 41
Total ports: 5 (2024)
Large: 1
Medium: 2
Small: 0
Very small: 2
Ports with oil terminals: 3
Key ports: Lielupe, Liepaja, Riga, Salacgriva, Ventspils
National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze) (2024)
Note: the National Armed Forces (including the National Guard), the Defense Intelligence and Security Service, and the Constitution Protection Bureau are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense; the State Police, State Border Guards, and State Security Service are under the Ministry of Interior; the State Border Guard may become part of the armed forces during an emergency
2.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2022)
2.1% of GDP (2021)
2.2% of GDP (2020)
2% of GDP (2019)
Approximately 7,200 regular military forces; approximately 10,000 National Guard (2024)
The Latvian military's inventory consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and limited amounts of more modern, Western-produced systems acquired since the country joined NATO in 2004; in recent years, the UK and US have been the leading suppliers of military equipment (2023)
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 12 months mandatory military service for men 18-27 years of age (2024)
Note 1: conscription reintroduced in 2024
Note 2: as of 2022, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel
135 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2024)
The National Armed Forces are responsible for the defense of the country’s sovereignty and territory; they also have some domestic security responsibilities, including coast guard functions, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, and providing support to other internal security services, including the State Border Service, the State Police, and the State Security Service; the Military Police provides protection to the president and other government officials, foreign dignitaries, and key facilities; for external defense, Latvia’s primary security focus is Russia, which has only increased since the Russian seizure of Crimea in 2014 and full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022; in 2004, Latvia joined NATO and the EU, which it depends on to play a decisive role in Latvia’s security policy; Latvia is actively engaged in both NATO and the EU, as well as bilaterally with its allies in order to bolster its own security and that of the surrounding region; the Latvian military has participated in NATO and EU missions abroad and regularly conducts training and exercises with NATO and EU partner forces; Latvia also hosts NATO partner forces and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions
The Land Forces have a single mechanized brigade; since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia; the Land Forces are supplemented by the National Guard, which has four regionally based infantry brigades that are manned by part-time personnel supplemented by some full-time professional soldiers; in peacetime, the brigades participate in emergency, fire and rescue operations, and other emergencies
The Air Force has no combat aircraft; NATO has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Baltics Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; the Naval Forces feature a few patrol vessels and minesweepers; the military also has logistics, military police, special operations forces, and training commands (2024)
Refugees (country of origin): 47,615 (Ukraine) (as of 6 March 2024)
Stateless persons: 195,354 (2022); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem
Transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Baltic countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds