Reuters AlertNet

Latvia

$Small country map\n© Microsoft Virtual Earth$

Capital:	Riga
Area size (Land only):	62050 sq. km Slightly smaller than Ireland
Time zone:	Standard Time GMT +2, Summer Time GMT+3
Currency:	Lat
Area code:	(+) 371
Driving:	Right
Climate description:	Cold winters, moderately warm summers

People

Standard of living

Economy & aid

Health

Disasters, conflict & migration

Language
Latvian is the official language, but Russian, Lithuanian and Polish are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	2.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	2.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	2.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	2.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	2.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	2.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	2.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	2.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	2.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
1.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Ethnic Latvian 57 percent, Russian 30 percent. Poles, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians and Estonians account for the remaining 13 percent.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Predominantly Lutheran, also Roman Catholic.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	67.9 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	67.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	67.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	67.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	67.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	67.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	68.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	68.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1918
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	14.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	15.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	15.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	16.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	17.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	17.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Average life expectancy

2005	72.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	70.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	66.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	66.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	65.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	65.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	65.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	64.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	77.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	77.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	76.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	7 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	8 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	9 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	10 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	10 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	17 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	17 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	17 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	9 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	9 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	11 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	12 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	12 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	21 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	21 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	10 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	42 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	45	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	45	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	48	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	50	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	50	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	53	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent (1996-2005)

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	3 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	3 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	99 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	99 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	78 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	78 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	No data available percent
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	99.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	284 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	284 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	288 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	319 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	282 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	282 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	300 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	307 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	310 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	977 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	977 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	958 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	817 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	667 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	526 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	393 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	279 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	169 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	550 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	550 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	500 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	420 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	330 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	269 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	219 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	72 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	63 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	52 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	51 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	49 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	51 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	57 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	57 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	52 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	59 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	57 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	No data available percent
1990-2004	No data available percent
1990-2003	No data available percent
1990-2002	No data available percent
1990-2001	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	9920 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	8090 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	6760 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	5450 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	4450 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3840 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3550 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3220 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	27.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	19.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	16.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	13.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	11.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	9.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	8.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	7.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	11.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	10.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	8.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	7.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	6.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	8.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	6.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	13.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	9.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	10.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	7.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.5 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
29.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	301 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	301 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	291 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	313 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.7 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.6 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	53 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	58 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	63 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	68 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	73 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	79 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	83 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	83 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium

Number of refugees originating here

2008	763	UNHCR
2007	662	UNHCR
2006	1424	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	2430	UNHCR
2004	2826	UNHCR
2003	3177	UNHCR
2002	3082	UNHCR
2001	619	UNHCR
2000	491	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	32	UNHCR
2007	29	UNHCR
2006	21	UNHCR
2005	11	UNHCR
2004	11	UNHCR
2003	17	UNHCR
2002	7	UNHCR
2001	8	UNHCR
2000	7	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	1	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (2005 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	5.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	5.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	5.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	5.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	4.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

AlertNet makes every effort to ensure statistics are updated from the relevant sources as soon as they are available.

Unlike some other content on this website, the written content in this article may be republished or redistributed by any means free of charge. Any use of photographs and graphics on this website is expressly prohibited. You must check whether written content contained in other articles on this website may be republished or redistributed without the express permission of Reuters or the relevant third party provider.

Related articles

Briefings