Population
1 908 100 (2020)
Conditional reduction of currency
EUR
Climate, average max and min t°
Maritime; wet, moderate winters; avg. maximum temperature (July) +23°; avg. minimum temperature (January) -11°
Time difference from Moscow
No
Ethnic groups
Latvian - 57,7%, Russian - 29,6%, Belarusian - 4,1%, Ukrainian - 2,7%, Polish - 2,5%, Lithuanian - 1,4%, other - 2%
Literacy rate
99,9% (2019)
History
The history of Latvia dates back to the 3rd century B.C. when the first tribes, among which were Finnish, Slavic, and Baltic ones, came to this territory.
By the 12th century a number of proto-states had emerged. At the end of the 12th century Latvia was conquered by crusaders. As part of the Livonian Order, it was called Livonia.
Between 1561 and 1721 the territories of Latvia were part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden.
Following the end of the Great Northern War in 1721 the Russian Empire bought the territories of the present-day Latvia and possessed them until 1917.
The independence of the Republic of Latvia was officially recognised in 1921.
In September 1921 Latvia was admitted to the League of Nations.
Latvia was a parliamentary republic from 1920 until the coup d’état in 1934. Karlis Ulmanis, Head of the Government, set the authoritarian regime in the country which continued until 1940.
Latvia was part of the Soviet Union during the periods 1940 – 1941 and 1944 – 1991.
With the beginning of Perestroika mass demonstrations took place. The Popular Front of Latvia called for independence.
As a result, on 4 May 1990 the Declaration of the Restoration of Independence was adopted. In 2004 Latvia became a member of the European Union and NATO.
Government type
Parliamentary democracy
Executive branch
Cabinet of Ministers
Legislative branch
Unicameral Parliament Saeima
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, Constitutional Court
GDP per capita rank
43 (2019)
Corruption perceptions index rank
57 (2018)
