After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It 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 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Full Name: Republic of Latvia
Area: 64,589 sq km (land: 63,589 sq km, water: 1,000 sq km)
Population: 2,259,810 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Riga
People: Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Language: Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
Religion: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Government Type: Parliamentary democracy
Chief of State President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)
GDP: $US 36.49 billion (2006 est.)
GDP per Capita: $US 16,000 (2006 est.)
Inflation: 6.8% (December 2006 est.)
Unemployment: 6.5% (December 2006 est.)
Industries: Buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Currency: Latvian lat (LVL)
Member of EU: Yes
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