Latvia Passport

[Country Name] The Republic of Latvia

【 Area 】 64589 square kilometers, including 62046 square kilometers of land area and 2543 square kilometers of internal water area.

[Population] 1.882 million (2023). Latvian ethnic group accounts for 62%, Russian ethnic group accounts for 25.4%, Belarusian ethnic group accounts for 3.3%, Ukrainian ethnic group accounts for 2.2%, and Polish ethnic group accounts for 2.1%. In addition, there are ethnic groups such as Jews and Estonians. The official language is Latvian, and Russian is commonly used. Mainly adhering to the Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox denominations of Christianity.

Riga, the capital, has a population of 615000. The average temperature in January is -4.6 ℃, the average temperature in July is 21.4 ℃, and the annual average temperature is 6.7 ℃.

【 Head of State 】 President Edgars RINKEVICS, inaugurated in July 2023 for a four-year term.

Independence Day (National Day): November 18th

【 Overview 】 Located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, it borders Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast. The total length of the national border is 1862 kilometers. The average altitude is 87 meters, and the terrain consists of hills and plains. The climate belongs to the intermediate type of transition from oceanic climate to continental climate. The average temperature in January is -4.6 ℃, the average temperature in July is 21.4 ℃, and the average temperature at night is 11 ℃. The average annual precipitation is 732 millimeters.

In the 10th century AD, an early feudal principality was established. From the end of the 12th century to 1562, it was occupied by the German Crusaders and later came under the rule of the Delivonian regime. From 1583 to 1710, it was successively divided among the Duchies of Sweden, Poland, and Lithuania. From 1710 to 1795, it was occupied by Tsarist Russia. From 1795 to 1918, the eastern and western parts of Lhasa were respectively divided by Russia and Germany. On November 18, 1918, La became an independent republic. In August 1939, the Soviet Union and Germany signed a secret treaty, which placed Russia within the Soviet sphere of influence. In June 1940, the Soviet army entered Latvia based on the bilateral friendly agreement with Sula, establishing Soviet power. On July 21 of the same year, the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was founded and merged into the Soviet Union on August 5. From 1941 to 1945, it was occupied by Germany. After the end of World War II, it was reintegrated into the Soviet Union. On May 4, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of Latvia adopted a declaration on the restoration of Latvia's independence and changed the country's name to the Republic of Latvia. On August 22, 1991, the Latvian Supreme Soviet declared the restoration of independence to the Republic of Latvia. On September 6 of the same year, the Soviet State Council recognized the independence of Latvia. On September 17th, La joined the United Nations.

The political situation is basically stable. In September 2023, the New Unity Party, Green Farmers Alliance, and Progressive Party formed a new coalition government, with New Unity Party member Xilina serving as Prime Minister.

On July 6, 1993, the La Parliament passed a resolution to restore the constitution passed at the beginning of La's independence in 1922. The Constitution stipulates that Latvia is an independent democratic republic, with the parliament being the highest legislative body of the country. The president is elected by the parliament for a term of four years, with a maximum of two terms, and the total term not exceeding eight years. The President appoints the Prime Minister and authorizes him to form a government (subject to a simple majority in parliament).

The highest legislative body of the country, implementing a unicameral system, is composed of 100 members with a term of four years. Members are directly elected by citizens over the age of 18. The participating party must obtain at least 5% of the votes to enter parliament. This parliament is the 14th parliament elected in October 2022, with a total of 7 parliamentary party groups. In September 2023, the government will be restructured, and Daiga Mierina, elected by the Green Farmers Alliance, will serve as the speaker. The current number of party seats is as follows: New Unity Party (25 seats), Green Party and Farmers' Party Alliance (16 seats), Joint List (14 seats), National Union Party (12 seats), Stability Party (10 seats), Progressive Party (10 seats), Latvia First (8 seats), and Non Partisan (5 seats). The leading body of the parliament is the presidium, consisting of the chairman (i.e. speaker), two vice chairmen, the secretary-general, and five deputy secretaries general. There are 15 committees under the parliament, which hold spring and autumn meetings twice a year.

The current government was established in September 2023, with the following members: Prime Minister Evika Sili ņ a (New Unity Party), Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity Party), Defense Minister Andris Spr ū ds (Progressive Party), Economy Minister Viktors Valainis (Green Farmers' Union), Finance Minister Arvils A š eradens (New Unity Party), Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (New Unity Party), Education Minister And Minister of Science and Technology Anda Č ak š a (New Unity Party), Minister of Climate and Energy Kaspars Melnis (Green Farmers Union), Minister of Culture Agnese L ā ce, Progressive Party), Welfare Minister Uldis Augulis (Green Farmers' Union), Transport Minister Kaspars Bri š kens (Progressive Party), Justice Minister Inese L ī bi ņ a-Egnere (New Unity Party), Health Minister Hosams Abu Meri (New Unity Party), Smart Government and Regional Development Minister Inga B ē rzi ņ a (New Unity Party), Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze (Green Unity Party) Agricultural Union).

[Main URL] Presidential Office: http://www.president.lv Parliament: http://www.saeima.lv Government: http://www.mk.gov.lv Ministry of Foreign Affairs: http://www.mfa.gov.lv .

There are 36 districts and 7 national level cities in the administrative division.

The President of the Supreme Court, Aigars Strupis, took office in 2020. Attorney General Juris STUKANS took office in 2020.

The political parties that entered the 14th Parliament of Latvia are:

(1) New Unity: Member of the ruling coalition. The center right political party. Formerly known as Unity, it was formed in 2010 through the merger of the New Era Party, Civic Union, and Society for Political Change. In 2018, the Unity Party merged five local political parties - the Kurdiga County Party, the Valmiera and Vizeme Party, the Tukums City and Tukums County Party, the Yekabupils Regional Party, and the Latgar Party - to form a new Unity Party. There are 25 seats in the 14th parliament.

(2) Union of Greens and Farmers: a member of the governing coalition. Green conservatism and agrarian center right political party. Established in 2002 through the merger of the Latvian Farmers' Union and the Green Party of Latvia. There are 16 seats in the 14th parliament.

(3) Progressive Party: Member of the ruling coalition. A center left political party, formerly known as a non-governmental organization of the same name. Entering parliament for the first time, there were 10 seats in the 14th parliament.

(4) National Alliance - All for Latvia! - "For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK": abbreviated as the National Alliance. The opposition party. Nationalist right-wing political party. The alliance was formed in 2010 between the far right All For Latvia! Party and the right-wing For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party alliance. On July 23, 2011, it became a single political party. There are 12 seats in the 14th parliament.

(5) Political Party for Stability: The opposition party. Middle wing parties. The main leader of the party has defected from the Russian political party Harmony Party. Entering parliament for the first time, there were 10 seats in the 14th parliament.

(6) The United List: opposition parties. Middle wing political party. Composed of the Latvian Green Party, the Latvian Regional Association, and the Liepaja Party. Entering parliament for the first time, there were 14 seats in the 14th parliament.

(7) Latvia in First Place: opposition party. The right-wing political party, entering parliament for the first time, has 8 seats in the 14th parliament.

[Important Person] President: Edgars RINKEVICS, male, born on September 21, 1973 in Jurmala, Latvia. Master of Political Science from the University of Latvia and Master of National Resource Strategy from the Armed Forces Industrial College of the National Defense University in the United States. Served as Foreign Minister from October 2011 to 2023, elected as the new President on May 31, 2023, and sworn in on July 8.

Prime Minister: Evika Silina, female, born on August 3, 1975. Graduated from the Law Department of the University of Latvia with a Master's degree in Law and a lawyer's license. Entered politics in 2011 and served as Legal Advisor to the Minister of Interior, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, and Parliamentary Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office from 2011 to 2022; Elected as a member of the 14th National Assembly in November 2022; From December 2022 to September 2023, serve as the Minister of Welfare; In September 2023, nominated by the New Unity Party as a candidate for Prime Minister, and on September 15th, the La Parliament voted to restructure the new government, hoping to become Prime Minister.

Speaker: Daiga Mierina, female, born on March 3, 1969 in Riga. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Latvia Agricultural University and a master's degree in Quality Inspection from Riga University of Technology. Long term member of the Green Farmers Alliance Council since 2013; Elected as a member of the 14th Parliament representing the Green Farmers Alliance in 2022, and served as the chairman of the Parliament's Public Management and Local Government Committee; On September 20, 2023, elected as the Speaker of the Legislative Council.

After regaining independence in 1991, Latvia carried out economic system reforms following the Western model, promoting privatization and a free market economy. In 1998, it was officially admitted as a member of the World Trade Organization. In 2008, it was severely hit by the international financial crisis, with the gross domestic product declining by 20% for two consecutive years. In 2009, it received 7.5 billion euros in loan assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union, successfully implemented fiscal austerity, and resumed economic growth from 2011. Joined the Eurozone in 2014.

The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 40.35 billion euros

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate:- 0.6%

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 21424 euros

Unemployment rate 5.7%

【 Resources 】 There are small amounts of minerals such as peat, limestone, gypsum, dolomite, and quartz sand. There are 14000 wild species. The forest area is 3.497 million hectares, of which 1.686 million hectares are state-owned forests with a coverage rate of 49.9%.

The pillar industries of industry include mining, processing and manufacturing, and water, electricity, and gas supply. In 2023, the manufacturing output value was 10.711 billion euros, a year-on-year decrease of 3.3%, accounting for 34.1% of the gross domestic product. Among them, the manufacturing of chemicals and chemical products decreased by 20.4% year-on-year, the manufacturing of rubber and plastic products increased by 9.7%, and the manufacturing of metal products increased by 5.3%.

Agriculture, including planting, animal husbandry, fisheries and other industries, saw a year-on-year decrease of 18.9% in agricultural production value in 2023. (Information)

The service industry is a pillar industry in Latvia. In 2021, the output value of the service industry was 22.687 billion euros, accounting for 78.9% of the gross domestic product.

In 2021, the tourism industry received a total of 1.306 million tourists, a year-on-year decrease of 10.7%. Among them, the number of foreign tourists was 442000, a year-on-year decrease of 38.2%; The number of local tourists was 864000, a year-on-year increase of 15.6%. In 2021, there were 1308 Chinese tourists visiting Latin America. The main tourist cities and scenic spots in Lhasa include: Riga Ancient City, Yurmala Seaside, Xiguda and Cesis Scenic Area, Outdoor Folk Museum, and Longdari Palace. The main national tourism companies include Latvia Tours, Riga Travel Agency, Tas Travel Agency, Student and Youth Travel, Baltic Travel Group, etc.

【 Transportation 】 Railway: The total length is 1860 kilometers, of which 250 kilometers are electrified railways. In 2023, the railway freight volume was 15.45 million tons and the passenger volume was 17.1 million.

Highway: The total length of the national highway line is 20093 kilometers. The road freight volume in 2023 is 80.68 million tons.

Water transportation: The total length of inland waterway routes is 350 kilometers. The main seaports are Riga, Ventspils, and Liepaja. The cargo volume of Latvian ports in 2023 is 26.36 million tons.

Air freight: There are three international airports in Riga, Ventspils, and Liepaja. Riga Airport is the largest airport in the Baltic States and is a state-owned airport in Latvia. In 2023, Riga International Airport will handle 6.63 million passengers. AIR BALTIC was founded in 1995 and is the only international airline in Latvia, with the country holding 97.97% of the shares. At present, the company has 34 Airbus A220-300. There are direct international flights to London, Manchester, Stuttgart, Vienna, Paris, Rome, Milan, Frankfurt, Dublin, Munich, Brussels, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Prague, Tallinn, Vilnius, Kiev, Istanbul and other places.

The total length of the oil pipeline is 766 kilometers, including 437 kilometers for crude oil transportation and 329 kilometers for petroleum product transportation. The natural gas transmission pipeline is 1242 kilometers long.

In 2023, the central government's fiscal revenue was 15.632 billion euros, fiscal expenditure was 16.525 billion euros, and fiscal deficit was 893 million euros.

The Bank of Latvia (Central Bank) was established on September 19, 1922. On September 3, 1991, the Bank of Latvia regained its status as a central bank capable of issuing currency. In 1993, the Bank of Latvia officially issued the lat. As of the end of 2019, there were a total of 15 commercial banks and 1 policy bank in Lhasa. The main commercial banks include Swed Bank, SEB Bank, DnB Bank, Citadele Bank, Nordea Banak Finland Latvia Branch, and Rietumu Bank. (Information)

Latvia has trade relations with over 120 countries and regions around the world. The import and export trade volume in recent years is as follows (in billions of euros):