Youth for Christ ministry in Latvia is still in the target stage. This means key contacts have been identified, and a ministry plan is being developed but ministry has not yet commenced.
About Latvia
Latvia
Introduction
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.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia 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.
Geography
Location
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic Coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Area
Total Area: 64,589 sq km Rank: 123
Land Area: 62,249 sq km
Water Area: 2,340 sq km
Comparison: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land Boundaries: 1,382 km
Bordering Countries: Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 km
Coastline: 498 km
Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain
low plain
Elevations
Lowest Point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Highest Point: Galzina Kalns 312 m
Natural Resources
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Land Use
Arable land: 28.19%
Permanent Crops: 0.45%
Other: 71.36% (2005)
Irrigated Land:
200 sq km
note:
land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (2003)
Renewable Water Resources: 49.9 cu km (2005)
Total Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 0.25 cu km/yr (55%/33%/12%)
Freshwater Withdrawal Per Capita: 108 cu m/yr (2003)
Environment
Natural Hazards: NA
Environmental Issues: Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environmental Agreements: Party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Geography Notes
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east
People
Population: 2,231,503 (July 2010 est.) Rank: 141
Age Structure
0-14 years: 13.3% (male 152,472/female 145,161)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 756,469/female 797,505)
65 years and over: 17% (male 124,432/female 255,464) (2010 est.)
Median Age: 37.4 years
Population Growth
Growth Rate: -0.614% (2010 est.) Rank: 226
Birth Rate: 9.78 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 196
Death Rate: 13.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) Rank: 23
Net Migration Rate: -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) Rank: 136
Urbanization
Urban Population: 68% of total population (2008)
Rate of Urbanization: -0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Life and Death
Infant Mortality Rate: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births Rank: 162
Life Expectancy at Birth: 72.15 years Rank: 121
Fertility Rate: 1.31 children born/woman (2010 est.) Rank: 208
Health and Disease
HIV/AIDS - Adult Prevalence Rate: 0.8% (2007 est.) Rank: 59
People living with HIV/AIDS: 10,000 (2007 est.) Rank: 100
HIV/AIDS Deaths: fewer than 500 (2007 est.) Rank: 96
Degree of Risk for Major Infectious Diseases: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
Vectorborne Diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2009)
Nationality and Culture
Noun: Latvian(s)
Adjective: Latvian
Ethnic Groups: Latvian 59.3%, Russian 27.8%, Belarusian 3.6%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Polish 2.4%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.1% (2009)
Religion: Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
Languages: Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
Education
Literacy (Meaning, age 15 and over can read and write): 99.7% Male: 99.8% Female: 99.7% (2000 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): 16 years Male: 14 years Female: 17 years (2006)
Education expenditures: 5.1% of GDP (2004) Rank: 65
Government
Country Name
Conventional Long Form: Republic of Latvia
Conventional Short Form: Latvia
Local Long Form: Latvijas Republika
Local Short Form: Latvija
Formerly: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Riga Geographic Coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
Administrative divisions
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 18 November 1918 (from the Soviet Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 was the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution: 15 February 1922; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August 1991; multiple amendments since
Legal system: based on civil law system with traces of Socialist legal traditions and practices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive Branch
Chief of State: President Valdis ZATLERS (since 8 July 2007)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (since 12 March 2009)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament
Elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 31 May 2007 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament
Election Results: Valdis ZATLERS elected president; parliamentary vote - Valdis ZATLERS 58, Aivars ENDZINS 39
Legislative Branch
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held on 7 October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010)
Election Results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 6.9%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6; note - seats by party as of November 2009 - TP 21, SC 18, ZZS 17, JL 15, LPP/LC 10, Civic Union 6, TB/LNNK 5, PCTVL 5, independents 3
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament); Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by parliament)
Politics
Political Parties and Leaders: Civic Union [Sandra KALNIETE, Girts Valdis KRISTOVSKIS]; First Party of Latvia/Latvia's Way or LPP/LC [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS, Tatjana ZDANOKA]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS, Janis URBANOVICS]; New Era Party or JL [Solvita ABOLTINA, Dzintars ZAKIS]; People's Party or TP [Andris SKELE]; Society for Different Politics or SCP [Aigars STOKENBERGS; Artis PABRIKS]; The Union of Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]
Political Pressure Groups and Leaders: Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS], Employers' Confederation of Latvia [Elina EGLE], Farmers' Parliament [Juris LAZDINS]
International Organization Participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Flag Description: 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
Economy
Economy Overview: Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07 but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the softening world economy. GDP plunged nearly 18% in 2009 - the three former Soviet Baltic republics had the world's worst declines last year. The IMF, EU, and other donors provided assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro and reduce the fiscal deficit to about 5% of GDP. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004.
Gross Domestic Product
GDP (purchasing power parity): $32.22 billion (2009 est.) Rank: 105
GDP - real growth rate: -18% (2009 est.) Rank: 213
GDP - per capita (PPP): $14,400 (2009 est.) Rank: 78
GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 3.8% Industry: 21.9% Services: 74.3% (2009 est.)
Labor Force
Labor Force: 1.186 million (2009 est.) Rank: 138
Labor force - by occupation: Agriculture: 12.1% Industry: 25.8% Services: 61.8% (2005 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 17.1% (2009 est.) Rank: 158
Poverty
Population below poverty line: NA
$11.54 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$1.054 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
International Disputes: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documentation in preparation; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia
