• Officially: Republic of Latvia
  • Capital: Riga

Facts

  • Population: 2.2 million
    • 62.2% of citizens are Latvian
    • 25.2% are Russian
    • 3.2% are Belorussian
    • 2.2% are Ukrainian
    • 2.1% are Polish
  • Languages: Latvian, Russian
    • More than a quarter of the population is primarily Russian-speaking
    • In Daugavpils, Russian speakers form the majority
  • Religion: Christianity
  • Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 79 years (women)
  • Member of the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, CBSS, the IMF, NB8, NIB, OECD, OSCE, and WTO.
  • Currency: Euro
    • Adopt the euro in 2014

Geography

  • Area: 64,589 sq km (24,938 sq miles)
  • Situated in north-eastern Europe
  • A coastline along the Baltic Sea
  • Land borders with Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania

Notes

  • Former member of the Soviet Union
  • Riga is known for its architecture, multicultural heritage, and the Old Town
    • Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Riga was named the European Capital of Culture for 2014.
  • Almost a quarter of people in Latvia are at risk of poverty

Tourism

  • Latvia signed the Schengen agreement on 16 April 2003, and started its implementation on 21 December 2007

Overlanding

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