
Latvia
With a coastline of 531km along the Baltic Sea, Latvia is bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. Woodlands cover over 40 % of this low-lying country. Latvia also counts more than 3 000 lakes and 12 000 rivers.
The most important sectors of Latvia’s economy in 2014 were wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (25.3 %), industry (16.4 %) and public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (15.1 %).
Latvia’s main export partners are Lithuania, Russia and Estonia while its main import partners are Lithuania, Germany and Poland.
Capital:
Riga
Geographical size:
64 573 km2
Population:
1 986 096 (2015)
Population as % of total EU:
0.4 % (2015)
Gross domestic product (GDP):
€ 24.378 billion (2015)
Official EU language(s):
Latvian
Political system:
parliamentary republic
EU member country since:
1 May 2004
Seats in the European Parliament:
8
Currency:
Euro. Member of the eurozone since 1 January 2014
Schengen area member?
Yes, Schengen Area member since 21 December 2007.
Presidency of the Council:
Latvia held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in 2015.