Part 416

Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21%

Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990)

Environment: current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Ozone Layer Protection

People ------

Population: 2,468,982 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 254,664; female 244,502) 15-64 years: 66% (male 775,690; female 848,128) 65 years and over: 14% (male 108,814; female 237,184) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: -1.39% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -9.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female all ages: 0.86 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.91 years male: 60.84 years female: 73.27 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian

Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%

Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 99%

Government ----------

Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: LG

Type of government: republic

Capital: Riga

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, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)

Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution