Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 sq miles
Capital: Riga
Total population: 2 349 768
Currency: LVL (1 LVL=100 santims)
Languages: Latvian, Russian, and English
Time: GMT +2
TV Standard: PAL
Voltage: 220V, 50Hz
Weights and measures: The metric system
Borders with: Est, Rus, Belarus, Lit
Length of Latvia's Baltic coastline: 494 km

Type of government:
democratic, parliamentary republic
Independence first proclaimed:
18 November, 1918
Largest religious confessions:
Evangelic Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox

Public Holidays
 1st January – New Years day
9th and 12th April – Easter
1st May – May Day
23rd and 24th June – Midsummer Holidays
18th November – The Independence Day
25th and 26th December - Christmas
31st December – The New Year’s Eve
Latvia_map

 
Latvia is a member of United Nations Organisation, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of the Baltic Sea States, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council etc.

 

  • Latvia has joined the EU in May 2004.
  • Latvia succesfuly staged the Eurovision 2003.
  • The world’s first miniature photo camera inventor is Latvian.
  • Latvian TV tower is the third largest in Europe.
  • The tallest female basketball player in the Olympic history was Latvian.
  • Waterfall Ventas Rumba is the widest waterfall in Europe.
  • Riga, the capital of Latvia, is more than 800 years old.
  • The president of Latvia is a woman.