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Entry Year in EU: |
2004 |
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Seats: |
9 |
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Seats Percentage of EU: |
1.2 |
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Votes: |
4 |
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Votes Percentage
of EU: |
1.2 |
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Population: |
2.3 |
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Population Percentage of EU: |
0.5 |
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Area: |
64589 |
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Area Percentage
of EU: |
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Density: |
35 |
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Budget Contribution: |
115205431 |
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Budget Contribution of EU: |
0.11 |
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GDP: |
32698 |
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GDP Capita: |
14155 |
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GDP Nominal: |
7629 |
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Latvia
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Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvija or Latvijas Republika), is a country in north-eastern Europe. Latvia has land borders with its two fellow Baltic states — Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south — and Russia and Belarus to the east. In the west, Latvia shares a maritime border with Sweden. The capital of Latvia is Riga (Latvian: Riga). Latvia has been a member state of the European Union since May 1, 2004.
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History
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The ancient Balts of this time actively participated in the trading network. Across the European continent, Latvia's coast was known as a place for obtaining amber. Up to and into the Middle Ages amber was more valuable than gold in many places. Latvian amber was known in places as far away as Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. In the 900's A.D., the ancient Balts started to form specific tribal realms. Gradually, four individual Baltic tribal cultures developed: Couronians, Latgallians, Selonians, Semigallians (in Latvian: kurši, latgali, seli and zemgali). The largest of them was the Latgallian tribe, which was the most advanced in its socio-political development. In the 1100s and 1200s, the Couronians maintained a lifestyle of intensive invasions that included looting and pillaging.
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Politics
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The 100-seat unicameral Latvian parliament, the Saeima, is elected by direct, popular vote every four years. The president is elected by the Saeima in a separate election also every four years. The president appoints a prime minister who, together with his cabinet, forms the executive branch of the government, which has to receive a confidence vote by the Saeima.
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Districts
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Latvia is divided into 26 districts each called rajons. 7 cities (lielpilsetas) have a separate status.
Aizkraukle District
Aluksne District
Balvi District
Bauska District (Bauskas Rajons)
Cesis District
Daugavpils
Daugavpils District
Dobele District
Gulbene District
Jekabpils District
Jelgava
Jelgava District
Jurmala
Kraslava District
Kuldiga District
Liepaja
Liepaja District
Limbaži District
Ludza District
Madona District
Ogre District
Preili District
Rezekne
Rezekne District
Riga
Riga District
Saldus District
Talsi District
Tukums District
Valka District
Valmiera District
Ventspils
Ventspils District
Abrene region (1919-1940), annexed to Russia during WWII;
its status is disputed by Latvia.
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Geography
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Large parts of Latvia are covered by forests, and the country has over 12,000 small rivers and over 3,000 lakes. Most of the country consists of fertile, low-lying plains with some hills in the east, the highest point being the Gaizinkalns at 1,020 feet (311 m).
An inlet of the Baltic Sea, the shallow Gulf of Riga is situated in the northwest of the country. The capital city Riga is located on the shores of this inlet, where the River Daugava flows into it. Other major cities include Daugavpils further upriver and Liepaja along the Baltic coast.
The Latvian climate is maritime and temperate in nature, with cool summers and wet, moderate winters.
It is known to rain frequently and heavily every day until may. The rain is a major factor for Riga as it supports much farm land and it helps with the crop.
Latvia is historically and culturally divided in four or five distinct regions, see regions of Latvia.
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Economy
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Since year 2000 Latvia has had one of the highest GDP growth rates in Europe [1]. In 2004, annual GDP growth was 8.5% and inflation was 6.2%. Unemployment was 8.5% - almost unchanged compared to the previous two years. Privatization is mostly completed, except for some of the large state-owned utilities. Latvia is a member of the World Trade Organization (1999) and the European Union (2004).
The Latvian government aspires to adopt the euro as the country's currency on January 1, 2008
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Religion
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The population is mostly Christian. The largest group being Lutheran (556,000, according to 2003 data), with smaller percentages Roman Catholic (430,405) and Eastern Orthodox (350,000). Another religion is Dievturi (The Godkeepers), which has historical roots based on pre-Christian era mythology. There are also Jews (9,883 in 2005) in Latvia who are now mainly a remainder from the Soviet Union, as during World War II the Jewish Community (according to the last official census in 1935 there were 93,479 Jews in the country, or approximately 5% of the total population) was annihilated.
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Demographics
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Latvians and Livonians, the indigenous peoples of Latvia, now form c. 60% of the population; 28.5% of the inhabitants are Russian.[2]. Ca. 54% of the ethnic Russians are citizens of Latvia; most of the others are permanent residents with Latvian aliens' passports. Like others who arrived whilst Latvia was annexed by the USSR, and their descendants, they must naturalize to receive Latvian citizenship. Over 100,000 persons have naturalized in recent years, but 418,440 persons (278,213 of them ethnic Russians) are non-citizens. Children born to residents after the restoration of independence in 1991 do not require naturalization to obtain citizenship.
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Language
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The official language of the Republic of Latvia is Latvian. The Latvian language, like Lithuanian and the extinct Old Prussian language, belongs to the Baltic language group of the Indo-european language family. Russian is by far the most widespread minority language, also spoken or at least understood by large sections of the non-Russian population. The Latgalian language is widespread in Latgale (most linguists consider Latgalian a dialect of the Latvian language). Kuronian/Couronian is another Latvian dialect and spoken in Kurzeme, though less popular than Latgalian.
Latvian words
sveiki - hello
paldies - thank you
ludzu - please
alus - beer
ediens - food
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Culture
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One of the most striking features of Latvian culture to visitors is the mid-summer festival of Ligo or Jani - a celebration of the summer solstice and the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Whilst ostensibly a Christian festival, its pagan roots are unmistakable. Ligo takes place every year on the night between June 23rd and 24th, the shortest night of the year. It is customary for people to go to the countryside for Ligo, traditionally wreaths of leaves and flowers are worn on the head. If a man is named Janis (John) the wreath will be made of oak leaves. In the early evening of the 23rd, fires are lit around which people will chat, sing and dance until the early hours of the following day. |
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Sports
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Latvia has a professional basketball, football and hockey league. Latvia's football league is named the LMT Virsliga.
The Latvian hockey team has participated in 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics and all Ice Hockey World Championships since its entry in group A in 1997. Its best results were the 7th places in 1997 and 2004 World Championships. Ice Hockey World Championships of 2006 took place in Riga, Latvia.
Basketball is the national sport of the country.
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