Editing Latvia

{{Short description|Country in Baltic Region of Europe}}
{{about|the modern state}}
{{redirect|Lettonia|the Latvian student corporation|Lettonia (corporation)}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Latvia
| common_name            = Latvia
| native_name            = {{ubl|{{native name|lv|Latvijas Republika}}|{{native name|ltg|Latvejas Republika}}|{{native name|liv|Lețmō Vabāmō}}}}
| image_flag             = Flag of Latvia.svg
| alt_flag               = Flag of Latvia
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of Latvia.svg
| symbol_width           = 100px
| alt_coat               = Coat of arms of Latvia
| national_anthem        = {{native name|lv|[[Dievs, svētī Latviju!]]|nolink=yes}}<br />("God Bless Latvia!"){{parabr}}{{center|[[File:Latvian National Anthem.ogg]]}}
| image_map              = EU-Latvia.svg
| map_caption            = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Latvia.svg}}
| capital                = [[Riga]]
| coordinates            = {{Coord|56|57|N|24|6|E|type:city}}
| largest_city           = capital
| official_languages     = [[Latvian language|Latvian]]<sup>a</sup>
| languages_type         = Recognized languages
| languages              = [[Livonian language|Livonian]]<br />[[Latgalian language|Latgalian]]
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
 | 63.0% [[Latvians]]
 | 24.2% [[Russians in Latvia|Russians]]
 | 3.1% [[Belarusians in Latvia|Belarusians]]
 | 2.2% [[Ukrainians]]
 | 1.9% [[Poles in Latvia|Poles]]
 | 1.1% [[Lithuanians]]
 | 0.3% [[Romani people in Latvia|Roma]]
 | 0.2% [[History of the Jews in Latvia|Jews]]
 | {{nowrap|4% [[Demographics of Latvia|others{{\}}<br />unspecified]]}}
 }}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2022<ref name=nat>{{cite web |author=Social Statistics Department of Latvia |title=Pastāvīgo iedzīvotāju etniskais sastāvs reģionos un republikas pilsētās gada sākumā |url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/table/tableViewLayout1/ |access-date=8 November 2021 |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928153547/https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| religion               = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap; 
|{{Tree list}}
* 64% [[Christianity]]  
** 36% [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia|Lutheranism]]
** 17% [[Catholic Church in Latvia|Catholicism]]  
** 9% [[Latvian Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]]  
** 2% other [[List of Christian denominations|Christian]]
{{Tree list/end}} 
|35% [[Irreligion|no religion]] 
|1% [[Religion in Latvia|others]]}}
| religion_year          = 2018
| religion_ref           = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/latvia/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Annual%20Report,(9%20percent)%2C%20the%20latter | title=Latvia | access-date=15 October 2022 | archive-date=28 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128195628/https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-report-on-international-religious-freedom/latvia/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Annual%20Report,(9%20percent)%2C%20the%20latter | url-status=live }}</ref>
| demonym                = [[Latvians|Latvian]]
| government_type        = [[Unitary parliamentary republic]]
| leader_title1          = [[President of Latvia|President]]
| leader_name1           = [[Edgars Rinkēvičs]]
| leader_title2          = [[Prime Minister of Latvia|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2           = [[Evika Siliņa]]
| leader_title3          = [[Speaker of the Saeima]]
| leader_name3           = [[Daiga Mieriņa]]
| legislature            = [[Saeima]]
| sovereignty_type       = [[History of Latvia|Independence]]
| sovereignty_note       = from [[Weimar Republic|Germany]] and [[Russian SFSR|Russia]]
| established_event1     = [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia#Historical and juridical background|Declared]]<ref name=Germanis />
| established_date1      = 18 November 1918
| established_event2     = Recognised
| established_date2      = 26 January 1921
| established_event3     = {{nowrap|[[Constitution of Latvia|Constitution adopted]]}}
| established_date3      = 7 November 1922
| established_event4     = [[Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic#Collapse, 1990–1991|Restored]]<ref name="FINemb" />
| established_date4      = [[1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt|21 August 1991]]
| area_km2               = 64,589
| area_rank              = 122nd <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi             = 24,938 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]-->
| percent_water          = 2.09 (2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|archive-date=24 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324133453/https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_estimate    = {{DecreaseNeutral}} 1,842,226<ref>{{Cite CIA World Factbook|country=Latvia|access-date=24 September 2022|year=2022}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = 2022
| population_estimate_rank = 146th
| population_density_km2 = 29.6
| population_density_sq_mi = 77
<!--Do not remove per [[WP:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers]]-->| population_density_rank = 147th
| GDP_PPP                = {{increase}} $78.421 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.LV">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2024/April/weo-report?c=941,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2023&ey=2025&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1 |title=World Economic Outlook Database, April 2024 Edition. (Latvia) |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |date=10 April 2024 |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2024
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 104th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = {{increase}} $41,730<ref name="IMFWEO.LV" />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 51st
| GDP_nominal            = {{increase}} $45.466 billion<ref name="IMFWEO.LV" />
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 96th
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $24,193<ref name="IMFWEO.LV" />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 42nd
| Gini                   = 35.7 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year              = 2021
| Gini_change            = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref               = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en|title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=22 June 2022|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009091832/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tessi190/default/table?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI                    = 0.879 <!--number only-->
| HDI_year               = 2022<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change             = increase<!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2023/24|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=13 March 2024|access-date=13 March 2024|archive-date=13 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313164319/https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 37th
| currency               = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code          = EUR
| time_zone              = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset             = +2
| utc_offset_DST         = +3
| time_zone_DST          = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| calling_code           = [[Telephone numbers in Latvia|+371]]
| cctld                  = [[.lv]]
| footnote_a             = [[Latvian language|Latvian]] is the sole official language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saeima.lv/en/legislation/constitution|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, Chapter 1 (Article 4)|publisher=The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205030657/http://www.saeima.lv/en/legislation/constitution|archive-date=5 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valoda.lv/en/downloadDoc_436/mid_566 |title=Official Language Law, Section 3 (Article 1) |publisher=The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204308/http://www.valoda.lv/en/downloadDoc_436/mid_566 |archive-date=4 January 2014 }}</ref> [[Livonian language|Livonian]] is considered an [[indigenous language]] and has special legal status.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/14740 |title=Official Language Law, Sections 4, 5 and 18 (Article 4) |publisher=Likumi.lv |access-date=7 October 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705131333/https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/14740 |archive-date=5 July 2019 }}</ref> [[Latgalian language|Latgalian]] written language and [[Latvian Sign Language]] also have special legal status.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valoda.lv/en/downloadDoc_436/mid_566 |title=Official Language Law, Section 3 (Articles 3 and 4) |publisher=The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204308/http://www.valoda.lv/en/downloadDoc_436/mid_566 |archive-date=4 January 2014 }}</ref>
| footnote_b             = Latvia is ''[[de jure]]'' continuous with its declaration of 18 November 1918.
| today                  = 
}}

'''Latvia''',{{efn|{{blist|{{IPAc-en|audio=en-us-Latvia.ogg|ˈ|l|æ|t|v|i|ə}} {{respell|LAT|vee|ə}}, {{small|sometimes }}{{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ɑː|t|v|i|ə}} {{respell|LAHT|vee|ə}}|{{langx|lv|Latvija}} {{IPA|lv|ˈlatvija||Lv-Latvija.ogg}}; {{langx|ltg|Latveja}}; {{langx|liv|Lețmō}}}}}} officially the '''Republic of Latvia''',{{efn|{{langx|lv|Latvijas Republika|links=no}}, {{langx|ltg|Latvejas Republika|links=no}}, {{langx|liv|Lețmō Vabāmō|links=no}}}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republikas Satversme)|url=https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/57980-the-constitution-of-the-republic-of-latvia|access-date=18 February 2021|website=Likumi.lv|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417075243/https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/57980-the-constitution-of-the-republic-of-latvia|url-status=live}}</ref> is a country in the [[Baltic region]] of [[Northern Europe]]. It is one of the three [[Baltic states]], along with [[Estonia]] to the north and [[Lithuania]] to the south. It borders [[Russia]] to the east and [[Belarus]] to the southeast, and shares a [[Maritime boundary|maritime border]] with Sweden to the west. Latvia covers an area of {{convert|64589|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, with a population of 1.9{{nbsp}}million. The country has a [[Temperate climate|temperate seasonal climate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelsignposts.com/Latvia/latvia-riga-weather.php|title=Weather information in Latvia|date=14 March 2015|publisher=www.travelsignposts.com|access-date=14 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402134808/http://www.travelsignposts.com/Latvia/latvia-riga-weather.php|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Its capital and [[List of cities and towns in Latvia|largest city]] is [[Riga]]. [[Latvians]], who are the titular nation and comprise 63.0% of the country's population, belong to the [[ethnolinguistic group]] of the [[Balts]] and speak [[Latvian language|Latvian]]. [[Russians in Latvia|Russians]] are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population; 37.7% of the population speak [[Russian language|Russian]] as their native tongue.<ref name="eng.lsm.lv">{{cite web | url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/24.10.2023-latvian-is-the-mother-tongue-of-64-of-the-population-of-latvia.a528983/#:~:text=Latvian%20and%20Russian%20are%20the,for%208.4%20%25%20of%20its%20population. | title=Latvian is the mother tongue of 64% of the population of Latvia }}</ref>

After centuries of [[State of the Teutonic Order|Teutonic]], [[Swedish Livonia|Swedish]], [[Inflanty Voivodeship|Polish-Lithuanian]], and [[Russian Empire|Russian]] rule, the independent Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 after breaking away from the [[German Empire]] in the aftermath of [[World War&nbsp;I]].<ref name=Germanis>{{cite book |last=Ģērmanis |first=Uldis |author-link=Uldis Ģērmanis |editor=Ojārs Kalniņš |title=The Latvian Saga |edition=11th |page=268 |language=en |publisher=Atēna |location=Riga |year=2007 |isbn=9789984342917 |oclc=213385330}}</ref> The country became increasingly [[autocratic]] after the [[1934 Latvian coup d'état|coup in 1934]] established the dictatorship of [[Kārlis Ulmanis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Latvia 1918-1940 |url=https://www.latvia.eu/history-latvia-1918-1940 |website=[Latvia.eu] |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en |date=3 December 2015 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608145703/https://www.latvia.eu/history-latvia-1918-1940 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Latvia's ''de facto'' independence was interrupted at the outset of [[World War&nbsp;II]], beginning with Latvia's [[Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940|forcible incorporation]] into the [[Soviet Union]], followed by the [[German occupation of Latvia during World War II|invasion and occupation]] by [[Nazi Germany]] in 1941 and the [[Soviet re-occupation of Latvia in 1944|re-occupation by the Soviets]] in 1944, which formed the [[Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic|Latvian SSR]] for the next 45 years. As a result of extensive [[Immigration to Latvia|immigration]] during the Soviet occupation, ethnic [[Russians in Latvia|Russians]] became the most prominent minority in the country. The peaceful [[Singing Revolution]] started in 1987 among the Baltic Soviet republics and ended with the restoration of both ''de facto'' and official [[State continuity of the Baltic states|independence]] on 21 August 1991.{{efn|On 21 August 1991, after the [[1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt|Soviet coup d'état attempt]], the Supreme Council adopted a Constitutional law, "[[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia#Further developments|On statehood of the Republic of Latvia]]", declaring Article 5 of the Declaration to be invalid, thus ending the transitional period and restoring de facto independence.}} Latvia has since been a democratic [[unitary state|unitary]] [[parliamentary republic]].

Latvia is a [[developed country]] with a [[World Bank high-income economy|high-income]], [[Economy of Latvia|advanced economy]] ranking 39th in the [[Human Development Index]]. It is a member of the [[European Union]], [[Eurozone]], [[NATO]], the [[Council of Europe]], the [[United Nations]], the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]], the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]], the [[Nordic Investment Bank]], the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]], the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]], and the [[World Trade Organization]].

== Etymology ==
The name ''Latvija'' is derived from the name of the ancient [[Latgalians]], one of four [[Proto-Indo-Europeans|Indo-European]] [[Balts|Baltic tribes]] (along with [[Curonians]], [[Selonians]] and [[Semigallians]]), which formed the ethnic core of modern [[Latvian people|Latvians]] together with the [[Baltic Finns|Finnic]] [[Livonian people|Livonians]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latinst.lv/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Latvia_in_brief.pdf |title=Latvia in Brief |year=2012 |publisher=Latvian Institute |access-date=12 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108155832/http://latinst.lv/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Latvia_in_brief.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2012 }}</ref> [[Henry of Latvia]] coined the [[latinisation of names|latinisations]] of the country's name, "Lettigallia" and "Lethia", both derived from the Latgalians. The terms inspired the variations on the country's name in [[Romance languages]] from "Letonia" and in several [[Germanic languages]] from "Lettland".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/eieol/litol-0-X.html|title=Baltic Online|publisher=The University of Texas at Austin|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805131726/http://www.utexas.edu/cola/centers/lrc/eieol/litol-0-X.html|archive-date=5 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

== History ==
<!--- PLEASE DO NOT ADD MINORLY IMPORTANT AND LONG DETAILS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF LATVIA TO THIS SECTION TO KEEP THIS SECTION WRITTEN IN SUMMARY STYLE --->
{{Main|History of Latvia}}
Around 3000 BC, the Proto-Baltic ancestors of the Latvian people settled on the eastern coast of the [[Baltic Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/msr/Ethno/dategen1.html |title=Data: 3000 BC to 1500 BC |work=The European Ethnohistory Database |publisher=The Ethnohistory Project |access-date=6 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622113922/http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/ee/msr/Ethno/dategen1.html |archive-date=22 June 2006 }}</ref> The [[Balts]] established trade routes to Rome and [[Byzantium]], trading local [[amber]] for precious metals.<ref>A History of Rome, M Cary and HH Scullard, p455-457, Macmillan Press, {{ISBN|0-333-27830-5}}</ref> By 900 AD, four distinct Baltic tribes inhabited Latvia: [[Curonians]], [[Latgalians]], [[Selonians]], [[Semigallians]] (in Latvian: ''kurši'', ''latgaļi'', ''sēļi'' and ''zemgaļi''), as well as the Finnic tribe of [[Livonian people|Livonians]] (''lībieši'') speaking a Finnic language.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Norvik |first1=Miina |last2=Balodis |first2=Uldis |last3=Ernštreits |first3=Valts |last4=Kļava |first4=Gunta |last5=Metslang |first5=Helle |last6=Pajusalu |first6=Karl |last7=Saar |first7=Eva |date=2021-12-20 |title=The South Estonian language islands in the context of the Central Baltic area |url=https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/jeful/article/view/jeful.2021.12.2.02 |journal=Eesti ja Soome-ugri Keeleteaduse Ajakiri. Journal of Estonian and Finno-Ugric Linguistics |language=en |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=33–72 |doi=10.12697/jeful.2021.12.2.02 |issn=2228-1339 |access-date=16 February 2024 |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216133311/https://ojs.utlib.ee/index.php/jeful/article/view/jeful.2021.12.2.02 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 12th century in the territory of Latvia, there were lands with their rulers: [[Vanema]], [[Ventava]], [[Bandava]], [[Piemare]], [[Duvzare]], [[Sēlija]], [[Principality of Koknese|Koknese]], [[Jersika]], [[Tālava]] and [[Adzele]].<ref>Latvijas vēstures atlants, Jānis Turlajs, page 12, Karšu izdevniecība Jāņa sēta, {{ISBN|978-9984-07-614-0}}</ref>

=== Medieval period ===
Although the local people had contact with the outside world for centuries, they became more fully integrated into the European socio-political system in the 12th century.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsEurope/EasternLatvia.htm|title= Data: Latvia|work= Kingdoms of Northern Europe&nbsp;– Latvia|publisher= The History Files|access-date= 25 April 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100202020032/http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsEurope/EasternLatvia.htm|archive-date= 2 February 2010}}</ref> The first missionaries, sent by the Pope, sailed up the [[Daugava River]] in the late 12th century, seeking converts.<ref name="Lonely">{{cite web |url= http://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/history |title= Latvian History, Lonely Planet |publisher= Lonelyplanet.com |access-date= 16 October 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100401090330/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/history |archive-date= 1 April 2010 |url-status= live }}</ref> The local people, however, did not convert to Christianity as readily as the Church had hoped.<ref name="Lonely" />

[[File:Burg Turaida04.jpg|thumb|[[Turaida Castle]] near [[Sigulda]], built in 1214 under [[Albert of Riga]]]]
[[Teutonic Knights|German crusaders]] were sent, or more likely decided to go of their own accord as they were known to do. [[Saint Meinhard]] of Segeberg arrived in [[Ikšķile]], in 1184, traveling with merchants to [[Livonia]], on a Catholic mission to convert the population from their original [[pagan]] beliefs. Pope Celestine III had called for [[Livonian Crusade#Wars against Estonians (1208–27)|a crusade against pagans in Northern Europe]] in 1193. When peaceful means of conversion failed to produce results, Meinhard plotted to convert Livonians by force of arms.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.balticsworldwide.com/the-crusaders/|title= The Crusaders|newspaper= City Paper|access-date= 28 July 2007|date= 22 March 2006|url-status= usurped|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101222014019/http://www.balticsworldwide.com/the-crusaders/|archive-date= 22 December 2010}}</ref>

At the beginning of the 13th century, Germans ruled large parts of what is currently Latvia.<ref name="Lonely" /> The influx of German crusaders in the present-day Latvian territory especially increased in the second half of the 13th century following the [[Crusades#Crusades and the Holy Land, 1095–1291|decline and fall of the Crusader States]] in the [[Middle East]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Žemaitis |first1=Augustinas |title=German crusader states (until 1561) |url=https://www.onlatvia.com/german-crusader-states-until-1561-68 |website=OnLatvia.com |access-date=26 August 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826224424/https://www.onlatvia.com/german-crusader-states-until-1561-68 |url-status=live }}</ref> Together with southern Estonia, these conquered areas formed the [[crusader state]] that became known as [[Terra Mariana]] ([[Medieval Latin]] for "Land of [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Mary]]") or Livonia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Terra Mariana. 1186 – 1888 (2015) |url=https://www.manabiblioteka.lv/en/projekti/terra-mariana-1186-1888-2015/ |website=Manabiblioteka.lv |access-date=26 August 2022 |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142925/https://www.manabiblioteka.lv/en/projekti/terra-mariana-1186-1888-2015/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1282, Riga, and later the cities of [[Cēsis]], [[Limbaži]], [[Koknese]] and [[Valmiera]], became part of the [[Hanseatic League]].<ref name="Lonely" /> Riga became an important point of east–west trading<ref name="Lonely" /> and formed close cultural links with [[Western Europe]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/history|title=History of Latvia - Lonely Planet Travel Information|website=www.lonelyplanet.com|access-date=23 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326135852/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/history|archive-date=26 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The first German settlers were knights from northern Germany and citizens of northern German towns who brought their [[Low German]] language to the region, which shaped many loanwords in the Latvian language.<ref>{{cite book|title=Die deutschen Lehnwörter im Lettischen: Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde der hohen philosophischen Fakultät I der Universität Zürich|author=Johann Sehwers|publisher=Berichthaus|date= 1918|language=de}}</ref>

=== Reformation period and Polish and Swedish rule ===
[[File:Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its maximum extent.svg|thumb|The [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] at its largest extent; modern-day boundaries are also shown.]]
[[File:Swedish Empire.svg|thumb|The [[Swedish Empire]] (1560–1815).]]
{{Main|Swedish Livonia|Duchy of Courland and Semigallia|Duchy of Livonia|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth}}

After the [[Livonian War]] (1558–1583), Livonia (Northern Latvia & Southern Estonia) fell under the hegemony of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].<ref name="Lonely" /> The southern part of Estonia and the northern part of Latvia were ceded to the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]] and formed into the [[Duchy of Livonia]] (''Ducatus Livoniae Ultradunensis''). [[Gotthard Kettler]], the last Master of the [[Livonian Order|Order of Livonia]], formed the [[Duchy of Courland and Semigallia]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ceaser|first1=Ray A.|url=http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/duchy.html|title=Duchy of Courland|publisher=University of Washington|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030302122941/http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/duchy.html|archive-date=2 March 2003|date=June 2001}}</ref> Though the duchy was a vassal state to the Lithuanian Grand Duchy and later of Poland–Lithuania, it retained a considerable degree of autonomy and experienced a golden age in the 16th century. [[Latgalia]], the easternmost region of Latvia, became a part of the [[Inflanty Voivodeship]] of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IpR0-OrrwssC&q=Inflanty+Latgale&pg=PA14|title=Culture and Customs of the Baltic States|first=Kevin|last=O'Connor|date=3 October 2006|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|via=Google Books|isbn=978-0-313-33125-1|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=19 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119144020/https://books.google.com/books?id=IpR0-OrrwssC&q=Inflanty+Latgale&pg=PA14|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 17th and early 18th centuries, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]], and [[Russian Empire|Russia]] struggled for supremacy in the eastern Baltic. After the [[Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611)|Polish–Swedish War]], northern Livonia (including Vidzeme) came under Swedish rule. Riga became the capital of [[Swedish Livonia]] and the largest city in the entire Swedish Empire.<ref>Kasekamp, p. 47</ref> Fighting continued sporadically between Sweden and Poland until the [[Truce of Altmark]] in 1629.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sweden, the nation's history {{!}} WorldCat.org |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/17676837 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=search.worldcat.org |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208020309/https://search.worldcat.org/title/17676837 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rickard |first1=J |title=Truce of Altmark, 12 September 1629 |url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/truce_altmark.html |website=www.historyofwar.org |access-date=28 January 2021 |archive-date=22 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722160109/http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/truce_altmark.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In Latvia, the Swedish period is generally remembered as positive; [[serfdom]] was eased, a network of schools was established for the peasantry, and the power of the regional [[baltic Germans|barons]] was diminished.<ref>H. Strods, "'Dobrye Shvedskie Vremena' v Istoriografii Latvii (Konets XVIII V.&nbsp;– 70-E Gg. XX V.). ["'The good Swedish times' in Latvian historiography: from the late 18th century to the 1970s"] ''Skandinavskiy Sbornik'', 1985, Vol. 29, pp. 188–199</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=J. T. Kotilaine|title=Riga's Trade With its Muscovite Hinterland in the Seventeenth Century|journal=Journal of Baltic Studies|year=1999|volume= 30|issue =2|pages=129–161|doi=10.1080/01629779900000031 | issn=0162-9778}}</ref>

Several important cultural changes occurred during this time. Under Swedish and largely German rule, western Latvia adopted [[Lutheranism]] as its main religion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Žemaitis |first1=Augustinas |title=Lutherans |url=https://www.onlatvia.com/lutherans-143 |website=OnLatvia.com |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=25 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925101326/https://www.onlatvia.com/lutherans-143 |url-status=live }}</ref> The ancient tribes of the Couronians, Semigallians, Selonians, Livs, and northern Latgallians assimilated to form the [[Latvian people]], speaking one [[Latvian language]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ereminas |first1=Gintautas |title=Latviai |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/latviai/ |website=Vle.lt |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Latvian language |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Latvian-language |website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=27 August 2022 |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008003509/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Latvian-language |url-status=live }}</ref> Throughout all the centuries, however, an actual Latvian state had not been established, so the borders and definitions of who exactly fell within that group are largely subjective. Meanwhile, largely isolated from the rest of Latvia, southern Latgallians adopted [[Catholicism]] under Polish/[[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] influence. The native dialect remained distinct, although it acquired many Polish and Russian loanwords.<ref>{{cite journal|author= V. Stanley Vardys|title=The Role of the Churches in the Maintenance of Regional and National Identity in the Baltic Republics|journal=Journal of Baltic Studies|year=1987|volume=18 |issue =3|pages= 287–300|doi=10.1080/01629778700000141}}</ref>

=== Livonia and Courland in the Russian Empire (1795–1917) ===
During the [[Great Northern War]] (1700–1721), up to 40 percent of Latvians died from famine and plague.<ref>{{cite book|author=Kevin O'Connor|title=The History of the Baltic States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b3b5nU4bnw4C&pg=PA29|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-32355-3|pages=29–|access-date=11 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427085953/https://books.google.com/books?id=b3b5nU4bnw4C&pg=PA29|archive-date=27 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Half the residents of Riga were killed by [[Great Northern War plague outbreak|plague in 1710–1711]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bank.lv/eng/main/am/jubmon/nmp/index.php?32661 |title=Collector Coin Dedicated to 18th Century Riga |access-date=19 July 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719083420/http://www.bank.lv/eng/main/am/jubmon/nmp/index.php?32661 |archive-date=19 July 2010}}. Bank of Latvia.</ref> The [[capitulation of Estonia and Livonia]] in 1710 and the [[Treaty of Nystad]], ending the [[Great Northern War]] in 1721, gave Vidzeme to Russia (it became part of the [[Governorate of Livonia|Riga Governorate]]).  The Latgale region remained part of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] as [[Inflanty Voivodeship]] until 1772, when it was incorporated into Russia. The [[Duchy of Courland and Semigallia]], a vassal state of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, was annexed by Russia in 1795 in the [[Third Partition of Poland]], bringing all of what is now Latvia into the [[Russian Empire]]. All three Baltic provinces preserved local laws, German as the local [[official language]] and their own parliament, the [[Landtag]].

The emancipation of the serfs took place in Courland in 1817 and in Vidzeme in 1819.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lazdins|first=Janiz|date=2 July 2011|title=THE ORIGINS OF A CIVIL SOCIETY BASED ON DEMOCRATICALLY LEGITIMATE VALUES IN BALTICS AFTER ABOLITION OF SERFDOM|url=https://www.apgads.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/lu_portal/apgads/PDF/Juridiskas-konferences/ISCFLUL-7-2019/iscflul.7.2-11_Lazdins.pdf|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190054/https://www.apgads.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/lu_portal/apgads/PDF/Juridiskas-konferences/ISCFLUL-7-2019/iscflul.7.2-11_Lazdins.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In practice, however, the emancipation was actually advantageous to the landowners and nobility, as it dispossessed peasants of their land without compensation, forcing them to return to work at the estates "of their own free will".<ref>Misiunas, Romuald J., Stranga, Aivars, Spekke, Arnold, Smogorzewski, Kazimierz Maciej. "history of Latvia". Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Latvia. Accessed 19 April 2025.</ref>

During these two centuries Latvia experienced economic and construction boom – ports were expanded (Riga became the largest port in the Russian Empire), railways built; new factories, banks, and a university were established; many residential, public (theatres and museums), and school buildings were erected; new parks formed; and so on. Riga's boulevards and some streets outside the Old Town date from this period.

[[Numeracy]] was also higher in the Livonian and Courlandian parts of the Russian Empire, which may have been influenced by the Protestant religion of the inhabitants.<ref>{{cite book|author=Baten, Jörg |title=A History of the Global Economy. From 1500 to the Present.|date=2016|publisher=Cambridge University Press|page=50|isbn=978-1-107-50718-0}}</ref>

[[File:Latvians national rally in Dundaga in 1905.jpg|thumb|left|Latvians national rally in [[Dundaga]] in 1905]]
During the 19th century, the social structure changed dramatically.<ref name="LNA">{{cite web |title=Latvian national awakening (1860-1918) |url=https://www.onlatvia.com/latvian-national-awakening-1860-1918-74 |website=OnLatvia.com |access-date=19 March 2022 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409052455/https://www.onlatvia.com/latvian-national-awakening-1860-1918-74 |url-status=live }}</ref> A class of independent farmers established itself after reforms allowed the peasants to repurchase their land, but many landless peasants remained. Many [[Latvians]] left for the cities and sought education and industrial jobs.<ref name="LNA" /> There also developed a growing urban [[proletariat]] and an increasingly influential Latvian [[bourgeoisie]].<ref name="LNA" /> The [[Young Latvians|Young Latvian]] ({{langx|lv|Jaunlatvieši}}) movement laid the groundwork for nationalism from the middle of the century, many of its leaders looking to the [[Slavophile]]s for support against the prevailing German-dominated social order.<ref name="YoungLatvians">{{cite web |title=Latvians in the Second Half of the 19th Century and the Early 20th Century: National Identity, Culture and Social Life |url=http://lnvm.lv/en/?page_id=1078 |website=National History Museum of Latvia |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022201215/http://lnvm.lv/en/?page_id=1078 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Another Baltic Postcolonialism: Young Latvians, Baltic Germans, and the emergence of Latvian National Movement |journal=Nationalities Papers |date=20 November 2018 |volume=42 |issue=1 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |pages=88–107 |doi=10.1080/00905992.2013.823391 |url=https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/bitstream/handle/7/31253/Ijabs_Nationalities_Papers_2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |access-date=19 March 2022 |last1=Ijabs |first1=Ivars |s2cid=129003059 |archive-date=11 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230911002101/https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/bitstream/handle/7/31253/Ijabs_Nationalities_Papers_2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live }}</ref> The rise in use of the [[Latvian language]] in literature and society became known as the [[Latvian National Awakening|First National Awakening]].<ref name="YoungLatvians" /> [[Russification]] began in Latgale after the Polish led the [[January Uprising]] in 1863: this spread to the rest of what is now Latvia by the 1880s. The Young Latvians were largely eclipsed by the [[New Current]], a broad leftist social and political movement, in the 1890s.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Šiliņš |first1=Jānis |title=Jaunā strāva |url=https://enciklopedija.lv/skirklis/22237 |access-date=19 March 2022 |website=[[Latvian National Encyclopedia]] |language=lv |archive-date=27 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127112202/https://enciklopedija.lv/skirklis/22237 |url-status=live }}</ref> Popular discontent exploded in the [[1905 Russian Revolution]], which took a nationalist character in the [[Baltics|Baltic provinces]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lapa |first1=Līga |title=1905. gada revolūcija Latvijā |url=https://enciklopedija.lv/skirklis/20773-1905-gada-revol%C5%ABcija-Latvij%C4%81 |website=Nacionālā enciklopēdija |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=lv |archive-date=19 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319145330/https://enciklopedija.lv/skirklis/20773-1905-gada-revol%C5%ABcija-Latvij%C4%81 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=II 1905 |url=https://www.historia.lv/raksts/ii-1905 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Historia |language=lv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Muzergues |first=Thibault |date=2004-09-20 |title=Russia and the nation-state building in Latvia |url=https://sens-public.org/articles/90/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Sens public |language=fr}}</ref>

=== Declaration of independence and interwar period ===
{{More citations needed|subsection|date=April 2025}}
[[File:Janis Cakste.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jānis Čakste]] (1859–1927), the first [[president of Latvia]]]]
[[World War I]] devastated the territory of what became the state of Latvia,<ref>{{Cite web |title=WORLD WAR I AND LATVIAN RIFLEMEN IN THE COLLECTIVE MEMORY OF LATVIA. |url=https://oldlvi.lu.lv/lv/LVIZ_2017_files/3numurs/K_Zellis_World_War_LVIZ_2017_3.pdf |access-date=24 April 2025|author=Zellis, Kaspars |language=lv }}</ref> and other western parts of the Russian Empire. Demands for [[self-determination]] were initially confined to [[autonomy]], until a power vacuum was created by the [[Russian Revolution]] in 1917, followed by the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (Russia–Central Powers)|Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] between Russia and Germany in March 1918, then the [[Allies of World War I|Allied]] armistice with Germany on 11 November 1918. On 18 November 1918, in Riga, the [[Tautas padome|People's Council of Latvia]] proclaimed the independence of the new country and [[Kārlis Ulmanis]] was entrusted to set up a government and he took the position of prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kārlis Ulmanis {{!}} Valsts prezidenta kanceleja|url=https://www.president.lv/en/karlis-ulmanis|access-date=13 October 2021|website=www.president.lv|language=en|archive-date=18 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018115339/https://www.president.lv/en/karlis-ulmanis|url-status=live}}</ref>

The General representative of Germany [[August Winnig]] formally handed over political power to the Latvian Provisional Government on 26 November.<ref>{{Cite web |title= NATIONAL COMMUNISM AND WORLD REVOLUTION: THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GERMAN MILITARY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BALTIC AREA IN 1918-19 |url= https://ia801304.us.archive.org/16/items/germanrevolution00lutz/germanrevolution00lutz.pdf |access-date=25 April 2025 |author=University of California at Los Angeles |language=en }}</ref> On 18 November, the Latvian People's Council entrusted him to set up the government. He took the office of Minister of Agriculture from 18 November to 19 December. He took a position of prime minister from 19 November 1918 to 13 July 1919.

The [[Latvian War of Independence|war of independence]] that followed was part of a general chaotic period of civil and new border wars in Eastern Europe. By the spring of 1919, there were actually three governments: the Provisional government headed by [[Kārlis Ulmanis]], supported by the [[Tautas padome]] and the [[Military Inter-Allied Commission of Control|Inter-Allied Commission of Control]]; the [[Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic|Latvian Soviet government]] led by [[Pēteris Stučka]], supported by the [[Red Army]]; and the Provisional government headed by [[Andrievs Niedra]], supported by [[Baltic Germans|Baltic-German]] [[Freikorps in the Baltic|forces]] composed of the ''[[Baltische Landeswehr]]'' ("Baltic Defence Force") and the [[Freikorps]] formation ''[[Eiserne Division]]'' ("Iron Division").

Estonian and Latvian forces defeated the Germans at the [[Battle of Cēsis (1919)|Battle of Wenden]] in June 1919,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/cesis_battle_of|title=Cēsis, Battle of {{!}} International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1)|access-date=15 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223133640/https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/cesis_battle_of|archive-date=23 February 2019}}</ref> and a massive attack by a predominantly German force—the [[West Russian Volunteer Army]]—under [[Pavel Bermondt-Avalov]] was repelled in November. Eastern Latvia was cleared of Red Army forces by Latvian and Polish troops in early 1920 (from the Polish perspective the [[Battle of Daugavpils]] was a part of the [[Polish–Soviet War]]).

A freely elected [[Constituent assembly]] convened on 1 May 1920, and adopted a liberal constitution, the ''[[Constitution of Latvia|Satversme]]'', in February 1922.<ref>Bleiere, p. 155</ref> The constitution was partly suspended by Kārlis Ulmanis after [[1934 Latvian coup d'état|his coup in 1934]] but reaffirmed in 1990. Since then, it has been amended and is still in effect in Latvia today. With most of Latvia's industrial base evacuated to the interior of Russia in 1915, radical [[land reform]] was the central political question for the young state. In 1897, 61.2% of the rural population had been landless; by 1936, that percentage had been reduced to 18%.<ref>Bleiere, p. 195</ref>

On 15 May 1934, Ulmanis staged [[1934 Latvian coup d'état|a bloodless coup]], establishing a nationalist dictatorship that lasted until 1940.<ref name="Country profile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1108059.stm|title=Timeline: Latvia|work=BBC News|date=20 January 2010|access-date=5 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420190840/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1108059.stm|archive-date=20 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> After 1934, Ulmanis established [[government corporation]]s to buy up private firms with the aim of "Latvianising" the economy.<ref>{{cite book|jstor=2119564|author1=Nicholas Balabkins|author2=Arnolds P. Aizsilnieks|title=Entrepreneur in a small country: a case study against the background of the Latvian economy, 1919–1940|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PwaSAAAAIAAJ|access-date=19 February 2012|year=1975|publisher=Exposition Press|isbn=978-0-682-48158-8|pages=xiv, 143|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112212508/http://books.google.com/books?id=PwaSAAAAIAAJ|archive-date=12 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Occupations, 1940–1990 ===
{{Main|Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940|German occupation of Latvia during World War II||Occupation of Latvia by Soviet Union 1944–1945|Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic}}
{{See also|The Holocaust in Latvia|Latvian partisans|Latvian anti-Nazi resistance movement 1941–45}}
[[File:Riga 1940 Soviet Army.jpg|thumb|[[Red Army]] troops enter [[Riga]] (1940).]]
Early in the morning of 24 August 1939, the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Nazi Germany]] signed a 10-year non-aggression pact, called the [[Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact – archive, August 1939 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2019/jul/24/molotov-ribbentrop-pact-germany-russia-1939 |website=the Guardian |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en |date=24 July 2019 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627110113/https://www.theguardian.com/world/from-the-archive-blog/2019/jul/24/molotov-ribbentrop-pact-germany-russia-1939 |url-status=live }}</ref> The pact contained a secret protocol, revealed only after Germany's defeat in 1945, according to which the states of Northern and Eastern Europe were divided into German and Soviet "[[sphere of influence|spheres of influence]]".<ref name="mrtext">[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1939pact.html ''Text of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114231303/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1939pact.html |date=14 November 2014 }}, executed 23 August 1939</ref> In the north, Latvia, Finland and Estonia were assigned to the Soviet sphere.<ref name="mrtext" />

After the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, most of the [[Baltic Germans]] left Latvia by agreement between Ulmanis's government and Nazi Germany under the [[Heim ins Reich]] programme.<ref name="Latvia in WWII">Lumans, pp. 71–74</ref> Most of those who remained left for Germany in summer 1940, when a second resettlement scheme was agreed.<ref>Lumans pp. 110–111</ref> The racially approved being resettled mainly in Poland, being given land and businesses in exchange for the money they had received from the sale of their previous assets.<ref name="PBBG">{{cite book |first=Prit |last=Buttar |title=Between Giants |isbn=978-1-78096-163-7|date=21 May 2013 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA }}</ref>{{rp|46}}

On 5 October 1939, Latvia was forced to accept a "mutual assistance" pact with the Soviet Union, granting the Soviets the right to station between 25,000 and 30,000 troops on Latvian territory.<ref>Lumans, p. 79</ref>
State administrators were murdered and replaced by Soviet cadres.<ref name="wettig20">Wettig, Gerhard, ''Stalin and the Cold War in Europe'', Rowman & Littlefield, Landham, Md, 2008, {{ISBN|0-7425-5542-9}}, pp. 20–21</ref> Elections were held with single pro-Soviet candidates listed for many positions. The resulting people's assembly immediately requested admission into the USSR, which the Soviet Union granted.<ref name="wettig20" /> Latvia, then a puppet government, was headed by [[Augusts Kirhenšteins]].<ref>Lumans, pp. 98–99</ref> The Soviet Union incorporated Latvia on 5 August 1940, as the ''[[Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic]].''

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-L19397, Lettland, Riga, Begrüßung der deutschen Soldaten.jpg|thumb|German soldiers enter Riga, July 1941.]]
The Soviets dealt harshly with their [[Enemy of the people|opponents]]&nbsp;– prior to [[Operation Barbarossa]], in less than a year, at least 34,250 Latvians were deported or killed.<ref>{{cite book|author=Simon Sebag Montefiore|author-link=Simon Sebag Montefiore|title=Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar|page=334}}</ref> Most were deported to Siberia where deaths were estimated at 40 percent.<ref name=PBBG />{{rp|48}}

On 22 June 1941, German troops attacked Soviet forces in Operation Barbarossa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Operation Barbarossa |url=https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa#:~:text=On%20June%2022%2C%201941%2C%20Adolf,the%20frontier%20into%20Soviet%20territory. |website=HISTORY |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=22 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622142556/http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/operation-barbarossa#:~:text=On%20June%2022%2C%201941%2C%20Adolf,the%20frontier%20into%20Soviet%20territory. |url-status=live }}</ref> There were some spontaneous uprisings by Latvians against the Red Army which helped the Germans. By 29 June [[Riga]] was reached and with Soviet troops killed, captured or retreating, Latvia was left under the control of German forces by early July.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Latvia: A brief synopsis |url=https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa/culture/history-of-latvia-a-brief-synopsis |website=www.mfa.gov.lv |access-date=28 January 2021 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303083044/https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa/culture/history-of-latvia-a-brief-synopsis }}</ref><ref name=PBBG />{{rp|78–96}}

Under German occupation, Latvia was administered as part of ''[[Reichskommissariat Ostland]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Estonia - RomArchive |url=https://www.romarchive.eu/en/voices-of-the-victims/estonia/ |website=www.romarchive.eu |access-date=28 January 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207204810/https://www.romarchive.eu/en/voices-of-the-victims/estonia/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Latvian paramilitary and [[Arajs Kommando|Auxiliary Police]] units established by the occupation authority participated in [[the Holocaust]] and other atrocities.<ref name="Country profile" /> 30,000 Jews were shot in Latvia in the autumn of 1941.<ref name=PBBG />{{rp|127}} Another 30,000 Jews from the Riga ghetto were killed in the Rumbula Forest in November and December 1941, to reduce overpopulation in the ghetto and make room for more Jews being brought in from Germany and the West.<ref name=PBBG />{{rp|128}} There was a pause in fighting, apart from partisan activity, until after the [[Battle of Leningrad|siege of Leningrad]] ended in January 1944, and the Soviet troops advanced, entering Latvia in July and eventually capturing Riga on 13 October 1944.<ref name=PBBG />{{rp|271}}

[[File:Red Army soldiers in Riga. October 1944.jpg|thumb|[[Red Army]] soldiers in front of the [[Freedom Monument]] in Riga in 1944]]

The Soviets reoccupied the country in 1944–1945, and further deportations followed as the country was [[collectivization in the Soviet Union|collectivised]]
and [[Sovietisation|Sovietised]].<ref name="Country profile" /> <!-- The first post-war years were marked by particularly dismal and sombre events in the fate of the Latvian nation{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} I'll take this out; let the readers evaluate the events&nbsp;– they are quite self explanatory -->

In the post-war period, Latvia was made to adopt Soviet farming methods. Rural areas were forced into [[Collectivization in the Soviet Union|collectivization]].<ref>Bleiere, p. 384</ref> An extensive program to impose [[bilingualism]] was initiated in Latvia, limiting the use of Latvian language in official uses in favor of using Russian as the main language. All of the minority schools (Jewish, Polish, Belarusian, Estonian, Lithuanian) were closed down leaving only two media of instructions in the schools: Latvian and Russian.<ref>Bleiere, p. 411</ref> An influx of new colonists, including laborers, administrators, military personnel and their dependents from Russia and other Soviet republics started. By 1959 about 400,000 Russian settlers arrived and the ethnic Latvian population had fallen to 62%.<ref>Bleiere, p. 418</ref>

Since Latvia had maintained a well-developed infrastructure and educated specialists, Moscow decided to base some of the Soviet Union's most advanced manufacturing in Latvia. New industry was created in Latvia, including a major [[Riga Autobus Factory|machinery factory RAF]] in [[Jelgava]], electrotechnical factories in [[Riga]], chemical factories in [[Daugavpils]], [[Valmiera]] and [[Olaine]]—and some food and oil processing plants.<ref>Bleiere, p. 379</ref> Latvia manufactured trains, ships, minibuses, mopeds, telephones, radios and hi-fi systems, electrical and diesel engines, textiles, furniture, clothing, bags and luggage, shoes, musical instruments, home appliances, watches, tools and equipment, aviation and agricultural equipment and long list of other goods. Latvia had its own film industry and musical records factory (LPs). However, there were not enough people to operate the newly built factories.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} To maintain and expand industrial production, skilled workers were migrating from all over the Soviet Union, decreasing the proportion of ethnic Latvians in the republic.<ref>Lumans, p. 400</ref> The population of Latvia reached its peak in 1990 at just under 2.7 million people.

In the second half of the 1980s, Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] started to introduce political and economic reforms in the Soviet Union that were called [[glasnost]] and [[perestroika]]. In the summer of 1987, the first large demonstrations were held in Riga at the [[Freedom Monument]]—a symbol of independence. In the summer of 1988, a national movement, coalescing in the [[Popular Front of Latvia]], was opposed by the [[International Front of the Working People of Latvia|Interfront]]. The Latvian SSR, along with the other [[Baltic states|Baltic Republics]] was allowed greater autonomy, and in 1988, the old pre-war [[Flag of Latvia]] flew again, replacing the Soviet Latvian flag as the official flag in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=Flag Log's World Flag Chart 1991 |url=https://flaglog.com/1991 |website=flaglog.com |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-date=2 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102050401/https://flaglog.com/1991 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>More-detailed discussion in Daina Stukuls Eglitis, ''Imagining the Nation: History, Modernity, and Revolution in Latvia'' State College PA: Pennsylvania State Press, 2010), 41-46. {{ISBN|9780271045627}}</ref> In 1989, the [[Supreme Soviet of the USSR]] adopted a resolution on the ''[[Occupation of the Baltic states]]'', in which it declared the occupation "not in accordance with law", and not the "will of the Soviet people". Pro-independence Popular Front of Latvia candidates gained a two-thirds majority in the [[Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia|Supreme Council]] in the [[1990 Latvian Supreme Soviet election|March 1990 democratic elections]].

=== 1990–present ===
{{Further|Singing Revolution|Baltic Way|On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia}}
[[File:Riga barricade 1991.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Barricade in Riga to prevent the [[Soviet Army]] from reaching the [[Saeima|Latvian Parliament]] in July 1991]]

On 4 May 1990, the Supreme Council adopted the [[Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia]], and the Latvian SSR was renamed Republic of Latvia.<ref name="Imagining">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=36JG1JBlNroC&q=latvia+political+history|title=Imagining the Nation: History, Modernity, and Revolution in Latvia|last=Eglitis|first=Daina Stukuls|date=1 November 2010|publisher=Penn State Press|isbn=978-0-271-04562-7|language=en|access-date=14 November 2020|archive-date=19 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119144024/https://books.google.com/books?id=36JG1JBlNroC&q=latvia+political+history|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, the central power in Moscow continued to regard Latvia as a Soviet republic in 1990 and 1991. In January 1991, Soviet political and military forces unsuccessfully tried to overthrow the Republic of Latvia authorities by occupying the central publishing house in Riga and establishing a Committee of National Salvation to usurp governmental functions. During the transitional period, Moscow maintained many central Soviet state authorities in Latvia.<ref name="Imagining" />

[[Popular Front of Latvia|The Popular Front of Latvia]] advocated that all permanent residents be eligible for Latvian citizenship, however, universal citizenship for all permanent residents was not adopted. Instead, citizenship was granted to persons who had been citizens of Latvia on the day of loss of independence in 1940 as well as their descendants. As a consequence, the majority of ethnic non-Latvians did not receive Latvian citizenship since neither they nor their parents had ever been citizens of Latvia, becoming [[Non-citizens (Latvia)|non-citizens]] or citizens of other former Soviet republics. By 2011, more than half of non-citizens had taken [[naturalization]] exams and received Latvian citizenship, but in 2015 there were still 290,660 non-citizens in Latvia, which represented 14.1% of the population. They have [[Statelessness|no citizenship of any country]], and cannot participate in the parliamentary elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/stories-of-statelessness-latvia-and-estonia/|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20151127055909/http%3A//www.unhcr.org/ibelong/stories%2Dof%2Dstatelessness%2Dlatvia%2Dand%2Destonia/|archive-date=27 November 2015|title=Stories of Statelessness: Latvia and Estonia – IBELONG|work=IBELONG |date=12 January 2015}}</ref> Children born to non-nationals or stateless persons after the re-establishment of independence on 21 August 1991 are automatically entitled to citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Krūma |first=Kristine |date=2015 |title=Country report on Citizenship Law: Latvia |url=https://cadmus.eui.eu/bitstream/handle/1814/34481/EUDO_CIT_2015_06-Latvia.pdf |access-date=10 March 2025 |publisher=European University Institute |page=7 |format=PDF}}</ref>

The Republic of Latvia declared the end of the transitional period and restored full independence on 21 August 1991, in the aftermath of the failed [[1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt|Soviet coup attempt]].<ref name="FINemb">{{cite web |url=http://www.finland.lv/public/default.aspx?nodeid=38439&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=History |publisher=Embassy of Finland, Riga |quote=Latvia declared independence on 21 August 1991...The decision to restore diplomatic relations took effect on 29 August 1991 |date=9 July 2008 |access-date=2 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511083836/http://www.finland.lv/public/default.aspx?nodeid=38439&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> Latvia resumed diplomatic relations with Western states, including Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |title=The King holds an audience with Latvia's President |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/latestnews/thekingholdsanaudiencewithlatviaspresident.5.1af28464179eb669913b76a.html |website=Swedish Royal Court |access-date=26 August 2021 |archive-date=26 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826130749/https://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/latestnews/latestnews/thekingholdsanaudiencewithlatviaspresident.5.1af28464179eb669913b76a.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Saeima]], Latvia's parliament, was again elected in 1993. Russia ended its military presence by completing its troop withdrawal in 1994 and shutting down the [[Skrunda-1]] radar station in 1998.

The major goals of Latvia in the 1990s, to join [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]], were achieved in 2004. The [[NATO Summit 2006]] was held in Riga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-150e.htm |title=NATO Press Release |website=www.nato.int |access-date=16 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312162903/http://www.nato.int/docu/pr/2006/p06-150e.htm |archive-date=12 March 2014 }}</ref> [[Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga]] was [[President of Latvia]] from 1999 until 2007. She was the first female head of state in the former Soviet bloc state and was active in Latvia joining both NATO and the European Union in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49119077|title=From child refugee to president: Latvia's Vaira Vike-Freiberga|work=BBC News|date=4 August 2019|access-date=27 March 2021|archive-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203204231/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49119077|url-status=live}}</ref> Latvia signed the [[Schengen Agreement|Schengen agreement]] on 16 April 2003 and started its implementation on 21 December 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=Schengen Area - The 27 Member Countries of the Schengen Zone |url=https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/ |website=SchengenVisaInfo.com |language=en |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320045320/https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-countries-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Saeimas 18.novembra svinīgā sēde (45023401235).jpg|thumb|The ceremonial meeting of the [[Saeima]] in 2018 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Latvia at the [[Latvian National Theatre]], where the country was [[Independence Day (Latvia)|founded on 18 November 1918]]]]
Approximately 72% of Latvian citizens are Latvian, while 20% are Russian.<ref>{{cite journal |author = Commercio Michele E |year = 2003 |title = Emotion and Blame in Collective Action: Russian Voice in Kyrgyzstan and Latvia |journal = Political Science Quarterly |volume = 124 |issue = 3 |pages = 489–512 |doi = 10.1002/j.1538-165X.2009.tb00657.x |s2cid = 55002696 }}</ref> The government denationalized private property confiscated by the Soviets, returning it or compensating the owners for it, and [[privatization|privatized]] most state-owned industries, reintroducing the [[Latvian lats|prewar currency]]. Albeit having experienced a difficult transition to a liberal economy and its re-orientation toward Western Europe, Latvia is one of the fastest growing economies in the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia Beat the Odds—But the Battle Is Far From Over |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2012/06/01/latvia-beat-the-odds-but-the-battle-is-far-from-over |website=IMF |language=en |date=1 June 2012 |access-date=1 September 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901101035/https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2012/06/01/latvia-beat-the-odds-but-the-battle-is-far-from-over |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2013, [[Zolitūde shopping centre roof collapse|the roof collapsed]] at a shopping center in Riga, causing Latvia's worst post-independence disaster with the deaths of 54 rush hour shoppers and rescue personnel.<ref>{{cite news |title=Riga mourns Maxima roof collapse victims |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/33833/ |work=www.baltictimes.com |access-date=1 September 2023 |archive-date=1 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901100416/https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/33833/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In late 2018 the National Archives of Latvia released a full alphabetical index of some 10,000 people recruited as agents or informants by the Soviet KGB. 'The publication, which followed two decades of public debate and the passage of a special law, revealed the names, code names, birthplaces and other data on active and former KGB agents as of 1991, the year Latvia regained its independence from the Soviet Union.'<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/09/latvia-opens-its-kgb-archives-while-russia-continues-whitewash-its-past/|department=Opinion |title=Latvia opens its KGB archives — while Russia continues to whitewash its past|author=Vladimir Kara-Murza |newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=9 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109190904/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/09/latvia-opens-its-kgb-archives-while-russia-continues-whitewash-its-past/|archive-date=9 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2023, the parliament elected [[Edgars Rinkēvičs]] as new [[President of Latvia]], making him the European Union's first openly gay head of state.<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvian parliament elects foreign minister as new president |url=https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/national/23559193.latvian-parliament-elects-foreign-minister-new-president/ |work=Impartial Reporter |date=31 May 2023 |language=en |access-date=3 June 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603121301/https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/national/23559193.latvian-parliament-elects-foreign-minister-new-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After years of debates, Latvia ratified the EU ''Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence'', otherwise known as the [[Istanbul Convention]] in November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kincis |first=Jānis |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Istanbul convention ratified by Saeima |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/30.11.2023-istanbul-convention-ratified-by-latvian-saeima.a533654/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |language=en |archive-date=2 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102173130/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/30.11.2023-istanbul-convention-ratified-by-latvian-saeima.a533654/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Latvia}}
{{See also|Baltic Sea|Baltic states|Northern Europe}}
[[File:BalticSea March2000 NASA-S2000084115409.png|thumb|Latvia lies in Northern Europe, on the eastern shores of the [[Baltic Sea]].]]
Latvia lies in Northern Europe, on the eastern shores of the [[Baltic Sea]] and northwestern part of the [[East European craton|East European Craton]] (EEC), between latitudes [[55th parallel north|55°]] and [[58th parallel north|58° N]] (a small area is north of 58°), and longitudes [[21st meridian east|21°]] and [[29th meridian east|29° E]] (a small area is west of 21°). Latvia has a total area of {{convert|64559|km2|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|62157|km2|abbr=on}} land, {{convert|18159|km2|abbr=on}} agricultural land,<ref name="Agriculture – Key Indicators">{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/agriculture-key-indicators-30725.html|title=Agriculture – Key Indicators|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau Republic of Latvia|date=28 April 2012|access-date=17 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427161459/http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/agriculture-key-indicators-30725.html|archive-date=27 April 2012}}</ref> {{convert|34964|km2|abbr=on}} forest land<ref name="Forestry – Key Indicators">{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/forestry-key-indicators-30729.html|title=Forestry – Key Indicators|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau Republic of Latvia|date=18 August 2011|access-date=17 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012183104/http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/forestry-key-indicators-30729.html|archive-date=12 October 2012}}</ref> and {{convert|2402|km2|abbr=on}} inland water.<ref name="Geographical Data – Key Indicators">{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/geographical-data-key-indicators-30773.html|title=Geographical Data – Key Indicators|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau Republic of Latvia|date=5 October 2011|access-date=17 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602190205/http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/geographical-data-key-indicators-30773.html|archive-date=2 June 2012}}</ref>

The total length of Latvia's boundary is {{convert|1866|km|abbr=on}}. The total length of its land boundary is {{convert|1368|km|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|343|km|abbr=on}} is shared with [[Estonia]] to the north, {{convert|276|km|abbr=on}} with the [[Russian Federation]] to the east, {{convert|161|km|abbr=on}} with [[Belarus]] to the southeast and {{convert|588|km|abbr=on}} with [[Lithuania]] to the south. The total length of its [[maritime boundary]] is {{convert|498|km|abbr=on}}, which is shared with Estonia, Sweden and [[Lithuania]]. Extension from north to south is {{convert|210|km|abbr=on}} and from west to east {{convert|450|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Geographical Data – Key Indicators" />

Most of Latvia's territory is less than {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]]. Its largest lake, [[Lubāns]], has an area of {{convert|80.7|km2|abbr=on}}, its deepest lake, [[Drīdzis]], is {{convert|65.1|m|abbr=on}} deep. The longest river on Latvian territory is the [[Gauja]], at {{convert|452|km|abbr=on}} in length. The longest river flowing through Latvian territory is the [[Daugava River|Daugava]], which has a total length of {{convert|1005|km|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|352|km|abbr=on}} is on Latvian territory. Latvia's highest point is [[Gaiziņkalns]], {{convert|311.6|m|abbr=on}}. The length of Latvia's [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]] coastline is {{convert|494|km|abbr=on}}. An inlet of the Baltic Sea, the shallow [[Gulf of Riga]] is situated in the northwest of the country.<ref name="Latvia in brief">{{cite web|url=http://www.latvia.lv/library/latvia-brief |title=Latvia in brief |publisher=Latvian Institute |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923001148/http://www.latvia.lv/library/latvia-brief |archive-date=23 September 2012 }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = vertical
 | width = 220
 | image1 = Koppen World Map Dfb Dwb Dsb.png
 | caption1 = {{legend|#38C7FF|Humid continental climate warm summer subtype}}
 | image2 = Koppen classification worldmap CfbCfc.png
 | caption2 = {{legend|#008000|Oceanic climate}}
}}
Latvia has a [[temperate]] climate that has been described in various sources as either [[humid continental]] ([[Humid continental climate#Dfb/Dwb/Dsb: Warm summer subtype|Köppen ''Dfb'']]) or [[oceanic climate|oceanic/maritime]] (Köppen ''Cfb'').<ref name="liepu">{{cite web|url=http://www.liepu.lv/lv/404/latvia-and-liepaja- |publisher=Liepājas Universitāte |title=Latvia in crosscut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227112748/http://www.liepu.lv/lv/404/latvia-and-liepaja- |archive-date=27 February 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gwp.org/en/About-GWP/Country-Water-Partnerships/Latvia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101085408/http://www.gwp.org/en/About-GWP/Country-Water-Partnerships/Latvia/|archive-date=1 November 2012|publisher=Global Water Partnership|title=Latvia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpiva.lv/index.php?language=en&mh=struktura|publisher=RPIVA|title=Latvia in brief|access-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095951/http://www.rpiva.lv/index.php?language=en&mh=struktura|archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

Coastal regions, especially the western coast of the [[Courland Peninsula]], possess a more maritime climate with cooler summers and milder winters, while eastern parts exhibit a more continental climate with warmer summers and harsher winters.<ref name="liepu" /> Nevertheless, the temperature variations are little as the territory of Latvia is relatively small.<ref name="LatviaClimate">{{cite web |title=Climate and weather in Latvia |url=https://www.onlatvia.com/topics/advices-about-latvia/climate |website=OnLatvia.com |access-date=3 September 2022 |archive-date=3 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220903145008/https://www.onlatvia.com/topics/advices-about-latvia/climate |url-status=live }}</ref> Moreover, Latvia's terrain is particularly flat (no more than 350 meters high), thus the Latvian climate is not differentiated by altitude.<ref name="LatviaClimate"/>

Latvia has four pronounced seasons of near-equal length. Winter starts in mid-December and lasts until mid-March. Winters have average temperatures of {{convert|-6|°C|0|abbr=on}} and are characterized by stable snow cover, bright sunshine, and short days. Severe spells of winter weather with cold winds, extreme temperatures of around {{convert|-30|°C|0|abbr=on}} and heavy snowfalls are common. Summer starts in June and lasts until August. Summers are usually warm and sunny, with cool evenings and nights. Summers have average temperatures of around {{convert|19|°C|0|abbr=on}}, with extremes of {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Spring and autumn bring fairly mild weather.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latvia.travel/en/climate-and-weather-conditions |title=The climate and weather conditions |publisher=Latvia.travel |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108055555/http://www.latvia.travel/en/climate-and-weather-conditions |archive-date=8 January 2012 }}</ref>
<!---Overly detailed data charts and diagrams such as historical weather data boxes, population charts and past elections results should be reserved for main sub articles on the topic as per WP:DETAIL.--->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+'''Weather records in Latvia'''<ref>{{cite book|title=Latvijas ģeogrāfijas atlants|publisher=Jāņa sēta|location=Rīga|year=2004|page=13|isbn=9984073637}}</ref>
|-
! Weather record !! Value !! Location !! Date
|-
| Highest temperature || {{convert|37.8|°C|0|abbr=on}} || [[Ventspils]] || 4 August 2014
|-
| Lowest temperature || {{convert|-43.2|°C|0|abbr=on}} || [[Daugavpils]] || 8 February 1956
|-
| Last spring [[frost]] || – || Large parts of territory || 24 June 1982
|-
| First autumn frost || – || [[Ozolnieki municipality|Cenas parish]] || 15 August 1975
|-
| Highest yearly [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] || {{convert|1007|mm|1|abbr=on}} || [[Priekuļi parish]] || 1928
|-
| Lowest yearly precipitation || {{convert|384|mm|1|abbr=on}} || [[Ainaži]] || 1939
|-
| Highest daily precipitation || {{convert|160|mm|1|abbr=on}} || [[Ventspils]] || 9 July 1973
|-
| Highest monthly precipitation || {{convert|330|mm|1|abbr=on}} || [[Nīca parish]] || August 1972
|-
| Lowest monthly precipitation || {{convert|0|mm|0|abbr=on}} || Large parts of territory || May 1938 and May 1941
|-
| Thickest [[snow cover]] || {{convert|126|cm|1|abbr=on}} || [[Gaiziņkalns]] || March 1931
|-
| Month with the most days with [[blizzard]]s || 19 days || [[Liepāja]] || February 1956
|-
| The most days with [[fog]] in a year || 143 days || Gaiziņkalns area || 1946
|-
| Longest-lasting fog || 93 hours || [[Alūksne]] || 1958
|-
| Highest [[atmospheric pressure]] || {{convert|31.5|inHg|mb|1|abbr=on}} || [[Liepāja]] || January 1907
|-
| Lowest atmospheric pressure || {{convert|27.5|inHg|mb|1|abbr=on}} || [[Vidzeme Upland]] || 13 February 1962
|-
| The most days with [[thunderstorm]]s in a year || 52 days || [[Vidzeme Upland]] || 1954
|-
| Strongest wind || 34&nbsp;m/s, up to 48&nbsp;m/s || Not specified || 2 November 1969
|}

2019 was the warmest year in the history of weather observation in Latvia with an average temperature  +8.1&nbsp;°C higher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lvportals.lv/skaidrojumi/312041-2019-gads-latvija-siltakais-noverojumu-vesture-2020|title=2019 the warmest year|website=www.lvportals|access-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206110135/https://lvportals.lv/skaidrojumi/312041-2019-gads-latvija-siltakais-noverojumu-vesture-2020|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Environment ===
[[File:Turaidas skats uz Gauju 2okt04.JPG|thumb|Latvia has the fifth highest proportion of land covered by forests in the European Union.]]
Most of the country is composed of fertile lowland plains and moderate hills. In a typical Latvian landscape, a mosaic of vast forests alternates with fields, farmsteads, and pastures. Arable land is spotted with birch groves and wooded clusters, which afford a habitat for numerous plants and animals. Latvia has hundreds of kilometres of undeveloped seashore—lined by pine forests, dunes, and continuous white sand beaches.<ref name="Latvia in brief" /><ref name="Nature and Environment in Latvia">{{cite web|url=http://www.latvia.lv/library/nature-and-environment |title=Nature and Environment |publisher=Latvian Institute |year=2002 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927055604/http://www.latvia.lv/library/nature-and-environment |archive-date=27 September 2012 }}</ref>

Latvia has the fifth highest proportion of land covered by forests in the European Union, after Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Slovenia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-13-154_en.htm |title=Land Use/Cover Area frame Survey 2012 Buildings, roads and other artificial areas cover 5% of the EU …and forests 40% |publisher=Eurostat Commission |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031115711/http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-13-154_en.htm |archive-date=31 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Forests account for {{convert|3497000|ha|abbr=on}} or 56% of the total land area.<ref name="Forestry – Key Indicators" />

Latvia has over 12,500 rivers, which stretch for {{convert|38000|km|abbr=on}}. Major rivers include the [[Daugava River]], [[Lielupe]], [[Gauja]], [[Venta (river)|Venta]], and [[Salaca]], the largest spawning ground for [[salmon]] in the eastern Baltic states. There are 2,256 lakes that are bigger than {{convert|1|ha|abbr=on}}, with a collective area of {{convert|1000|km2|abbr=on}}. [[Mire]]s occupy 9.9% of Latvia's territory. Of these, 42% are raised bogs; 49% are fens; and 9% are transitional mires. 70% percent of the mires are untouched by civilization, and they are a refuge for many rare species of plants and animals.<ref name="Nature and Environment in Latvia" />

Agricultural areas account for {{convert|1815900|ha|abbr=on}} or 29% of the total land area.<ref name="Agriculture – Key Indicators" /> With the dismantling of collective farms, the area devoted to farming decreased dramatically – now farms are predominantly small. Approximately 200 farms, occupying {{convert|2750|ha|abbr=on}}, are engaged in ecologically pure farming (using no artificial fertilizers or pesticides).<ref name="Nature and Environment in Latvia" />

Latvia's [[national park]]s are [[Gauja National Park]] in [[Vidzeme]] (since 1973),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/eastern-latvia/gauja-national-park|title=Gauja National Park travel – Lonely Planet|last=Planet|first=Lonely|website=Lonely Planet|language=en|access-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011130355/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/latvia/eastern-latvia/gauja-national-park|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Ķemeri National Park]] in [[Zemgale]] (1997), [[Slītere National Park]] in [[Courland|Kurzeme]] (1999), and [[Rāzna National Park]] in [[Latgale]] (2007).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/razna-national-park|title=Rāzna National Park {{!}} Latvia Travel|website=www.latvia.travel|access-date=22 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222151900/https://www.latvia.travel/en/sight/razna-national-park|archive-date=22 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvia has a long tradition of conservation. The first laws and regulations were promulgated in the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref name="Nature and Environment in Latvia" /> There are 706 specially state-level protected natural areas in Latvia: four national parks, one biosphere reserve, 42 nature parks, nine areas of protected landscapes, 260 nature reserves, four strict nature reserves, 355 nature monuments, seven protected marine areas and 24 microreserves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daba.gov.lv/public/eng/protected_areas/|title=Protected areas|publisher=Nature Conservation Agency Republic of Latvia|access-date=17 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426114015/http://www.daba.gov.lv/public/eng/protected_areas/|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Nationally protected areas account for {{convert|12790|km2|abbr=on}} or around 20% of Latvia's total land area.<ref name="Geographical Data – Key Indicators" /> Latvia's Red Book (Endangered Species List of Latvia), which was established in 1977, contains 112 plant species and 119 animal species. Latvia has ratified the international Washington, Bern, and Ramsare conventions.<ref name="Nature and Environment in Latvia" />

The 2012 [[Environmental Performance Index]] ranks Latvia second, after Switzerland, based on the environmental performance of the country's policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epi.yale.edu/epi2012/rankings |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120605011220/http://epi.yale.edu/epi2012/rankings |archive-date=5 June 2012 |title=2012 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) |publisher=Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with The World Economic Forum and European Commission |access-date=17 May 2012 }}</ref>

Access to [[biocapacity]] in Latvia is much higher than world average. In 2016, Latvia had 8.5 global hectares<ref name=footprintdata>{{cite web|url=http://data.footprintnetwork.org/#/countryTrends?cn=119&type=BCpc,EFCpc|title=Country Trends|publisher=Global Footprint Network|access-date=4 June 2020|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808050235/http://data.footprintnetwork.org/#/countryTrends?cn=119&type=BCpc,EFCpc|url-status=live}}</ref> of biocapacity per person within its territory, much more than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Lin|first1=David|last2=Hanscom|first2=Laurel|last3=Murthy|first3=Adeline|last4=Galli|first4=Alessandro|last5=Evans|first5=Mikel|last6=Neill|first6=Evan|last7=Mancini|first7=MariaSerena|last8=Martindill|first8=Jon|last9=Medouar|first9=FatimeZahra|last10=Huang|first10=Shiyu|last11=Wackernagel|first11=Mathis|date=2018|title=Ecological Footprint Accounting for Countries: Updates and Results of the National Footprint Accounts, 2012-2018|journal=Resources|language=en|volume=7|issue=3|pages=58|doi=10.3390/resources7030058|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018Resou...7...58L }}</ref> In 2016 Latvia used 6.4 global hectares of biocapacity per person - their [[ecological footprint]] of consumption. This means they use less biocapacity than Latvia contains. As a result, Latvia is running a biocapacity reserve.<ref name=footprintdata/>

=== Biodiversity ===
[[File:White wagtail female first summer.jpg|thumb|The [[white wagtail]] is the national bird of Latvia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rianova.narod.ru/inf/latinst.html|title=Латвийская более или менее официальная символика|website=rianova.narod.ru|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211184655/http://rianova.narod.ru/inf/latinst.html|archive-date=11 February 2015}}</ref>]]
Approximately 30,000 species of flora and fauna have been registered in Latvia.<ref>{{cite book|title=Latvijas enciklopēdija|volume=3rd volume|year=2005|publisher=Valērija Belokoņa izdevniecība|location=Riga, Latvia|language=lv|isbn=9984-9482-3-4|page=695}}</ref> Larger mammalian wildlife in Latvia include [[Roe deer|deer]], [[wild boar]], [[moose]], [[Eurasian lynx|lynx]], [[Brown bear|bear]], [[Red fox|fox]], [[Eurasian beaver|beaver]] and [[Gray wolf|wolves]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latvijas.daba.lv/scripts/db/saraksti/saraksti.cgi?l=en&s=en |title=List of species |publisher=Nature of Latvia |access-date=7 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207045022/http://latvijas.daba.lv/scripts/db/saraksti/saraksti.cgi?l=en&s=en |archive-date=7 February 2006 }}</ref> [[List of non-marine molluscs of Latvia|Non-marine molluscs of Latvia]] include 170 species.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rudzīte |last2=Boikova2 |last3=Dreijers |last4=Jakubāne |last5=Parele |last6=Pilāte |last7=Rudzītis |date=2018 |title=The New Red List of the molluscs of Latvia |url=https://eeb.lu.lv/EEB/201803/EEB_XVI_Rudzite.pdf |access-date=6 June 2024 |website=Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229014514/https://eeb.lu.lv/EEB/201803/EEB_XVI_Rudzite.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Species that are endangered in other European countries but common in Latvia include: black stork (''[[Ciconia nigra]]''), corncrake (''[[Crex crex]]''), lesser spotted eagle (''[[Aquila pomarina]]''), white-backed woodpecker (''[[Picoides leucotos]]''), Eurasian crane (''[[Grus grus]]''), Eurasian beaver (''[[Castor fiber]]''), Eurasian otter (''[[Lutra lutra]]''), European wolf (''[[Canis lupus]]'') and European lynx (''[[Eurasian lynx|Felis lynx]]'').<ref name="Nature and Environment in Latvia" />

[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Latvia is shared between the Central European and Northern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Latvia belongs to the [[ecoregion]] of [[Sarmatic mixed forests]]. 56 percent<ref name="Forestry – Key Indicators" /> of Latvia's territory is covered by forests, mostly [[Scots pine]], [[birch]], and [[Norway spruce]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 20 Most Common Trees in Latvia |url=https://www.picturethisai.com/region/tree/Latvia.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=PictureThis |language=en |archive-date=6 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606111356/https://www.picturethisai.com/region/tree/Latvia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 2.09/10, ranking it 159th globally out of 172 countries.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|display-authors=1|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Several species of flora and fauna are considered national symbols. [[Oak]] (''[[Quercus robur]]'', {{langx|lv|ozols}}), and [[Tilia|linden]] (''[[Tilia cordata]]'', {{langx|lv|liepa}}) are Latvia's national trees and the [[Leucanthemum vulgare|daisy]] (''[[Leucanthemum vulgare]]'', {{langx|lv|pīpene}}) its national flower. The white wagtail (''[[White wagtail|Motacilla alba]]'', {{langx|lv|baltā cielava}}) is Latvia's national bird. Its national insect is the [[Adalia bipunctata|two-spot ladybird]] (''[[Adalia bipunctata]]'', {{langx|lv|divpunktu mārīte}}). [[Amber]], fossilized tree resin, is one of Latvia's most important cultural symbols. In ancient times, amber found along the Baltic Sea coast was sought by Vikings as well as traders from Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire. This led to the development of the [[Amber Road]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latvia.lv/library/national-symbols-latvia |title=National Symbols of Latvia |publisher=Latvian Institute |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926092241/http://www.latvia.lv/library/national-symbols-latvia |archive-date=26 September 2012 }}</ref>

Several nature reserves protect unspoiled landscapes with a variety of large animals. At [[Pape Nature Reserve]], where [[European bison]], wild horses, and [[heck cattle|recreated aurochs]] have been reintroduced, there is now an almost complete [[Holocene]] [[megafauna]] also including moose, deer, and wolf.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lhnet.org/lake-pape-latvia/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604151729/http://www.lhnet.org/lake-pape-latvia/|title=Lake Pape – Latvia|archive-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Latvia||Government of Latvia}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; float:left; margin-right:9px; margin-left:2px;"
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:Edgars Rinkēvičs, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs of Estonia on 1 April 2022 (cropped).jpg|125px]]
| style="text-align:left;"| [[File:Evika Siliņa (Cropped).jpg|125px]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Edgars Rinkēvičs]]<br /><small>[[President of Latvia|President]]</small>
| style="text-align:center;"|[[Evika Siliņa]]<br /><small>[[Prime Minister of Latvia|Prime Minister]]</small>
|}

Politics in Latvia operate under a framework laid out in the [[Constitution of Latvia]].{{efn|Latvia has a [[codified constitution]]. Changes to it require a two-thirds majority.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tschentscher, Axel |url=https://servat.unibe.ch/icl/lg00000_.html |title=The Constitution of Latvia – Articles 76–79 |publisher=Servat.unibe.ch |access-date=13 December 2024 }}</ref>}}

=== Government ===
{{Main|Parliament of Latvia|Cabinet of Latvia}}

[[File:Flickr - Saeima - 4.maijs Saeimā (6).jpg|thumb|The [[House of the Livonian Noble Corporation|building]] of the ''Saeima'', the parliament of Latvia, in Riga]]

The Latvian parliament is [[unicameral]] and called the ''[[Saeima]]''. It is the [[legislature]] of the Republic of Latvia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Parliament of Latvia |url=https://www.saeima.lv/en/about-saeima/the-parliament-of-latvia |access-date=10 March 2025 |website=Latvijas Republikas Saeima}}</ref> The Saeima is also responsible for adopting the [[government budget|state's budgets]], approving the state's accounts, appointing and exercising control of the Government, and taking part in international co-operation. [[Bill (proposed law)|Bills]] may be initiated by the Government or by [[Member of parliament|members of parliament]].

Latvia is a [[representative democracy]] with [[universal suffrage]]. Membership of the Saeima is based on [[proportional representation]] of political parties, with a 5% electoral threshold. Latvia elects 100 members to the Saeima. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but it is within the powers of the prime minister to ask the president to call for an election before the term has elapsed. On a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]], the Saeima may force a single minister or an entire government to resign.{{efn|"59. In order to fulfil their duties, the Prime Minister and other Ministers must have the confidence of the Saeima and they shall be accountable to the Saeima for their actions. If the Saeima expresses no confidence in the Prime Minister, the entire Cabinet shall resign. If there is an expression of no confidence in an individual Minister, then the Minister shall resign and another person shall be invited to replace them by the Prime Minister."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Constitution of Latvia – Article 59. |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/57980-the-constitution-of-the-republic-of-latvia}}</ref> }}

The Government of Latvia operates as a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet government]], where executive authority is exercised by the prime minister and other [[cabinet minister]]s, who head ministries. As the executive branch, the Cabinet is responsible for proposing bills and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of Latvia. The position of prime minister belongs to the person most likely to command the [[confidence and supply|confidence]] of a majority in the Saeima; this is often the current leader of the largest [[political party]] or, more effectively, through a [[political alliance|coalition of parties]]. A single party generally does not have sufficient political power in terms of the number of seats to form a cabinet on its own; Saeima has often been ruled by [[coalition governments]], themselves usually [[minority government]]s dependent on non-government parties.

The [[President of Latvia|president]] is elected by the ''Saeima'' in a separate election, also held every four years. The president appoints a prime minister who, together with his cabinet, forms the [[executive (government)|executive branch]] of the government, which has to receive a confidence vote by the ''Saeima''. This system also existed before [[World War II]].<ref>{{in lang|lv}} [http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?mode=DOC&id=57980 Constitution of the Republic of Latvia with amendments and revisions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025071603/http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=57980&mode=DOC |date=25 October 2007 }} [http://www.saeima.lv/en/legislation/constitution (Official English translation)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205030657/http://www.saeima.lv/en/legislation/constitution |date=5 December 2013 }} (Retrieved on 18 November 2011)</ref> The most senior civil servants are the thirteen [[Secretary of State|Secretaries of State]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.latvia.eu/key-facts/politics|title=Politics|date=9 January 2015|newspaper=[Latvia.eu]|language=en|access-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105113236/http://www.latvia.eu/key-facts/politics|archive-date=5 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the October [[2022 Latvian parliamentary election]], Prime Minister [[Krišjānis Kariņš]] formed the [[Second Kariņš cabinet]] in December 2022, a coalition of [[New Unity]], [[National Alliance (Latvia)|National Alliance]], and [[United List (Latvia)|United List]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-14 |title=Three Latvian parties sign coalition deal to form government |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-latvia-government-and-politics-a1bcb8d018e6c8b5c31975911fb881ad |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> On 14 August 2023, Kariņš resigned, citing National Alliance's opposition to expanding the coalition to include [[The Progressives (Latvia)|The Progressives]] and the [[Union of Greens and Farmers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.delfi.lv/news/national/politics/karins-pazino-par-demisiju.d?id=55841388|title=Kariņš paziņo par demisiju |website=www.delfi.lv|access-date=2023-08-14|language=lv}}</ref>  The [[Siliņa cabinet]], comprising New Unity, Union of Greens and Farmers, and The Progressives, was sworn in on 15 September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Jaunā Vienotība", ZZS un "Progresīvie" paraksta koalīcijas līgumu un valdības deklarāciju |url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/15.09.2023-jauna-vienotiba-zzs-un-progresivie-paraksta-koalicijas-ligumu-un-valdibas-deklaraciju.a524000/ |access-date=2023-09-15 |website=www.lsm.lv |language=lv}}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
[[File:Historical regions of Latvia.svg|thumb|Historical regions:<br /> {{Color box|#ffe8c2ff}} [[Courland]]<br /> {{Color box|#c8f8d5ff}} [[Semigallia]]<br /> {{Color box|#fdd6c3ff}} [[Vidzeme]]<br /> {{Color box|#dbdbf9ff}} [[Latgale]]<br /> {{Color box|#e0f8d2ff}} [[Selonia]]]]
[[File:Latvijas novadi 2021.png|thumb|Administrative divisions of Latvia]]
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Latvia}}
{{See also|List of cities in Latvia|Planning regions of Latvia|Statistical regions of Latvia|Historical regions of Latvia}}
Latvia is a [[unitary state]], currently divided into 43 local government units consisting of 36 municipalities ({{langx|lv|novadi}}) and 7 state cities ({{langx|lv|valstspilsētas}}) with their own city council and administration: [[Daugavpils]], [[Jelgava]], [[Jūrmala]], [[Liepāja]], [[Rēzekne]], [[Riga]], and [[Ventspils]]. There are four [[Cultural regions of Latvia|historical and cultural regions in Latvia]]&nbsp;– [[Courland]], [[Latgale]], [[Vidzeme]], [[Zemgale]], which are recognised in the [[Constitution of Latvia]]. [[Selonia]], a part of Zemgale, is sometimes considered culturally distinct region, but it is not part of any formal division. The borders of historical and cultural regions usually are not explicitly defined and in several sources may vary. In formal divisions, Riga region, which includes the capital and parts of other regions that have a strong relationship with the capital, is also often included in regional divisions; e.g., there are five [[planning regions of Latvia]] ({{langx|lv|plānošanas reģioni}}), which were created in 2009 to promote balanced development of all regions. Under this division Riga region includes large parts of what traditionally is considered Vidzeme, Courland, and Zemgale. [[Statistical regions of Latvia]], established in accordance with the EU [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics]], duplicate this division.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/328252-par-latvijas-republikas-statistiskajiem-regioniem-un-tajos-ietilpstosajam-administrativajam-vienibam |title=Par Latvijas Republikas statistiskajiem reģioniem un tajos ietilpstošajām administratīvajām vienībām |publisher=[[Latvijas Vēstnesis]] |language=lv |access-date=9 December 2024}}</ref>

The largest city in Latvia is Riga, the second largest city is Daugavpils and the third largest city is Liepaja.

=== Political culture ===

In 2010 parliamentary [[2010 Latvian parliamentary election|election]] ruling centre-right coalition won 63 out of 100 parliamentary seats. Left-wing opposition [[Harmony Centre]] supported by Latvia's Russian-speaking minority got 29 seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11460358|title=Latvia's ruling centre-right coalition wins elections|work=BBC News|date=3 October 2010|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729113428/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11460358|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2013, Latvian Prime Minister [[Valdis Dombrovskis]], in office since 2009, resigned after at least 54 people were killed and dozens injured in the [[Zolitūde shopping centre roof collapse|collapse at a supermarket]] in Riga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-latvia-supermarket-collapse-prime-minister-resigns-20131127-story.html|title=Latvia's prime minister resigns over deadly supermarket collapse|date=27 November 2013|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625192313/https://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-latvia-supermarket-collapse-prime-minister-resigns-20131127-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014 parliamentary [[2014 Latvian parliamentary election|election]] was won again by the ruling centre-right coalition formed by the [[Unity (Latvia)|Unity]] Party, the [[National Alliance (Latvia)|National Alliance]] and the [[Union of Greens and Farmers]]. They got 61 seats and Harmony got 24.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29504093|title=Latvia election: Coalition keeps strong Russian party out|work=BBC News|date=6 October 2014|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604131957/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29504093|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2015, country's first female prime minister, in office since January 2014, [[Laimdota Straujuma]] resigned.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/latvias-premier-laimdota-straujuma-steps-down-1449480185|title=Latvia's Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma Steps Down|first=Juris|last=Kaža|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=5 December 2015|via=www.wsj.com|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=25 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625184711/https://www.wsj.com/articles/latvias-premier-laimdota-straujuma-steps-down-1449480185|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2016, a coalition of Union of Greens and Farmers, The Unity and National Alliance was formed by new Prime Minister [[Maris Kucinskis]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvia parliament approves PM Maris Kucinskis new government |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-pm-idUSKCN0VK12A |work=Reuters |date=11 February 2016 |language=en |access-date=29 March 2021 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625185828/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-pm-idUSKCN0VK12A |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018 parliamentary [[2018 Latvian parliamentary election|election]] pro-Russian Harmony was again the biggest party securing 23 out of 100 seats, the second and third were the new populist parties [[KPV LV]] and [[New Conservative Party (Latvia)|New Conservative Party]]. Ruling coalition, comprising the Union of Greens and Farmers, the National Alliance and the Unity party, lost.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45774578|title=Pro-Russia party wins Latvia election but tough talks loom|work=BBC News|date=8 October 2018|access-date=29 March 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608194609/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45774578|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019, Latvia got a government led by new Prime Minister [[Krisjanis Karins]] of the centre-right [[New Unity (Latvian political party)|New Unity]]. Karins' coalition was formed by five of the seven parties in parliament, excluding only the pro-Russia Harmony party and the Union of Greens and Farmers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvia's Karins confirmed as PM, ending lengthy political deadlock |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-politics-idUSKCN1PH1OD |work=Reuters |date=23 January 2019 |language=en |access-date=29 March 2021 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625190609/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-politics-idUSKCN1PH1OD |url-status=live }}</ref> On 15 September 2023, [[Evika Siliņa]] became the new prime minister of Latvia, following  resignation of former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš previous month. Siliņa's government is  a three-party coalition between her own [[New Unity]] (JV) party, the Greens and Farmers Union (ZZS), and the social-democratic Progressives (PRO) with total 52 of 100 seats in the parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Evika Siliņa is Latvia's new prime minister |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/evika-silina-is-latvias-new-prime-minister/ |work=POLITICO |date=15 September 2023 |language=en |access-date=16 September 2023 |archive-date=18 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918091229/https://www.politico.eu/article/evika-silina-is-latvias-new-prime-minister/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Latvia}}
[[File:Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01.JPG|thumb|right|The building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riga]]

Latvia is a member of the United Nations, [[European Union]], [[Council of Europe]], [[NATO]], [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]], [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]], and [[World Trade Organization|WTO]]. It is also a member of the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]] and [[Nordic Investment Bank]]. It was a member of the [[League of Nations]] (1921–1946). Latvia is part of the [[Schengen Area]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia – EU member country profile {{!}} European Union |url=https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/country-profiles/latvia_en |website=european-union.europa.eu |language=en |access-date=19 September 2023 |archive-date=12 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912051553/https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/country-profiles/latvia_en |url-status=live }}</ref> and joined the [[Eurozone]] on 1 January 2014.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Latvia (since 1 January 2014) |url=https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/changeover/latvia/html/index.en.html |website=ecb.europa.eu |date=31 January 2023 |last1=Bank |first1=European Central |access-date=19 September 2023 |archive-date=10 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230910104849/https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/changeover/latvia/html/index.en.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Latvia has established diplomatic relations with 158 countries. It has 44 diplomatic and consular missions and maintains 34 embassies and 9 permanent representations abroad. There are 37 foreign embassies and 11 international organisations in Latvia's capital [[Riga]]. Latvia hosts one European Union institution, the [[Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications|Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications]] (BEREC).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.am.gov.lv/en/mission/|title=Diplomatic and Consular Representations|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201023600/http://www.am.gov.lv/en/mission/|archive-date=1 December 2013}}</ref>

Latvia's foreign policy priorities include co-operation in the Baltic Sea region, European integration, active involvement in international organisations, contribution to European and transatlantic security and defence structures, participation in international civilian and military peacekeeping operations, and development co-operation, particularly the strengthening of stability and democracy in the EU's [[Eastern Partnership]] countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/|title=Foreign policy|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia|access-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428131812/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/|archive-date=28 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latvia.eu/content/latvia-today-keystone-baltic |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912131347/http://www.latvia.eu/content/latvia-today-keystone-baltic |archive-date=12 September 2012 |title=A foreign policy based on co-operation and constructive engagement |publisher=Latvian Institute |access-date=13 May 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm#foreign|title=Background Note: Latvia|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=18 November 2011|access-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122194450/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm#foreign|archive-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Foreign Ministers of Nordic and Baltic countries met in Helsinki, 30.08.2011 (Photographer Eero Kuosmanen).jpg|thumb|Foreign ministers of the Nordic and Baltic countries in Helsinki, 2011]]
Since the early 1990s, Latvia has been involved in active trilateral [[Baltic states]] co-operation with its neighbours [[Estonia]] and [[Lithuania]], and Nordic-Baltic co-operation with the [[Nordic countries]]. Latvia is a member of the interparliamentary [[Baltic Assembly]], the intergovernmental [[Baltic Council of Ministers]] and the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/4096 |title=Estonian Chairmanship of the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2011 |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113111112/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F4096 |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]] (NB-8) is the joint co-operation of the governments of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden.<ref name="Co-operation of Baltic and Nordic States">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/eu/BalticSeaRegion/NordicStates |title=Co-operation of Baltic and Nordic States |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia |access-date=13 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405175147/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/eu/BalticSeaRegion/NordicStates/ |archive-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> Nordic-Baltic Six (NB-6), comprising Nordic-Baltic countries that are European Union member states, is a framework for meetings on EU-related issues. Interparliamentary co-operation between the Baltic Assembly and [[Nordic Council]] was signed in 1992 and since 2006 annual meetings are held as well as regular meetings on other levels.<ref name="Co-operation of Baltic and Nordic States" /> Joint Nordic-Baltic co-operation initiatives include the education programme NordPlus<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nordplusonline.org/eng/nordplus/about_nordplus |title=About Nordplus |publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113110917/http://www.nordplusonline.org/eng/nordplus/about_nordplus |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> and mobility programmes for public administration,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.ee/en/about-us/funding/mobility-programme-for-public-administration|title=Nordic-Baltic mobility programme for public administration|publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Estonia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113112319/http://www.norden.ee/en/about-us/funding/mobility-programme-for-public-administration|archive-date=13 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> business and industry<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nb8businessmobility.org/ |title=Nordic-Baltic Mobility and Network Programme for Business and Industry |publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118051601/http://www.nb8businessmobility.org/ |archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref> and culture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturkontaktnord.org/lang-en |title=Nordic Culture Point |publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118083116/http://www.kulturkontaktnord.org/lang-en |archive-date=18 November 2013 }}</ref> The [[Nordic Council of Ministers]] has an office in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.lv/en/main|title=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia|publisher=Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230231742/http://www.norden.lv/en/main|archive-date=30 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvia participates in the [[Northern Dimension]] and [[Baltic Sea Region Programme]], European Union initiatives to foster cross-border co-operation in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe. The secretariat of the Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC) will be located in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndpculture.org/blog/nordic-council-of-ministers-is-looking-for-a-senior-adviser-to-run-the-secretariat-of-northern-dimension-partnership-on-culture|title=Nordic Council of Ministers is looking for a Senior Adviser to run the Secretariat of Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture|publisher=Northern Dimension Partnership on Culture (NDPC)|date=6 November 2013|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006152646/http://www.ndpculture.org/blog/nordic-council-of-ministers-is-looking-for-a-senior-adviser-to-run-the-secretariat-of-northern-dimension-partnership-on-culture|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> In 2013 Riga hosted the annual [[Northern Future Forum]], a two-day informal meeting of the prime ministers of the Nordic-Baltic countries and the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301194011/http://www.futureforum2013.gov.lv/en/|archive-date=1 March 2013|title=Northern Future Forum|publisher=State Chancellery, Republic of Latvia|access-date=20 November 2013}}</ref> The Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe or ''e-Pine'' is the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] diplomatic framework for co-operation with the Nordic-Baltic countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/eur/rt/epine|title=Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE)|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-date=22 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022201214/https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/eur/rt/epine/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvia hosted the [[2006 Riga summit|2006 NATO Summit]] and since then the annual Riga Conference has become a leading foreign and security policy forum in Northern Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rigaconference.lv/|title=About Rīga Conference|publisher=Rīga Conference|access-date=20 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108034651/http://www.rigaconference.lv/|archive-date=8 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Latvia held the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in the first half of 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia |url=https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries/latvia_en |website=europa.eu |date=5 July 2016 |publisher=European Union |access-date=9 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140700/https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/countries/member-countries/latvia_en |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since February 2022 Latvia's relations with Russia have deteriorated to the extent that Latvia withdrew its ambassador from Russia and expelled Russia's ambassador to Latvia in January 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Estonia and Latvia remove Russian ambassadors as tensions rise |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-latvia-russia-remove-european-union-tensions-moscow/ |date=23 January 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531001410/https://www.politico.eu/article/estonia-latvia-russia-remove-european-union-tensions-moscow/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and banned Russians from entering Latvia.

=== Military ===
{{Main|Military of Latvia}}
[[File:Naval visit, Belfast (3) - geograph.org.uk - 667223.jpg|thumb|Naval Forces minehunter ''Imanta'']]
[[File:CVR(T) Scimitar In Latvia.jpg|thumb|[[Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)|CVR(T) Scimitar]] in Latvian service]]
The [[Latvian National Armed Forces|National Armed Forces]] (Latvian: ''Nacionālie bruņotie spēki (NAF)'') of Latvia consists of the [[Latvian Land Forces|Land Forces]], [[Latvian Naval Forces|Naval Forces]], [[Latvian Air Force|Air Force]], [[Latvian National Guard|National Guard]], [[Latvian Special Tasks Unit|Special Tasks Unit]], [[Latvian Military Police|Military Police]], [[Latvian National Armed Forces Staff Battalion|NAF staff Battalion]], Training and Doctrine Command, and Logistics Command. Latvia's defence concept is based upon the Swedish-Finnish model of a rapid response force composed of a mobilisation base and a small group of career professionals. From 1 January 2007, Latvia switched to a professional fully contract-based army.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/Ministrija/Vadiiba.aspx|title=Aizsardzības ministrija|work=mod.gov.lv|access-date=6 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427123545/http://www.mod.gov.lv/Ministrija/Vadiiba.aspx|archive-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>

Latvia participates in international peacekeeping and security operations. Latvian armed forces have contributed to [[NATO]] and EU military operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1996–2009), Albania (1999), Kosovo (2000–2009), Macedonia (2003), Iraq (2005–2006), Afghanistan (since 2003), Somalia (since 2011) and Mali (since 2013).<ref name="Participation in International operations">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/security/Directions/InternationalOperations/|title=Participation in International operations|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Latvia|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208204137/http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/security/Directions/InternationalOperations/|archive-date=8 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="Previous operations">{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas.aspx|title=Previous operations|language=lv|publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013435/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas.aspx|archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.lv/en/NATO.aspx|title=Latvia and NATO|publisher=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Latvia|year=2011|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309034354/http://www.mod.gov.lv/en/NATO.aspx|archive-date=9 March 2012}}</ref> Latvia also took part in the US-led [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Multi-National Force]] operation in Iraq (2003–2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas/OIF.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805052619/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas/OIF.aspx |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=US-led coalition forces operation in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) |language=lv |publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces |access-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref> and [[OSCE]] missions in Georgia, Kosovo and Macedonia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805085254/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Ieprieksejas_operacijas/Citas_operacijas.aspx |archive-date=5 August 2012 |title=Other operations |language=lv |publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces |access-date=12 May 2012 }}</ref> Latvian armed forces contributed to a UK-led [[EU Battlegroup|Battlegroup]] in 2013 and the [[Nordic Battle Group|Nordic Battlegroup]] in 2015 under the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]] (CSDP) of the European Union.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/EU/XXIV/EU/09/23/EU_92315/imfname_10376183.pdf|title=EU Battlegroup Offers and Commitments|publisher=Council of the European Union|date=26 September 2012|access-date=25 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922080759/http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/EU/XXIV/EU/09/23/EU_92315/imfname_10376183.pdf|archive-date=22 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Latvia acts as the lead nation in the coordination of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)#Northern Distribution Network|Northern Distribution Network]] for transportation of non-lethal [[ISAF]] cargo by air and rail to Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=56833|title=Dombrovskis and US Ambassador Garber visit Riga Airport to inspect cargo plane to Afghanistan|publisher=[[The Baltic Course]]|year=2012|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712005148/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/transport/?doc=56833|archive-date=12 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-911EB74B-3555D8D2/natolive/news_74763.htm?selectedLocale=en|title=One year on: ISAF's trans-European supply routes are a success|publisher=NATO|year=2011|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515185424/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-911EB74B-3555D8D2/natolive/news_74763.htm?selectedLocale=en|archive-date=15 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2C1657C8-A07AD24F/natolive/news_64397.htm?|title=NATO opens new communication lines to Afghanistan|publisher=NATO|year=2010|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516032845/http://www.nato.int/cps/en/SID-2C1657C8-A07AD24F/natolive/news_64397.htm|archive-date=16 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> It is part of the Nordic Transition Support Unit (NTSU), which renders joint force contributions in support of Afghan security structures ahead of the withdrawal of Nordic and Baltic ISAF forces in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120913/DEFREG01/309130008/Nordic-Military-Alliance-Latvia-Afghanistan|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121105912/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120913/DEFREG01/309130008/Nordic-Military-Alliance-Latvia-Afghanistan|archive-date=21 January 2013|title=Nordic Military Alliance With Latvia in Afghanistan|author=Gerard O'Dwyer|publisher=DefenseNews|date=13 September 2012|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> Since 1996 more than 3600 military personnel have participated in international operations,<ref name="Previous operations" /> of whom 7 soldiers perished.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Kritusie_karaviri.aspx|title=Fallen soldiers|language=lv|publisher=Latvian National Armed Forces|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024013440/http://www.mil.lv/Operacijas/Kritusie_karaviri.aspx|archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> Per capita, Latvia is one of the largest contributors to international military operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm|title=Background Note: Latvia|publisher=U.S. Department of State|date=18 November 2011|access-date=12 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122194450/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5378.htm|archive-date=22 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvian civilian experts have contributed to EU civilian missions: border assistance mission to Moldova and Ukraine (2005–2009), rule of law missions in Iraq (2006 and 2007) and Kosovo (since 2008), police mission in Afghanistan (since 2007) and monitoring mission in Georgia (since 2008).<ref name="Participation in International operations" />

Since March 2004, when the [[Baltic states]] joined NATO, fighter jets of NATO members have been deployed on a rotational basis for the [[Baltic Air Policing]] mission at [[Šiauliai International Airport|Šiauliai Airport]] in Lithuania to guard the Baltic airspace. Latvia participates in several [[NATO Centres of Excellence]]: Civil-Military Co-operation in the Netherlands, [[Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence|Cooperative Cyber Defence]] in Estonia and Energy Security in Lithuania. It plans to establish the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2013/october/061103-vk-01/ |title=V.Dombrovskis: Latvia sees the opportunity to strengthen NATO's strategic communication capability |publisher=The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia |date=6 November 2013 |access-date=20 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219020016/http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/aktuali/zinas/2013/october/061103-vk-01/ |archive-date=19 December 2013 }}</ref>

Latvia co-operates with Estonia and Lithuania in several trilateral Baltic defence co-operation initiatives:
* Baltic Battalion ''(BALTBAT)''&nbsp;– infantry battalion for participation in international peace support operations, headquartered near [[Riga]], Latvia;
* [[Baltic Naval Squadron]] ''(BALTRON)''&nbsp;– naval force with mine countermeasures capabilities, headquartered near [[Tallinn]], Estonia;
* [[Baltic Air Surveillance Network]] ''(BALTNET)''&nbsp;– air surveillance information system, headquartered near [[Kaunas]], Lithuania;
* Joint military educational institutions: [[Baltic Defence College]] in [[Tartu]], Estonia, Baltic Diving Training Centre in [[Liepāja]], Latvia and Baltic Naval Communications Training Centre in [[Tallinn]], Estonia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/4105 |title=Baltic Defence Co-operation |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |year=2002 |access-date=28 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805201335/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F4105 |archive-date= 5 August 2011 }}</ref>

Future co-operation will include sharing of national infrastructures for training purposes and specialisation of training areas ''(BALTTRAIN)'' and collective formation of battalion-sized contingents for use in the NATO rapid-response force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2011/news_archive_2011_-_12/baltic_defence_ministers_announced_new_defence_cooperation_initiatives.html|title=Baltic Defence Ministers announced new defence cooperation initiatives|publisher=Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania|year=2011|access-date=28 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723054233/http://www.kam.lt/en/news_1098/news_archives/news_archive_2011/news_archive_2011_-_12/baltic_defence_ministers_announced_new_defence_cooperation_initiatives.html|archive-date=23 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2011, the Baltic states were invited to join [[Nordic Defence Cooperation]], the defence framework of the [[Nordic countries]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/node/10686 |title=Nordic Countries Invite Baltics to Join Defence Co-operation Framework |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=28 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608191401/http://www.vm.ee/?q=en%2Fnode%2F10686 |archive-date= 8 June 2012 }}</ref> In November 2012, the three countries agreed to create a joint military staff in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.err.ee/8140850c-b0bb-408b-96c6-7641b1bbfd10 |title=Joint Baltic Military Staff to Be Established |publisher=Estonian Public Broadcasting |date=9 November 2012 |access-date=25 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111213413/http://news.err.ee/8140850c-b0bb-408b-96c6-7641b1bbfd10 |archive-date=11 November 2012 }}</ref>

On 21 April 2022, Latvian Saeima passed amendments developed by the Ministry of Defence for the legislative draft Amendments to the Law on Financing of National Defence, which provide for gradual increase in the defence budget to 2.5% of the country's GDP over the course of the next three year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2022 |title=Latvian parliament approves of increasing defence budget |url=https://bnn-news.com/latvian-parliament-approves-of-increasing-defence-budget-234131 |access-date=22 April 2022 |website=Baltic News Network - News from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia |language=en-US |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422072629/https://bnn-news.com/latvian-parliament-approves-of-increasing-defence-budget-234131 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Latvia}}
{{See also|LGBT rights in Latvia}}
[[File:Europride 2015.JPG|thumb|[[Europride]] 2015 in [[Riga]]]]
According to the reports by [[Freedom House]] and the [[United States Department of State|US Department of State]], human rights in Latvia are generally respected by the government:<ref name="departmentofstate1">{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119087.htm |title=2008 Human Rights Report: Latvia |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |date=25 February 2009 |access-date=9 June 2009 |archive-date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421160924/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eur/119087.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/inc/content/pubs/fiw/inc_country_detail.cfm?country=7429&year=2008&page=0&view=mof&pf |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110515152102/http://www.freedomhouse.org/inc/content/pubs/fiw/inc_country_detail.cfm?country=7429&year=2008&page=0&view=mof&pf |archive-date=15 May 2011 |title=Freedom in the World&nbsp;– Latvia (2008) |publisher=[[Freedom House]] |year=2008 |access-date=6 June 2009 }}</ref> Latvia is ranked above-average among the world's sovereign states in democracy,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/25828/20081021185552/graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy%20Index%202008.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214053945/http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/25828/20081021185552/graphics.eiu.com/PDF/Democracy%20Index%202008.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2008 |title=The Economist Intelligence Unit's Index of Democracy 2008 |newspaper=The Economist |year=2008 |access-date=5 June 2009 }}</ref> [[press freedom]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html |title=Press Freedom Index 2010 |publisher=[[Reporters Without Borders]] |year=2010 |access-date=3 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124050702/http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010%2C1034.html |archive-date=24 November 2010 }}</ref> [[privacy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.privacyinternational.org/ |title=The 2007 International Privacy Ranking |publisher=[[Privacy International]] |year=2007 |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302193141/https://www.privacyinternational.org/ |archive-date=2 March 2011 }}</ref> and [[Human development (humanity)|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/ |title=Statistics of the Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |year=2008 |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112042847/http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/ |archive-date=12 January 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

More than 56% of leading positions are held by women in Latvia, which ranks first in Europe; Latvia ranks first in the world in women's rights sharing the position with five other European countries according to [[World Bank]].<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/31327 |title=Women, Business and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reform |website=World Bank |date=27 February 2019 |access-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014160703/https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/31327 |archive-date=14 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The country has a large [[Russians in Latvia|ethnic Russian]] community, which was guaranteed basic rights under the [[Constitution of Latvia|constitution]] and [[international human rights law]]s ratified by the Latvian government.<ref name="departmentofstate1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=47&nit=457&year=2008 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110624033519/http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=47&nit=457&year=2008 |archive-date=24 June 2011 |title=Country Report 2008 Edition |publisher=[[Freedom House]] |year=2008 |access-date=6 June 2009 }}</ref>

Approximately 206,000 [[Non-citizens (Latvia)|non-citizens]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://data1.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/iedz/iedz__iedzrakst/?tablelist=true|title=Datubāze - izvēlēties tabulu|website=data1.csb.gov.lv|access-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231120455/https://data1.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/iedz/iedz__iedzrakst/?tablelist=true|archive-date=31 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>&nbsp;– including [[stateless persons]]&nbsp;– have limited access to some political rights – only citizens are allowed to participate in parliamentary or municipal elections, although there are no limitations in regards to joining political parties or other political organizations.<ref>[http://www.bayefsky.com/docs.php/area/conclobs/treaty/ccpr/opt/0/state/95/node/3/filename/latvia_t4_ccpr Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee: Latvia. CCPR/CO/79/LVA, 1 December 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129182833/http://www.bayefsky.com/docs.php/area/conclobs/treaty/ccpr/opt/0/state/95/node/3/filename/latvia_t4_ccpr |date=29 January 2012 }} See Paras. 16, 18</ref><ref>[[European Commission against Racism and Intolerance|ECRI]] [http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_03/03_CbC_eng/LVA-CbC-III-2008-2-ENG.pdf Third Report on Latvia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509044128/http://hudoc.ecri.coe.int/XMLEcri/ENGLISH/Cycle_03/03_CbC_eng/LVA-CbC-III-2008-2-ENG.pdf |date=9 May 2009 }}, CRI(2008)2. See paras. 118, 132</ref> In 2011, the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] [[High Commissioner on National Minorities]] "urged Latvia to allow non-citizens to vote in municipal elections."<ref>{{cite web |title=A new kind of citizenship accepted by EU? Latvian non-citizens and the citizenship debates |url=http://essay.utwente.nl/62902/ |publisher=University of Twente Student Theses |year=2011 |access-date=18 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083742/http://essay.utwente.nl/62902/ |archive-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, there have been reports of police abuse of [[detainee]]s and arrestees, poor prison conditions and overcrowding, judicial corruption, incidents of violence against [[ethnic minorities]], and societal violence and incidents of government discrimination against homosexuals.<ref name="departmentofstate1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://report2009.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/latvia |title=Amnesty International Report 2009 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |year=2009 |access-date=8 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610075623/http://report2009.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/latvia |archive-date=10 June 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/07/25/latvia-investigate-attacks-gay-activists |title=Latvia: Investigate Attacks on Gay Activists |publisher=[[Human rights watch]] |year=2006 |access-date=8 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610224651/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2006/07/25/latvia-investigate-attacks-gay-activists |archive-date=10 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Same-sex marriage]] is constitutionally prohibited in Latvia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44366898|title=Same-sex spouses have EU residence rights, top court rules|publisher=BBC News|date=5 June 2018|access-date=30 January 2024|archive-date=8 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508223531/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44366898|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sheeter |first=Laura |date=16 June 2006 |title=Latvia defies EU over gay rights |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5084832.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618071325/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/5084832.stm |archive-date=June 18, 2006 |access-date=June 11, 2023 |website=BBC News}}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Latvia}}
[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|Latvia is part of the [[European single market]] (light blue), [[Eurozone]] (dark blue) and [[Schengen Area]] (not shown).]]
[[File:GDP_per_capita_Baltics.svg|thumb|right|Real GPD per capita development of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania]]
Latvia is a member of the [[World Trade Organization]] (1999) and the [[European Union]] (2004). On 1 January 2014, the [[euro]] became the country's currency, superseding the [[Latvian lats|Lats]]. According to statistics in late 2013, 45% of the population supported the introduction of the euro, while 52% opposed it.<ref>{{cite web |author=Apollo, redakcija@apollo.lv |url=http://www.apollo.lv/zinas/turpina-pieaugt-iedzivotaju-atbalsts-eiro-ieviesanai/625128 |title=Turpina pieaugt iedzīvotāju atbalsts eiro ieviešanai |date=2 December 2013 |publisher=Apollo.lv |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404152209/http://www.apollo.lv/zinas/turpina-pieaugt-iedzivotaju-atbalsts-eiro-ieviesanai/625128 |archive-date=4 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the introduction of the Euro, Eurobarometer surveys in January 2014 showed support for the euro to be around 53%, close to the European average.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21593502-latvias-president-nominates-laimdota-straujuma-prime-minister-new-currency-new-leader |title=New currency, new leader |newspaper=The Economist |date=14 January 2014 |access-date=10 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701155225/http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21593502-latvias-president-nominates-laimdota-straujuma-prime-minister-new-currency-new-leader |archive-date=1 July 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the year 2000, Latvia has had one of the highest (GDP) growth rates in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996,39140985&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=detailref&language=en&product=sdi_ed&root=sdi_ed/sdi_ed/sdi_ed1000 |title=Growth rate of real GDP per capita |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |access-date=28 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012010738/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996%2C39140985&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=detailref&language=en&product=sdi_ed&root=sdi_ed%2Fsdi_ed%2Fsdi_ed1000 |archive-date=12 October 2007 }}</ref> However, the chiefly consumption-driven growth in Latvia resulted in the collapse of Latvian GDP in late 2008 and early 2009, exacerbated by the global economic crisis, shortage of credit and huge money resources used for the bailout of [[Parex Bank]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/finances/?doc=22011|title=Rimsevics: Failing to bail out Parex banka would result in closing down of four banks in Latvia|publisher=[[The Baltic Course]]|access-date=8 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212090529/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/finances/?doc=22011|archive-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> The Latvian economy fell 18% in the first three months of 2009, the biggest fall in the European Union.<ref>{{cite news|author=Aaron Eglitis |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ao7qqF0UESqc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202141324/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ao7qqF0UESqc |archive-date=2 December 2010 |title=Latvian GDP Shrank 18% in First Quarter, EU's Biggest Fall&nbsp;– |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=16 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8043972.stm |work=BBC News |title=Latvian economy in rapid decline |date=11 May 2009 | access-date=4 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930090503/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8043972.stm | archive-date=30 September 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The economic crisis of 2009 proved earlier assumptions that the fast-growing economy was heading for implosion of the [[economic bubble]], because it was driven mainly by growth of domestic [[consumption (economics)|consumption]], financed by a serious increase of private [[debt]], as well as a negative foreign [[balance of trade|trade balance]]. The prices of real estate, which rose 150% from 2004 to 2006, was a significant contributor to the economic bubble.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A bubble burst: the downfall of Latvian real estate |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/22120/ |access-date=6 April 2022 |website=[[baltictimes.com]] |archive-date=17 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717111847/https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/22120/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Privatisation]] in Latvia is almost complete. Virtually all of the previously state-owned small and medium companies have been privatised, leaving only a small number of politically sensitive large state companies. The private sector accounted for 70% of the country's GDP in 2006. 
<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Commercio |first=Michele E. |date=1 March 2008 |title=Systems of Partial Control: Ethnic Dynamics in Post-Soviet Estonia and Latvia |journal=Studies in Comparative International Development |language=en |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=81–100 |doi=10.1007/s12116-007-9013-5 |s2cid=26143200 |issn=1936-6167}}</ref>

Foreign investment in Latvia is still modest compared with the levels in north-central Europe. A law expanding the scope for selling land, including to foreigners, was passed in 1997. Representing 10.2% of Latvia's total foreign direct investment, American companies invested $127 million in 1999. In the same year, the United States of America exported $58.2 million of goods and services to Latvia and imported $87.9 million. Eager to join Western economic institutions like the [[World Trade Organization]], [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], and the [[European Union]], Latvia signed a Europe Agreement with the EU in 1995—with a 4-year transition period. Latvia and the United States have signed treaties on investment, trade, and intellectual property protection and avoidance of double taxation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/latvia.pdf|title=TAX CONVENTION WITH LATVIA|publisher=Internal Revenue Service|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505121156/https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-trty/latvia.pdf|archive-date=5 May 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/other_treaties/text.jsp?file_id=241419|title=Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Latvia on Trade Relations and Intellectual Property Rights Protection|publisher=World Intellectual Property Organization|access-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520053732/http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/other_treaties/text.jsp?file_id=241419|archive-date=20 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010, Latvia launched a Residence by Investment program (Golden Visa) in order to attract foreign investors and make local economy benefit from it. This program allows investors to get a Latvian residence permit by investing at least €250,000 in property or in an enterprise with at least 50 employees and an annual turnover of at least €10M.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

; Economic contraction and recovery (2008–12)
{{Main|2008–2010 Latvian financial crisis}}
[[File:AirBaltic Boeing 757-200 at RIX.jpg|thumb|An [[airBaltic]] Boeing 757−200WL takes off at [[Riga International Airport]] (RIX).]]
The Latvian economy entered a phase of fiscal contraction during the second half of 2008 after an extended period of credit-based speculation and unrealistic appreciation in real estate values. The national account deficit for 2007, for example, represented more than 22% of the GDP for the year while inflation was running at 10%.<ref name=cia>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/latvia/|title=Latvia|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]|access-date=15 December 2008|archive-date=2 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702003142/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/latvia/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Latvia's unemployment rate rose sharply in this period from a low of 5.4% in November 2007 to over 22%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sdw.ecb.europa.eu/quickview.do?SERIES_KEY=132.STS.M.lv.S.UNEH.RTT000.4.000 |title=Statistical Office of the European Commission (Eurostat), Monthly Bulletin: Table in chapter 09, section 01 |publisher=Europa (web portal) |date=1 October 2010 |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720162221/http://sdw.ecb.europa.eu/quickview.do?SERIES_KEY=132.STS.M.lv.S.UNEH.RTT000.4.000 |archive-date=20 July 2011 }}</ref> In April 2010 Latvia had the highest unemployment rate in the EU, at 22.5%, ahead of Spain, which had 19.7%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1 |title=Eurostat&nbsp;– Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |publisher=European Commission |access-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101202312/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=teilm020&tableSelection=1&plugin=1 |archive-date=1 November 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Paul Krugman]], the Nobel Laureate in economics for 2008, wrote in his [[The New York Times|New York Times]] Op-Ed column on 15 December 2008:

<blockquote>The most acute problems are on Europe's periphery, where many smaller economies are experiencing crises strongly reminiscent of past crises in Latin America and Asia: Latvia is the new Argentina<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/opinion/15krugman.html |title=European Crass Warfare |work=The New York Times |access-date=15 December 2008 |author=Paul Krugman |date=15 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428155332/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/opinion/15krugman.html |archive-date=28 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

However, by 2010, commentators<ref name="economist">"Baltic Thaw, Aegean freeze", The Economist, 27 February 2010, p59</ref><ref>Patrick Lannin and Aija Braslina [http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2010-03/16380370-update-2-imf-hails-latvia-effort-but-sees-risks-ahead-020.htm "UPDATE 2-IMF hails Latvia effort but sees risks ahead"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111215610/http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2010-03/16380370-update-2-imf-hails-latvia-effort-but-sees-risks-ahead-020.htm |date=11 January 2012 }}. Reuters, 15 March 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010</ref> noted signs of stabilisation in the Latvian economy. Rating agency [[Standard & Poor's]] raised its outlook on Latvia's debt from negative to stable.<ref name="economist" /> Latvia's current account, which had been in deficit by 27% in late 2006 was in surplus in February 2010.<ref name="economist" /> Kenneth Orchard, senior analyst at [[Moody's Investors Service]] argued that:

<blockquote>The strengthening regional economy is supporting Latvian production and exports, while the sharp swing in the current account balance suggests that the country's 'internal devaluation' is working.<ref>{{cite web |author=Toomas Hõbemägi |url=http://www.bbn.ee/article/2010/02/08/Moody_s_Latvian_economy_is_stabilizing |title=Baltic Business News, 8 February 2010 |publisher=Bbn.ee |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306025950/http://bbn.ee/article/2010/02/08/moody_s_latvian_economy_is_stabilizing |archive-date=6 March 2016 }}</ref></blockquote>

The [[IMF]] concluded the First Post-Program Monitoring Discussions with the Republic of Latvia in July 2012 announcing that Latvia's economy has been recovering strongly since 2010, following the deep downturn in 2008–09. Real GDP growth of 5.5 percent in 2011 was underpinned by export growth and a recovery in domestic demand. The growth momentum has continued into 2012 and 2013 despite deteriorating external conditions, and the economy is expected to expand by 4.1 percent in 2014. The unemployment rate has receded from its peak of more than 20 percent in 2010 to around 9.3 percent in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Public Information Notice (PIN) No. 12/76 by IMF |url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2012/pn1276.htm |title=IMF Executive Board Concludes First Post-Program Monitoring Discussions with the Republic of Latvia, July 16, 2012 |publisher=imf.org |access-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817001526/http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/2012/pn1276.htm |archive-date=17 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

; Economic recovery
GDP at current prices rose from €23.7 billion in 2014 to €30.5 billion in 2019. The employment rate rose in the same period from 59.1% to 65% with unemployment falling from 10.8% to 6.5%.<ref>{{cite web |title=MACROECONOMIC REVIEW OF LATVIA |url=https://www.em.gov.lv/en/media/1477/download#:~:text=Until%202019%2C%20Latvia%27s%20economic%20growth,%25%20and%204.3%25%2C%20respectively. |date=April 2020 |access-date=26 October 2023 |archive-date=26 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026223644/https://www.em.gov.lv/en/media/1477/download#:~:text=Until%202019%2C%20Latvia%27s%20economic%20growth,%25%20and%204.3%25%2C%20respectively. |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Infrastructure ===
==== Transport ====
[[File:Ventspils osta.jpg|thumb|The [[Free port of Ventspils|Port of Ventspils]] is one of the busiest ports in the [[Baltic states]].]]
{{Main|Transport in Latvia}}
The transport sector is around 14% of GDP. Transit between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan as well as other Asian countries and the West used to be large.<ref name="wpt">{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/EXTECAREGTOPTRANSPORT/0,,contentMDK:20647605~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:571121,00.html |title=Latvia |access-date=8 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908042001/http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/EXTECAREGTOPTRANSPORT/0%2C%2CcontentMDK%3A20647605~pagePK%3A34004173~piPK%3A34003707~theSitePK%3A571121%2C00.html |archive-date= 8 September 2008}}, World Bank</ref>

The four biggest ports of Latvia are located in [[Riga]], [[Ventspils]], [[Liepāja]] and [[Saulkrasti|Skulte]]. Most transit traffic uses these and half the cargo is crude oil and oil products.<ref name="wpt" /> [[Free port of Ventspils]] is one of the busiest ports in the [[Baltic states]]. Apart from road and railway connections, Ventspils is also linked to oil extraction fields and prior to 2022, transportation routes of Russian Federation via system of two pipelines from [[Polotsk]], Belarus.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

[[Riga International Airport]] is the busiest airport in the [[Baltic states]] with 7.8 million passengers in 2019. It has direct flight to over 80 destinations in 30 countries. The only other airport handling regular commercial flights is [[Liepāja International Airport]].
[[airBaltic]] is the Latvian flag carrier airline and a low-cost carrier with hubs in all three [[Baltic States]], but main base in [[Riga]], Latvia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Basic company information {{!}} airBaltic|url=https://www.airbaltic.com/en/basic-company-information|access-date=2 December 2020|website=www.airbaltic.com|language=en-US|archive-date=25 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225141645/https://www.airbaltic.com/en/basic-company-information|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Latvian Railways|Latvian Railway]]'s main network consists of 1,860&nbsp;km of which 1,826&nbsp;km is 1,520&nbsp;mm [[Russian gauge]] railway of which 251&nbsp;km are electrified, making it the longest railway network in the [[Baltic States]]. Latvia's railway network is currently incompatible with European [[standard gauge]] lines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/transp/transp__ikgad__transp/TR0010.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=cdcb978c-22b0-416a-aacc-aa650d3e2ce0 |title=Satiksmes ceļu garums gada beigās (kilometros) |publisher=Centrālais Statistikas Birojs |access-date=7 March 2018 }}{{dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> However, [[Rail Baltica]] railway, linking Helsinki-Tallinn-Riga-Kaunas-Warsaw is under construction and is set to be completed in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railbaltica.org/about-rail-baltica/ |title=About Rail Baltica |publisher=Rail Baltica |access-date=7 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312171052/http://www.railbaltica.org/about-rail-baltica/ |archive-date=12 March 2018 }}</ref>

National road network in Latvia totals 1675&nbsp;km of main roads, 5473&nbsp;km of regional roads and 13 064&nbsp;km of local roads. Municipal roads in Latvia totals 30 439&nbsp;km of roads and 8039&nbsp;km of streets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lvceli.lv/informacija-un-dati/#celu-klasifikacija|title=Ceļu klasifikācija|work=Latvijas Valsts ceļi |access-date=7 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150423/https://lvceli.lv/informacija-un-dati/#celu-klasifikacija|archive-date=26 August 2018}}</ref> The best known roads are [[Via Baltica|A1]] ([[European route E67]]), connecting [[Warsaw]] and [[Tallinn]], as well as [[European route E22]], connecting [[Ventspils]] and [[Terehova, Latvia|Terehova]]. In 2017 there were a total of 803,546 licensed vehicles in Latvia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/OSP_OD/OSP_OD__transp__auto_celi/TR010c.px/ |title=Reģistrēto automobiļu skaits ceturkšņa beigās |publisher=Centrālais Statistikas Birojs |access-date=7 March 2021 |archive-date=9 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409053119/https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/lv/OSP_OD/OSP_OD__transp__auto_celi/TR010c.px/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Energy ====
{{main|Energy in Latvia}}

Latvia has three large hydroelectric power stations in [[Pļaviņu HES]] (908 MW), [[Rīgas HES]] (402 MW) and [[Ķeguma HES-2]] (248 MW).<ref>{{cite web |title=Daugava hydropower plants |url=https://latvenergo.lv/en/par-mums/razosana |website=Latvenergo.lv |access-date=9 September 2022 |archive-date=9 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909200249/https://latvenergo.lv/en/par-mums/razosana |url-status=live }}</ref> In recent years a couple of dozen of wind farms as well as biogas or biomass power stations of different scale have been built in Latvia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Development of wind parks is possible in whole Latvia's territory - LVM |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/development_of_wind_parks_is_possible_in_whole_latvia_s_territory_-_lvm/ |website=The Baltic Times |access-date=9 September 2022 |archive-date=9 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909201127/https://www.baltictimes.com/development_of_wind_parks_is_possible_in_whole_latvia_s_territory_-_lvm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, the Latvian Prime Minister announced about the planned investments of 1 billion euros in the new [[wind farm]]s and the completed project will expectedly provide additional 800 MW of capacity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister: investment in wind farms to reach one billion euros |url=https://bnn-news.com/prime-minister-investment-in-wind-farms-to-reach-one-billion-euros-236830 |website=Baltic News Network |access-date=9 September 2022 |date=8 August 2022 |archive-date=9 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909202258/https://bnn-news.com/prime-minister-investment-in-wind-farms-to-reach-one-billion-euros-236830 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Latvia operates ''Inčukalns underground gas storage facility'', one of the largest [[natural gas storage|underground gas storage facilities]] in Europe and the only one in the Baltic states. Unique geological conditions at Inčukalns and other locations in Latvia are particularly suitable for underground gas storage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ie/se/pdfs/wpgas/session/17_countr/latvia.pdf |title=The Outlook of Latvian Potential Underground Gas Storages and Prospects of Utilization of this Potential for Securing of Reliable Gas Supply to Europe |publisher=UNECE |date=24 January 2007 |access-date=5 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055747/http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/ie/se/pdfs/wpgas/session/17_countr/latvia.pdf |archive-date=21 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Latvia}}
{{Wide image|Riga Skyline Panorama, Latvia - Diliff.jpg|1000px|[[Riga]], capital and largest city of Latvia}}
{{bar box
|float = right
|title = Residents of Latvia by ethnicity (2021)<ref name=nat />
|bars =
{{bar percent|Latvians|DarkSlateGray|62.7}}
{{bar percent|Russians|DarkSlateGray|24.4}}
{{bar percent|Belarusians|DarkSlateGray|3.1}}
{{bar percent|Ukrainians|DarkSlateGray|2.2}}
{{bar percent|Poles|DarkSlateGray|2.0}}
{{bar percent|Lithuanians|DarkSlateGray|1.1}}
{{bar percent|Others|DarkSlateGray|4.1}}
}}
[[File:Population-of-Latvia.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|Population of Latvia (in millions) from 1920 to 2014]]
The [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) in 2018 was estimated to be 1.61 children born/woman, which is lower than the replacement rate of 2.1. In 2012, 45.0% of births were to unmarried women.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018 |title=Live births outside marriage |publisher=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114113/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018 |archive-date= 6 October 2014 }}</ref> The life expectancy in 2013 was estimated at 73.2 years (68.1 years male, 78.5 years female).<ref name=cia /> As of 2015, Latvia is estimated to have the lowest male-to-female ratio in the world, at 0.85 males per female.<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Comparison to the World|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html|website=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=1 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016065003/https://www.cia.gov/library//publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html|archive-date=16 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, there were 1,054,433 females and 895,683 males living in Latvian territory. Every year, more boys are born than girls. Up to the age of 39, there are more males than females. Above the age of 70, there are 2.3 times as many females as males.

=== Ethnic groups ===
In 2023, [[Latvian people|Latvians]] formed about 62.4% of the population, while 23.7% were [[Russians in the Baltic states|Russians]], [[Belarusians]] 3%, [[Ukrainians]] 3%, [[Polish people|Poles]] 2%, [[Lithuanians]] 1%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by ethnicity at the beginning of year 1935 - 2023 |url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221234523/https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In some cities, including [[Daugavpils]] and [[Rēzekne]], ethnic Latvians constitute a minority of the total population. Despite a steadily increasing  proportion of ethnic Latvians for more than a decade, ethnic Latvians also still make up slightly less than a half of the population of the capital city of Latvia – [[Riga]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The share of ethnic Latvians declined from 77% (1,467,035) in 1935 to 52% (1,387,757) in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lka.edu.lv/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&topic=68 |title=About Latvia |publisher=Latvian Academy of Culture |access-date=28 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629231221/http://www.lka.edu.lv/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&topic=68 |archive-date=29 June 2007 }}</ref> In the context of a decreasing overall population, there were fewer Latvians in 2011 than in 1989, but their share of the population was larger&nbsp;– 1,285,136 (62.1% of the population).<ref>{{cite web|title=TSG11-06. Resident population on March 1, 2011 by ethnicity, sex and age group|url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/en/tautassk_11/tautassk_11__tsk2011/TSG11-06.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=c8c8a0dd-6a8e-4e89-add7-718c9998db99|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia|access-date=27 February 2017}}{{dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The majority of Latvia's population are Latvians, who are an ethnic Baltic people. The country also has a significant Russian minority, as well as smaller populations of Ukrainians, Belarusians, and other Slavic peoples. These ethnic groups are all descended from peoples who settled in Latvia during the centuries of Russian and Soviet rule.

Latvia's ethnic diversity is a result of a number of factors, including a long history of foreign rule, its location on the Baltic Sea trade route, and its proximity to other Slavic countries. The Russian Empire conquered Latvia in the 18th century and ruled the country for over 200 years. During this time, the Russian authorities encouraged the settlement of Russian colonists in Latvia. After the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1918, Latvia became an independent country. However, the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and remained under Soviet rule until 1991. The Soviets expelled some groups and resettled others in Latvia, especially Russians.  After 1991 many of the expellees returned to Latvia.<ref>James Minahan, ''Miniature Empires'' (1998) p. 216.</ref>

As a result of deteriorating relations with Russia, Latvia has decided it does not want Russian citizens in Latvia who will not integrate. In late 2023 it is expected that around 5-6,000 Russians will be returned to Russia as they have made little effort to learn the Latvian language, integrate with Latvia, or apply to become Latvian citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia to ask thousands of Russian citizens to leave the country |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2050380/latvia-to-ask-thousands-of-russian-citizens-to-leave-the-country |date=4 August 2023 |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811072022/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2050380/latvia-to-ask-thousands-of-russian-citizens-to-leave-the-country |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Language ===
{{further|Language policy in Latvia}}
The sole official language of Latvia is [[Latvian language|Latvian]], which belongs to the [[Baltic languages|Baltic language sub-group]] of the [[Balto-Slavic languages|Balto-Slavic branch]] of the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language family]]. Another notable language of Latvia is the nearly extinct [[Livonian language]] of the [[Finnic languages|Finnic]] branch of the [[Uralic languages|Uralic language family]], which enjoys protection by law; [[Latgalian language|Latgalian]]&nbsp;– as a dialect of Latvian is also protected by Latvian law but as a historical variation of the Latvian language. [[Russian language|Russian]], which was widely spoken during the Soviet period, is still the most widely used minority language by far (in 2023, 37.7% spoke it as their mother tongue and 34.6% spoke it at home, including people who were not ethnically Russian).<ref name="eng.lsm.lv"/>
While it is now required that all school students learn Latvian, schools also include English, German, French and Russian in their curricula. English is also widely accepted in Latvia in business and tourism. {{As of|2014}} there were 109 schools for minorities that use Russian as the language of instruction (27% of all students) for 40% of subjects (the remaining 60% of subjects are taught in Latvian).

On 18 February 2012, Latvia held a [[2012 Latvian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]] on whether to adopt Russian as a second official language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28361.html/|title=Referendum on the Draft Law 'Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia'|publisher=Central Election Commission of Latvia|year=2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502013728/http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28361.html|archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> According to the Central Election Commission, 74.8% voted against, 24.9% voted for and the voter turnout was 71.1%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tn2012.cvk.lv/|title=Results of the referendum on the Draft Law 'Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia'|language=lv|publisher=Central Election Commission of Latvia|year=2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415075014/http://www.tn2012.cvk.lv/|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

From 2019, instruction in the [[Russian language in Latvia|Russian language]] was gradually discontinued in private colleges and [[private university|universities]] in Latvia, as well as general instruction in Latvian public [[high school]]s,<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvia pushes majority language in schools, leaving parents miffed |url=https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-pushes-majority-language-in-schools-leaving-parents-miffed/a-45385830 |agency=Deutsche Welle |date=8 September 2018 |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223709/https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-pushes-majority-language-in-schools-leaving-parents-miffed/a-45385830 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Moscow threatens sanctions against Latvia over removal of Russian from secondary schools |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/03/moscow-threatens-sanctions-against-latvia-removal-russian-secondary/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 April 2018 |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227040806/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/03/moscow-threatens-sanctions-against-latvia-removal-russian-secondary/ |archive-date=27 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> except for subjects related to culture and history of the Russian minority, such as Russian language and literature classes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/government-okays-transition-to-latvian-as-sole-language-at-schools-in-2019.a265290/|title=Government okays transition to Latvian as sole language at schools in 2019|date=23 January 2018|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]]|access-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816125825/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/government-okays-transition-to-latvian-as-sole-language-at-schools-in-2019.a265290/|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 
All schools, including pre-schools, still using the Russian language in 2023 need to transition to using Latvian in all classes within 3 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Are Russian schools in Latvia ready to teach in official language? |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/02.05.2023-are-russian-schools-in-latvia-ready-to-teach-in-official-language.a507061/ |date=2 May 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003105443/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/02.05.2023-are-russian-schools-in-latvia-ready-to-teach-in-official-language.a507061/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Latvia}}
{{Bar box
| title=Religion in Latvia (2011)<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />
| float=right
| bars=
{{Bar percent|[[Lutheranism]]|DodgerBlue|34.2}}
{{Bar percent|[[Roman Catholicism]]|DarkOrchid|24.1}}
{{Bar percent|[[Russian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]]|Crimson|17.8}}
{{Bar percent|[[Old Believers]]|DeepPink|1.6}}
{{Bar percent|Other Christian|RoyalBlue|1.2}}
{{Bar percent|Other or [[irreligion|none]]|SlateGray|21.1}}
}}

The largest religion in Latvia is [[Christianity]] (79%).<ref name=cia /><ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" /> The largest groups {{As of|2011|lc=y}} were:
* [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia]]&nbsp;– 708,773<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />
* [[Roman Catholicism in Latvia|Roman Catholic]]&nbsp;– 500,000<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija">{{cite web|url=http://www.tm.gov.lv/lv/labumi/TM.docx |title=Tieslietu ministrijā iesniegtie reliģisko organizāciju pārskati par darbību 2011. gadā |language=lv |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126013327/http://www.tm.gov.lv/lv/labumi/TM.docx |archive-date=26 November 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Russian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]]&nbsp;– 370,000<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />
[[File:Riga Dom 02.JPG|thumb|left|[[Riga Cathedral]]]]
In the [[Eurobarometer]] Poll 2010, 38% of Latvian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", while 48% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 11% stated that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".

Lutheranism was more prominent before the Soviet occupation, when it was adhered to by about 60% of the population, a reflection of the country's strong historical links with the [[Nordic countries]], and to the influence of the [[Hanseatic League|Hansa]] in particular and Germany in general. Since then, Lutheranism has declined to a slightly greater extent than Roman Catholicism in all three [[Baltic states]]. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, with an estimated 600,000 members in 1956, was affected most adversely. An internal document of 18 March 1987, near the end of communist rule, spoke of an active membership that had shrunk to only 25,000 in Latvia, but the faith has since experienced a revival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/latvia/SOCIETY.html |title=Latvia&nbsp;– SOCIETY |publisher=Mongabay.com |date=18 March 1987 |access-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919154752/http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/latvia/SOCIETY.html |archive-date=19 September 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The country's Orthodox Christians belong to the [[Latvian Orthodox Church]], a semi-autonomous body within the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. In 2011, there were 416 religious [[History of the Jews in Latvia|Jews in Latvia]] and 319 [[Islam in Latvia|Muslims in Latvia]].<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" /> As of 2004, there were more than 600 Latvian [[neopaganism|neopagans]], ''[[Dievturība|Dievturi]]'' (The Godskeepers), whose religion is based on [[Latvian mythology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bibelesbiedriba.lv/religiju-enciklopedija/statistika.html|title=Statistics of approved parishes in Latvia|date=1 January 2004|access-date=7 March 2007|work=Reliģiju Enciklopēdija|publisher=The Latvian Bible Society|language=lv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205160945/http://www.bibelesbiedriba.lv/religiju-enciklopedija/statistika.html|archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Žemaitis |first1=Augustinas |title=Dievturība (neo-paganism) |url=https://www.onlatvia.com/dievturiba-latvian-neo-paganism-187 |website=OnLatvia.com |access-date=21 March 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519081732/https://www.onlatvia.com/dievturiba-latvian-neo-paganism-187 |url-status=live }}</ref> About 21% of the total population is not affiliated with a specific religion.<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />

Latvia has been seeking for a number of years to separate the Latvian Orthodox Church from Moscow, stating that longstanding ties to Russia pose "national security concerns".<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia persists in granting independence to its Orthodox Church |url=https://cne.news/article/1750-latvia-persists-in-granting-independence-to-its-orthodox-church |date=26 September 2022 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=3 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103075908/https://cne.news/article/1750-latvia-persists-in-granting-independence-to-its-orthodox-church |url-status=live }}</ref> This was achieved in September 2022 with a law removing all influence or power over the Orthodox Church from non-Latvians, which would include the patriarch of Moscow.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orthodox Church of Latvia seceded from Moscow – It was a matter of national security, says the President |url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/orthodox-church-of-latvia-seceded-from-moscow-it-was-a-matter-of-national-security-says-the-president/ |date=10 September 2022 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922185349/https://orthodoxtimes.com/orthodox-church-of-latvia-seceded-from-moscow-it-was-a-matter-of-national-security-says-the-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Education and science ===
{{Main|Education in Latvia}}
{{See also|List of universities in Latvia}}
[[File:Latvijas Universitāte - ogre11 - Panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|University of Latvia]]
The [[University of Latvia]] and [[Riga Technical University]] are two major universities in the country, both successors to Riga Polytechnical Institute, and located in [[Riga]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtu.lv |title=Riga Polytechnical Institute Home Page |publisher=Rtu.lv |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020174805/http://www.rtu.lv/ |archive-date=20 October 2010 }}</ref> Other important universities, which were established on the base of State University of Latvia, include the [[Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies]] (established in 1939 on the basis of the Faculty of Agriculture) and [[Riga Stradiņš University]] (established in 1950 on the basis of the Faculty of Medicine). Both nowadays cover a variety of different fields. The [[University of Daugavpils]] is another significant centre of education.

Latvia closed 131 schools between 2006 and 2010, which is a 12.9% decline, and in the same period enrolment in educational institutions has fallen by over 54,000 people, a 10.3% decline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?lng=lv&cat=2300 |title=Latvijas Statistika |publisher=Csb.gov.lv |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=6 June 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Latvian policy in science and technology has set out the long-term goal of transitioning from labor-consuming economy to knowledge-based economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.izm.gov.lv/en/science|title=Science|website=Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija|access-date=3 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129004953/http://www.izm.gov.lv/en/science|archive-date=29 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2020 the government aims to spend 1.5% of GDP on research and development, with half of the investments coming from the private sector. Latvia plans to base the development of its scientific potential on existing scientific traditions, particularly in organic chemistry, medical chemistry, genetic engineering, physics, materials science and information technologies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lza.lv/index.php?mylang=english|title=Latvijas Zinātņu Akadēmija|website=www.lza.lv|access-date=3 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813021724/http://www.lza.lv/index.php?mylang=english|archive-date=13 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The greatest number of patents, both nationwide and abroad, are in medical chemistry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://inventions.lza.lv/izgu_en.php|title=latvian|website=inventions.lza.lv|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014092151/http://inventions.lza.lv/izgu_en.php|archive-date=14 October 2017}}</ref> Latvia was ranked 42nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Innovation Index 2024 : Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=www.wipo.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== Health ===

{{Main|Health in Latvia}}
The Latvian healthcare system is a [[universal health care|universal programme]], largely funded through government taxation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Nov_18/ai_n15860135/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711124324/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Nov_18/ai_n15860135/ |archive-date=11 July 2012 |title=Latvia's Healthcare System is Funded by General Taxation and All Latvians and Foreign Residents Are Guaranteed Medical Care &#124; Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |date= 18 November 2005|access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> It is among the lowest-ranked healthcare systems in Europe, due to excessive waiting times for treatment, insufficient access to the latest medicines, and other factors.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics/?doc=7137 |title=Latvia has worst health care system in Europe |publisher=[[The Baltic Course]] |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511212308/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics/?doc=7137 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were 59 hospitals in Latvia in 2009, down from 94 in 2007 and 121 in 2006.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/business/global/18lat.html?ref=business | work=The New York Times | title=Latvian Health Official Resigns Over Cuts | author=David Jolly | date=18 June 2009 | access-date=4 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511212454/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/business/global/18lat.html?ref=business | archive-date=11 May 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?cat=2310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216125055/http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?cat=2310 |archive-date=16 December 2007 |title=The basic indicators of health care, at the end of the year |publisher=Csb.gov.lv |date=22 January 2010 |access-date=5 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/the-baltic-states-their-health-systems-from-soviet-to-eu.html |title=The Baltic States and their health systems&nbsp;– From Soviet to EU |publisher=Healthcare-in-Europea |access-date=5 February 2010 |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808211419/https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/the-baltic-states-their-health-systems-from-soviet-to-eu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Latvia}}
[[File:Historic Centre of Riga-112610.jpg|thumb|The [[historic Centre of Riga]] was declared a [[World Heritage Site]] by [[UNESCO]] in 1997.]]
Traditional Latvian [[folklore]], especially the dance of the [[folk music|folk songs]], dates back well over a thousand years. More than 1.2 million texts and 30,000 melodies of folk songs have been identified.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=124 |title=Welcome to Latvia&nbsp;– Folk Songs |publisher=Li.lv |date=1 May 2006 |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515145643/http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=124 |archive-date=15 May 2011 }}</ref>

In the 19th century, Latvian nationalist movements emerged. They promoted Latvian culture and encouraged Latvians to take part in cultural activities. The 19th century and beginning of the 20th century is often regarded by Latvians as a classical era of Latvian culture. Posters show the influence of other European cultures, for example, works of artists such as the Baltic-German artist [[Bernhard Borchert]] and the French [[Raoul Dufy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latvia |url=https://ieplcareer.com/latvia-3/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=IEPL Career |language=en-US |archive-date=6 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306032214/https://ieplcareer.com/latvia-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With the onset of World War II, many Latvian artists and other members of the cultural elite fled the country yet continued to produce their work, largely for a Latvian émigré audience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latvianart.org/historical.html |title=Historical Background |work=Global Society for Latvian Art |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029113142/http://latvianart.org/historical.html |archive-date=29 October 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Festival da Canción Letoa.jpg|thumb|right|Participants of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival in 2018]]
The [[Latvian Song and Dance Festival]] is an important event in [[Latvians|Latvian]] culture and social life. It has been held since 1873, normally every five years. Approximately 30,000 performers altogether participate in the event.<ref>[http://www.dziesmusvetki2003.lv/?sadala=15 23rd All Latvian Song Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922190552/http://www.dziesmusvetki2003.lv/?sadala=15 |date=22 September 2013 }}. Retrieved 7 March 2007</ref> Folk songs and classical choir songs are sung, with emphasis on [[a cappella]] singing, though modern popular songs have recently been incorporated into the repertoire as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://latviansongfest.com/music/|title=Music|website=Latvian Song & Dance Festival|access-date=8 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406114236/https://latviansongfest.com/music/|archive-date=6 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

After incorporation into the [[Soviet Union]], Latvian artists and writers were forced to follow the [[socialist realism]] style of art. During the Soviet era, music became increasingly popular, with the most popular being songs from the 1980s. At this time, songs often made fun of the characteristics of Soviet life and were concerned about preserving Latvian identity. This aroused popular protests against the USSR and also gave rise to an increasing popularity of poetry. Since independence, theatre, [[scenography]], [[choir]] music, and classical music have become the most notable branches of Latvian culture.<ref>Smith Graham, ed. ''The Baltic States: The National Self-Determination of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.'' Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1994. Latvia has artistically-diverse curricula and, thus, more-diverse public arts compared to the other Baltic countries; Latvia and the UK are among the European countries where there are requirements for a musically diverse curriculum. Richard Letts et al., ''The Protection and Promotion of Musical Diversity'' (UNESCO: International Music Council, 2006), 95. Online at http://www.imc-cim.org/programmes/imc_diversity_report.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429110302/http://www.imc-cim.org/programmes/imc_diversity_report.pdf |date=29 April 2019 }}</ref>

During July 2014, [[Riga]] hosted the eighth [[World Choir Games]] as it played host to over 27,000 choristers representing over 450 choirs and over 70 countries. The festival is the biggest of its kind in the world and is held every two years in a different host city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interkultur.com/competitions-festivals/world-choir-games/riga-2014/ |title=World Choir Games Riga 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205110141/http://www.interkultur.com/competitions-festivals/world-choir-games/riga-2014/ |archive-date=5 February 2014 }}</ref>

Starting in 2019 Latvia hosts the inaugural [https://riga-jurmala.com/ Riga Jurmala Music Festival] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702105201/https://riga-jurmala.com/ |date=2 July 2021 }}, a new festival in which world-famous orchestras and conductors perform across four weekends during the summer. The festival takes place at the [[Latvian National Opera]], the Great Guild, and the Great and Small Halls of the Dzintari Concert Hall. This year features the [[Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]], the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] and the Russian National Orchestra.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://riga-jurmala.com/about-festival/|title=About Festival|work=Riga-Jurmala |access-date=8 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727050819/https://riga-jurmala.com/about-festival/|archive-date=27 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Latvian cuisine}}
Latvian cuisine typically consists of agricultural products, with meat featuring in most main meal dishes. Fish is commonly consumed due to Latvia's location on the Baltic Sea. Latvian cuisine has been influenced by neighbouring countries. Common ingredients in Latvian recipes are found locally, such as potatoes, wheat, barley, cabbage, onions, eggs, and pork. Latvian food is generally quite fatty and uses few spices.<ref>{{cite book | last=Pīgozne-Brinkmane | first=Leva | title=The Cuisine of Latvia | date=2004 | isbn=9984-736-27-X | page=| publisher=Latvian Institute }}</ref>

Grey peas with speck are generally considered as staple foods of Latvians. [[Sorrel soup]] (''skābeņu zupa'') is also consumed by Latvians.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ošiņa |first1=Sandra |last2=Ošiņš |first2=Valdis |title=Traditional and modern Latvian foods and beverages |year=2014 |url=https://www.celotajs.lv/cont/publ/LatviesuEdieni2014/pdf/LatviesuEdieni2014_en.pdf |publisher=The Association of Latvian Rural Tourism |access-date=7 August 2021 |archive-date=31 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831182514/https://www.celotajs.lv/cont/publ/LatviesuEdieni2014/pdf/LatviesuEdieni2014_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Rye bread is considered the national [[Staple food|staple]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Daina |url=https://kulturaskanons.lv/en/archive/rudzu-maize/ |title=Rye Bread |date=10 June 2016 |publisher=[[Latvian Culture Canon]] |access-date=20 August 2019 |archive-date=23 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923075445/https://kulturaskanons.lv/en/archive/rudzu-maize/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sport ===
{{Main|Sport in Latvia}}
[[File:Arena Riga CAN-CZE-2006-05-14.JPG|thumb|[[Arena Riga]] during the 2006 IIHF World Championship]]
Ice hockey is usually considered the most popular sport in Latvia. Latvia has had many famous hockey stars like [[Helmuts Balderis]], [[Artūrs Irbe]], [[Kārlis Skrastiņš]] and [[Sandis Ozoliņš]] and more recently [[Zemgus Girgensons]], whom the Latvian people have strongly supported in international and NHL play, expressed through the dedication of using the NHL's All Star Voting to bring Zemgus to number one in voting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=743166|title=Sabres' Girgensons expands lead as top vote-getter in 2015 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by SiriusXM|work=nhl.com|access-date=12 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211004651/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=743166|archive-date=11 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dinamo Riga]] is the country's strongest hockey club, playing in the [[Latvian Hockey Higher League]]. The national tournament is the [[Latvian Hockey Higher League]], held since 1931. The [[2006 IIHF World Championship]] was held in Riga.
[[File:Kristaps Porzingis.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Kristaps Porziņģis]]
The second most popular sport is basketball. Latvia has a long basketball tradition, as the [[Latvia men's national basketball team|Latvian national basketball team]] won the first ever [[EuroBasket]] in [[EuroBasket 1935|1935]] and silver medals in [[EuroBasket 1939|1939]], after losing the final to [[Lithuania men's national basketball team|Lithuania]] by one point. Latvia has had many European basketball stars like [[Jānis Krūmiņš]], [[Maigonis Valdmanis]], [[Valdis Muižnieks]], [[Valdis Valters]], [[Igors Miglinieks]], as well as the first Latvian [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] player [[Gundars Vētra]]. [[Andris Biedriņš]] is one of the most well-known Latvian basketball players, who played in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] for the [[Golden State Warriors]] and the [[Utah Jazz]]. Current [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] players include [[Kristaps Porziņģis]], who plays for the [[Boston Celtics]], [[Dāvis Bertāns]], who plays for the [[Oklahoma City Thunder]], and [[Rodions Kurucs]], who last played for the [[Milwaukee Bucks]]. Former Latvian basketball club [[Rīgas ASK]] won the [[Euroleague Basketball|Euroleague]] tournament three times in a row before becoming defunct. Currently, [[BK VEF Rīga|VEF Rīga]], which competes in [[Eurocup Basketball|EuroCup]], is the strongest professional basketball club in Latvia. [[BK Ventspils]], which participates in [[EuroChallenge]], is the second strongest basketball club in Latvia, previously winning [[Latvijas Basketbola līga|LBL]] eight times and [[Baltic Basketball League|BBL]] in 2013.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} Latvia was one of the [[EuroBasket 2015]] hosts and will be one of the hosts once again in [[EuroBasket 2025|2025]].

Other popular sports include [[association football|football]], [[floorball]], tennis, volleyball, cycling, [[bobsleigh]] and [[skeleton (sport)|skeleton]]. The [[Latvia national football team|Latvian national football team]]'s only major [[FIFA]] tournament participation has been the [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004 UEFA European Championship]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/teama/team=56558/profile/| title=Latvia team profile| publisher=[[UEFA|Uefa.com]]| date=6 January 2014| access-date=3 November 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205161652/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/teama/team=56558/profile/| archive-date=5 February 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Latvia at the Olympics|Latvia]] has participated successfully in both [[Winter Olympics|Winter]] and [[Summer Olympics]]. The most successful Olympic athlete in the history of independent Latvia has been [[Māris Štrombergs]], who became a two-time Olympic champion in 2008 and 2012 at Men's BMX.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/action/bmx/story/_/id/8255371/colombia-mariana-pajon-latvia-maris-strombergs-win-olympic-bmx-gold-london|title=Pajon, Strombergs win Olympic BMX Finals|work=ESPN.com|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222249/http://www.espn.com/action/bmx/story/_/id/8255371/colombia-mariana-pajon-latvia-maris-strombergs-win-olympic-bmx-gold-london|archive-date=18 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Boxing, [[Mairis Briedis]] is the first and only Latvian to date, to win a boxing world title, having held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2017 to 2018, the WBO cruiserweight title in 2019, and the IBF / The Ring magazine cruiserweight titles in 2020.

In 2017, Latvian tennis player [[Jeļena Ostapenko]] won the [[2017 French Open – Women's Singles|2017 French Open Women's singles title]], being the first unseeded player to do so in the open era.

In Futsal, Latvia will host the [[UEFA Futsal Euro 2026]] alongside Lithuania, their national team will make their debut as co-host.

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}

=== Latvia===
* {{Cite book|title=The Story of Latvia: A Historical Survey|publisher=Latvian National Foundation|year=1949|location=Stockholm|oclc=2961684|author=Arveds, Švābe}}
* {{Cite book|title=History of Latvia: the 20th century|last=Bleiere|first=Daina|publisher=Jumava|year=2006|isbn=9984-38-038-6|location=Rīga|oclc=70240317|author2=and Ilgvars Butulis|author3=Antonijs Zunda|author4=Aivars Stranga|author5= Inesis Feldmanis}}
* {{Cite book|title=Latvia and Latvians: A People and a State in Ideas, Images and Symbols|editor-last=Cimdiņa |editor-first=Ausma |publisher=Zinātne Publishers|year=2011|isbn=978-9984-808-83-3|location=Rīga|editor2=Deniss Hanovs}}
* {{Cite book|title=Latvia in Transition|last=Dreifelds|first=Juris|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1996|isbn=978-0-521-55537-1}}
* Dzenovska, Dace. ''School of Europeanness: Tolerance and other lessons in political liberalism in Latvia'' (Cornell University Press, 2018).
* {{Cite book|title=The Latvian Saga|last=Ģērmanis|first=Uldis|publisher=Atēna|year=2007|isbn=978-9984-34-291-7|location=Rīga}}
* Hazans, Mihails. "Emigration from Latvia: Recent trends and economic impact." in ''Coping with emigration in Baltic and East European countries'' (2013) pp: 65–110. [https://books.google.com/books?id=MSJWAgAAQBAJ&dq=latvia&pg=PA65 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409164049/https://books.google.com/books?id=MSJWAgAAQBAJ&dq=latvia&pg=PA65 |date=9 April 2023 }}
* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IPv1gjLhtZ4C|title=Latvia in World War II|publisher=Fordham University Press|year=2006|isbn=0-8232-2627-1|author=Lumans, Valdis O.}}
* {{cite EB1922 |wstitle=Latvia |last1= Meyendorff |first1= Alexander Feliksovich |last2= |first2= }}
* {{Cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Latvia|last=Plakans|first=Andrejs|publisher=The Scarecrow Press|year=1998|isbn=978-0-8108-5515-1|edition=2nd|location=Lanham}}
* {{Cite book|title=The A to Z of Latvia|last=Plakans|first=Andrejs|publisher=The Scarecrow Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-8108-7209-7|location=Lanham}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Latvians: A Short History|last=Plakans|first=Andrejs|publisher=Hoover Institution Press|year=1995|isbn=978-0-8179-9302-3|location=Stanford}}
* Pabriks, Artis, and Aldis Purs. ''Latvia: the challenges of change'' (Routledge, 2013).
* {{Cite book|title=Latvia: Country & People|publisher=Latvian National Foundation|year=1967|location=Stockholm|oclc=457313|editor=Rutkis, Jānis}}
* {{Cite book|title=Latvijas vēstures atlants|last=Turlajs|first=Jānis|publisher=Karšu izdevniecība Jāņa sēta|year=2012|isbn=978-9984-07-614-0|location=Rīga}}

===Baltic states===
* Auers, Daunis. ''Comparative politics and government of the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the 21st century'' (Springer, 2015).
* {{Cite book|title=Forward to the Past – A Cultural History of the Baltic People|last=Bojtár|first=Endre|publisher=Central European University Press|year=1999|isbn=978-963-9116-42-9|location=Budapest}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Baltic Nations and Europe: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the Twentieth Century|last=Hiden|first=John|publisher=Longman|year=1991|isbn=0-582-08246-3|location=London|author2=Patrick Salmon}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Baltic Question during the Cold War|last=Hiden|first=John|publisher=Routledge|year=2008|isbn=978-0-415-56934-7|location=London|author2=Vahur Made|author3=David J. Smith}}
* {{Cite book|title=A History of the Baltic States|last=Kasekamp|first=Andres|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2010|isbn=978-0-230-01940-9|location=London}}
* {{Cite book|title=The European Union and the Baltic States: Changing forms of governance|last=Jacobsson|first=Bengt|publisher=Routledge|year=2009|isbn=978-0-415-48276-9|location=London}}
* Lane, Thomas, et al. ''The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania'' (Routledge, 2013).
* {{Cite book|title=Post-Cold War Identity Politics – Northern and Baltic Experiences|editor-last=Lehti |editor-first=Marko|publisher=Frank Cass Publishers|year=2003|isbn=0-7146-8351-5|location=London/Portland |editor2=David J. Smith}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Path to Independence|last=Lieven|first=Anatol|publisher=Yale University Press|year=1994|isbn=0-300-05552-8|edition=2nd|location=New Haven/London|author-link=Anatol Lieven}}
* {{Cite book|title=[[The Shadow in the East: Vladimir Putin and the New Baltic Front]]|last=Naylor|first=Aliide|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic|year=2020|isbn=9781788312523|location=London}}
* {{Cite book|title=A Concise History of the Baltic States|last=Plakans|first=Andrejs|publisher=Cambridge UP|year=2011|isbn=978-0-521-54155-8|location=Cambridge}}
* {{Cite book|title=The Baltic States: The National Self-determination of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania|editor-last=Smith|editor-first=Graham|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=1994|isbn=0-312-12060-5|location=New York|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/balticstates00grah}}
* Steen, Anton. ''Between past and future: elites, democracy and the state in post-communist countries: a comparison of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania'' (Routledge, 2019).
* {{Cite book|title=Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania|last=Williams|first=Nicola|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2003|isbn=1-74059-132-1|edition=3rd|location=London|author2=Debra Herrmann|author3=Cathryn Kemp}}

===Russia connection===
* Cheskin, Ammon. "Exploring Russian-speaking identity from below: The case of Latvia." ''Journal of Baltic Studies'' 44.3 (2013): 287–312. [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01629778.2012.712335 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625193434/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/01629778.2012.712335 |date=25 June 2021 }}
* Cheskin, Ammon. ''Russian-Speakers in Post-Soviet Latvia: Discursive Identity Strategies'' (Edinburgh University Press, 2016).
* {{Cite book|title=Russian Minority Politics in Post-Soviet Latvia and Kyrgyzstan: The Transformative Power of Informal Networks|last=Commercio|first=Michele E.|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-8122-4221-8|location=Philadelphia|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/russianminorityp0000comm}}
* {{Cite book|title=Russia's European Agenda and the Baltic States|last=Šleivyte|first=Janina|publisher=Routledge|year=2010|isbn=978-0-415-55400-8|location=London}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Latvia|voy=Latvia}}

<!-- Notice: Wikipedia is not a web directory or a search engine. Please only post links that provide broad, non-trivial coverage of the article's topic. -->
; Government
* [http://www.president.lv/?lng=en President of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010104155/http://www.president.lv/?lng=en |date=10 October 2006 }}
* [http://www.saeima.lv/en Parliament of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217184219/http://saeima.lv/en/ |date=17 December 2010 }}
* [http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/?lang=1 Government of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616022853/http://www.mk.gov.lv/en/?lang=1 |date=16 June 2006 }}
* [http://www.am.gov.lv/en/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230194039/http://www.am.gov.lv/en |date=30 December 2014 }}
* [http://www.csb.gov.lv/en Statistical Office of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414210610/https://www.csb.gov.lv/en |date=14 April 2019 }}
* [http://www.latvia.eu/ Latvian Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607172007/https://www.latvia.eu/ |date=7 June 2021 }}
* [http://www.bank.lv/en/ Bank of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318000133/http://bank.lv/en/ |date=18 March 2011 }}

; General information
* [http://www.latvia.eu/ Latvia Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607172007/https://www.latvia.eu/ |date=7 June 2021 }}
* [http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/latvia/index_en.htm European Union country profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710043014/http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/member-countries/latvia/index_en.htm |date=10 July 2016 }}
* [https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/332121/Latvia Britannica Online Encyclopedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415072145/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/332121/Latvia |date=15 April 2015 }}
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1106666.stm BBC News country profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605095931/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1106666.stm |date=5 June 2021 }}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/latvia/ Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702003142/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/latvia/ |date=2 July 2021 }}. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081011191805/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/latvia.htm Latvia] from UCB Libraries GovPubs (archived 11 October 2008)
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=LV Key Development Forecasts for Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224171617/http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=LV |date=24 February 2021 }} from [[International Futures]]

; Culture
* [https://kulturaskanons.lv/en/ Latvian Cultural Canon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818101643/https://kulturaskanons.lv/en/ |date=18 August 2021 }}
* [https://kulturasdati.lv/en Latvian Cultural Data Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808211420/https://kulturasdati.lv/en |date=8 August 2021 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130118195808/http://www.kultura.lv/ Latvian Culture Portal] (archived 18 January 2013)
* [http://www.livones.net/en Livonian Culture Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719111800/http://www.livones.net/en |date=19 July 2021 }}
* [http://www.km.gov.lv/en/ State Agency of Cultural Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627185232/https://www.km.gov.lv/en |date=27 June 2021 }}
* [http://www.lnb.lv/en/ National Library of Latvia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601140440/https://www.lnb.lv/en |date=1 June 2021 }}
* [http://latvians.com/ Latvian Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060402223512/http://latvians.com/ |date=2 April 2006 }}
* [https://www.lmic.lv/en Latvian Music Information Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818141001/https://www.lmic.lv/en |date=18 August 2021 }}

; Travel
* [http://www.latvia.travel/en Official Latvian Tourism Portal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520151202/https://www.latvia.travel/en/ |date=20 May 2021 }}

; Maps
* {{wikiatlas|Latvia}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|72594}}

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[[Category:Latvia| ]]
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