total: 64,100 sq km

land: 64,100 sq km

total: 65,200 sq km

land: 65,200 sq km

total: 45,226 sq km

land: 43,211 sq km

water: 2,015 sq km

exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with neighboring states

permanent crops: 0%


permanent pastures: 13 other: 14% (1993 est.) %

forests and woodland:31%


other: 36% (1993 est.)


110 sq km (1993 est.)

15-64 years: 66% (male 754,416; female 829,801)

15-64 years: 67% (male 1,155,733; female 1,238,671)

15-64 years: 67% (male 456,796; female 492,946)

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

male: 61.02 years

male: 62.76 years

male: 62.5 years

total population: 100%

male: 100%

total population: 98%

male: 99%

total population: 100%

male: 100%

conventional short form: Latvia

local long form: Latvijas Republika

local short form: Latvija

conventional short form: Lithuania

local long form: Lietuvos Respublika

local short form: Lietuva

conventional short form: Estonia

local long form: Eesti Vabariik

local short form: Eesti

Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular—rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular—maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi),        Vorumaa (Voru)

note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)

head of government: Prime Minister Guntars KRASTS (since 7 August 1997)

Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament

elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June1999); prime minister appointed by the president

President Valdes ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998)

head of government: Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 and 5 January 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament

President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)

head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next tobe held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

elections: last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held 3 October 1998)

elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000)

elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999)

Latvia's Way or LC

[Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; Popular Movement For Latvia or TKL [Joachim SIEGERIST]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TVB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK;

Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvian National

Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS];

Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSK];

Latvian Farmers Union or LZS [Andris ROZENTALS];

Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS];

National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis

JURKANS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Sergejs DIAMANIS];

Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Political

Association of the Underprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS];

Latvian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS];

Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV];

Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly Peoples Front of Latvia or LTF) [Uldis AUGSTKALNS];

Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE];

Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS];

"Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE];

Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS];

Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP [Janis DINEVICS];

Party for the Defense of Latvia's Defrauded People;

Latvian Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]

Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania or LDDP [Ceslovas JURSENAS, chairman];

Lithuanian Nationalist Union or LTS [Rimantas SMETONA,chairman];

Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman];

Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP (previously Farmers' Union) [Albinas VAIZMUZIS, chairman];

Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman];

Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman];

Lithuanian Polish Union or LLS [Rsztardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman];

Democratic Party or DP [Lydie WURTH-POLFER, president]

Reform Party or RE  [Siim KALLAS, chairman];

Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman];

Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Toivo JURGENSON, chairman];

National Independence Party or ERSP [Tunne KELAM, chairman];

Our Home is Estonia [Viktor ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party of Estonia;

note—Our Home is Estonia split when two Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United Peoples Party [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]; Russian Party of Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman];

Moderates or M [Andres TARAND] made up of two parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or EMK; Social Democratic Party [Eiki NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo KAAL, chairman]; Right-Wingers [Ulo NUGIS, chairman]; Republican Conservative [Vootele HANSEN]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN, chairwoman],

chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS

chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214

chief of mission: Ambassador Stasys SAKALAUSKAS (appointed 30 September 1997)

chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860

FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466

chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kalev STOICESCU

chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101

FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108

embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga

mailing address: American Embassy, Riga, PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723

telephone: [371] (2) 210-0005, 782-0046

embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600

mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723

telephone: [370] (2) 223-031, 227-224

embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001

mailing address: American Embassy Tallinn; PSC 78, Box T; APO AE 09723

telephone: [372] (6) 312-021

In 1997 Latvia continued its strict fiscal policy and apparently ended the year with a small fiscal surplus, reflecting higher-than-expected income from customs revenues, excise and business taxes, and restraints on government spending.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in 1997 was a record $880 million by yearend. Prospects for increasing FDI in 1998 are good if Latvia privatizes at least some of its large companies, including Venspils Nafta (the state oil company).

Inflation is expected to fall in 1998 to 6% and GDP to grow at close to 7%.

Estonia can point to its inclusion among the first group of Central and East European countries to begin EU accession talks in 1998 as its most significant economic achievement in 1997.

Other economic strengths include solid investment grade rating from both Standard and Poors and Moody's, government revenue collection in excess of projections by more than 6%, growth in exports at a faster rate than imports, and record levels of foreign direct investment, among the highest per capita in Central and East Europe.

Estonia privatized its shipping company in 1997, but failed to make as much progress privatizing other large infrastructure/utility companies, such as Eesti Energia and the Oil Shale company, which it plans to privatize in the next two years.

industry: 34%

industry: 28%

industry: 24.9%

commodities: wood and wood products, textiles, foodstuffs

commodities: agricultural products 16.9%, mineral products 15.7%, textiles 15.2%, machinery 11.4%, live animals 7.7% (1996)

commodities: textiles 16%, food products 16%, machinery and equipment 16%, metals 9% (1995)

commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals

commodities: mineral production 20%, machinery 16%, transport equipment 10%, chemicals 10%, textiles 8%, foodstuff 6 %(1996)

commodities: machinery and equipment 29%, foodstuffs 14%, minerals 13%, textiles 13%, metals 12% (1995)

paved: 22,998 km

paved: 57,058 km (including 404 km of expressways)

paved: 8,142 km (including 65 km of expressways)

2,438 to 3,047 m: 6

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1

over 3,047 m: 3

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 2

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m : 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1