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Compare Angola (2003) - Latvia (2003)

Compare Angola (2003) z Latvia (2003)

 Angola (2003)Latvia (2003)
 AngolaLatvia
Administrative divisions 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire 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, Liepaja*, 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
Age structure 0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,363,829; female 2,317,610)


15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,941,999; female 2,842,923)


65 years and over: 2.8% (male 134,330; female 165,780) (2003 est.)
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)


15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)


65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 243 (2002) 38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 32


over 3,047 m: 4


2,438 to 3,047 m: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 14


914 to 1,523 m: 5


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 22


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 211


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 30


914 to 1,523 m: 95


under 914 m: 80 (2002)
total: 16


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Area total: 1,246,700 sq km


land: 1,246,700 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly less than twice the size of Texas slightly larger than West Virginia
Background Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century. The death of insurgent leader Jonas SAVIMBI in 2002 and a subsequent cease-fire with UNITA may bode well for the country. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Birth rate 45.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) 8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $928 million


expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)
revenues: $2.4 billion


expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
Capital Luanda Riga
Climate semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 1,600 km 531 km
Constitution 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992 the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Angola


conventional short form: Angola


local long form: Republica de Angola


local short form: Angola


former: People's Republic of Angola
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency kwanza (AOA) Latvian lat (LVL)
Death rate 25.83 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) 14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $9.9 billion (2002 est.) $3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher William DELL


embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda


mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550


telephone: [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224


FAX: [244] (2) 446-924
chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


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


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 781-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI


chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009


telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156


FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258


consulate(s) general: Houston and New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS


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


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


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Disputes - international gives shelter to thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo while thousands of Angolan refugees still remain in neighboring states as a consequence of the protracted civil wars in both states the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Economic aid - recipient $383.5 million (1999) $96.2 million (1995)
Economy - overview Angola has been an economy in disarray because of a quarter century of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI on February 22, 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue including the impact of wide-spread land mines. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and more than half of exports. Much of the country's food must still be imported. To fully take advantage of its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to continue reforming government policies. While Angola made progress in bringing inflation down further, from 325% in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the government has failed to make sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as increasing foreign exchange reserves and promoting greater transparency in government spending. Increased oil production should bring about 6% GDP growth in 2003. Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.
Electricity - consumption 1.348 billion kWh (2001) 6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2001) 703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2001) 2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.45 billion kWh (2001) 4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 36.4%


hydro: 63.6%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
fossil fuel: 29.1%


hydro: 70.9%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Environment - current issues overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
Exchange rates kwanza per US dollar - 43.53 (2002), 22.06 (2001), 10.04 (2000), 2.79 (1999), 0.39 (1998); note - in December 1999 the kwanza was revalued with six zeroes dropped off the old value lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59 (1999), 0.59 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a position of real power


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by universal ballot for a NA-year term; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)


election results: DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)


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


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Exports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners US 41.2%, China 13.7%, France 8%, Belgium 6.3%, Taiwan 6.3%, Japan 4.9%, Spain 4.3% (2002) UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle) three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $18.36 billion (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 8%


industry: 67%


services: 25% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 26%


services: 69.5% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 9.4% (2002 est.) 6.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 30 S, 18 30 E 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Highways total: 51,429 km


paved: 5,349 km


unpaved: 46,080 km (1999)
total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
Imports NA (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners Portugal 20.2%, US 13.9%, South Africa 12.4%, France 6.7%, Brazil 5.8%, Belgium 5.3%, Netherlands 4% (2002) Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002)
Independence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 1% 5.7% (2002 est.)
Industries petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Infant mortality rate total: 193.82 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 206.26 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 180.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 106% (2002 est.) 2% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 41 (2001)
Irrigated land 750 sq km (1998 est.) 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by the president) Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force 5 million (1997 est.) 1.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.) agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries total: 5,198 km


border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km
total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use arable land: 2.41%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 97.19% (1998 est.)
arable land: 29.01%


permanent crops: 0.48%


other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
Languages Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Legal system based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets based on civil law system
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)


election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Life expectancy at birth total population: 36.96 years


male: 36.13 years


female: 37.83 years (2003 est.)
total population: 69.31 years


male: 63.46 years


female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 42%


male: 56%


female: 28% (1998 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Africa Europe
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,311 GRT/48,924 DWT


ships by type: cargo 7, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $222.7 million (FY02) $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 5.4% (FY02) 1.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 2,568,082 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 1,290,884 (2003 est.) males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2003 est.) 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 109,752 (2003 est.) males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
National holiday Independence Day, 11 November (1975) Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun: Angolan(s)


adjective: Angolan
noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
Natural hazards locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau NA
Natural resources petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Net migration rate 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30 km; oil 845 km; refined products 56 km (2003) gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [interim leader: PAULO Lukamba "Gato"], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]


note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly
Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS]; Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS]; Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
Political pressure groups and leaders Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento BEMBE]


note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
NA
Population 10,766,471 (July 2003 est.) 2,348,784 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.97% (2003 est.) -0.73% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Mocamedes, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Radio broadcast stations AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways total: 2,761 km


narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)
total: 2,347 km


broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Religions indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female


total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


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


65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female


total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment: telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links


domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter


international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Telephones - main lines in use 72,000 (1998) 734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 25,800 (2000) 401,263 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 6 (2000) 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau low plain
Total fertility rate 6.38 children born/woman (2003 est.) 1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.) 7.6% (2001 est.)
Waterways 1,295 km 300 km (perennially navigable)
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