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Compare Fiji (2002) - Latvia (2006)

Compare Fiji (2002) z Latvia (2006)

 Fiji (2002)Latvia (2006)
 FijiLatvia
Administrative divisions 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western 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: 32.5% (male 141,757; female 136,198)


15-64 years: 63.8% (male 273,658; female 273,100)


65 years and over: 3.7% (male 14,648; female 16,985) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 14% (male 162,562/female 155,091)


15-64 years: 69.6% (male 769,004/female 815,042)


65 years and over: 16.4% (male 121,646/female 251,390) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 27 (2001) 46 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
total: 24


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 24


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 6


under 914 m: 18 (2002)
total: 22


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 2


under 914 m: 19 (2006)
Area total: 18,270 sq km


land: 18,270 sq km


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


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than New Jersey slightly larger than West Virginia
Background Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May of 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE. 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 joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
Birth rate 23.2 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 9.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $427.9 million


expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues: $5.673 billion


expenditures: $5.889 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Capital Suva name: Riga


geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E


time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 1,129 km 531 km
Constitution promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level 15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution
Country name conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands


conventional short form: Fiji
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 Fijian dollar (FJD) -
Death rate 5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 13.66 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $162.7 million (1999) $10.8 billion (1 January 2006)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON


embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva


mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva


telephone: [679] 314466


FAX: [679] 300081
chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine TODD BAILEY


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] 782-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE


chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007


telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320


FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS


chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840


FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860
Disputes - international none Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to Latvian insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration referencing Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses; Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia must implement the strict Schengen border rules
Economic aid - recipient $40.3 million (1995) (1995) $1.2 billion (2004-06)
Economy - overview Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights. The political turmoil in Fiji has had a severe impact with the economy shrinking by 2.8% in 2000 and growing by only 1% in 2001. The Fiji Visitor's Bureau expects visitor arrivals to reach pre-coup levels during 2002. The government's ability to manage its budget - which is expected to run a net deficit of 6% in 2002 - will depend upon a return of political stability and investor confidence. Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the 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. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account deficit - 11.5% of GDP in 2005 - remains a major concern. A growing perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicit activity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector.
Electricity - consumption 478.95 million kWh (2000) 5.839 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 38 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 2.7 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 515 million kWh (2000) 3.97 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 18%


hydro: 82%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m


highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Environment - current issues deforestation; soil erosion 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, as well as 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.) Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)
Exchange rates Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.2934 (January 2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000), 1.9696 (1999), 1.9868 (1998), 1.4437 (1997) lati per US dollar - 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001)
Executive branch chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA 2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)


head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000); Deputy Prime Minister Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since NA 2000)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system


elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)


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


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term (no term limits); 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 $572 million f.o.b. (2000) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners Australia 24.9%, US 20.8%, UK 14.4%, Japan 5.1%, other Pacific island countries 5.0%, NZ 3.6% (2000) Lithuania 11%, Estonia 10.8%, Germany 10.2%, UK 10.2%, Russia 7.9%, Sweden 7.8%, Denmark 5.3%, Poland 5.3% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (2001 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 17%


industry: 25%


services: 58% (2000 est.)
agriculture: 4%


industry: 26.1%


services: 69.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $5,200 (2001 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 1% (2001 est.) 10.2% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 00 S, 175 00 E 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Highways total: 3,440 km


paved: 1,692 km


unpaved: 1,748 km (1996)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.8%


highest 10%: 26.1% (1998)
Illicit drugs - 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; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
Imports $833 million c.i.f. (2000) 47,000 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners Australia 46.2%, NZ 13.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Japan 4.5%, Hong Kong 3.8%, US 3.2%, Taiwan 3.0% (2000) Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 13.6%, Russia 8.6%, Estonia 7.9%, Poland 6.4%, Finland 5.9%, Belarus 5.8%, Sweden 5.1% (2005)
Independence 10 October 1970 (from UK) 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 5.6% (2005 est.)
Industries tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries 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 13.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 9.35 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 11.31 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 7.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3% (2000 est.) 6.8% (2005 est.)
International organization participation ACP, AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 2 (2000) -
Irrigated land 30 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 (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force 137,000 (1999) 1.11 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.) agriculture: 15%


industry: 25%


services: 60% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,368 km


border countries: Belarus 167 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 282 km
Land use arable land: 10.95%


permanent crops: 4.65%


other: 84.4% (1998 est.)
arable land: 28.19%


permanent crops: 0.45%


other: 71.36% (2005)
Languages English (official), Fijian, Hindustani Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)
Legal system based on British system based on civil law system
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August, 2 September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2006)


election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%, other 16.5%; seats by party - SDL 32, FLP 27, MV 6, NFP 1, independents 2, other 3
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held October 2010)


election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL 16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party - TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6
Life expectancy at birth total population: 68.56 years


male: 66.13 years


female: 71.11 years (2002 est.)
total population: 71.33 years


male: 66.08 years


female: 76.85 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 92.5%


male: 90%


female: 95% (1999 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Oceania Europe
Maritime claims measured from claimed archipelagic baselines


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Merchant marine total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWT


ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4
(2002 est.)
total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 250,559 GRT/336,136 DWT


by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1


registered in other countries: 105 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas 1, Belize 6, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 4, Dominica 1, Gibraltar 2, Liberia 14, Malta 40, Marshall Islands 7, Panama 3, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 18) (2006)
Military branches Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces, naval division Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $35 million (FY00) $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2.2% (FY00) 1.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 231,649 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 127,384 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 9,471 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970) Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun: Fijian(s)


adjective: Fijian
noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
Natural hazards cyclonic storms can occur from November to January NA
Natural resources timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Net migration rate -3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,097 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [leader NA]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [leader NA]; Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; Fijian Association Party of FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED]; Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE]; General Voters Party or GHP [leader NA]; Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Attar SINGH]; Nationalist Vanua Tako Lavo Party or NVTLP [Samisoni BOLATAGICI]; New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [leader NA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Mick BEDDOES] First Party of Latvia or LPP [Juris LUJANS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Tatjana ZDANOKA, Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; Harmony Center or SC [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; Latvian Green Party or ZZS [Indulis EMSIS, Viesturs SILENIEKS, Raimonds VEJONIS]; Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Ivars GODMANIS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Aivars DATAVS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]
Population 856,346 (July 2002 est.) 2,274,735 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line 26% (1990-91 ) Below $2.15 per day (PPP): 3%
Population growth rate 1.41% (2002 est.) -0.67% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda -
Radio broadcast stations AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 541,476 (1999) -
Railways total: 597 km


narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge


note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation (1995)
total: 2,303 km


broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)
Religions Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%


note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female


total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female


total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage 21 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center


domestic: NA


international: access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector, beginning in 2003; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony expands


domestic: two wireless service providers in addition to Lattelekom, the incumbent monopoly


international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use 80,901 (1999) 731,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 5,200 (1997) 1.872 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations NA 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly mountains of volcanic origin low plain
Total fertility rate 2.83 children born/woman (2002 est.) 1.27 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.6% (1999) 7.5% (2005 est.)
Waterways 203 km


note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
300 km (2005)
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