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Compare Latvia (2001) - Cayman Islands (2006)

Compare Latvia (2001) z Cayman Islands (2006)

 Latvia (2001)Cayman Islands (2006)
 LatviaCayman Islands
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 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Age structure 0-14 years:
16.55% (male 201,746; female 193,036)

15-64 years:
68.15% (male 776,509; female 848,908)

65 years and over:
15.3% (male 118,110; female 246,922) (2001 est.)
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)


15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)


65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Airports 25 (2000 est.) 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total:
13

2,438 to 3,047 m:
7

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1

under 914 m:
4 (2000 est.)
total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
12

2,438 to 3,047 m:
1

1,524 to 2,437 m:
2

914 to 1,523 m:
2

under 914 m:
7 (2000 est.)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Area total:
64,589 sq km

land:
64,589 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 262 sq km


land: 262 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than West Virginia 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background 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. The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Birth rate 8.03 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues:
$1.33 billion

expenditures:
$1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
revenues: $423.8 million


expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital Riga name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)


geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W


time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate maritime; wet, moderate winters tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Coastline 531 km 160 km
Constitution the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms 1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Latvia

conventional short form:
Latvia

local long form:
Latvijas Republika

local short form:
Latvija

former:
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Currency Latvian lat (LVL) -
Death rate 14.8 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $800 million (2000 est.) $70 million (1996)
Dependency status - overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador James H. HOLMES

embassy:
Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga

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

telephone:
[371] 721-0005

FAX:
[371] 782-0047
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US 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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; has not ratified 1998 maritime boundary agreement with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights) none
Economic aid - recipient $96.2 million (1995) $390,000 $NA
Economy - overview In 2000, 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. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 - the first Baltic state to join - and was invited at the Helsinki EU Summit in December 1999 to begin accession talks in early 2000. Unemployment fell to 7.8% in 2000, down from 9.6% in 1999, and 9.2% in 1998. Privatization of large state-owned utilities and the shipping industry faced more delays in 2000, and political instability will continue to delay completion of the privatization process over the next year. Latvia projects 6% GDP growth, 2.5%-3.0% inflation, and a 1.7% fiscal deficit in 2001. Preparing for EU membership over the next few years remains a top foreign policy goal. With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Electricity - consumption 4.316 billion kWh (1999) 411 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 1 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 3.996 billion kWh (1999) 441.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
31.78%

hydro:
68.22%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
-
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Baltic Sea 0 m

highest point:
Gaizinkalns 312 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Environment - current issues air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Environment - international 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 Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4% mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Exchange rates lati per US dollar - 0.614 (January 2001), 0.607 (2000), 0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996) Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Andris BERZINS (since 5 May 2000)

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

elections:
president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 1999 (next to be held by NA June 2003); prime minister appointed by the president

election results:
Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA elected as a compromise candidate in second phase of balloting, second round (after five rounds in first phase failed); percent of parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 53%, Valdis BIRKAVS 20%, Ingrida UDRE 9%
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)


head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)


cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business
Exports $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA bbl/day
Exports - commodities wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners Germany 16%, UK 11%, Sweden 11%, Russia 7% (1999) mostly US (2004)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
GDP purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
5%

industry:
33%

services:
62% (1999)
agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 3.2%


services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 5.5% (2000 est.) 0.9% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 57 00 N, 25 00 E 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Geography - note - important location between Cuba and Central America
Highways total:
59,178 km

paved:
22,843 km

unpaved:
36,335 km (1998 est.)
-
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
2.9%

highest 10%:
25.9% (1998)
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
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; limited production of illicit amphetamine, ephedrine, and ecstasy for export offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe
Imports $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) NA bbl/day
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners Russia 15%, Germany 10%, Finland 9%, Sweden 7% (1999) US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004)
Independence 18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate 6.3% (2000 est.) NA%
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, raw materials, and intermediate products tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture
Infant mortality rate 15.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.7% (2000) 4.4% (2004)
International organization participation BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 42 (2000) -
Irrigated land 160 sq km (1993 est.) NA
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Labor force 1.4 million (2000 est.) 23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (2000 est.) agriculture: 1.4%


industry: 12.6%


services: 86% (1995)
Land boundaries total:
1,150 km

border countries:
Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
27%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
13%

forests and woodland:
46%

other:
14% (1993 est.)
arable land: 3.85%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 96.15% (2005)
Languages Latvian or Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other English
Legal system based on civil law system British common law and local statutes
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)

election results:
percent of vote by party - People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 7%; seats by party - People's Party 24, LC 21, TB/LNNK 17, TSP 16, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Life expectancy at birth total population:
68.7 years

male:
62.8 years

female:
74.9 years (2001 est.)
total population: 80.07 years


male: 77.45 years


female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
100%

male:
100%

female:
99% (1989 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 98% (1970 est.)
Location Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica
Map references Europe Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,984 GRT/29,978 DWT

ships by type:
cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 3 (2000 est.)
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1


foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12, Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1, Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)
Military - note - defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $60 million (FY99) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.9% (FY99) -
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
590,784 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
463,944 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 18 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
19,114 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 18 November 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Nationality noun:
Latvian(s)

adjective:
Latvian
noun: Caymanian(s)


adjective: Caymanian
Natural hazards NA hurricanes (July to November)
Natural resources minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, arable land fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Net migration rate -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992) -
Political parties and leaders Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Christian Democrat Union or LKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; Christian People's Party or KTP [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS [Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; For Fatherland and Freedom or TB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; For Human Rights in a United Latvia [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSKI]; Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Latvian National Conservative Party or LNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDWU [Juris BOJARS and Janis ADAMSONS, leaders]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS]; New Christian Party [Ainars SLESERS]; New Faction [Ingrida UDRE]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [Edvins KIDE] no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 2,385,231 (July 2001 est.) 45,436


note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate -0.81% (2001 est.) 2.56% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils -
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios 1.76 million (1997) -
Railways total:
2,412 km

broad gauge:
2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)

narrow gauge:
33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
-
Religions Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Sex ratio at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female

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

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

total population:
0.85 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system 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)
general assessment: reasonably good system


domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services


international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 748,000 (1997) 38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 77,100 (1997) 17,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995) 4 with cable system (2004)
Terrain low plain low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Total fertility rate 1.15 children born/woman (2001 est.) 1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.8% (2000 est.) 4.4% (2004)
Waterways 300 km (perennially navigable) -
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