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Compare Latvia (2001) - Saint Lucia (2008)

Compare Latvia (2001) z Saint Lucia (2008)

 Latvia (2001)Saint Lucia (2008)
 LatviaSaint Lucia
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 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
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: 29.4% (male 25,869/female 24,248)


15-64 years: 65.5% (male 55,115/female 56,641)


65 years and over: 5.1% (male 3,200/female 5,576) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Airports 25 (2000 est.) 2 (2007)
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


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
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.)
-
Area total:
64,589 sq km

land:
64,589 sq km

water:
0 sq km
total: 616 sq km


land: 606 sq km


water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative slightly larger than West Virginia 3.5 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 island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Birth rate 8.03 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 19.28 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget revenues:
$1.33 billion

expenditures:
$1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
revenues: $141.2 million


expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)
Capital Riga name: Castries


geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate maritime; wet, moderate winters tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Coastline 531 km 158 km
Constitution the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms 22 February 1979
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: Saint Lucia
Currency Latvian lat (LVL) -
Death rate 14.8 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 5.03 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external $800 million (2000 est.) $257 million (2004)
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
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY


chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016


telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795


FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723


consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
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) joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Economic aid - recipient $96.2 million (1995) $11.06 million (2005)
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. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, with a surge in foreign direct investment in 2006, attributed to the construction of several tourism projects. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, with more than 700,000 arrivals in 2005. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks including declines in European Union banana preferences, volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. High debt servicing obligations constrain the KING administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be reduced.
Electricity - consumption 4.316 billion kWh (1999) 282.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports 400 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports 1 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production 3.996 billion kWh (1999) 304.2 million kWh (2005)
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: Mount Gimie 950 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 deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
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
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%, Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4% black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)
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) East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
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); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997)


head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9 September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office Friday, 7 September 2007


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Exports $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000) 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners Germany 16%, UK 11%, Sweden 11%, Russia 7% (1999) France 69.7%, US 10.2%, UK 8.8% (2006)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 April - 31 March
Flag description three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
GDP purchasing power parity - $17.3 billion (2000 est.) -
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
5%

industry:
33%

services:
62% (1999)
agriculture: 5%


industry: 15%


services: 80% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,200 (2000 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 5.5% (2000 est.) 5.1% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 57 00 N, 25 00 E 13 53 N, 60 58 W
Geography - note - the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean
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 transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Imports $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000) 2,678 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners Russia 15%, Germany 10%, Finland 9%, Sweden 7% (1999) US 21.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.9%, Italy 12.3%, France 11.8%, Venezuela 7.2%, UK 6.9%, Netherlands 5.8% (2006)
Independence 18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union) 22 February 1979 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 6.3% (2000 est.) -8.9% (1997 est.)
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 clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Infant mortality rate 15.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 13.93 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 11.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2.7% (2000) 2.9% (2005 est.)
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 ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 42 (2000) -
Irrigated land 160 sq km (1993 est.) 30 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament) Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Labor force 1.4 million (2000 est.) 43,800 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (2000 est.) agriculture: 21.7%


industry: 24.7%


services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
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: 6.45%


permanent crops: 22.58%


other: 70.97% (2005)
Languages Latvian or Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other English (official), French patois
Legal system based on civil law system based on English common law
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
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)


election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP 50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
Life expectancy at birth total population:
68.7 years

male:
62.8 years

female:
74.9 years (2001 est.)
total population: 74.08 years


male: 70.53 years


female: 77.88 years (2007 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: 90.1%


male: 89.5%


female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
Location Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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


contiguous zone: 24 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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.)
-
Military branches Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2007)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $60 million (FY99) -
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 0.9% (FY99) NA
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 Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Nationality noun:
Latvian(s)

adjective:
Latvian
noun: Saint Lucian(s)


adjective: Saint Lucian
Natural hazards NA hurricanes and volcanic activity
Natural resources minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite, hydropower, arable land forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Net migration rate -1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) -1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 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] National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Sir John COMPTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 2,385,231 (July 2001 est.) 170,649 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate -0.81% (2001 est.) 1.297% (2007 est.)
Ports and harbors Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils -
Radio broadcast stations AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2003)
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 Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
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: 1.07 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.067 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.973 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.574 male(s)/female


total population: 0.974 male(s)/female (2007 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: adequate system


domestic: system is automatically switched


international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados
Telephones - main lines in use 748,000 (1997) 51,100 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular 77,100 (1997) 105,700 (2005)
Television broadcast stations 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995) 2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)
Terrain low plain volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Total fertility rate 1.15 children born/woman (2001 est.) 2.15 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate 7.8% (2000 est.) 20% (2003 est.)
Waterways 300 km (perennially navigable) -
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