THE COUNTRY
Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.).
The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries.
Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.
- Gauja National Park;
- Jurmala Resort;
- Rundale Palace & Museum;
- Turaida Museum Reserve;
- Riga (includes Freedom Statue, Saint Peter's Church, Blackheads House)
- Private Jets, Helicopters and Airliners
- Finest Onboard Catering
- Ground Transport and Yachts
- Luxury Villa & House Rentals
- Local Guide & 24/7 Assistance
- Customized Global Services
TO BE KNOWN
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The State's CapitalRiga
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Time ZoneUTC +2
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Telephone Code371
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Total Area64 589 Km2
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Population1 821 750 (2023 est.)
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Main LanguagesLatvian, Russian
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CurrencyEuros (EUR)
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GDP Per CapitaUSD 32100
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Airports42
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Heliports1
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Maritime; wet, moderate winters
Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%
Even numbers of flowers indicate mourning, so be sure to present odd numbers of flowers in arrangements.
Grey Peas and Bacon — grey peas cooked in smoked bacon, onion, and salt; rye bread
High-income, EU-member Baltic economy; export-driven; major bribery and money-laundering scandals suggest widespread financial corruption; strong but gradual post COVID-19 recovery; regional tension with Belarus; highly developed transit services
