Latvia is one of the 28 member states of European Union and Schengen area as well as member of NATO, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. Latvia is located at the crossroads of northern and eastern Europe and borders Estonia to the north, Russia and Belarus to the east, and Lithuania to the south. It borders the Baltic Sea to the west across from Sweden.
Key Facts and Numbers
| Capital | Riga |
| Official language | Latvian (English and Russian also is widely spoken) |
| Population | 2’2274’700 |
| Area | 64’589 km 2 |
| Currency | EURO |
| Time Zone | GMT +2, November to March GMT +3 |
| Country dialing code | +371 |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Electricity standard | 220 volts; EU standard 50 hertz plugs |
| Units of measure | Metric system |
A Journey Through Latvia – Video
Location of Latvia
Latvia has a convenient geographical location in North-eastern Europe on the east coast of the Baltic Sea.
Riga International Airport (RIX) is located only minutes away from the Riga downtown and is one of the fastest growing travel hubs in Europe by providing cheap, fast and easy access to any country in Europe, Russia or elsewhere in the world.
The largest Latvian ice-free ports provide a wide range of global shipping needs. Port “Ventspils” is one of the busiest ports in the Baltic Sea region in terms of cargo turnover.
Economical and Political Environment
In the wake of the economic crisis of 2008, Latvia has reduced government expenses, implemented several pro-business reforms and focused policy on being a true partner for investors. The government successfully implemented difficult measures that led the country out of the crisis and has laid the groundwork for sustained growth.
Latvia is one of a very few countries in Europe and the world whose economy is stable and has grown for 2 years consecutively.
Latvia is a democratic republic that abides by the rule of law. It is fully integrated into the European Union by applying European Union laws and regulations within its legal system.
Latvian Main Cities
Latvia’s political, economic and culture centre is Riga, where more than one third of Latvia’s population (650 thousand) live and work. Riga is one of the oldest medieval cities in Europe and has been listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s most important cultural and heritage sites.
Latvian Nature
With over 44% of its territory covered by forests and thousands of lakes, Latvia is one of Europe’s most well preserved havens for a wide variety of wildlife. Latvia has one of the longest coast lines in Europe with 500 kilometers of white sand beach along the Baltic Sea. Latvia’s weather features a temperate maritime climate, with mild summers, moderate winters and frequently high levels of humidity and precipitation.
