Latvia
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| Republic of Latvia | |||||
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| National information | |||||
| National motto: | "Tēvzemei un Brīvībai" (Latvian) "For Fatherland and Freedom" |
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| National anthem: | "Dievs, svētī Latviju!" (Latvian) "God, bless Latvia!" |
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| About the people | |||||
| Official languages: | Latvian | ||||
| Population: (# of people) | |||||
| - Total: | 2,291,000 (2006) (ranked 143) | ||||
| - Density: | 36 per km² | ||||
| Geography / Places | |||||
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| Capital city: | Riga | ||||
| Largest city: | Riga | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total: | 64,589 km² 24,937 sq mi (ranked 124) |
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| Politics / Government | |||||
| Established: | November 18, 1918 | ||||
| Leaders: | President: Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga Prime Minister: Aigars Kalvītis |
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| Economy / Money | |||||
| Currency: (Name of money) |
Latvian lats (Ls) | ||||
| International information | |||||
| Time zone: | EET (UTC+2) EEST (UTC+3) |
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| Telephone dialing code: | +371 | ||||
| Internet domain: | .lv | ||||
Latvia is a country in Northern Europe. The capital is Rīga. It is one of the Baltic States, together with Estonia in the north and Lithuania in the south. Latvia's neighbours to the east are the countries Russia and Belarus. Latvia is split into four parts called Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale, and Latgale.
People from Latvia are called Latvians. They speak the Latvian language, which is a little like the Lithuanian language, though not close enough to be understood.
[change] History
Latvia was part of the Soviet Union between 1940 and 1991, when it became an independent country again.
[change] Politics
Latvia was invited to join the European Union at a decision made in Copenhagen on 13 December 2002, together with nine other European countries. On 20 September 2003 66.9% of the Latvians voted in support of joining, and on 1 May 2004 Latvia became a member of the EU. Latvia has been a NATO member since 29 March, 2004.
[change] Other websites
| European Union countries | |
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| Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · United Kingdom |  |
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| Countries | Albania - Andorra - Armenia - Austria - Azerbaijan1 - Belarus - Belgium - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bulgaria - Croatia - Cyprus2 - Czech Republic - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Germany - Georgia1 - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Ireland - Italy - Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Malta - Moldova - Monaco - Montenegro - Netherlands - Norway - Poland - Portugal - Republic of Macedonia - Romania - Russia1 - San Marino - Serbia - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Turkey1 - Ukraine - United Kingdom - Vatican City |
| Dependencies | Akrotiri and Dhekelia2 - Faroe Islands - Gibraltar - Guernsey - Jan Mayen - Jersey - Isle of Man - Svalbard |
| Unrecognised | Abkhazia |
| 1. Country partly in Asia. 2. Geographically in Asia, but often counted as part of Europe for cultural and historical reasons. | |
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| Members | Belgium · Bulgaria · Canada · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Iceland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Turkey · United Kingdom · United States |
| Candidates | Albania · Croatia · Georgia · Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) · * |
