Full name:	Republic of Latvia (country code LV)
Area:	64,589 sq km or 24,937 sq mi
Location:	northeastern Europe, bordered by Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and the Baltic Sea
Population (July 2005 est.):	2,306,600
Capital:	Riga
Largest cities and towns:	Riga, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Ventspils
Largest ports:	Ventspils, Riga, Liepaja
National holiday:	November 18th (the proclamation of independence was November 18, 1918)
Type of government:	democratic, parliamentary republic
Chief of State:	President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (since July 8, 1999) President elected by Parliament for up to two 4 year terms
Head of Government:	Prime Minister Aigars Kalvītis
Legislative Branch:	Saeima (unicameral Parliament) - 100 seats, members elected to serve [up to]4 year term)

Information on Latvia is available on many Internet web sites. One important information compiler is the Latvian Institute (LI), which was established by the Latvian government in 1998 to provide basic, essential and useful information in several languages about varied aspects of Latvia, its history, culture and society. 

Economy