Latvia

November 18, 1918 (Monday) – Declares independence from Russia

August 11, 1920 (Wednesday) – Signs peace treaty with Soviet Russia, gaining recognition

August 5, 1940 (Monday) – Annexed by Soviet Union as Latvian SSR

June 14, 1941 (Saturday) – Mass deportations by Soviets begin

March 25, 1949 (Friday) – Second wave of Soviet deportations

May 4, 1990 (Friday) – Declares intent to restore independence

August 21, 1991 (Wednesday) – Independence restored from USSR

January 1, 2004 (Thursday) – Joins the European Union and NATO

January 1, 2014 (Wednesday) – Euro adopted as official currency

December 21, 2005 (Wednesday) – Storm Erwin causes damage across Latvia, 4 fatalities

January 9, 2007 (Tuesday) – Blizzard and snowstorm, Riga paralyzed, infrastructure impacted

November 21, 2013 (Thursday) – Zolitūde supermarket roof collapse in Riga kills 54; deadliest civil

disaster in modern Latvian history

October 27, 2020 (Tuesday) – Flooding in Latgale, road and railway damage

February 18, 2023 (Saturday) – Storm Otto brings wind gusts up to 35 m/s, power outages affect over 100,000 households

Continent: Europe
Location: Northern Europe, Baltic region
Capital: Riga
Language: Latvian
Currency: Euro (€)
Population: ~1.84 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2); Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3 in summer)*

Borders: Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania
Landscape: Low-lying plains, forests, lakes, rivers, sandy coastline
Major Rivers: Daugava, Gauja, Lielupe, Venta
Major Mountains: Gaiziņkalns (highest hill), Vidzeme Upland
Deserts: None
Lakes: Lake Lubāns, Lake Rāzna, Lake Engure
Volcanoes: None (no volcanic activity)
Highest Point: Gaiziņkalns – 311.6 m (1,022 ft)
Lowest Point: Baltic Sea coastline – 0 m
Climate: Temperate; humid continental with maritime influence, cold winters, mild summers
Geological Features: Glacial moraines, coastal bluffs, bogs, eskers

Ethnic Groups: Latvian (~63%), Russian (~25%), Belarusian, Ukrainian, others
Religion: Predominantly Christian (Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Orthodox)
Urban Population: ~68% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~21% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Song and dance festivals, Art Nouveau architecture, Baltic mythology
Cuisine: Grey peas with bacon, rye bread, smoked fish, cold beet soup
Arts: Choral music, traditional folk dress, ceramics, weaving
Sports: Ice hockey, basketball, football

Economy Type: High-income, market economy
GDP: Approx. $47.2 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Wood processing, IT, food products, logistics, machinery
Key Exports: Wood and timber, machinery, electronics, foodstuffs
Unemployment Rate: ~6.4% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Riga metropolitan area, Kurzeme, Latgale

Government Type: Parliamentary republic
Head of State: President Edgars Rinkēvičs (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Saeima (unicameral parliament)
Constitution: Adopted February 15, 1922; restored in 1993 after independence

Riga: Historic Old Town (UNESCO), Freedom Monument, Art Nouveau district
Gauja National Park: Medieval castles, hiking trails, caves
Jūrmala: Beach resort town on the Gulf of Riga
Cēsis: Well-preserved medieval castle town
Latgale region: Lakes, Orthodox churches, ceramics
Rundāle Palace: Baroque-style palace with French gardens