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Latvia Overview
- Officially the Republic of Latvia, located in the Baltic region of northern Europe.
- Borders Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, Belarus, and has a maritime border with Sweden.
- Area: 64,573 km²; Population: 1.83 million.
- Capital: Riga; Ethnic Latvians (65.5% population) and Russians (24% population).
History
- Gained independence on 18 November 1918 after WWI; faced autocracy under Kārlis Ulmanis.
- World War II saw occupation by Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
- Restored independence on 21 August 1991 through the Singing Revolution.
Current Status
- Developed country with a high-income economy; ranks 39th in Human Development Index.
- Member of multiple international organizations including the EU and NATO.