They are predominantly Lutheran, though there are Orthodox and Roman Catholics. Because of a low birthrate their numbers have grown little in recent years. A large percentage of the non-Latvians are Russian, and the rest include Belorussians, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, and Poles who migrated to Latvia after 1940. Despite decades of Soviet industrialization, agriculture is still essential in the economy. Some rye, barley, flax, potatoes, sugar beets, and fodder crops are grown.
Fishing is important along the Baltic coast and also in the Atlantic.
Latvia has few industrial raw materials. The only fuel is peat, which is used in several large electric power plants. There are a few small hydroelectric plants. Natural gas comes by pipeline from Ukraine. Manufacturing has developed rapidly, and electric motors, farm machinery, buses, railroad equipment, and ships are produced.