Topic: Photos of Latvia

Topic: Introduction
Background: Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 26% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016. A dual citizenship law was adopted in 2013, easing naturalization for non-citizen children.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 64,589 sq km

land: 62,249 sq km

water: 2,340 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,370 km

border countries (4): Belarus 161 km; Estonia 333 km; Lithuania 544 km; Russia 332 km
Coastline: 498 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation: highest point: Gaizina Kalns 312 m

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 87 m
Natural resources: peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 54.1% (2018 est.)

other: 16.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 12 sq km (2012)

note: land in Latvia is often too wet and in need of drainage not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage
Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Natural hazards: large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
Geography - note: most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east
Map description: Latvia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Latvia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,842,226 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s)

adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.)
Languages: Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4%; note - data represent language usually spoken at home (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):
World Factbook, neaizstājams avots pamata informāciju. (Latvian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.32% (male 148,120/female 140,028)

15-24 years: 9% (male 87,372/female 81,965)

25-54 years: 40.41% (male 380,817/female 379,359)

55-64 years: 14.77% (male 125,401/female 152,548)

65 years and over: 20.5% (2020 est.) (male 128,151/female 257,471)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 59

youth dependency ratio: 26.1

elderly dependency ratio: 32.9

potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 44.4 years

male: 40.5 years

female: 48 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.11% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 8.73 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: largest concentration of people is found in and around the port and capital city of Riga; small agglomerations are scattered throughout the country
Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 625,000 RIGA (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.36 male(s)/female

total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.3 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.91 years

male: 71.47 years

female: 80.56 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.9% of population

rural: 98.6% of population

total: 99.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.1% of population

rural: 1.4% of population

total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 6.6% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.4 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 98.9% of population

rural: 85.3% of population

total: 94.6% of population

unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population

rural: 14.7% of population

total: 5.4% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2019 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5,600 (2019 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2019 est.) <100
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.6% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 37% (2020 est.)

male: 50.3% (2020 est.)

female: 23.7% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2018)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.9%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.9% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.9%

male: 14.4%

female: 15.5% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: while land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 7 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 1.85 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Land use: agricultural land: 29.2% (2018 est.)

arable land: 18.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 10.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 54.1% (2018 est.)

other: 16.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: -0.68% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 857,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 181,941 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 21.2% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 94.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 25.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 61.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 34.94 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia

conventional short form: Latvia

local long form: Latvijas Republika

local short form: Latvija

former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

etymology: the name "Latvia" originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Riga

geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: of the several theories explaining the name's origin, the one relating to the city's role in Baltic and North Sea commerce is the most probable; the name is likely related to the Latvian word "rija," meaning "warehouse," where the 'j' became a 'g' under the heavy German influence in the city from the late Middle Ages to the early 20th century
Administrative divisions: 36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspilscities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils
Independence: 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution: history: several previous (pre-1991 independence); note - following the restoration of independence in 1991, parts of the 1922 constitution were reintroduced 4 May 1990 and fully reintroduced 6 July 1993

amendments: proposed by two thirds of Parliament members or by petition of one tenth of qualified voters submitted through the president; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of three readings; amendment of constitutional articles, including national sovereignty, language, the parliamentary electoral system, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires passage in a referendum by majority vote of at least one half of the electorate; amended several times, last in 2019
Legal system: civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Latvia

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Egils LEVITS (since 8 July 2019)

head of government: Prime Minister Krisjanis KARINS (since 23 January 2019)

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by Parliament

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 29 May 2019 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament

election results: Egils LEVITS elected president; Parliament vote - Egils LEVITS 61 votes, Didzis SMITS 24, Juris JANSONS 8; Krisjanis KARINS confirmed prime minister 61-39
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

elections: last held on 6 October 2018 (next to be held in October 2022)

election results: percent of vote by party - S 19.8%, KPV LV 14.3%, JKP 13.6%, AP! 12%, NA 11%, ZZS 9.9%, JV 6.7%, other 12.7%; seats by party - S 23, KPV LV 16, JKP 16, AP! 13, NA 13, ZZS 11, JV 8; composition as of April 2022 - men 73, women 27, percent of women 27%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 36 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts
Political parties and leaders: Development/For! or AP! [Daniels PAVLUTS, Juris PUCE]
National Alliance "All For Latvia!"-"For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK" or NA [Raivis DZINTARS] New Conservative Party or JKP [Janis BORDANS]
Social Democratic Party "Harmony" or S [Janis URBANOVICS]
Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Armands KRAUZE]
New Unity or JV [Arvils ASERADENS]
Who Owns the State? or KPV LV (disbanded 2021)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maris SELGA (since 16 September 2019)

chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840

FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860

email address and website:
embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv

https://www2.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Leslie CARWILE (since 5 November 2019)

embassy: 1 Samnera Velsa Street (former Remtes), Riga LV-1510

mailing address: 4520 Riga Place, Washington DC  20521-4520

telephone: [371] 6710-7000

FAX: [371] 6710-7050

email address and website:
askconsular-riga@state.gov

https://lv.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280
National symbol(s): white wagtail (bird); national colors: maroon, white
National anthem: name: "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)

lyrics/music: Karlis BAUMANIS

note: adopted 1920, restored 1990; first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Riga, Struve Geodetic Arc

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing more than half of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia's low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality.   Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07, but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the slowing world economy. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged by more than 14% in 2009 and, despite strong growth since 2011, the economy took until 2017 return to pre-crisis levels in real terms. Strong investment and consumption, the latter stoked by rising wages, helped the economy grow by more than 4% in 2017, while inflation rose to 3%. Continued gains in competitiveness and investment will be key to maintaining economic growth, especially in light of unfavorable demographic trends, including the emigration of skilled workers, and one of the highest levels of income inequality in the EU.   In the wake of the 2008-09 crisis, the IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro in exchange for the government's commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011, although, the austerity measures imposed large social costs. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 80% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 and the EU in May 2004. Latvia also joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing more than half of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia's low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality. Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07, but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the slowing world economy. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged by more than 14% in 2009 and, despite strong growth since 2011, the economy took until 2017 return to pre-crisis levels in real terms. Strong investment and consumption, the latter stoked by rising wages, helped the economy grow by more than 4% in 2017, while inflation rose to 3%. Continued gains in competitiveness and investment will be key to maintaining economic growth, especially in light of unfavorable demographic trends, including the emigration of skilled workers, and one of the highest levels of income inequality in the EU. In the wake of the 2008-09 crisis, the IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro in exchange for the government's commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011, although, the austerity measures imposed large social costs. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 80% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 and the EU in May 2004. Latvia also joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $56.92 billion (2020 est.)

$59.06 billion (2019 est.)

$57.88 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.08% (2019 est.)

4.2% (2018 est.)

3.23% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $29,900 (2020 est.)

$30,900 (2019 est.)

$30,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $34.084 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.)

2.5% (2018 est.)

2.9% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A- (2014)

Moody's rating: A3 (2015)

Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.9% (2017 est.)

industry: 22.4% (2017 est.)

services: 73.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 61.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 19.9% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1.5% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 60.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -61.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, pork, poultry
Industries: processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: 10.6% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 885,000 (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 7.7%

industry: 24.1%

services: 68.1% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.14% (2019 est.)

6.51% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 14.9%

male: 14.4%

female: 15.5% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22.9% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.6 (2017 est.)

35.4 (2014)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2%

highest 10%: 26.3% (2015)
Budget: revenues: 11.39 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 11.53 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 36.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

37.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
Taxes and other revenues: 37.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$222 million (2019 est.)

-$99 million (2018 est.)
Exports: $20.23 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.5 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$21.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Lithuania 16%, Estonia 10%, Russia 9%, Germany 7%, Sweden 6%, United Kingdom 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: lumber, broadcasting equipment, whiskey and other hard liquors, wheat, packaged medicines (2019)
Imports: $19.84 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$20.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$21.38 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Russia 21%, Lithuania 14%, Germany 9%, Poland 7%, Estonia 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, packaged medicines, aircraft (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.614 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$3.514 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $40.164 billion (2019 est.)

$42.488 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.82771 (2020 est.)

0.90338 (2019 est.)

0.87789 (2018 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 6.241 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 6.798 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 3.795 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 4.828 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 2.932 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 39% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 53% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 8% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 44,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 16,180 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 54,370 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 1.218 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 1.246 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 211,849 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,051,359 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom market continues to benefit from investment and from regulatory measures aimed at developing 5G and fiber based infrastructure; there is effective competition in the mobile market, with extensive services based on LTE-A technologies to boost data speeds; operators such as Bité Latvia and Tele2 Latvia have also begun transitioning their networks to support services and applications based on 5G, though with the existing capacity of LTE infrastructure a large scale 5G deployment is not expected until 2023; to facilitate this progress, the regulator in March 2021 approved an application from Tele2 Latvia and Bité to share almost half of their spectrum assets; in the fixed-line broadband sector, the country is ranked second highest in Europe (after Iceland) for fiber coverage and take-up, closely followed by Lithuania; with this infrastructure in place, the country has also developed a sophisticated digital economy, with e-commerce and e-government services widely available.  (2021)

domestic: fixed-line roughly 11 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 109 per 100 subscriptions (2020)

international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber-optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations
Internet country code: .lv
Internet users: total: 1,691,400 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 89% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 490,569 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 53

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,058,762 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.01 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YL
Airports: total: 42 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 7 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24

under 914 m: 24 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Pipelines: 1,213 km gas, 417 km refined products (2018)
Railways: total: 1,860 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 34 km (2018) 0.750-m gauge

broad gauge: 1,826 km (2018) 1.520-m gauge
Roadways: total: 70,244 km (2018)

paved: 15,158 km (2018)

unpaved: 55,086 km (2018)
Waterways: 300 km (2010) (navigable year-round)
Merchant marine: total: 70

by type: general cargo 22, oil tanker 9, other 39 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Riga, Ventspils

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (2022)
Military expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

2.2% of GDP (2020)

2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $920 million)

2.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $900 million)

1.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $740 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the National Armed Forces of Latvia have approximately 6,500 active duty troops (5,500 Land Forces; 500 Naval Force/Coast Guard; 500 Air Force; note - some Land Forces are considered joint forces); 8,200 National Guard (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Latvian military's inventory is limited and consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and more modern--mostly second-hand--European and US equipment; since 2010, it has received limited amounts of equipment from several European countries, Israel, and the US (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (abolished 2007) (2022)

note(s) - in July 2022, the Latvian Government announced that it was reinstating mandatory military service for men aged 18-27 (women voluntarily) beginning in July 2023; service would be for 1 year in the Land Forces or alternatively in internal affairs, health, or welfare structures

- as of 2019, women comprised about 16% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments: 130 Kosovo (KFOR/NATO) (2022)
Military - note: Latvia became a member of NATO in 2004
 since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia

NATO also has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations (2022)since 2017, Latvia has hosted a Canadian-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; in addition, Latvia hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division North; activated 2020), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate NATO battlegroups in Estonia and Latvia

NATO also has provided air protection for Latvia since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Latvia-Belarus: Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008 Latvia-Estonia: demarcation reportedly completed in 1998 Latvia-Lithuania: boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights Latvia-Russia: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with RussiaLatvia-Belarus: Belarus and Latvia signed joint demarcation map in September 2008Latvia-Estonia: demarcation reportedly completed in 1998Latvia-Lithuania: boundary demarcation was completed by the end of 1998; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rightsLatvia-Russia: Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; in March 2007, Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty, which includes Latvia withdrawing claims to a district now in Russia that was part of Latvia before WWII; the permanent demarcation of the boundary between Latvia and Russia was completed and came into force in April 2018; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 34,201 (Ukraine) (as of 5 July 2022)

stateless persons: 209,168 (mid-year 2021); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem
Illicit drugs: transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Baltic countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds


This entry contains a brief description of the topography.

Topic: Afghanistanmostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Topic: Albaniamostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Topic: Algeriamostly high plateau and desert; Atlas Mountains in the far north and Hoggar Mountains in the south; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Topic: American Samoafive volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Atoll, Swains Island)

Topic: Andorrarugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Topic: Angolanarrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Topic: Anguillaflat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Topic: Antarcticaabout 99% thick continental ice sheet and 1% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 m; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 m; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Topic: Antigua and Barbudamostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

Topic: Arctic Oceancentral surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 m thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge) major surface currents: two major, slow-moving, wind-driven currents (drift streams) dominate: a clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyre in the western part of the Arctic Ocean and a nearly straight line Transpolar Drift Stream that moves eastward across the ocean from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to the Fram Strait (between Greenland and Svalbard); sea ice that lies close to the center of the gyre can complete a 360 degree circle in about 2 years, while ice on the gyre periphery will complete the same circle in about 7-8 years; sea ice in the Transpolar Drift crosses the ocean in about 3 yearscentral surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 m thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)major surface currents: two major, slow-moving, wind-driven currents (drift streams) dominate: a clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyre in the western part of the Arctic Ocean and a nearly straight line Transpolar Drift Stream that moves eastward across the ocean from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to the Fram Strait (between Greenland and Svalbard); sea ice that lies close to the center of the gyre can complete a 360 degree circle in about 2 years, while ice on the gyre periphery will complete the same circle in about 7-8 years; sea ice in the Transpolar Drift crosses the ocean in about 3 years

Topic: Argentinarich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Topic: ArmeniaArmenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Topic: Arubaflat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandslow with sand and coral

Topic: Atlantic Oceansurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin major surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the northsurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basinmajor surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north

Topic: Australiamostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Topic: Austriamostly mountains (Alps) in the west and south; mostly flat or gently sloping along the eastern and northern margins

Topic: Azerbaijanlarge, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) to the west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Topic: Bahamas, Thelong, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Topic: Bahrainmostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Topic: Bangladeshmostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Topic: Barbadosrelatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Topic: Belarusgenerally flat with much marshland

Topic: Belgiumflat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Topic: Belizeflat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Topic: Beninmostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Topic: Bermudalow hills separated by fertile depressions

Topic: Bhutanmostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Topic: Boliviarugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinamountains and valleys

Topic: Botswanapredominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Topic: Bouvet Islandvolcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Topic: Brazilmostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryflat and low (most areas do not exceed two m in elevation)

Topic: British Virgin Islandscoral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Topic: Bruneiflat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

Topic: Bulgariamostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Topic: Burkina FasoMostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in the west and southeast.  Occupies an extensive plateau with savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. (2019)

Topic: Burmacentral lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Topic: Burundihilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Topic: Cabo Verdesteep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Topic: Cambodiamostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Topic: Cameroondiverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Topic: Canadamostly plains with mountains in west, lowlands in southeast

Topic: Cayman Islandslow-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Topic: Central African Republicvast, flat to rolling plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Topic: Chadbroad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Topic: Chilelow coastal mountains, fertile central valley, rugged Andes in east

Topic: Chinamostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Topic: Christmas Islandsteep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Topic: Clipperton Islandcoral atoll

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsflat, low-lying coral atolls

Topic: Colombiaflat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains (Llanos)

Topic: Comorosvolcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thevast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Topic: Congo, Republic of thecoastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Topic: Cook Islandslow coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Topic: Coral Sea Islandssand and coral reefs and islands (cays)

Topic: Costa Ricacoastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major active volcanoes

Topic: Cote d'Ivoiremostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Topic: Croatiageographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Topic: Cubamostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Topic: Curacaogenerally low, hilly terraingenerally low, hilly terrain

Topic: Cypruscentral plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Topic: CzechiaBohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Topic: Denmarklow and flat to gently rolling plains

Topic: Djibouticoastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Topic: Dominicarugged mountains of volcanic origin

Topic: Dominican Republicrugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys

Topic: Ecuadorcoastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Topic: Egyptvast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Topic: El Salvadormostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Topic: Equatorial Guineacoastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Topic: Eritreadominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains

Topic: Estoniamarshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Topic: Eswatinimostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Topic: Ethiopiahigh plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Topic: European Unionfairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Topic: Faroe Islandsrugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Topic: Fijimostly mountains of volcanic origin

Topic: Finlandmostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Topic: Francemetropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east; French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains; Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin; Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano; Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks; Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coastmetropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east; French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains; Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin; Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano; Mayotte: generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks; Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Topic: French Polynesiamixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs; Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands; Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon; Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamountIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs; Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands; Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with peninsulas stretching off its coasts; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon; Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Topic: Gabonnarrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Topic: Gambia, Theflood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Topic: Gaza Stripflat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Topic: Georgialargely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; fertile soils in river valley flood plains and foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Topic: Germanylowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Topic: Ghanamostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Topic: Gibraltara narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Topic: Greecemountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Topic: Greenlandflat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Topic: Grenadavolcanic in origin with central mountains

Topic: Guamvolcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south

Topic: Guatemalatwo east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands

Topic: Guernseymostly flat with low hills in southwest

Topic: Guineagenerally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Topic: Guinea-Bissaumostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets

Topic: Guyanamostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Topic: Haitimostly rough and mountainous

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsHeard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)urban; low hill

Topic: Hondurasmostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Topic: Hong Konghilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Topic: Hungarymostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Topic: Icelandmostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Topic: Indiaupland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Topic: Indian Oceansurface dominated by a major gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean and a unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge major surface currents: the counterclockwise Indian Ocean Gyre comprised of the southward flowing warm Agulhas and East Madagascar Currents in the west, the eastward flowing South Indian Current in the south, the northward flowing cold West Australian Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north; a distinctive annual reversal of surface currents occurs in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and clockwise currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and counterclockwise currentssurface dominated by a major gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean and a unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridgemajor surface currents: the counterclockwise Indian Ocean Gyre comprised of the southward flowing warm Agulhas and East Madagascar Currents in the west, the eastward flowing South Indian Current in the south, the northward flowing cold West Australian Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north; a distinctive annual reversal of surface currents occurs in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and clockwise currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and counterclockwise currents

Topic: Indonesiamostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

Topic: Iranrugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Topic: Iraqmostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

Topic: Irelandmostly flat to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Topic: Isle of Manhills in north and south bisected by central valley

Topic: IsraelNegev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Topic: Italymostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Topic: Jamaicamostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Topic: Jan Mayenvolcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Topic: Japanmostly rugged and mountainous

Topic: Jerseygently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Topic: Jordanmostly arid desert plateau; a great north-south geological rift along the west of the country is the dominant topographical feature and includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands

Topic: Kazakhstanvast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the south

Topic: Kenyalow plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Topic: Kiribatimostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Topic: Korea, Northmostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; wide coastal plains in west, discontinuous in east

Topic: Korea, Southmostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Topic: Kosovoflat fluvial basin at an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m

Topic: Kuwaitflat to slightly undulating desert plain

Topic: Kyrgyzstanpeaks of the Tien Shan mountain range and associated valleys and basins encompass the entire country

Topic: Laosmostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Topic: Latvialow plain

Topic: Lebanonnarrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Topic: Lesothomostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Topic: Liberiamostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Topic: Libyamostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Topic: Liechtensteinmostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Topic: Lithuanialowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Topic: Luxembourgmostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast

Topic: Macaugenerally flat

Topic: Madagascarnarrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Topic: Malawinarrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Topic: Malaysiacoastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Topic: Maldivesflat, with white sandy beaches

Topic: Malimostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Topic: Maltamostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Topic: Marshall Islandslow coral limestone and sand islands

Topic: Mauritaniamostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Topic: Mauritiussmall coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Topic: Mexicohigh, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofislands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Topic: Moldovarolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Topic: Monacohilly, rugged, rocky

Topic: Mongoliavast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Topic: Montenegrohighly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Topic: Montserratvolcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Topic: Moroccomountainous northern coast (Rif Mountains) and interior (Atlas Mountains) bordered by large plateaus with intermontane valleys, and fertile coastal plains; the south is mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces

Topic: Mozambiquemostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Topic: Namibiamostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Topic: Naurusandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Topic: Navassa Islandraised flat to undulating coral and limestone plateau; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)

Topic: NepalTarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north

Topic: Netherlandsmostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Topic: New Caledoniacoastal plains with interior mountains

Topic: New Zealandpredominately mountainous with large coastal plains

Topic: Nicaraguaextensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Topic: Nigerpredominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Topic: Nigeriasouthern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Topic: Niuesteep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Topic: Norfolk Islandvolcanic island with mostly rolling plains

Topic: North Macedoniamountainous with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsthe southern islands in this north-south trending archipelago are limestone, with fringing coral reefs; the northern islands are volcanic, with active volcanoes on several islands

Topic: Norwayglaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Topic: Omancentral desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Topic: Pacific Oceansurface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Pacific and another in the southern Pacific; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest at 10,924 m major surface currents: clockwise North Pacific Gyre formed by the warm northward flowing Kuroshio Current in the west, the eastward flowing North Pacific Current in the north, the southward flowing cold California Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Pacific Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm East Australian Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Pacific Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Peru (Humbolt) Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the northsurface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Pacific and another in the southern Pacific; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest at 10,924 mmajor surface currents: clockwise North Pacific Gyre formed by the warm northward flowing Kuroshio Current in the west, the eastward flowing North Pacific Current in the north, the southward flowing cold California Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Pacific Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm East Australian Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Pacific Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Peru (Humbolt) Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north

Topic: Pakistandivided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west

Topic: Palauvarying topography from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Topic: Panamainterior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dissected, upland plains; coastal plains with rolling hills

Topic: Papua New Guineamostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Topic: Paracel Islandsmostly low and flat

Topic: Paraguaygrassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Topic: Peruwestern coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Topic: Philippinesmostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Topic: Pitcairn Islandsrugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Topic: Polandmostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Topic: Portugalthe west-flowing Tagus River divides the country: the north is mountainous toward the interior, while the south is characterized by rolling plains

Topic: Puerto Ricomostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Topic: Qatarmostly flat and barren desert

Topic: Romaniacentral Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Topic: Russiabroad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions

Topic: Rwandamostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Topic: Saint Barthelemyhilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with plentiful beaches

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhathe islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains; Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east; Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffsthe islands of this group are of volcanic origin associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains; Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; terrain rises to the east; Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisvolcanic with mountainous interiors

Topic: Saint Luciavolcanic and mountainous with broad, fertile valleys

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonmostly barren rock

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesvolcanic, mountainous

Topic: Samoatwo main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior

Topic: San Marinorugged mountains

Topic: Sao Tome and Principevolcanic, mountainous

Topic: Saudi Arabiamostly sandy desert

Topic: Senegalgenerally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Topic: Serbiaextremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills

Topic: SeychellesMahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Topic: Sierra Leonecoastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Topic: Singaporelowlying, gently undulating central plateau

Topic: Sint Maartenlow, hilly terrain, volcanic originlow, hilly terrain, volcanic origin

Topic: Slovakiarugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Topic: Sloveniaa short southwestern coastal strip of Karst topography on the Adriatic; an alpine mountain region lies adjacent to Italy and Austria in the north; mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Topic: Solomon Islandsmostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Topic: Somaliamostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Topic: South Africavast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsmost of the islands are rugged and mountainous rising steeply from the sea; South Georgia is largely barren with steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

Topic: South Sudanplains in the north and center rise to southern highlands along the border with Uganda and Kenya; the White Nile, flowing north out of the uplands of Central Africa, is the major geographic feature of the country; The Sudd (a name derived from floating vegetation that hinders navigation) is a large swampy area of more than 100,000 sq km fed by the waters of the White Nile that dominates the center of the country

Topic: Southern Oceanthe Southern Ocean is 4,000 to 5,000-m deep over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in area major surface currents: the cold, clockwise-flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift; 21,000 km long) moves perpetually eastward around the continent and is the world's largest and strongest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers; it is also the only current that flows all the way around the planet and connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastlinethe Southern Ocean is 4,000 to 5,000-m deep over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in areamajor surface currents: the cold, clockwise-flowing Antarctic Circumpolar Current (West Wind Drift; 21,000 km long) moves perpetually eastward around the continent and is the world's largest and strongest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers; it is also the only current that flows all the way around the planet and connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans; the cold Antarctic Coastal Current (East Wind Drift) is the southernmost current in the world, flowing westward and parallel to the Antarctic coastline

Topic: Spainlarge, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north

Topic: Spratly Islandssmall, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs

Topic: Sri Lankamostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Topic: Sudangenerally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north

Topic: Surinamemostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Topic: Svalbardrugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts

Topic: Swedenmostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Topic: Switzerlandmostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Topic: Syriaprimarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west

Topic: Taiwaneastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Topic: Tajikistanmountainous region dominated by the Alay Mountains in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofirnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Topic: Tanzaniaplains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Topic: Thailandcentral plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Topic: Timor-Lestemountainous

Topic: Togogently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Topic: Tokelaulow-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Topic: Tongamostly flat islands with limestone bedrock formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic rock

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagomostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Topic: Tunisiamountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges

Topic: Turkmenistanflat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandslow, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Topic: Tuvalulow-lying and narrow coral atolls

Topic: Ugandamostly plateau with rim of mountains

Topic: Ukrainemostly fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, with mountains found only in the west (the Carpathians) or in the extreme south of the Crimean Peninsula

Topic: United Arab Emiratesflat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert; mountains in east

Topic: United Kingdommostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Topic: United Statesvast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugeslow and nearly flat sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains, which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor

Topic: Uruguaymostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Topic: Uzbekistanmostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zaravshan; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

Topic: Vanuatumostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Topic: VenezuelaAndes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Topic: Vietnamlow, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Topic: Virgin Islandsmostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little flat land

Topic: Wake Islandatoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Topic: Wallis and Futunavolcanic origin; low hills

Topic: West Bankmostly rugged, dissected upland in west, flat plains descending to Jordan River Valley to the east

Topic: Worldtremendous variation of terrain on each of the continents; check the World 'Elevation' entry for a compilation of terrain extremes; the world's ocean floors are marked by mid-ocean ridges while the ocean surfaces form a dynamic, continuously changing environment; check the "Terrain" field and its 'major surface currents' and 'ocean zones' subfields under each of the five ocean (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern) entries for further information on oceanic environs

Ten Cave Superlatives: compiled from "Geography - note(s)" under various country entries where more details may be found

largest cave: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam is the world's largest cave (greatest cross sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume; it currently measures a total of 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thung cave (but not yet officially); when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m in volume

largest ice cave: the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, Austria is the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi)

longest cave: Mammoth Cave, in west-central Kentucky, is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 mi) of surveyed passageways

longest salt cave: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom in Israel is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase

longest underwater cave: the Sac Actun cave system in Mexico at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide

longest lava tube cave: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep

deepest cave: Veryovkina Cave in the Caucasus country of Georgia is the world's deepest cave, plunging down 2,212 m (7,257 ft)

deepest underwater cave: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete and it could end up being some 800-1,200 m deep

largest cave chamber: the Miao Room in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume

largest bat cave: Bracken Cave outside of San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave; it is the summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals

Topic: Yemennarrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Topic: Zambiamostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Topic: Zimbabwemostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east


Topic: Introduction
Background: Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. All of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829. Independence was achieved in 1901.Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. All of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829. Independence was achieved in 1901.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 7,741,220 sq km

land: 7,682,300 sq km

water: 58,920 sq km
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
Natural resources: alumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, opals, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports; as well, Australia is by far the world's largest supplier of opals

Topic: People and Society
Population: 26,141,369 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: English 36.1%, Australian 33.5%, Irish 11.0%, Scottish 9.3%, Chinese 5.6%, Italian 4.6%, German 4.5%, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2.8%, Indian 2.8%, Greek 1.8%, Dutch 1.6% (2016 est.)English 36.1%, Australian 33.5%, Irish 11.0%, Scottish 9.3%, Chinese 5.6%, Italian 4.6%, German 4.5%, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander 2.8%, Indian 2.8%, Greek 1.8%, Dutch 1.6%
Languages: English 72.7%, Mandarin 2.5%, Arabic 1.4%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.2%, Italian 1.2%, Greek 1%, other 14.8%, unspecified 6.5% (2016 est.)
Religions: Protestant 23.1% (Anglican 13.3%, Uniting Church 3.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 2.3%, Baptist 1.5%, Pentecostal 1.1%, Lutheran .7%, other Protestant .5%), Roman Catholic 22.6%, other Christian 4.2%, Muslim 2.6%, Buddhist 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3% (Eastern Orthodox 2.1%, Oriental Orthodox .2%), Hindu 1.9%, other 1.3%, none 30.1%, unspecified 9.6% (2016 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.25% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Canberra
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)

head of government: Prime Minister Anthony ALBANESE (since 23 May 2022)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of:
Senate (76 seats; 12 members from each of the 6 states and 2 each from the 2 mainland territories; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of state membership renewed every 3 years and territory membership renewed every 3 years)
House of Representatives (151 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by majority preferential vote; members serve terms of up to 3 years)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Asian and global economic leader and partner for 3 decades; strong financial sector and highly traded domestic currency support best credit ratings; aging workforce; export-led model; reduced consumer spending offset by government and business; energy investorAsian and global economic leader and partner for 3 decades; strong financial sector and highly traded domestic currency support best credit ratings; aging workforce; export-led model; reduced consumer spending offset by government and business; energy investor
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,250,900,000,000 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $48,700 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, wheat, barley, milk, rapeseed, beef, cotton, grapes, poultry, potatoes
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Exports: $299.04 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: China 39%, Japan 15%, South Korea 7%, India 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: iron ore, coal, natural gas, gold, aluminum oxide (2019)
Imports: $249.07 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 25%, United States 12%, Japan 7%, Germany 5%, Thailand 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment, delivery trucks (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 27, 2022


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Syria due to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict, and risk of unjust detention. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: [963] (11) 3391-4444; US Embassy in Damascus, Abou Roumaneh, 2 Al Mansour Street, Damascus, Syria; USIS_damascus@embassy.mzv.cz;

https://sy.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 963
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 110; Fire 113; Police: 112
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Currency (Code): Syrian pounds (SYP)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, E, L

Major Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English
Major Religions: Muslim 87% (includes Sunni 74% and Alawi, Ismaili, and Shia 13%), Christian 10% (includes Orthodox, Uniate, and Nestorian), Druze 3%
Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March, ends at midnight on the last Friday in October
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Palmyra & Valley of The Tombs; Damascus (includes Historic Center, Souq al-Hamidiyya, Umayyad Mosque); Ancient City of Aleppo; Krak des Chevaliers; Bosra
Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming
Cultural Practices: Displaying the soles of one’s feet to another person is improper. Similarly, placing one’s feet on top of a table is not acceptable.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is a common way of showing appreciation, but the amount is left to the discretion of the giver; 10 % is standard in larger restaurants.
Souvenirs: Rosewood, ebony, and olive wood carvings; embroidery, woven items, and hand-loomed brocade fabric; leather goods; gold and silver jewelry; mother-of-pearl items; inlaid steel and copper items; pottery
Traditional Cuisine: Kibbeh — ground lamb, bulgur, and seasonings baked, fried, stuffed or served raw; often served with tabbouleh (a salad made with tomatoes, parsley, bulgur, and onions mixed in a sauce of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt)Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Monday, June 20, 2022