Latvijas Republika Republic of Latvia
Flag Coat of arms Motto: "Tēvzemei un Brīvībai"  (Latvian) "For Fatherland and Freedom" Anthem: Dievs, svētī Latviju!  (Latvian) "God, bless Latvia!"	Location of  Latvia  (dark green) – on the European continent  (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union  (light green)  —  [Legend]
Capital (and largest city) Riga 56°57′N, 24°6′E Official languages Latvian Ethnic groups  60.0% Latvians 27.3% Russians   3.7% Belarusians   2.5% Ukrainians   6.5% others Demonym Latvian Government Parliamentary republic  -  President Valdis Zatlers  -  Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis Independence from Russia and Germany   -  Declared November 18, 1918   -  Recognized January 26, 1921   -  Proclaimed2 May 4, 1990   -  Completed September 6, 1991  EU accession May 1, 2004 Area  -  Total 64,589 km² (124th) 24,937 sq mi   -  Water (%) 1.5	Population  -  December 2007 estimate 2,270,700 (143rd)  -  2000 census 2 375 000   -  Density 36/km² (166th) 93/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate  -  Total $41,108 billion (92th)  -  Per capita $18,103 (46th) GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate  -  Total $27,301 billion (83th)  -  Per capita $11,958 (47st) Gini (2003) 37.7 (medium)  HDI (2007) ▲ 0.855 (high) (45th) Currency Lats (Ls) (LVL) Time zone EET (UTC+2)  -  Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Internet TLD .lv 3 Calling code +371

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvija or Latvijas Republika) is a country in Northern Europe in the Baltic region. It is bordered to the north by Estonia (343 km), to the south by Lithuania (588 km), and to the east both by Belarus (141 km) and the Russian Federation (276 km).[1] Across the Baltic Sea to the west lies Sweden. The territory of Latvia covers 64,589 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate.

The Latvians are a Baltic people closely related to the Lithuanians, with the Latvian language sharing many similarities to Lithuanian. Today the Latvians and Lithuanians are the only surviving members of the Baltic peoples and Baltic languages of the Indo-European family. The modern name of Latvia is thought to originate from the ancient Latvian name Latvji, which may have originated from the word Latve which is a name of the river that presumably flowed through what is now eastern Latvia.[citation needed]

Latvia is a democratic parliamentary republic and is divided into 26 districts. The capital and largest city is Riga. Latvia has been a member of the United Nations since 17 September 1991, of the European Union since 1 May 2004 and of NATO since 29 March 2004.