Latviju

Latviju is the Latvian accusative form for Latvia. In English the country is called Latvia.

Latvia is a Baltic state in Northern Europe, bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and the Baltic Sea to the west. The capital and largest city is Riga. The landscape is flat to gently rolling with forests, rivers, and many lakes. The climate is temperate and maritime.

Latvia gained independence in 1918, was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, then by Nazi Germany, and re-established independence in 1991.

It joined the European Union and NATO in 2004 and adopted the euro in 2014. Latvia is a parliamentary republic. The Saeima is the unicameral parliament; the president has a largely ceremonial role, and the prime minister leads the government. The economy is diversified, with services dominating; major sectors include manufacturing (notably wood products), logistics, and information technology. It remains closely tied to EU markets and energy networks.

Latvian is the official language; Russian is the largest minority language. The country is known for its folklore, Song and Dance Festival, and Riga’s Art Nouveau architecture. UNESCO sites include Old Riga and the Struve Geodetic Arc.

The population is about 1.9 million, with Latvians the majority and Russians the largest minority. The religious landscape is varied, with a large share of nonreligious affiliation.