30 fascinating facts about Latvia - Latvia is a small country with a little more than 2 million inhabitants. Most of this population lives in the capital city, Riga. The country has been occupied by several countries and belonged to the former Soviet Union until 1991. Check out 30 amazing facts about this Baltic country!

0 / 31 Fotos

Territory - Latvia is a European country and one of the three Baltic states. It borders Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the south-east, and Lithuania to the south.

1 / 31 Fotos

Population - Latvia has a little more than 2 million inhabitants, with the majority concentrated in the capital, Riga.

2 / 31 Fotos

Birth rate - The country's low population numbers are due not only to low birth rates, but also to the large-scale migration of qualified young professionals to other countries.

3 / 31 Fotos

Ethnicities - Latvia has a multiethnic population: 62% identifies as Latvians, 27% as Russian, 3% as Belarusian, 2% as Polish, 2% as Ukrainian, and 4% as other ethnicities.

4 / 31 Fotos

Metropolis - The country's capital and main city is Riga. The metropolis is also the largest in the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

5 / 31 Fotos

Metropolis - After Riga, the cities with the largest populations are Daugavpils, Liepaja, and Jelgava.

6 / 31 Fotos

Riga - Riga's historical center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the city is particularly notable for its Art Nouveau architecture, which is comparable in importance with Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Barcelona.

7 / 31 Fotos

Language - The country's official language is Latvian. The language is one of the oldest in Europe and is estimated to be around 5,000 years old. Russian is also known by the majority of the population.

8 / 31 Fotos

Invasions - Latvia was invaded by various nations, including Lithuania, Sweden, and Russia.

9 / 31 Fotos

Invasions - For much of the 20th century, the country was a member of the Soviet Union.

10 / 31 Fotos

Organizations - Since then, the country has strengthened its ties with the west and on 1 May 2004 it became a member of both the European Union and NATO.

11 / 31 Fotos

Independence - The country gained its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union.

12 / 31 Fotos

Freedom - The Freedom Monument in Riga is a memorial in honor of soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence. The Latvian people consider this monument a symbol of freedom, independence, and sovereignty.

13 / 31 Fotos

Religion - 78.9% of Latvia's population is Christian. The largest group is Lutherans, who represent 34.2% of the population, followed by Catholics at 24.1% and finally the Orthodox at 17.8%.

14 / 31 Fotos

Politics - The country has a parliamentary republic governed by President Raimonds Vējonis and Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis.

15 / 31 Fotos

Rare - Latvia has one of the highest percentages of redheads in the world.

16 / 31 Fotos

Gender - Latvia has an average of 1.2 women for every man.

17 / 31 Fotos

Internet - Latvia has one of the fastest broadband speeds in the world. WiFi is practically free (no password required) and is available virtually everywhere.

18 / 31 Fotos

Christmas tree - It is said that the world's first Christmas tree was installed in the main market square of Riga in 1510.

19 / 31 Fotos

Celebrities - The most internationally famous Latvian is NBA star Krispstaps Porzingis, who plays for the New York Knicks.

20 / 31 Fotos

Dance festival - Latvia has one of the largest music and dance festivals in the world, the Latvian Song and Dance Festival. The event is held every five years and brings together dance and music groups from around the country.

21 / 31 Fotos

Folklore - Latvians value their folk music. The country has one of the largest collections of folk songs in the world at over 300,000!

22 / 31 Fotos

Flag - The Latvian flag is one of the oldest in the world. It dates back to the 13th century.

23 / 31 Fotos

Celebrations - The summer solstice, called Jani, is celebrated annually and is considered the most important festival. Jani is celebrated from 23 to 24 June. Bonfires are lit in every corner of the country and people come together to celebrate traditions that go back thousands of years.

24 / 31 Fotos

Stork - Stork's nests are part of the local landscape. The bird is a symbol of the country and can be found on stamps and some coins.

25 / 31 Fotos

White wagtail - The country's national bird is the white wagtail. The species lives in many parts of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Some reside permanently in these places, whilst others migrate to Africa.

26 / 31 Fotos

Market - The Riga Central Market is the largest in the Baltic states and one of the largest in Europe. It is one of the most remarkable structures of the 20th century in Latvia and has been included in UNESCO's list as a World Heritage Site.

27 / 31 Fotos

Rivers - Latvia has more than 12,000 rivers, of which only 17 are over 55 miles. The country also has over 3000 small lakes. Latvia's main rivers are Daugava, Lielupe, Gauja, Venda, and Salaca.

28 / 31 Fotos

Forests - About 50% of the country's territory is covered by forests. There are numerous urban and national parks, as well as a biosphere reserve.

29 / 31 Fotos

Sports - Ice Hockey is Latvia's national sport.

30 / 31 Fotos