(1997)

Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate, but is being
modernized to provide an international capability independent of the
Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for
individual use

domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,
rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied
subscriber applications

international: international connections are now available via
cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct
connections for most calls (1998)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 1.76 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations: 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions: 1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code: .lv

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 42 (2000)

Internet users: 234,000 (2000)

Latvia Transportation

Railways: total: 2,412 km

broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)

narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)

Highways: total: 59,178 km

paved: 22,843 km

unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.)

Waterways: 300 km (perennially navigable)

Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas
560 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils

Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,984
GRT/29,978 DWT

ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 3
(2000 est.)

Airports: 25 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 13

2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 4 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 7 (2000 est.)

Latvia Military

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,
Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 590,784 (2001
est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49:
463,944 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 19,114
(2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $60 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY99)

Latvia Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary with
Russia has not been sign