Interesting Latvia Facts

Latvia is a coastal country located in Northern Europe where it is bordered by Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and the Baltic Sea. It occupies 64,559 km2 of land. The estimated overall population of Latvia is somewhere in the region of 1,949,670.

Check out interesting Latvia facts and information about this European country with our fact file for kids. Uncover important facts about the size, climate, currency, flag, continent, people, culture, geography, landscape, landmarks, population, location and language of Latvia.

Explore Europe with our interesting Latvia facts for kids based on questions such as: What continent is Latvia in? How big is Latvia? What is the climate like in Latvia? What is the main language of Latvia? What are the major cities of Latvia?

Latvia Fact File: Continent: Europe * Country Name(s): Latvia, Republic of Latvia * Location: Northern Europe * Bordering: Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and the Baltic Sea * Capital City: Riga * Size: 64,559 km2 * Estimated Population: over 1,949,670 * Currency: Euro (EUR) * Language(s): Latviana * Country Code: +371

Interesting Latvia Facts for Kids

Interesting Facts for Kids 1: Size & location facts
Latvia is located on the continent of Europe, where it has a coastal position and is bordered by Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia and the Baltic Sea. There are seven continents in the world: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Antarctica, Australia (Oceania). Europe is the world's second smallest continent, it has 51 countries, with some countries belonging to both Europe and Asia. It occupies a total area of 10,180,000 km2 and forms 6.8% of the landmass of the world. Latvia is a coastal country that spreads across a total area of approximately 64,559 km2. It is one of the smaller countries located in mainland Europe. The area size of Latvia is very similar to the size of Lithuania.

Interesting Facts for Kids 2: Population facts
The population of this European country is thought to be more than 1,949,670 people. The majority of Latvia's inhabitants reside in Riga which is the country's most populous city. Latvia has a low to average population when compared to most other countries across the world, its overall population density is approximately 34 people per sq km. The estimated population of Europe is approximately 738,442,000 inhabitants, making it the continent with the second smallest population in the world. The continents in order of population, starting with highest population first, are: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia (Oceania Region) and Antarctica. The total population of the entire world is in excess of 7.6 billion people.

Interesting Facts for Kids 3: Capital & major cities
The capital of Latvia is Riga. The names of other major cities located in this country are Daugavpils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Jūrmala and Ventspils.

Interesting Facts for Kids 4: Country borders
The following border information provides details on the length of Latvia's borders:
Coastline 498 km, Belarus 161 km, Estonia 333 km, Lithuania 544 km, Russia 332 km.

Interesting Facts for Kids 5: Climate and geography facts
Latvia has a temperate climate with cold, snowy winters and warm summers. The geography of Latvia is dominated by lowland and fertile plains for the most part, and hilly regions in the east. The lowest point of Latvia is the Baltic Sea at 0m, and the highest point of elevation is Gaizina Kalns at 312m.

Interesting Facts for Kids 6: Natural Resources of Latvia
Natural resources can be defined as materials and substances that occur naturally on Earth. Natural resources are very important across the world, and can be exploited for economic gain. The level of resources that occur naturally in an individual country are influenced by varying factors such as the geography, climate and location of that country. Some countries are very rich in natural resources, where as others have limited to none. Countries that have particularly rich resources include Russia, The United States, Saudi Arabia and Canada. Food, construction and transport are three primary examples of uses of natural resources. The following information provides examples of these uses: fish occurs naturally in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans, and can be caught for food consumption. Wood/timber can be extracted from forests for construction purposes, i.e. to build homes and furniture. Crude oils can be refined into different kinds of fuels in order to power vehicles/cars. The natural resources found in Latvia include peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower (water power), timber, and arable land suitable for growing crops.

Interesting Facts for Kids 7: Language facts
The official language of Latvia is Latvian, however, approximately one-third of the population speak Russian as a first language. Other languages that are used by a very small percentage in this country are Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian.

Interesting Facts for Kids 8: Religion facts
The main religion of Latvia is Lutheran at approximately 19% of the population. Around 15% are Orthodox. The remaining population either belongs to other religions or no religion at all.

Interesting Facts for Kids 9: Symbols of Latvia
Each country has its own individual culture, history and identity. Flags, emblems, symbols, mottos, colors, anthems and songs represent the national pride and identity of countries worldwide. These national symbols are formed through the unique history of a nation and are symbolic of both hardship and prosperity, embodying freedom, strength and unity. Flags, emblems, songs, mottos and colors reflect the past, present and future hopes of a country, and create an important image to the rest of the world. National symbols can include a mixture of things that are symbolic to a country such as animals, birds, flowers, trees, geographical features, tools of agriculture, crops, and tools of war. Here are some important facts on the symbols, songs and colors of Latvia:

  • National symbol(s): white wagtail (bird)

  • National colors: maroon and white

  • National Anthem/Song: Dievs, sveti Latviju! (Translation: God Bless Latvia)

  • National Holiday(s): Independence Day 18 November (1918)

  • National Motto(s): Tevzemei un Brivibai (Translation: Fatherland and Freedom); Gods kalpot Latvijai! (Translation: Honor to serve for Latvia )

Interesting Latvia Facts for Kids

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