![]() Since then, Latvia has been a democratic unitary parliamentary republic. The peaceful Singing Revolution started in 1987, and ended with the restoration of de facto independence on 21 August 1991. As a result of extensive immigration during the Soviet occupation, ethnic Russians became the most prominent minority in the country, now constituting nearly a quarter of the population. The country's de facto independence was interrupted at the outset of World War II, beginning with Latvia's forcible incorporation into the Soviet Union, followed by the invasion and occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941, and the re-occupation by the Soviets in 1944 to form the Latvian SSR for the next 45 years. However, by the 1930s the country became increasingly autocratic after the coup in 1934 establishing an authoritarian regime under Kārlis Ulmanis. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population.Īfter centuries of German, Swedish, Polish-Lithuanian and Russian rule, which was mainly executed by the Baltic German aristocracy, the Republic of Latvia was established on 18 November 1918 when it broke away from the German Empire and declared independence in the aftermath of World War I. Latvians belong to the ethno-linguistic group of the Balts and speak Latvian, one of the only two surviving Baltic languages. The country has a temperate seasonal climate. Latvia covers an area of 64,589 km 2 (24,938 sq mi), with a population of 1.9 million. It is one of the Baltic states and is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia ( / ˈ l ɑː t v i ə/ or / ˈ l æ t v i ə/ ( listen) Latvian: Latvija Latgalian: Latveja Livonian: Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republika, Latgalian: Latvejas Republika, Livonian: Leţmō Vabāmō), is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. ![]() Latvia is de jure continuous with its declaration of 18 November 1918.Latgalian written language and Latvian Sign Language also have special legal status. Livonian is considered an indigenous language and has special legal status. Latvian is the sole official language.
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