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'''Latvia''' is one of the Baltic States, located on the [[Baltic Sea]]. It borders [[Russia]], [[Estonia]] and [[Lithuania]]. It is a small country with a population of just over 3 million people (though many people of Latvian descent live in the United States and Australia).  

'''Latvia''' is one of the Baltic States, located on the [[Baltic Sea]]. It borders [[Russia]], [[Estonia]] and [[Lithuania]]. It is a small country with a population of under 3 million people (though many people of Latvian descent live in the United States and Australia).  Latvia has a negative population growth rate, meaning that the number of people in the country is getting smaller each year.  

Its capital is Riga, which is on the coast of the Baltic Sea opposite [[Sweden]].  

Its capital is [[Riga]], which is on the coast of the Baltic Sea opposite [[Sweden]].  

== Early History ==

== Early History ==

== Modern History ==

== Modern History ==

Latvia was subject to German occupation during [[World War I]]. It was independent again until [[World War II]], where it was incorporated into the [[Soviet Union]].

Latvia was subject to German occupation during [[World War I]]. It was independent again until [[World War II]], when it was incorporated into the [[Soviet Union]].

The first signs that the harsh Soviet rule of Latvia was relaxing came in the late 1980s, when [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] started to encourage [[glasnost]] (openness) and [[perestroika]] (restructuring). Decades of pent-up bitterness emerged along with mass demands for self-rule. In 1987, Latvian government members joined public meetings and rallies Latvia eventually declared independence in 1991, and joined the [[European Union]] (EU) in 2003.

The first signs that the harsh Soviet rule of Latvia was relaxing came in the late 1980s, when [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] started to encourage [[glasnost]] (openness) and [[perestroika]] (restructuring). Decades of pent-up bitterness emerged along with mass demands for self-rule. In 1987, Latvian government members joined public meetings and rallies Latvia eventually declared independence in 1991, and joined the [[European Union]] (EU) in 2003. Years of Soviet rule changed the makeup of the nation.  30% of the population is now Russian.<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/lg.html</ref>

 

 

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:European Countries]]

[[Category:EU Members]]

[[Category:EU Members]]

[[Category:Baltic States]]

[[Category:Baltic States]]