(The Washington Post)

Land
24,946 square miles, about the size of West Virginia.

Population
2.5 million

Ethnic groups: 57% Latvian; 25% Russian; 4% Belarusan; others include Ukrainian, Pole, Lithuanian.

Religion: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox.

Economy
Industries: machinery, vehicles, electric railway passenger cars

Chief crops: grains, sugar beets, potatoes

(The Washington Post)

Living Standard
Income per person: $5,300

Health: Life expectancy at birth 61.3 years for men; 73.4 for women.

Passenger cars in use: 252,000

SOURCES: World Almanac, United Nations