🇱🇻Latvia Political Stability: 67.8/100

Latvia is located in Northern Europe on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, covering an area of 64,559 km². The country features a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, characterized by cold winters and warm summers. Its terrain is predominantly flat, with the highest point being Gaiziņkalns at 311.6 meters and a coastline of 494 km along the Baltic Sea.

Latvia has a population of approximately 1.9 million people, with a significant portion being Russian-speaking. The country has a diverse cultural landscape influenced by its history and geography.

World Bank governance: rule of law 77th percentile, corruption control 66th percentile, political stability 53rd percentile.

Latvia's strongest governance dimension is Rule of Law at 77/100, placing it in the top quartile globally. This reflects relatively strong confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, police, and courts.

The weakest dimension is Political Stability at 53/100. Political instability concerns may affect the overall security environment and long-term predictability.

A moderate spread of 25 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Travelers to Latvia benefit from functional government institutions and reasonable regulatory frameworks. While not without challenges, the overall governance environment supports a manageable travel experience with adequate infrastructure and legal protections.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Latvia as Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.