The WHO Country Office Latvia (keywords: PVO Eiropas reÄ£ionÄlais birojs, PVO pÄrstÄvniecÄ«ba LatvijÄ, Pasaules VeselÄ«bas organizÄcija Latvija, SabiedrÄ«bas veselÄ«ba LatvijÄ) was established in 1991 in Riga to serve as a direct link between the Government of Latvia and WHO. The Country Office is the focal point for WHO activities in Latvia and the Country team consists of 2 staff members.
After independence in 1991, Latvia initially moved to create a social health insurance type system. However, problems with decentralized planning and fragmented and inefficient financing led to this being gradually reversed, and ultimately the establishment in 2011 of a National Health Service type system.
The main causes of death in Latvia are diseases of the circulatory system, malignant tumors and external causes.
EUROPEAN UNION
Capital: Riga
Geographical size: 64.562 km2
Population: 2.001.468 (2014)
Population as % of total EU population: 0,4 % (2014)
GDP: € 23.372 billion (2013)
Official EU language(s): Latvian
Political system: Parliamentary Republic
EU member country since: 1 May 2004
Seats in the European Parliament: 8
Currency: Eurozone member since 1 January 2014
Schengen area member? Yes, Schengen Area member since 21 December 2007
Presidency of the Council: Latvia holds the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in 2015
| Total population (2013) | 2.050.000 |
| Gross national income per capita (PPP international $, 2013) | 22.970 |
| Life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2012) | 69/79 |
| Probability of dying under five (per 1 000 live births, 0) | not available |
| Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population, 2012) | 224/85 |
| Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2012) | 1.188 |
| Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2012) | 6,0 % |