Country Guide

Latvia Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania


Geographic coordinates:
57 00 N, 25 00 E


Map references:
Europe


Area:
total:64,589 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 124
land:62,249 sq km
water:2,340 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than West Virginia


Land boundaries:
total:1,382 km
border countries:Belarus 171 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km, Russia 292 km


Coastline:
498 km


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation


Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters


Terrain:
low plain


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point:Gaizina Kalns 312 m


    Natural resources:
peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land


Land use:
arable land:17.96%
permanent crops:0.11%
other:81.93% (2011)


Irrigated land:
8.3 sq km


Total renewable water resources:
35.45 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
35.45 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
NA


Environment - current issues:
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
most of the country is composed of fertile low-lying plains with some hills in the east

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Latvian(s)
adjective:Latvian


Ethnic groups:
Latvian 61.1%, Russian 26.2%, Belarusian 3.5%, Ukrainian 2.3%, Polish 2.2%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.4% (2013 est.)


Languages:
Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.)


Religions:
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)


Population:
2,165,165 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 144


Age structure:
0-14 years:14.2% (male 156,851/female 150,074)
15-24 years:11% (male 121,435/female 116,602)
25-54 years:44.8% (male 481,336/female 487,991)
55-64 years:12.8% (male 122,544/female 155,114)
65 years and over:17.1% (male 121,668/female 251,550) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:51 %
youth dependency ratio:22.9 %
elderly dependency ratio:28.1 %
potential support ratio:3.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:41.4 years
male:38.4 years
female:44.3 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
-0.62% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 225


Birth rate:
9.79 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 198


Death rate:
13.6 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 14


Net migration rate:
-2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 172


Urbanization:
urban population:67.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:-0.38% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
RIGA (capital) 701,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.48 male(s)/female
total population:0.86 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
26.4 (2011 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
34 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:7.91 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 156
male:9.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female:6.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:73.44 yearscountry comparison to the world: 123
male:68.41 years
female:78.75 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.35 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 211


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
67.8%


Health expenditures:
6.7% of GDP (2010)


Physicians density:
2.9 physicians/1,000 population (2010)


Hospital bed density:
5.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 99.6% of population
rural: 95.8% of population
total: 98.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.4% of population
rural: 4.2% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 82.1% of population
rural: 71.1% of population
total: 78.6% of population
unimproved:
urban: 17.9% of population
rural: 28.9% of population
total: 21.4% of population (2009 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 58


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,600 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 110


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 74


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
24.9% (2008)country comparison to the world: 62


Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 77

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.8%
male:99.8%
female:99.8% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:16 years
male:15 years
female:16 years (2011)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:28.4%country comparison to the world: 29
male:27.6%
female:29.3% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form:Latvia
local long form:Latvijas Republika
local short form:Latvija
former:Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic


Government type:
parliamentary democracy


Capital:
name:Riga
geographic coordinates:56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference:UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October


Administrative divisions:
110 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 9 cities


Independence:
4 May 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia declared independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union


Constitution:
several previous (preindependence); note - at independence, parts of the 1922 constitution were reinforced and fully reinforced 6 July 1993; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)


Legal system:
civil law system with traces of socialist legal traditions and practices


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Andris BERZINS (since 8 July 2011)
head of government:Prime Minister Laimdota STRAUJUMA (since 22 January 2014)
cabinet:Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament
elections:president elected by Parliament for a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 2 June 2011 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by Parliament
election results:Andris BERZINS elected president; parliamentary vote - Andris BERZINS 53, Valdis ZATLERS 41


Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members elected by proportional representation from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 17 September 2011 (next to be held in October 2014)
election results:percent of vote by party - SC 28.4%, Reform 20.8%, Unity 18.8%, National Alliance 13.9%, ZZS 12.2%, other 5.9%; seats by party - SC 31, Unity 20, Reform 16, National Alliance 14, ZZS 13, unaffiliated 6


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of the Senate with 27 judges and Supreme Court of Chambers with 22 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 7 judges)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges nominated by chief justice and confirmed by the Saeima; judges serve until age 70, but term can be extended 2 years; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by Saeima members, 2 by Cabinet ministers, and 2 by plenum of Supreme Court; all judges confirmed by Saeima majority vote; Constitutional Court president and vice president serve in their positions for 3 years; all judges serve 10-year terms; mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:district (city) and regional courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Union of Greens and Farmers or ZZS [Raimonds VEJONIS]
Harmony Center or SC [Nils USAKOVS]
National Alliance 'All For Latvia!'-'For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK' or NA [Gaidis BERZINS, Raivis DZINTARS]
Unity [Solvita ABOLTINA]
Reform Party or RP [Edmunds DEMITERS]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia [Peteris KRIGERS]


International organization participation:
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Andris RAZANS (since 27 July 2012)
chancery:2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 328-2840
FAX:[1] (202) 328-2860


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Mark A. PEKALA (since 10 July 2012)
embassy:1 Samnera Velsa St, Riga LV-1510
mailing address:Embassy of the United States of America, 1 Samnera Velsa St, Riga, LV-1510, Latvia
telephone:[371] 6710-7000
FAX:[371] 6710-7050


Flag description:
three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280


National symbol(s):
white wagtail (bird)


National anthem:
name:'Dievs, sveti Latviju!' (God Bless Latvia)

lyrics/music:Karlis BAUMANIS
note:adopted 1920, restored 1990; the song was first performed in 1873 while Latvia was a part of Russia; the anthem was banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990

Economy

Economy - overview:
Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing nearly a third of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highly-developed, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia's low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality. Latvia's economy experienced GDP growth of more than 10% per year during 2006-07, but entered a severe recession in 2008 as a result of an unsustainable current account deficit and large debt exposure amid the softening world economy. Triggered by the collapse of the second largest bank, GDP plunged 18% in 2009. The economy has not returned to pre-crisis levels despite strong growth, especially in the export sector in 2011-12. The IMF, EU, and other international donors provided substantial financial assistance to Latvia as part of an agreement to defend the currency's peg to the euro in exchange for the government's commitment to stringent austerity measures. The IMF/EU program successfully concluded in December 2011. The government of Prime Minister Valdis DOMBROVSKIS remains committed to fiscal prudence and reducing the fiscal deficit. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises, including 99.8% ownership of the Latvian national airline. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999 and the EU in May 2004. Latvia intends to join the euro zone in 2014.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$38.87 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$37.38 billion (2012 est.)
$35.4 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.38 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
5.6% (2012 est.)
5.5% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$19,100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$18,300 (2012 est.)
$17,100 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
24.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
22.7% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:62.4%
government consumption:15%
investment in fixed capital:22.5%
investment in inventories:2.8%
exports of goods and services:61.3%
imports of goods and services:-63.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:4.9%
industry:25.7%
services:69.4% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
grain, rapeseed, potatoes, vegetables; pork, poultry, milk, eggs; fish


Industries:
processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics


Industrial production growth rate:
4.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Labor force:
1.022 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:8.8%
industry:24%
services:67.2% (2010 est.)


Unemployment rate:
9.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
11.4% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:2.7%
highest 10%:27.6% (2008)


Distribution of family income - Gini index:
35.2 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 90
32 (1999)


    Budget:
revenues:$10.9 billion
expenditures:$10.95 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
35.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47


Public debt:
39.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
40.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.2% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
2.3% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
3.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
3.5% (31 December 2010 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
5.52% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$9.865 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$9.099 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$12.57 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$12.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$17.39 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$18.39 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.115 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
-$613.9 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
-$473.4 million (2012 est.)


Exports:
$12.67 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
$12.23 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
food products, wood and wood products, metals, machinery and equipment, textiles


Exports - partners:
Russia 18.2%, Lithuania 14.9%, Estonia 12.1%, Germany 7.5%, Poland 5.6%, Sweden 4.8% (2012)


Imports:
$15.56 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$15.15 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, fuels, vehicles


Imports - partners:
Lithuania 19.1%, Germany 11.6%, Russia 9.2%, Poland 8.2%, Estonia 7.6%, Italy 4.6%, Finland 4.4% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$7.22 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$7.523 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$39.87 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
$39.43 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$15.49 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$14.14 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.212 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$1.992 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
lati (LVL) per US dollar -
0.5313 (2013 est.)
0.5469 (2012 est.)
0.5305 (2010 est.)
0.5056 (2009)
0.4701 (2008)
note:Latvia joined the EMU and adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2014

Energy

Electricity - production:
6.412 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112


Electricity - consumption:
6.56 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102


Electricity - exports:
2.764 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37


Electricity - imports:
4.009 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.166 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
27.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
70.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
1.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73


Crude oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
31,340 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112


Refined petroleum products - exports:
6,146 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89


Refined petroleum products - imports:
35,930 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153


Natural gas - consumption:
1.52 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134


Natural gas - imports:
1.58 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
8.475 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
501,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 97


Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.31 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 139


Telephone system:
general assessment:recent efforts focused on bringing competition to the telecommunications sector; the number of fixed lines is decreasing as mobile-cellular telephone service expands
domestic:number of telecommunications operators has grown rapidly since the fixed-line market opened to competition in 2003; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 150 per 100 persons
international:country code - 371; the Latvian network is now connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden (2008)



    Broadcast media:
several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations throughout the country; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations (2007)


Internet country code:
.lv


Internet hosts:
359,604 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 58


Internet users:
1.504 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 81

Transportation

Airports
42 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 101


Airports - with paved runways
total:18
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:4
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:7 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:24
under 914 m:
24 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 928 km; refined products 415 km (2013)


Railways
total:2,239 kmcountry comparison to the world: 68
broad gauge:2,206 km 1.520-m gauge
narrow gauge:33 km 0.750-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:72,440 kmcountry comparison to the world: 64
paved:14,707 km
unpaved:57,733 km (2013)


Waterways
300 km (navigable year round) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 93


Merchant marine
total:11country comparison to the world: 113
by type:cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:3 (Estonia 3)
registered in other countries:79 (Antigua and Barbuda 16, Belize 9, Comoros 2, Dominica 2, Georgia 1, Liberia 5, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 19, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Riga, Ventspils

Military

Military branches
National Armed Forces (Nacionalo Brunoto Speku): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Navy (Latvijas Juras Speki; includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flotes)), Latvian Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), Latvian Home Guard (Latvijas Zemessardze) (2011)


Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2012)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:546,090
females age 16-49:540,810 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:401,691
females age 16-49:447,638 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:10,482
female:9,858 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
0.92% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 106
1.05% of GDP (2011)
0.92% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Russia demands better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; boundary demarcated with Latvia and Lithuania; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia has implemented the strict Schengen border rules with Russia


Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons:280,759 (2012); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem


    Illicit drugs
transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook

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Vietnam Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia


Geographic coordinates:
16 10 N, 107 50 E


Map references:
Southeast Asia


Area:
total:331,210 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 66
land:310,070 sq km
water:21,140 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico


Land boundaries:
total:4,639 km
border countries:Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km


Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin


Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (May to September) and warm, dry season (October to March)


Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest


    Elevation extremes:
lowest point:South China Sea 0 m
highest point:Fan Si Pan 3,144 m


Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:19.64%
permanent crops:11.18%
other:69.18% (2011)


Irrigated land:
45,850 sq km (2005)


Total renewable water resources:
884.1 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
884.1 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta


Environment - current issues:
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective:Vietnamese


Ethnic groups:
Kinh (Viet) 85.7%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.8%, Muong 1.5%, Khmer 1.5%, Mong 1.2%, Nung 1.1%, others 5.3% (1999 census)


Languages:
Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer, mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)


Religions:
Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)


Population:
93,421,835 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 15


Age structure:
0-14 years:24.3% (male 11,946,656/female 10,800,602)
15-24 years:17.8% (male 8,598,360/female 8,023,377)
25-54 years:44.8% (male 20,983,638/female 20,861,243)
55-64 years:7.4% (male 3,149,494/female 3,763,309)
65 years and over:5.6% (male 2,034,721/female 3,260,435) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:41.3 %
youth dependency ratio:31.9 %
elderly dependency ratio:9.4 %
potential support ratio:10.6 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:29.2 years
male:28.1 years
female:30.2 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 119


Birth rate:
16.26 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 121


Death rate:
5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 170


Net migration rate:
-0.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 129


Urbanization:
urban population:31% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.03% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
Ho Chi Minh City 6.405 million; HANOI (capital) 2.955 million; Haiphong 925,000; Da Nang 834,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.12 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.11 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.62 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
22.6


Maternal mortality rate:
59 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:18.99 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 95
male:19.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female:18.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:72.91 yearscountry comparison to the world: 129
male:70.44 years
female:75.65 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.85 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 147


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
77.8% (2010/11)


Health expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
1.22 physicians/1,000 population (2008)


Hospital bed density:
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 98.2% of population
rural: 93.6% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.8% of population
rural: 6.4% of population
total: 5% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 93.1% of population
rural: 66.6% of population
total: 75% of population
unimproved:
urban: 6.9% of population
rural: 33.4% of population
total: 25% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.4% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 81


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
259,200 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 23


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,700 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 25


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
1.7% (2008)country comparison to the world: 186


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
12% (2011)country comparison to the world: 60


Education expenditures:
6.3% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 33

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:93.4%
male:95.4%
female:91.4% (2011 est.)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:



Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:5.5%country comparison to the world: 135
male:4.6%
female:6.5% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form:Vietnam
local long form:Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form:Viet Nam
abbreviation:SRV


Government type:
Communist state


Capital:
name:Hanoi (Ha Noi)
geographic coordinates:21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference:UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)


Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)


Constitution:
several previous; latest adopted 15 April 1992, effective 1 January 1995; amended 2001, 2013 (2014)


Legal system:
civil law system; note - the civil code of 2005 reflects a European-style civil law


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Truong Tan SANG (since 25 July 2011); Vice President Nguyen Thi DOAN (since 25 July 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc DAM (since 13 November 2013), Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung HAI (since 2 August 2007), Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh MINH (since 13 November 2013), Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van NINH (since 3 August 2011), and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan PHUC (since 3 August 2011)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and confirmed by National Assembly
elections:president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for five-year term; last election held 25 July 2011 (next to be held in July 2016); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers confirmed by National Assembly
election results:Truong Tan SANG elected president, percent of National Assembly vote - 97%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime minister, percent of National Assembly vote - 94%


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 22 May 2011 (next to be held in May 2016)
election results:percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPV 458, non-party CPV-approved 38, self-nominated 4; note - 500 candidates were elected; the 496 CPV and non-party CPV-approved delegates were members of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front and were vetted prior to the election


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme People's Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 judges)
judge selection and term of office:chief justice elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president for a 5-year, renewable term; other judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms
subordinate courts:Court of Appeals; administrative, civil, criminal, economic, and labor courts; Central Military Court; People's Special Courts; note - the National Assembly can establish special tribunals


    Political parties and leaders:
Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nguyen Phu TRONG]
note:other parties proscribed


Political pressure groups and leaders:
8406 Bloc


International organization participation:
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Nguyen Quoc CUONG (since 2 May 2011)
chancery:1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:[1] (202) 861-0737
FAX:[1] (202) 861-0917
consulate(s) general:Houston, New York, San Francisco
consulate:New York


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador David B. SHEAR (since 4 August 2011)
embassy:Rose Garden Building, 170 Ngoc Khanh St., Hanoi
mailing address:7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; 4550 Hanoi Place, Washington, DC 20521-4550
telephone:[84] (4) 3850-5000
FAX:[84] (4) 3850-5010
consulate(s) general:Ho Chi Minh City


Flag description:
red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center; red symbolizes revolution and blood, the five-pointed star represents the five elements of the populace - peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders, and soldiers - that unite to build socialism


National symbol(s):
yellow, five-pointed star on red field; lotus blossom


National anthem:
name:'Tien quan ca' (The Song of the Marching Troops)

lyrics/music:Nguyen Van CAO
note:adopted as the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945; it became the national anthem of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976; although it consists of two verses, only the first is used as the official anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
Vietnam is a densely-populated developing country that has been transitioning from the rigidities of a centrally-planned economy since 1986. Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic modernization in recent years. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in January 2007, which has promoted more competitive, export-driven industries. Vietnam became an official negotiating partner in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement in 2010. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued to shrink from about 25% in 2000 to less than 20% in 2013, while industry's share increased from 36% to more than 42% in the same period. State-owned enterprises account for about 40% of GDP. Poverty has declined significantly, and Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a labor force that is growing by more than one million people every year. The global recession hurt Vietnam's export-oriented economy, with GDP in 2013 growing at 5%, the slowest rate of growth since 1999. In 2013, however, exports increased by more than 12%, year-on-year; several administrative actions brought the trade deficit back into balance. Between 2008 and 2011, Vietnam's managed currency, the dong, was devalued in excess of 20%, but its value remained relatively stable in 2013. Hanoi has oscillated between promoting growth and emphasizing macroeconomic stability in recent years. In February 2011, the government shifted from policies aimed at achieving a high rate of economic growth, which had stoked inflation, to those aimed at stabilizing the economy, through tighter monetary and fiscal control. Although Vietnam unveiled a broad, 'three pillar' economic reform program in early 2012, proposing the restructuring of public investment, state-owned enterprises, and the banking sector, little perceptible progress has been made. Vietnam's economy continues to face challenges from an undercapitalized banking sector. Non-performing loans weigh heavily on banks and businesses.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$358.9 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$340.8 billion (2012 est.)
$323.8 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$170 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
5.2% (2012 est.)
6.2% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,000 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
$3,800 (2012 est.)
$3,700 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
38.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
39% of GDP (2012 est.)
32.8% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:68.9%
government consumption:6.8%
investment in fixed capital:30.4%
investment in inventories:3.1%
exports of goods and services:84.7%
imports of goods and services:-93.9%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:19.3%
industry:38.5%
services:42.2% (2013 est.)


Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, rubber, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood


Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, mobile phones


Industrial production growth rate:
5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Labor force:
52.93 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:48%
industry:21%
services:31% (2012)


Unemployment rate:
1.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
3.2% (2012 est.)


Population below poverty line:
11.3% (2012 est.)


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:3.2%
highest 10%:30.2% (2008)


    Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.6 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78
36.1 (1998)


Budget:
revenues:$42.82 billion
expenditures:$50 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
25.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-4.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153


Public debt:
48.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
48.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
note:official data; data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
9.1% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
9% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 11
15% (31 December 2011)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
13.47% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$43.99 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$40.34 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$184.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$165.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
$173.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$163.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Market value of publicly traded shares:
$38.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Current account balance:
$8.162 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$9.062 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$128.9 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$114.6 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
clothes, shoes, electronics, seafood, crude oil, rice, coffee, wooden products, machinery


Exports - partners:
US 17.8%, Japan 11.8%, China 11.2%, South Korea 5%, Malaysia 4.1% (2012)


Imports:
$121.4 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
$104.7 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, steel products, raw materials for the clothing and shoe industries, electronics, plastics, automobiles


Imports - partners:
China 25.8%, South Korea 13.9%, Japan 10.4%, Singapore 6%, Thailand 5.2%, US 4.3% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$32.49 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
$26.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$68.38 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$63.95 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$84.61 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$73.71 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA (31 December 2009 est.)
$5.3 billion (31 December 2008)


Exchange rates:
dong (VND) per US dollar -
21,118 (2013 est.)
20,859 (2012 est.)
18,612.92 (2010 est.)
17,799.6 (2009)
16,548.3 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
117 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Electricity - consumption:
104 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Electricity - exports:
964 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60


Electricity - imports:
2.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
26.3 million kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
55% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
45% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99


Crude oil - production:
363,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33


Crude oil - exports:
188,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
4.4 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26


Refined petroleum products - production:
112,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
259,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47


Refined petroleum products - exports:
37,050 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64


Refined petroleum products - imports:
184,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28


Natural gas - production:
9.3 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43


Natural gas - consumption:
10.2 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204


Natural gas - imports:
890 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Natural gas - proved reserves:
699.4 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
112.7 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
10.191 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 21


Telephones - mobile cellular:
134.066 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 8


Telephone system:
general assessment:Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system
domestic:all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international:country code - 84; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, completed in 2009, provided new access links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) (2011)



    Broadcast media:
government controls all broadcast media exercising oversight through the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC); government-controlled national TV provider, Vietnam Television (VTV), operates a network of 9 channels with several regional broadcasting centers; programming is relayed nationwide via a network of provincial and municipal TV stations; law limits access to satellite TV but many households are able to access foreign programming via home satellite equipment; government-controlled Voice of Vietnam, the national radio broadcaster, broadcasts on 6 channels and is repeated on AM, FM, and shortwave stations throughout Vietnam (2008)


Internet country code:
.vn


Internet hosts:
189,553 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 74


Internet users:
23.382 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17

Transportation

Airports
45 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 96


Airports - with paved runways
total:38
over 3,047 m:10
2,438 to 3,047 m:6
1,524 to 2,437 m:13
914 to 1,523 m:9 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:7
1,524 to 2,437 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:3
under 914 m:
3 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
condensate 72 km; condensate/gas 398 km; gas 955 km; oil 128 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 206 km; water 13 km (2013)


Railways
total:2,632 kmcountry comparison to the world: 63
standard gauge:527 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:2,105 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)


Roadways
total:206,633 kmcountry comparison to the world: 24
paved:148,338 km
unpaved:47,130 km (2013)


    Waterways
47,130 km (30,831 km weight under 50 tons) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 4


Merchant marine
total:579country comparison to the world: 20
by type:barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 142, cargo 335, chemical tanker 23, container 19, liquefied gas 7, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 48, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
registered in other countries:86 (Cambodia 1, Kiribati 2, Mongolia 33, Panama 43, Taiwan 1, Tuvalu 6) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Haiphong, Phu My, Quy Nhon
river port(s):Ho Chi Minh (Mekong)
container port(s) (TEUs):Haiphong (1,018,794), Saigon New Port (3,071,777)


Transportation - note
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift

Military

Military branches
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN; includes Vietnam People's Navy (with Naval Infantry), Vietnam People's Air and Air Defense Force, Border Defense Command, Coast Guard) (2013)


Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for male compulsory and voluntary military service; females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscription typically takes place twice annually and service obligation is 18 months (Army, Air Defense), 2 years (Navy and Air Force); 18-45 years of age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self Defense Force service; males may enroll in military schools at age 17 (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:25,649,738
females age 16-49:24,995,692 (2010 est.)


    Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:20,405,847
females age 16-49:21,098,102 (2010 est.)


Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:847,743
female:787,341 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
2.37% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 33
2.17% of GDP (2011)
2.37% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; Cambodia accuses Vietnam of a wide variety of illicit cross-border activities; progress on a joint development area with Cambodia is hampered by an unresolved dispute over sovereignty of offshore islands; an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese refugees reside in China; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is hampered by unresolved dispute over the sovereignty of offshore islands; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; China occupies the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending beyond as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef; the 2002 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea' has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding 'code of conduct' desired by several of the disputants; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Economic Exclusion Zone negotiations with Indonesia are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary


    Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons:11,500 (2012); note - Vietnam's stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship


Illicit drugs
minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin; government continues to face domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding crackdowns
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook