Debt - external:
$7.368 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$96.2 million (1995)

Currency (code):
Latvian lat (LVL)

Currency code:
LVL

Exchange rates:
lati per US dollar - 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002),
0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use:
653,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
1,219,600 (2003)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide
an international capability independent of the Moscow international
switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections,
rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied
subscriber applications
international: country code - 371; international connections are now
available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling
direct connections for most calls (1998)