Latvia
The light green area is the rest of the European Union
Latvia was the 97th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP in 2018. GDP per capita is $18,089 USD. Due to its geographic position, it is a strategic transit state in the Baltics, with Riga and Ventspils among the biggest seaports in the region. It is ranked 35th in the World Bank's Human Capital Index, and trade was at 118 percent of GDP in 2018. Its economy is also diverse with a ranking of 35th in the Economic Complexity Index (2017). It is a member of the EU and OECD. Services was the largest economic sector in 2018 (63.5 percent of GDP), followed by manufacturing (10.5 percent), and agriculture (3.3 percent). In 2017, the largest export sectors were services (28 percent), agriculture (26 percent), minerals (8.3 percent), and chemicals (7.7 percent). The largest individual exports were transport services (11.8 percent), ICT services (9.6 percent), refined petroleum (4.9 percent), travel and tourism (4.5 percent), and wood sawed lengthways (3.4 percent). Its largest export partners were Lithuania (15 percent), Estonia (10.7 percent), Russia (8.4) percent, and Germany (6.5 percent). The largest goods imports were refined petroleum (16.2 percent), cars (3 percent), and medicaments packaged (2.5 percent). After World War One and independence in 1920, Latvia rebuilt its manufacturing sector and completed land reforms. Agriculture and timber led the way through the depression. During World War Two, Germany invaded then Russia, with the Soviets maintaining control until 1991. Under Soviet control, agricultural was collectivised and major industries were developed to serve the USSR. Large numbers of Russians came to work in the factories. After independence, the economy experienced a sharp decline as the economy transitioned to a market economy and the Russian export market was lost. The economy was stabilised with the introduction of its own currency and reduced government spending. The government also pursued trade liberalisation, signing a free-trade agreement with the EU in 1994. The economy returned to growth in 1994 but was interrupted by a banking crisis in 1995. After wide-spread reforms during the accession process and accession to the EU in 2004, the economy grew rapidly. FDI fell during the global financial crisis and the economy contracted sharply in 2008-2009. Investors were concerned by an unsustainable current account deficit, the collapse of the real estate market, and high debt. Latvia asked the EU and IMF for help and following the pegging of the currency to the euro and austerity measures, the country has returned to growth.