Latvia Military - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (2021)

Military expenditures

2.27% of GDP (2020 est.)

2.03% of GDP (2019)

2.06% of GDP (2018)

1.59% of GDP (2017)

1.44% of GDP (2016)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the National Armed Forces of Latvia have approximately 6,000 active duty troops (5,000 Land Forces; 500 Naval Force/Coast Guard; 500 Air Force) (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Latvian military's inventory is limited and consists of a mixture of Soviet-era and more modern--mostly second-hand--European and US equipment; since 2010, it has received  limited amounts of equipment from several European countries, as well as the US (2020)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no conscription (abolished 2007); under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2019)

Military - note

Latvia officially became a member of NATO in 2004

NOTE: The information regarding Latvia on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Latvia 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Latvia 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.