Kurzeme

The Kurzeme is an area of the Latvia it occupies the sea front on the Baltique. It is the western part of the historical area Courlande.

History

Geography

The territory of 13600 km ² is slightly undulating following the cast iron of the glaciers during the quaternary one with a coastal plain being spread out over a few kilometers by places. The hydrographic network is dominated by the Venta which drains the rivers of the area, except those located at more close to the coast towards Liepaja or Talsi.

The two main cities and which have the statute of Lielpilseta are Liepaja (85915 hab.) and Ventspils (43806 hab.). They alone gather more than one third of the total population. The other important cities are Saldus, Kuldiga, Talsi and Tukums.

Demography (2005)

The many inhabitants is of 310673.

the age distribution is the following one: 49281 less than 18 years, 194920 between 18 and 60 years finally 64232 of more than 60 years
density of 23,04. Unemployment rate is much higher than the national average 9,9% against 8,6%. It touches mainly Liepaja and its area which was centered mainly on the secondary industry and the services with the soldiers who were based in Karosta. However, the economic growth of the area coupled with tourism can let hope for a resumption of employment.

The ethnic distribution is similar to the remainder of the country. The big cities count around 50% from Latvians and Russian 30%, the remainder being made up mainly of Belorusses and Ukrainians. Whereas the campaigns count between 84 and 91% of Latvians with for second ethnos group of number the Lithuanians in the border regions.

The rate of masculinity is of 0,88 with a fall up to 0,82 in Liepaja. Two factors explain this variation. On the one hand, the strongest male mortality which protests with 1,566 ‰ at the men against 1,3041 ‰ among women with for principal variations cancer and the respiratory diseases (on the worldwide). In addition, ata negative migratory rate for the area for which the men are more particularly responsible.

The situation is particularly alarming because following the example migratory rate, the natural increase is also negative and about 4,46 ‰.

Economy (2003)

The gross domestic product of the area is of 758.428.000 lats (either 1.019.392 473 €) what is equivalent to a GDP per capita of 2412 ls/hab (or 3242 €/hab). In 2005, the average wages were of 209ls (that is to say 280€) for the whole of the area. The investment except financial sector reached in 2004 for the whole of the area 297,5 million Lats (either 375 million euros) of which more half for construction. I.e. 1,5 times more than in 2001 what is slightly higher than the remainder of the country if one removes Rīga.

Religion

Kurzeme counts approximately 25 today; % of Protestants (Lutherans), 25 % the orthodoxe ones (due to the periods of occupation of the Russian empire then of arrived of Russian migrants during the Soviet occupation) and 21 % of catholics.

Subdivisions

Liepaja
Ventspils
Kuldigas rajons
Liepajas rajons
Saldus rajons
Talsu rajons
Tukuma rajons
Ventspils rajons

See too

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