The proportion of delayed flights at Riga Airport last year – 7.3%.

The ratio of red deer to roe deer culled in Latvian forests last hunting season – 1:8.7.

Latvian residents who have decided to save money by buying fewer books, magazines, and newspapers – 24%.

The number of explosive devices rendered safe in Latvia last year – 4156.

The number of foreigners who sought asylum in Latvia in 2007 – 34.

The ratio of fare dodgers caught on Riga public transport in January compared to those fined throughout all of last year – 9.7%.

The number of cigarettes sold in Latvia last year – 3,324,100,000.

The number of new cars registered in January 2008 – 2191.

The number of Latvian students who donated blood between 1 February and 14 February – 543.

The number of users registered on the internet portal draugiem.lv – 2,258,844.

The number of laws requiring amendments to complete the Latvian regional reform – 104.

The number of persons placed on international wanted lists in Latvia last year – 108.

Latvian residents who consider themselves vegetarians – 10%.

The proportion of people in Latvia who shopped online at least once last year – 11%.

The total number of civil servant positions in Latvia last year – 16,050.

The fee in lats for the cancellation of the declaration of an occupant fictitiously registered at a property owner’s residence without their knowledge – 40.50.

Sources: Apollo.lv, BNS, Delfi.lv, Dienas bizness, Diena, LETA, Neatkarīgā Rīta avīze, Politika.lv

The number of people who became sworn advocates this year – 54.

The number of wolves culled in the week from 11 February to 17 February – 6.

The number of illegally employed people caught in Latvia last year – 2846.

The average amount of beer consumed annually by Latvian residents in litres – 65.

Nurses who also have a second job – 19.4%.

The part of Latvia's territory considered a border zone in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers regulations – 20%.

The number of people serving life sentences in Latvia – 47.

The weight in grams of a batch of dried fish, or 'vobla', produced in Latvia and recalled from US retail outlets following an inspection by the US Food and Drug Administration due to suspected presence of dangerous spores – 55.

The number of female drivers in Latvia – 36.7%.

Latvian municipalities that did not have a spatial plan on 1 February – 119.

The number of people who have added their name to the “Uniting Good People” project, the World Wall, in Latvia since last April, out of the planned 65 million or 1% of the world's population – 0.007%.

The number of conductors on Riga trolleybuses – 545.

The volume of vodka exported by Latvia last year in litres – 11,368,000.

The number of permits issued by building authorities for the construction of single-apartment houses in 2007 – 5341.

The number of aggressive drivers detained and fined on Latvian roads last year – 1982.

The proportion of oats among the grain harvested in Latvia in 2007 – 9%.

The number of Latvian residents who live for today and do not think about the future – 45%.

The ratio of persons extradited from Latvia for punishment abroad to those transferred to Latvia from abroad – 17:9.

The price of a Soviet-made T-55 tank in euros at an online auction – 70,000.

Latvian residents who have written a will – 2%.
Article first published in the March 2008 issue of the magazine Rīgas Laiks