Latvia
vs
Australia
Head to head: who leads each category
Latvia
1.8M
Australia
27.6M
Leads
Latvia
$48.6B
Australia
$1.8T
Leads
Latvia
$1.4B
Australia
$33.8B
Leads
Latvia
#96
Australia
#13
Leads
About this relationship
Australia and Latvia share a relationship dating back to September 1921, when Australia recognized Latvia's newly declared independence, a recognition it maintained even through the Soviet annexation of the country in 1940 by continuing to acknowledge Latvia's government-in-exile, aside from a brief and later-reversed policy shift in the mid-1970s.
Full diplomatic relations were reestablished on November 21, 1991, following Latvia's restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, and the countries have since built formal ties through embassy representation, with Latvia opening an embassy in Canberra in 2021 to mark an expanding relationship.
A substantial Latvian diaspora took root in Australia after the Second World War, when thousands of Latvian refugees arrived as displaced persons in the late 1940s and early 1950s; tens of thousands of Australians continue to identify with Latvian ancestry today, sustaining active community organizations.
Economic ties remain relatively small given the geographic distance between the two countries, supported by a 1993 trade and economic cooperation treaty and a 2011 social security agreement, though overall merchandise trade totals only in the tens of millions of dollars annually.
The relationship is best characterized as friendly and diaspora-driven rather than economically weighty, resting primarily on a long history of Australian solidarity with Latvian independence and the enduring presence of a well-established Latvian community in Australia.
Strengths & comparison
The position in the international influence ranking of Australia is 13, while Latvia is situated 83 places below in the ranking (position 96). Australia maintains contact with 95 countries, while Latvia maintains contact with 34 countries. Australia maintains an excellent relation with 22 countries, while in the case of Latvia, this figure drops to 4.
About Latvia
Latvia is a country located in northeastern Europe, on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Russia to the east, Belarus to the southeast, and Poland and Lithuania to the south. With a population of about 2 million, it is one of the smaller countries in Europe.
Latvia has a rich history and culture, with strong ties to its neighbors in the Baltic region. It has a parliamentary democracy and is a member of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In recent years, Latvia has faced a number of challenges, including a weak economy and high levels of corruption. However, it has made significant progress in addressing these issues, and its economy has grown steadily in recent years.
In terms of foreign relations, Latvia has generally good relations with its neighbors and other European countries. However, it has had strained relations with Russia due to the Soviet occupation of Latvia during the 20th century, and there have been concerns about Russian interference in Latvian politics.
Overall, Latvia is a small but important player in the European political landscape, and it continues to work towards strengthening its economy and democracy.
Geography & terrain
Flat to gently rolling lowlands, covered extensively by forest, bog, and lakes, with the Daugava River crossing the interior. Humid continental climate moderated somewhat by the Baltic Sea. Has a Baltic Sea coastline. The largely flat, open terrain offers few natural obstacles, making the country historically exposed to overland movement across the North European Plain.
About Australia
Australia is a sovereign country located in the southern hemisphere, comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest country in the world by land area, and is the world's largest island country. The capital city is Canberra, and the largest city is Sydney.
Australia is a federal parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. It has a strong tradition of democracy and a commitment to human rights. The country has a diverse and thriving economy, with a GDP per capita among the highest in the world. It is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and many other international organizations.
Australia has a robust relationship with its regional neighbors and is an active player in regional and international affairs. It has a close alliance with the United States and is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network. It also has strong ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly Indonesia, Japan, and New Zealand.
Geography & terrain
An island continent, mostly flat and arid — over 70% is desert or semi-arid, with the population concentrated on the temperate coastal fringes, especially the east and southeast. Its isolation and surrounding ocean have meant it has never faced a foreign land invasion. Climate ranges from tropical in the north to temperate in the south.
| Latvia |
Australia |
|
|---|---|---|
| Government type | Parliamentary republic | Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
| GDP | $48.6B | $1.8TLeads |
| GDP per capita | $26.3K | $65.1KLeads |
| Military expenditure | $1.4B | $33.8BLeads |
| Military expenditure per capita | $772 | $1.2KLeads |
| Land military expenditure (estimation) | $784.1M | $10.1BLeads |
| Air military expenditure (estimation) | $356.4M | $10.1BLeads |
| Naval military expenditure (estimation) | $285.1M | $13.5BLeads |
| Nuclear power | No | No |
| European Union | Member | Not a member |
| NATO | Member | Not a member |
Strengths & comparison
The capitals of Latvia and Australia are approximately 15 312 km apart (straight-line distance). There is a standard time difference of about 8.0 hours between them.
Based on shared language, currency, economic profile, borders and international groups, Latvia and Australia score a 10/100 similarity index. This is a fun, approximate metric — not a scientific one.
Excellent relation (7+/10) with both countries
Which side is each country closer to?
Comparing Latvia's and Australia's scores against the same third countries shows where each one has a clear edge. Latvia scores noticeably higher with: Denmark, Albania, Greece, Poland, Lithuania.Australia scores noticeably higher with: Russia, India, Taiwan, Japan, China.
Let's suppose a hypothetical conflict occurs between both countries:
Solo scenario: Latvia vs Australia
Allies scenario: Team Latvia vs Team Australia
In a hypothetical conflict between Latvia and Australia, probably, Latvia won't have any partner.
Russia will participate helping Australia.
Battle narrative
Initial phase
With both the bigger war chest and the stronger air force, Australia is well placed to seize the initiative early, striking key military and infrastructure targets first.
Force composition
Australia can also call on significantly more personnel, counting both active-duty and reserve forces. Australia's advantage extends to naval power as well.
Ground campaign
Latvia's terrain could make a rapid ground campaign difficult: The largely flat, open terrain offers few natural obstacles, making the country historically exposed to overland movement across the North European Plain. Riga would likely be a focal point of the campaign: The capital and largest port on the Baltic Sea, concentrating population, government, and the bulk of the country's trade. Australia's terrain could make a rapid ground campaign difficult: Its isolation and surrounding ocean have meant it has never faced a foreign land invasion. Torres Strait would likely be a focal point of the campaign: The narrow sea passage separating the Australian mainland from Papua New Guinea, linking the Coral Sea and the Arafura Sea. Australia's larger population could also support a prolonged resistance.
Prolonged conflict
Australia's stronger economy could help sustain military operations in a prolonged conflict. Latvia also devotes a larger share of its economy to defense (about 2.9% of GDP), a more militarized posture that could be easier to sustain over time. Occupying Latvia outright would likely prove costly given its terrain.
Overall assessment
Australia would be more likely to prevail in this matchup, with an estimated 77.8% probability of winning. Achieving a decisive victory over Latvia — let alone occupying it — would likely be more difficult than that headline number suggests.
Initial phase
Australia's team's larger military budget and stronger air power give it an advantage in the initial stages of the conflict, with the ability to target key military positions and infrastructure.
Force composition
Australia's team can also call on significantly more personnel, counting both active-duty and reserve forces. Australia's team's advantage extends to naval power as well.
Ground campaign
Latvia's terrain could make a rapid ground campaign difficult: The largely flat, open terrain offers few natural obstacles, making the country historically exposed to overland movement across the North European Plain. Riga would likely be a focal point of the campaign: The capital and largest port on the Baltic Sea, concentrating population, government, and the bulk of the country's trade. Australia's team's larger population could also support a prolonged resistance.
Coalition
Australia's team goes into this conflict as a coalition of Russia and Australia. Fighting as part of a coalition brings combined strength, though coordinating several countries also adds logistical complexity.
Prolonged conflict
Australia's team's stronger economy could help sustain military operations in a prolonged conflict. Australia's team also devotes a larger share of its economy to defense (about 4.2% of GDP), a more militarized posture that could be easier to sustain over time. Occupying Latvia's team outright would likely prove costly given its terrain. Australia's team's members are spread far apart, which could make sustained logistics harder the longer the conflict runs.
Overall assessment
Australia's team enters this matchup as the stronger side on paper, with roughly a 88.7% probability of winning. That advantage would still need to be converted into an actual battlefield result against Latvia's team, which real conflicts rarely guarantee.
Want to build your own teams? Try the War Simulator.