Latvia has a low standard of compulsory state funded healthcare. Many public health buildings need refurbishment, reconstruction and more advanced equipment. Healthcare is available to all citizens and registered long-term residents Private healthcare is also available in the country.
According to the Constitution (Satversme), Latvia is a parliamentary republic in which the sovereign power belongs to the people, who are represented by a unicameral parliament (Saeima), with 100 members elected in general, equal, direct, secret and proportional elections for a four-year period.
The main religion traditionally practised in Latvia is Christianity, with no single church predominating: most Latvian Christians follow Latvian Orthodoxy, Lutheranism or Roman Catholicism. In addition, a large proportion of the country claim to practise no religion.