Latvia
Latvia excels and struggles in equal measure. A top performer in spirits consumption (#2), it falls behind in fertility rate. See what other surprises Latvia holds.
Latvia is a country in Europe with a population of 1.89M and an area of 64,559 km². Life expectancy is 75.7 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
University Enrollment Rate
85.7%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Internet Users (%)
92.7%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Human Development Index
0.89The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
GDP Per Capita
$38.9KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
43.8KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Life Expectancy
76.2 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
👥Death Rate
14.68The number of deaths per 1,000 people each year.
🍻Spirits Consumption
5.70How many liters of spirits the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
🍻Alcohol Consumption
12.87How many liters of pure alcohol the average adult (15+) consumes per year.
🤝Road Deaths
7.55The number of people killed in road accidents per 100,000 population.
🚀University Enrollment Rate
85.7%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #2 globally in death rate
Death Rate: 14.68
The number of deaths per 1,000 people each year.
World Bank 2023Ranks #2 globally in spirits consumption
Spirits Consumption: 5.70
How many liters of spirits the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
Our World in Data 2023Only ranks #37 in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 75.6 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
OECD 2024Ranks #10 globally in beer consumption
Beer Consumption: 4.57
How many liters of beer the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
Our World in Data 2023Only ranks #216 in birth rate
Birth Rate: 7.24
The number of babies born per 1,000 people each year.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Latvia Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Latvia
Several eastern Baltic tribes merged in medieval times to form the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but the USSR annexed it in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 25% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014 and the OECD in 2016.
- Location
- Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
- Climate
- maritime; wet, moderate winters
- Terrain
- low plain
- Natural Resources
- peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
- Natural Hazards
- large percentage of agricultural fields can become waterlogged and require drainage
- Size Comparison
- slightly larger than West Virginia
- Languages
- Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.)
- Religions
- Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Latvian 62.7%, Russian 24.5%, Belarusian 3.1%, Ukrainian 2.2%, Polish 2%, Lithuanian 1.1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 2.6% (2021 est.)
- Major Cities
- 621,000 RIGA (capital) (2023)
- Government Type
- parliamentary republic
- Capital
- Riga
- Capital Coordinates
- 56 57 N, 24 06 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of Latvia
- Name Origin
- the name originates from the Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.)
- Independence
- 18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
- National Symbols
- white wagtail (bird)
- National Anthem
- "Dievs, sveti Latviju!" (God Bless Latvia)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 3 (all cultural)
- Overview
- high-income EU and eurozone member; weak recovery following economic contraction, with slight increase in private consumption and uncertain trade environment; challenges from skilled-labor shortages, capital market access, large informal sector, and green and digital transitions
- Industries
- processed foods, processed wood products, textiles, processed metals, pharmaceuticals, railroad cars, synthetic fibers, electronics
- Agricultural Products
- wheat, milk, rapeseed, barley, oats, potatoes, rye, beans, peas, chicken (2023)
- Export Partners
- Lithuania 19%, Estonia 6%, Russia 6%, Germany 6%, Sweden 5% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)
- Import Partners
- Lithuania 18%, Germany 11%, Poland 10%, Estonia 8%, Finland 5% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment, natural gas (2023)
- Military Forces
- National Armed Forces (Nacionalie Brunotie Speki or NBS): Land Forces (Latvijas Sauszemes Speki), Naval Force (Latvijas Juras Speki, includes Coast Guard (Latvijas Kara Flote)), Air Force (Latvijas Gaisa Speki), National Guard (aka Land Guard or Zemessardze) Ministry of Interior: State Police, State Border Guards, State Security Service (2025)
- Military Service
- mandatory military service for all men 18-24; men and women 18-27 may volunteer for military service; service length 11 months in the Armed Forces or National Guard, or 5 years in the National Guard as a whole, with a minimum of 21 days of individual training and a maximum of 7 days of collective training each year (2026)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 22.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 3.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 59.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 10.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- several national and regional commercial TV stations are foreign-owned, 2 national TV stations are publicly owned; system supplemented by privately owned regional and local TV stations; cable and satellite multi-channel TV services with domestic and foreign broadcasts available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 4 radio networks with dozens of stations; dozens of private broadcasters also operate radio stations
Deep Dive
77 of 146 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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Estonia
Åland Islands
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AzerbaijanShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Latvia!
Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Frequently Asked Questions about Latvia
Latvia has a population of 1.89M, ranking #151 globally by population.
Latvia is located in Europe. It has an area of 64,559 km².
Life expectancy in Latvia is 75.7 years, ranking #97 globally.
Latvia's GDP per capita (PPP) is 43.8K, ranking #59 globally.
Latvia ranks particularly high in University Enrollment Rate (#16), Internet Users (%) (#47), Human Development Index (#42).
Latvia has an HDI of 0.889, ranking #42 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Latvia has a population density of 30.3 people per km², ranking #169 globally.
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