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Latvia

Rank #152 by populationEurope

Officially Republic of Latvia

Population 2025
1,847,785
0.02% of world population
World Bank, 2025
Annual Growth
−0.99%
−18,256 people a year
World Bank, 2025
Density
30/km²
62,230 km² land area
World Bank, 2023
Median Age
43.6 years
Life expectancy 76.4 years
Our World in Data, 2025

About Latvia

With a population of 1,847,785, Latvia ranks 150th globally and spans 62,230 km² at a density of 30 people per km². The country faces demographic headwinds, declining at 1% annually with a median age of 43.6 years and a fertility rate of 1.2 births per woman, though life expectancy reaches 76.4 years. About 69% of the population is urban.

Established as an independent republic in 1918, Latvia borders Estonia, Russia, Belarus, and Lithuania. The capital, Riga, serves as the country's main urban center. The economy generates a GDP per capita of $26,312, and the euro functions as the official currency. Latvian is the primary language spoken throughout the country.

This summary is AI-generated from the indicators on this page. The figures themselves come from the sources cited beside each value.

Country Facts

Capital
Riga
Continent
Europe
ISO codes
LV · LVA
Demonym
Latvian
Currency
Euro (EUR €)
Government
Parliamentary republic, Republic
State inception
1918
Time zone
UTC+02:00
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+371
Internet TLD
.lv
Land neighbours
4

Languages

  • Latvian

Demographics

Urban Population111th of 240
68.6%
World Bank, 2025
Fertility Rate215th of 240
1.24 births per woman
World Bank, 2024
Birth Rate199th of 213
6.9 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024
Death Rate4th of 213
14.3 per 1,000
World Bank, 2024

Economy

GDP per Capita77th of 240
$26,312
World Bank, 2025
GDP Growth138th of 210
+2.1%
World Bank, 2025
Unemployment Rate68th of 186
6.6%
World Bank, 2025
Inflation Rate74th of 191
3.7%
World Bank, 2025
Poverty Rate75th of 164
22.5%
World Bank, 2022
Gini Index95th of 170
34.0
World Bank, 2023

Health

Infant Mortality180th of 194
2.2 per 1,000 live births
World Bank, 2024
Health Spending80th of 192
7.3% of GDP
World Bank, 2023
Physicians50th of 206
3.40 per 1,000
World Bank, 2022
Hospital Beds31st of 199
4.95 per 1,000
World Bank, 2023
Maternal Mortality122nd of 193
19 per 100,000 live births
World Bank, 2023
Obesity Rate79th of 198
27.9%
Our World in Data, 2024

Education

Literacy Rate6th of 175
99.9%
World Bank, 2011
Education Spending91st of 202
4.3% of GDP
World Bank, 2022
School Enrollment58th of 207
101.3% gross, secondary
World Bank, 2024
Mean Years of Schooling25th of 148
12.0 years
Our World in Data, 2020

Environment

Renewable Energy55th of 211
44.0% of final consumption
World Bank, 2021
Forest Coverage39th of 211
55.0% of land area
World Bank, 2023
Protected Areas95th of 211
18.8% of land area
World Bank, 2025
CO₂ Emissions101st of 212
3.45 tonnes per capita
Our World in Data, 2024

Infrastructure

Internet Penetration45th of 211
92.7%
World Bank, 2024
Mobile Subscriptions85th of 212
121.3 per 100 people
World Bank, 2024

Quality of Life

Human Development Index41st of 192
0.889
Our World in Data, 2023
Happiness Index49th of 164
6.37/ 10
Our World in Data, 2025

Geography

Land Area124th of 240
62,230 km²
World Bank, 2023

Military

Military Spending27th of 163
3.26% of GDP
World Bank, 2024

Age & Gender Distribution

Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.

Male Female
100+95-9990-9485-8980-8475-7970-7465-6960-6455-5950-5445-4940-4435-3930-3425-2920-2415-1910-145-90-474K74KAge
Age 0–14
15.4%
Age 15–64
62.9%
Age 65+
21.7%
Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024, medium variant.
Latvia population pyramid
Age bandMaleFemale
100+41186
95-995572,327
90-942,81910,674
85-899,06728,671
80-8416,89644,529
75-7923,88149,542
70-7435,71161,505
65-6949,53470,927
60-6458,35974,421
55-5957,71766,817
50-5462,22867,820
45-4960,80763,452
40-4465,20363,652
35-3971,29067,427
30-3461,85258,090
25-2944,42640,917
20-2445,82243,599
15-1952,42550,164
10-1451,67248,525
5-955,12050,980
0-442,38039,840

Population History & Projection (1950–2100)

Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.

0500K1M1.5M2M2.5M1950197520002025205020752100projected →
Latvia's population was 1.92M in 1950 and is projected at 925K by 2100. Peak of 2.66M in 1989. Source: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (estimates to 2024, medium variant thereafter).
Latvia population, 1950 to 2100
YearPopulation
19501,918,720
19602,131,171
19702,357,559
19802,511,759
19902,660,131
20002,368,313
20102,097,831
20201,901,123
20301,777,620
20401,640,644
20501,513,810
20601,375,626
20701,241,359
20801,122,748
20901,020,077
2100925,371

How Latvia Compares

Population against the ten most populous countries.

  1. India1.46B
  2. China1.41B
  3. United States341.8M
  4. Indonesia285.7M
  5. Pakistan255.2M
  6. Nigeria237.5M
  7. Brazil212.8M
  8. Bangladesh175.7M
  9. Russia143.5M
  10. Ethiopia135.5M
  11. Latvia1.85M
Sources as cited on each country page.
Latvia compared with the ten largest countries by population
NamePopulation
India1.46B
China1.41B
United States341.8M
Indonesia285.7M
Pakistan255.2M
Nigeria237.5M
Brazil212.8M
Bangladesh175.7M
Russia143.5M
Ethiopia135.5M
Latvia1.85M

Countries Bordering Latvia

4 land borders.

Latvia Population FAQ

What is the population of Latvia in 2026?

Latvia has a population of 1,847,785 people (2025 estimate), which is 152nd in the world and about 0.02% of the global total.

Is the population of Latvia growing or shrinking?

Latvia's population is shrinking at −0.99% per year, a change of roughly 18,256 people annually.

What is the capital of Latvia?

The capital of Latvia is Riga.

How densely populated is Latvia?

Latvia has 30/km² across 62,230 km² of land area.

What is life expectancy in Latvia?

Life expectancy at birth in Latvia is 76.4 years (2024).

What is the median age in Latvia?

The median age in Latvia is 43.6 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.

Which continent is Latvia in?

Latvia is in Europe.

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