Quick facts
Riga overview
Riga (orange) and the other large cities of Latvia
Riga lies in Latvia at 56.95°N, 24.11°E, about 6 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Riga (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Latvia: the next largest cities are Daugavpils (78,126), Liepāja (67,421), Jelgava (54,834). Together, the three largest cities hold 48.5% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Mārupe, about 6 km away, followed by Salaspils (18 km).
Latvia as a whole has a live population of 1,832,367 (-0.8% a year) and ranks #151 of 238 countries — see the Latvia population page for the full statistics and the Latvia atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Riga
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Mārupe Mārupe | 6 km | 19,096 |
| Salaspils Salaspils Municipality | 18 km | 17,826 |
| Jūrmala Jūrmala | 20 km | 52,001 |
| Ogre Ogre | 34 km | 22,767 |
| Jelgava Jelgava | 41 km | 54,834 |
| Tukums Tukums Municipality | 58 km | 16,182 |
| Cēsis Cēsis Municipality | 81 km | 15,020 |
| Valmiera Valmiera | 103 km | 22,812 |
Largest cities in Latvia
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RigaCapital | Riga | 742,572 |
| 2 | Daugavpils | Daugavpils | 78,126 |
| 3 | Liepāja | Liepaja | 67,421 |
| 4 | Jelgava | Jelgava | 54,834 |
| 5 | Jūrmala | Jūrmala | 52,001 |
| 6 | Ventspils | Ventspils | 32,723 |
| 7 | Rēzekne | Rēzekne | 26,429 |
| 8 | Valmiera | Valmiera | 22,812 |
| 9 | Ogre | Ogre | 22,767 |
| 10 | Jēkabpils | Jēkabpils Municipality | 21,014 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Riga?
Riga has about 742,572 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Riga the capital of Latvia?
Yes — Riga is the national capital of Latvia.
How big is Riga compared with the rest of Latvia?
Its 742,572 residents are 40.5% of the 1,832,367 people living in Latvia today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Riga?
In Latvia, at latitude 56.95 and longitude 24.11, 6 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Mārupe (6 km), Salaspils (18 km), Jūrmala (20 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Riga Population 2026 — Latvia. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/latvia/riga/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/latvia/riga/">Riga Population 2026 — Latvia</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.