Quick facts
Latvia population overview
Latvia is the 33rd most populous of 50 countries and territories in Europe. The United Nations put the population at 1,843,880 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of -0.8% the live estimate on this page falls by roughly 39 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 13,460 births (7.3 per 1,000 people) and 27,289 deaths (14.8 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 369 people. The infant mortality rate is 2.6 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population fell from 2,120,979 in 1960 to 1,847,785 in 2025 — a change of -12.9%, or -0.2% per year on average. It peaked at 2,666,955 in 1989 and has declined 31.3% since.
Demographically, the median age is 43.8 years; life expectancy at birth is 76.6 years; women have on average 1.2 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 15.2% of residents are under 15 and 22.2% are 65 or older (2025); 68.6% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Riga. Latvia covers 64,590 km², giving a population density of about 28.4 people per km². GDP was $48.62B in 2025 — about $26,312 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Latvia population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #151 of 238 → | 1,832,367 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 1,843,880 |
| World rank | #151 of 238 |
| Rank in Europe | #33 of 50 |
| Share of world population | 0.022% |
| Annual growth rate #224 of 238 → | -0.8% |
| Births per year est. | 13,460 |
| Deaths per year est. | 27,289 |
| Net migration per year est. · #117 of 238 → | -369 |
| Birth rate #202 of 216 → | 7.3 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #4 of 216 → | 14.8 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #203 of 238 → | 2.6 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #230 of 238 → | 86.8 males per 100 females |
| Median age #34 of 238 → | 43.8 years |
| Life expectancy #94 of 216 → | 76.6 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #195 of 216 → | 1.2 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #96 of 216 → | 68.6% |
| Surface area 2023 · #125 of 215 → | 64,590 km² |
| Population density #173 of 215 → | 28.4 per km² |
| Capital | Riga |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #101 of 212 → | $48.62B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #63 of 212 → | $26,312 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Latvia population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 1,832,367 | – | – |
| 2025 | 1,847,785 | -18,339 | -1% |
| 2024 | 1,866,124 | -17,586 | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 1,883,710 | +4,327 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 1,879,383 | -5,107 | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 1,884,490 | -15,959 | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 1,900,449 | -77,078 | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 1,977,527 | -120,028 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 2,097,555 | -141,244 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 2,238,799 | -128,751 | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 2,367,550 | -117,506 | -1% |
| 1995 | 2,485,056 | -178,095 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 2,663,151 | +84,278 | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 2,578,873 | +67,172 | +0.5% |
| 1980 | 2,511,701 | +55,571 | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 2,456,130 | +96,966 | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 2,359,164 | +93,245 | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 2,265,919 | +144,940 | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 2,120,979 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Latvia
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riga Capital | 742,572 | 40.5% |
| 2 | Daugavpils | 78,126 | 4.3% |
| 3 | Liepāja | 67,421 | 3.7% |
| 4 | Jelgava | 54,834 | 3% |
| 5 | Jūrmala | 52,001 | 2.8% |
| 6 | Ventspils | 32,723 | 1.8% |
| 7 | Rēzekne | 26,429 | 1.4% |
| 8 | Valmiera | 22,812 | 1.2% |
Riga is the largest city with 742,572 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Latvia cities →
About Latvia
Population over time
- From 2,120,979 in 1960 to 1,832,367 today — down 13.6%.
- Population peaked at 2,666,955 in 1989 and is down 31.3% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: -0.7% per year.
- World rank: Population #151 of 238 · Population growth rate #224 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 76.4 years (2024), up 6.6 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.2 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #94 of 216 · Fertility rate #195 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 6.9 births vs 14.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Deaths outnumber births — natural decrease of 7.4 per 1,000 a year.
- World rank: Birth rate #202 of 216 · Death rate #4 of 216.
Age structure
- 15.2% of the population is under 15 and 22.2% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 10.6% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #176 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #20 of 216 · Median age #34 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 6.81 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 19.62 Mt in 1990 — down 65.3% since.
- Per person: 3.65 t in 2024, vs 4.81 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #128 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #79 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 2,271 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 23.3% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 44% of final energy in 2021 (+26.4 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #50 of 150 · Renewable energy share #55 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 55% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 51.2% to 55% since 1992 — roughly 2,446 km² of forest gained.
- World rank: Forest area #39 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 68.6% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 57.1% in 1960 (+11.5 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #96 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 1% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 9,014 m³ in 2022, up 39.1% since 1992.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #50 of 183 · Water stress #153 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $48.62B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 84.5% since 2015.
- That works out to $26,312 per person.
- World rank: GDP #101 of 212 · GDP per capita #63 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 6.6% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 3.7% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #68 of 186 · Inflation rate #75 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 92.7% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 121.3 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #45 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #85 of 210.
Latvia in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Latvia in 2026?
As of October 2026, Latvia has an estimated population of 1,832,367. The United Nations estimated 1,843,880 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the -0.8% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Latvia growing or shrinking?
It is shrinking at -0.8% per year — roughly 39 fewer people every day. Each year there are about 13,460 births and 27,289 deaths, with net migration of -369.
What is the population density of Latvia?
About 28.4 people per square kilometre: 1,832,367 people living on 64,590 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Latvia?
The median age is 43.8 years, and life expectancy at birth is 76.6 years. 15.2% of the population is under 15 and 22.2% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Latvia rank by population?
Latvia is the 151st most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 33rd in Europe, with 0.022% of the global population.
How has the population of Latvia changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 2,120,979; by 2025 it had fallen to 1,847,785 (-12.9%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Latvia Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/latvia/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/latvia/">Latvia Population 2026 — Live Counter</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.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (-0.8%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.