« Back All about HR

Latvian population continues steep decline

By Anatol Steven. 26.01.2012

print | e-mail

Latest census maps Latvia’s continuing population decline – by more than 20% in some areas

Latvia's latest population census, which is conducted once every decade, gives further evidence of the country's dwindling number of residents. It is now officially set at 2,067,887, 13 percent lower than it was in 2001.
The steepest fall occurred in the eastern region of Latgale, a tumble of as much as 21.1 percent over the last 10 years, while the population of Vidzeme fell by 17.5 percent. However, the population in the Riga region has risen by 3.2 percent.
There are 1.121 million women in the country and 946,800 men, the proportion of men falling from 46.1 percent in 2001 to 45.8 percent in 2011.
The census, which cost LVL 5.4 million (€7.7 million) to make, also shows that foreigners from 129 countries and 170 ethnic groups live in Latvia.
The results are only preliminary, and the final results of the 2011 population census will become available in summer. Detailed results will be available in databases by March 2014.
[photo by Juris Kalnins / TAVA]