52.9 % of GDP of Latvia in 2021 is attributable to Riga

According to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) data on the GDP by regions, in 2021 GDP of Latvia at current prices was EUR 33.3 billion. 52.9 % (EUR 17.6 billion) of GDP of Latvia is attributable to the capital Riga, which was followed by Pierīga with 15.9 % (EUR 5.3 billion), covering two thirds (68.8 %) of the GDP of Latvia. Kurzeme followed with 9.3 % (EUR 3 billion), Zemgale with 8.1 % (EUR 2.7 billion), Vidzeme with 7 % (EUR 2.3 billion) and Latgale with 6.6 % (EUR 2.2 billion).

Given that regions differ in size and population, it is useful to compare statistical regions in terms of their productivity or GDP per capita. The highest GDP per capita is in Riga (EUR 28.9 thousand), but the lowest – in Latgale region (EUR 8.8 thousand). Thus productivity in Riga is 3.3 times larger than in Latgale. In turn, GDP per capita in Pierīga is EUR 13.9 thousand, in Kurzeme – EUR 13.2 thousand, in Vidzeme – EUR 12.8 thousand, in Zemgale – EUR 12.0 thousand.

GDP change by statistical region; 2021 and 2020

(at current prices)

Compared to 2020, in 2021 the GDP grew the fastest in Vidzeme region – by 15.5 % (EUR 313.9 million). Upturn was observed in all regions, however, the lowest GDP rise was in Latgale – by 8.0 % (EUR 162.7 million).

In 2021, among State cities, the largest GDP per capita – EUR 28.9 thousand – was in the capital. In the second place there was Valmiera with EUR 20.8 thousand, in the third place – Liepāja with EUR 15.5 thousand. It was followed by Ventspils with EUR 13.9 thousand, Rēzekne and Jelgava with EUR 13.5 thousand in each, Jēkabpils with EUR 13.3 thousand, Daugavpils with EUR 10.7 thousand, Jūrmala with EUR 10 thousand and Ogre with EUR 9.3 thousand.

The CSB also publishes GDP and value added from 2018 to 2021 in breakdown by administrative territories after the regional reform in 2021: 5 planning regions, 10 State cities and 36 counties. The largest GDP per capita in 2021 was in Mārupe municipality (EUR 30.2 thousand), in the second place – in Ropaži municipality (EUR 23.4 thousand), in the third place – in Ķekava municipality (EUR 19 thousand). Also Smiltene, Olaine, Līvāni, Valmiera, Saldus, Dobele and Ventspils municipalities are within the first ten municipalities.

The CSB has calculated regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2021, as well as revised data for the period 2018-2020, taking into account the national GDP and value added revision published on 30 September this year.

More information on GDP and value added in the regions is available in the official statistics portal section Economy Gross domestic product and value added – annual data subsection Regional accounts.

*According to the methodology of the European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA 2010), the Extra-regio consists of parts economic territory of a country that cannot be added to a single region (ESA 2010, paragraph 13.11). The Extra-regio territory of Latvia is small and belongs to the general government sector. In practice, the Extra-regio of Latvia consists of military and defence representatives and diplomatic missions abroad. Data from the Extra-regio are obtained from the Treasury report. Taking into account that the Extra-regio does not cover residents, according to ESA 2010 paragraph 13.44 data on the GDP per capita and the respective indices are not shown.

Methodological information

The published data are adjusted in line with the Guidelines for CSB Revision Policy. The adjustments are made due to receipt of specified information as well as the latest administrative data, inclusion of new economically active enterprises and institutions in surveys, specification of economic activity of sector of enterprises.

More information on the GDP is available in the official statistics portal section Economy Gross domestic product – annual data.

The calculations by regions are based on Gross Domestic Product of Latvia from the aspect of production at current prices by kind of activity according to indicators received from economically active units in the region. GDP of the region is calculated as the sum of value added and product taxes of the institutional units of the kind of economic activity in the region less subsidies. The value added (and GDP, respectively) of each institutional unit is reallocated according to the information available to the CSB on the geographical location of the local kind-of-activity unit in proportion to the number of employees. If local kind-of-activity units are not specified, the value added of the institutional unit is added to the relevant territory according to the legal address.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 27880666

More information on the data:
Ieva Arkliņa
Annual National Accounts Section
E-mail: Ieva.Arklina@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366720