65.6 % of GDP of Latvia in 2022 is attributable to the Riga region

According to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) data, in 2022 GDP of Latvia at current prices was EUR 36.1 billion. 65.6 % (EUR 23.7 billion) of GDP of Latvia is attributable to the Riga region¹. The share was followed by Kurzeme, ensuring 10.4 % (EUR 3.8 billion), Vidzeme – 9.1 % (EUR 3.3 billion), Zemgale – 8 % (EUR 2.9 billion) and Latgale – 6.7 % (EUR 2.4 billion).

Considering the differences in population of regions, it is useful to compare the statistical regions by GDP per capita. The highest GDP per capita is in Riga region (EUR 27.6 thousand), but the lowest – in Latgale region (EUR 9.7 thousand). Thus, productivity in the Riga region is three times higher than in the Latgale region. In turn, GDP per capita in Kurzeme is EUR 13.6 thousand, in Zemgale – EUR 12.9 thousand, in Vidzeme – EUR 11.9 thousand.

GDP by statistical regions in 2022 and 2021

(at current prices)

*Extra regio –GDP and value added (VA) produced by Latvian residents outside Latvia.

Compared to 2021, in 2022 the GDP grew the fastest in Zemgale region – by 15.7 % (EUR 394.3 million). Upturn was observed in all regions, however, the lowest GDP rise was registered in Vidzeme – by 9.4 % (EUR 282.7 million).

In 2022, among state cities, the largest GDP per capita – EUR 31.6 thousand – was in the capital. In the second place there was Valmiera with EUR 24.3 thousand, in the third place – Liepāja with EUR 17.4 thousand. It was followed by Rēzekne with EUR 15.4 thousand, Jelgava with EUR 14.9 thousand, Ventspils with EUR 14.8 thousand, Jēkabpils with EUR 12.7 thousand, Daugavpils with EUR 11.9 thousand, Ogre with EUR 11.1 thousand and Jūrmala with EUR 9.3 thousand per capita.

The largest GDP per capita in 2022 was in Mārupe municipality (EUR 35.8 thousand), in the second place – in Ropaži municipality (EUR 26.5 thousand), in the third place – in Ķekava municipality (EUR 18.6 thousand). TOP 10 also includes the following municipalities: Smiltene, Līvāni, Valmiera, Saldus, Dobele, Madona and Aizkraukle.

The CSB has calculated regional GDP for 2022, as well as revised data for the period 2000-2021, taking into account the national GDP and value added revision published on 30 September this year. In addition, calculations were made after the new administrative-territorial reform, which entered into force on 1 July 2021².

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.

Methodological information

For calculations by regions GDP 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 were taken as a basis. 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.

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.

*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.

¹ Statistical regions. 10.01.2024. https://stat.gov.lv/en/statistics-themes/environment/nature-resources/publications-and-infographics/21408-statistical

² Administrative-territorial reform. 15.09.2021. https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/administrativi-teritoriala-reforma

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