Household income rose by 14.6 % in 2023

Provisional results from a survey on income and living conditions conducted by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) in 2024 show that in 2023, compared to 2022, household disposable income¹ increased by 108 euro or 14.6 % and reached 848 euro per household member monthly. The upturn was steeper than that registered in 2022 when population income grew by 9.1 %.

Highest income in Riga, lowest in Latgale

The highest household disposable income was recorded in Riga where it reached 1 003 euro per household member monthly. In Zemgale it amounted to 782 euro and in Kurzeme to 742 euro. The lowest disposable income was registered in  Latgale and Vidzeme – 631 euro and 699 eiro per household member monthly, respectively.

Lone people of working age had the highest income and one adult with children the lowest

People of working age (aged 64 and under) who are living alone had the highest income last year – 1 171 euro monthly, which is 17.6 % more than in 2022. Households formed by one adult with children, however, had the lowest income – 593 euro per household member monthly (up by 12.0 %). Couples with three or more children follow with 634 euro (up by 1.5 %) and lone people aged 65+ with 700 euro (up by 15.6 %).

Employee income rose faster than income from benefits

Last year, the size of employee income grew faster than the size of social transfers² (pensions, benefits, etc. budgetary payments) received. Employee income went up by 16.7 % (from 511 to 596 euro per household member monthly), however, income from social transfers increased notably slower – by 6.4 % (from 188 to 200 euro).

In 2023, employee income made up 70.3 % of household disposable income, social transfers 23.5 %, and self-employment income as well as other income received 6.1 %.

Average income in poorest households amounted to 291 euro per household member monthly

In 2023, monthly income per household member in the poorest households (belonging to the first income quintile group³) amounted to 291 euro while in the richest households (fifth group) to 1 860 euro. In the average income level households, it varied between 527 euro (in second group) and 994 euro (in fourth group). The steepest income rise was observed in the richest households (in the fifth group) where it went up by 16.8 % compared to 2022. Income in the poorest households rose slightly slower – by 11.3 %.

Household disposable income by quintile group; 2014–2023

(average per household member monthly, euro)

Refer to the OSP database: MIS060

Income inequality remains high

Income inequality in Latvia remained high. In 2023, income of the richest population exceeded that of the poorest population 6.3 times (6.2 times in 2022). In addition, last year Gini coefficient was 34.2 % (34.0 % in 2022).

Income inequality variables, 2016–2023

Refer to OSP database: NNI030 and NNI020

Compared to other European Union (EU) countries⁶, Latvia still ranks high in terms of income inequality. The latest data available show that Latvia and Lithuania had the second highest quintile share ratio in the EU (6.3). Higher ratio was only registered in Bulgaria (6.6). Moreover, Latvian Gini coefficient was the third highest in the EU. In 2022, higher coefficient was only registered in Bulgaria (37.2 %) and Lithuania (35.7 %).

Household disposable income data source: 2024 EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey conducted by the CSB from 31 January to 30 June. The survey covered 10.5 thousand respondents aged 16 and over from 6 thousand households.

Within the framework of the 2025 survey the CSB will obtain data on household income in 2024.

Methodological information

¹ Disposable (net) income is cash income from labour, employee income in kind received by using company car for private needs estimated in cash, income or losses received from self-employment, received pensions and benefits, regular material assistance from other households, profit from interests of deposits, dividends, shares, income received by children aged under 16, income from property rental, receipts from tax adjustments from the State Revenue Service (for business activities, eligible costs – education, medical treatment, etc.).

² Social transfers include pensions and benefits paid by the State or municipality, child maintenance payments, scholarships, social insurance benefits and compensations, including the ones paid by other countries.

³ Quintile group is one fifth (20 %) of the number of the surveyed households grouped in increasing sequence according to the disposable income per one household member. The bottom (first) quintile group includes one fifth of the households with the lowest income, while the top (fifth) comprises one fifth of the households with the highest income level.

⁴ Gini coefficient characterises income inequality. It varies from 0 to 100. Gini coefficient amounts to 0 if there is absolute equality of income (i.e., all population has the same income), but the closer it gets to 100, the greater the inequality of income.

⁵ Quintile share ratio (S80/S20) is the ratio of total equivalised disposable income received by the 20 % of the country’s population with the highest equivalised disposable income (top quintile) to that received by the 20 % of the country’s population with the lowest equivalised disposable income (bottom quintile).

⁶ Eurostat figures from the survey conducted in 2023 are available in the Eurostat database Quintile share ratio, Gini coefficient; while national survey results (collected in 2024) are available on the official statistics portal Population – Household and personal income and Poverty and inequality (EU-SILC).

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

More information on data:
Social Statistics Methodology Section
Darja Behtere
E-mail: Darja.Behtere@csp.gov.lv
Phone. +371 67366901