In 2021 seven thousand citizens returned to Latvia

Latest experimental statistics of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) show that in 2021 almost 7 thousand remigrants – citizens and non-citizens of Latvia as well as people having other citizenship but born in Latvia – returned from abroad (54.8 % of all immigrants).

A year ago (in 2020) 4.7 thousand remigrants returned to Latvia (53 % of all immigrants). Since 2013 when remigration statistics was first compiled, last year indicates the greatest annual number of citizens who returned. Males constitute the largest share of remigrants (59.7 %) and are predominant in migration statistics in general – 56.6 % of all emigrants and 66.1 % of immigrants.

Almost half of remigrants have secondary, vocational or professional education

Hence analysis covers educational attainment and employment of remigrants returning in 2020. The respective information on 2021 will be available in 2023.

In terms of educational attainment of people aged 15 and over, the majority of remigrants (49.7 %) have acquired secondary, vocational or professional education. The next largest group is formed by people having higher education (incl. Doctorate) (34.2 %) and those having less than secondary education (16.1 %). Gender breakdown of remigrants having higher education shows notable gap – 44.9 % of females and only 24.7 % of males have acquired it. Results of the Population and Housing Census 2021 indicates that 23.6 % of males and 34.9 % of females in Latvia have acquired higher education.

Remigrants having higher education tend to return to Sigulda, Ropaži, Mārupe municipalities and Riga

Municipalities in Riga and Pierīga region are the main destinations of remigrants having higher education (51.4 % and 37.6 % of remigrants returning to the corresponding region, respectively), whereas those having general secondary or vocational secondary education mainly return to Latgale (63.9 %).

In 2020, more than a half of remigrants returning to municipalities in Pierīga (Sigulda, Ropaži and Mārupe) had acquired higher education. The smallest share of remigrants having higher education (fewer than 15 %) was registered in nine municipalities – Talsi, Bauska, Smiltene, Alūksne, Balvi, Rēzekne, Krāslava, Augšdaugava and Līvāni as well as Jēkabpils.

Educational attainment of remigrants by administrative territory in 2020

Remigrants with specified educational attainment

Majority of remigrants belong to inactive population

Out of all remigrants aged 15 and over, 40 % were employed, 5.4 % were unemployed, and 54.6 % belonged to the inactive population (students, pensioners, capital income recipients).

The largest share of employed remigrants belonged to the age group 25–34 (50.5 %). However, gender gap may be observed in this statistics as well: 57 % of males in this age group were employed, compared to 43.1 % of females, moreover 52 % of females belonged to the inactive population (housewives, students, capital income recipients). Number of employed males is dominating in almost all age groups (except for population aged 45–54).

Majority of remigrants are engaged in elementary occupations (e.g., house builders, elementary workers not elsewhere classified, cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments) (18 %), are service and sales workers (16.9 %), or craft and related trades workers (15 %). Service and sales engaged almost each third employed female remigrant (aged 15 and over) (31.5 %), compared to only 7.1 % of males. Professionals is the second most popular occupational group among female remigrants (16.3 %), followed by elementary occupations (13.8 %). Craft and related trades workers is the most popular occupational group among male remigrants (21.5 %), whereas elementary occupations (e.g., house builders, freight handlers, elementary workers not elsewhere classified) engaged 20.9 %. Out of all employed remigrants, 11.3 % of males and 8 % of females were engaged in the major occupational group managers.

Comparison of the remigrant employment statistics with that on usually residents of Latvia, shows that usually residents mainly are professionals (17.5 %), service and sales workers (15.1 %), as well as technicians and associate professionals (14.2 %).

Methodological explanations

The Law on Administrative Territories and Populated Areas (adopted on 15 June 2020) prescribes change in administrative territories, administrative centres and territorial units thereof in force as of 1 July 2021. Statistics for population of the new territorial breakdown is published on the official statistics portal.

Remigrant – a citizen of Latvia, non-citizen of Latvia, or person born in Latvia who has emigrated from the country and returned (immigrated) to it during the reference year.

Educational attainment and employment rate estimates cover only the persons educational attainment and employment indicators whereof are known. People having unknown educational attainment and labour status are not included in the estimate.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366989, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Sigita Purona-Sida
Social Statistics Methodology Section
E-mail: Sigita.Purona-Sida@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366806