Increase in population number recorded only in Pierīga

In 2018 population number rose only in Pierīga – by 3.3 thousand or 0.9 %. Whereas the largest share of reduction in population number was recorded in Latgale region – 4.6 thousand or 1.7 %, in Vidzeme – 2.4 thousand (1.3 %), in Kurzeme – 2.9 thousand (1.2 %), in Zemgale – 2.4 thousand (1.0 %). Annual population estimate of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that population number in Riga fell by 5.4 thousand or 0.8 %.

More than a half of population of Latvia live in Riga and Pierīga. Population of the capital often move to Pierīga region.

Population number also decreased in seven out of nine cities under state jurisdiction, except Jūrmala with increase of 252 people or 0.5 % and Valmiera with increase of 62 people or 0.3 %. The largest drop in the population number was registered in Riga – by 5357 people (0.8 %), Daugavpils – 646 (0.8 %), Ventspils – by 478 (1.4 %), Jelgava – 441 (0.7 %), Rēzekne – 336 (1.2 %), but the smallest – in Liepāja – by 0.3 % (235). In all cities under state jurisdiction number of deaths exceeded the number of births. Positive migration flow difference was in Jūrmala, Valmiera, Liepāja, Jēkabpils and Daugavpils.

Last year, in 17 counties out of 110 – Saulkrasti, Babīte, Stopiņi, Ķekava, Mārupe, Garkalne, Sigulda, Ādaži, Carnikava, Inčukalns, Ozolnieki, Ikšķile, Ropaži, Olaine, Salaspils, Brocēni, Līgatne – population number increased, except Ozolnieki, Brocēni and Līgatne counties; these are counties of Pierīga region. The largest increase of population number was in Saulkrasti county (of 13.6 % or 781 person) and similar as previously in Riga and Carnikava counties this might be explained with changes in immovable property tax and its advantages, which stimulated people to declare in dwellings where previously nobody was declared.

Most densely populated counties are Stopiņi, Mārupe and Salaspils – on average 200 people per 1 km², but the smallest population number is in Rucava county (3 people per 1 km²).

The largest share of children in Pierīga; Mārupe – the champion

Number of children and teenagers (aged 0-14 years) in 2018 increased only in Riga and Pierīga, however, share of this population group in the total number of population in regions almost has not changed over the year. The largest share of children is in Pierīga region – 18.3 % of the total number of population in region, the smallest – in Latgale region – 13.7 %. Share of children and teenagers in cities under state jurisdiction varies from 18.2 % in Jelgava to 14.4 % in Jūrmala. Mārupe county is the youngest with 28 % of the total number of population aged 0-14 years, but Aglona, Zilupe, Nereta and Baltinava counties have only 10.5 – 10.9 %.

The largest share of population of working age in the total number of population in region is in Zemgale (61.6 %), the smallest – in Kurzeme (60.4 %). Number of population of working age increased only in Pierīga – by 1.1 thousand, reduced the most in Riga – by 6 thousand and in Latgale – by 4 thousand. The largest number of population of working age in cities under state jurisdiction is in Riga and Jēkabpils (61.5 % of the total number of population), the smallest – in Valmiera (59.1 %), in counties – the largest in Baltinava (65.8 %), the smallest in Strenči county (56.8 %).

In breakdown by ethnicity the largest share of Latvians is in Vidzeme (87 %) and Kurzeme (77 %) regions, but the smallest – in Latgale (46 %) and Riga (47 %). Out of cities under state jurisdiction the largest number of indigenous people is in Valmiera (85 %), but the smallest – in Daugavpils (20 %). Alsunga and Lubāna county is the most Latvian (96 % of population are Latvians), but in Zilupe county Latvians comprise only one fifth of population.

Since 2014 statistics of population in breakdown by counties are published both by actual and by registered place of residence. Globalisation, mobility, fast pace of life – these are challenges we face nowadays. In the result frequent change of place of residence becomes commonplace, which complicates determination of actual place of residence of at least one fifth of population of Latvia. Naturally, population number by actual and by registered place of residence in different administrative territories differs. Population number actually living in cities under state jurisdiction differs from the population number registered, for example, in Riga – by 6.5 thousand. Jūrmala is an exclusion, where population number actually living there is 400 people smaller than the registered. Also in several Pierīga counties (Olaine, Babīte, Ķekava, etc.) population number actually living there is larger than the registered. But in 96 out of 110 counties population number actually living there is smaller than the registered.

Population changes in counties in 2018
(as per cent)

Methodological explanations:

Natural increase – the difference between the number of births and the number of deaths in a given period.

Net migration – difference between the total number of persons arriving in the country for permanent residence for at least one year and total number of persons departing from it for permanent residence or for at least one year.

Usually resident population in main age groups is calculated based on the age in full years in line with the working and retirement age set by the Latvian legislation. At the beginning of 2019, working age constituted 15–62 years (incl.) and retirement age – 63 years and over.

Registered place of residence means place of residence in Latvia, which is determined by taking into account declared address of a person, as well as information on persons in institutional households available in other administrative data and carrying out adjustment of declared address to certain population groups (for instance, children that are declared at the address without parents).

Starting with 2021, the CSB will publish data on population number in regions and at a detailed breakdown only by registered place of residence.