Larger children population and stronger state support for families with children

Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB) data show that at the beginning of 2023 Latvia had population of 1 million 883 thousand, of which children (people aged 17 and under) accounted for 361 thousand or 19.2 %. The number of children has grown by 9.1 thousand or 2.6 % since the beginning of 2016. The increase in the children population was facilitated by slightly higher birth number during the period from 2013 to 2016 as well as accepted Ukrainian refugees having children. Out of all children, 94.8 % were born in Latvia, followed by 2.1 % born in Ukraine, 1.2 % in United Kingdom, and 0.3 % in Ireland and Russia.

In terms of administrative breakdown, at the beginning of 2023 the largest share of children was recorded in Pierīga (22.3 %) and the smallest in Latgale region (16.6 %). In municipalities it varied between 13.8 % in Krāslava and 30.8 % in Mārupe.

To provide stronger financial support for families with children, as of 1 January 2022 the amount of State family allowance depends on the number of children actually raising benefits:

• EUR 25 monthly are paid for one child;
• EUR 100 monthly for two children (EUR 50 monthly for each child);
• EUR 225 monthly for three children (EUR 75 monthly for each child);
• EUR 100 monthly for each child in families with four or more children.

State Social Insurance Agency data show that in 2022 the State family allowance was paid for 353 thousand children, and, due to changes in the conditions for granting it, the amount to be paid per child increased from EUR 28.68 in 2021 to EUR 49.13 in 2022. State family allowance was paid for 265 thousand children aged 14 and under (75.1 %) and for 88 thousand children aged 15–19 (incl.) (24.9 %).

* State Social Insurance Agency data

More information about children population of Latvia is available in the collection of statistics Children in Latvia 2023.  It provides statistics for children births and deaths, age composition, health status, education, social protection, use of information technologies, violence against children, and children in conflict with law.

The publication is based on the data received from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, National Health Service, Register of Patients Suffering from Certain Diseases, Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, State Social Insurance Agency, Ministry of Welfare, Ministry of the Interior, Court Administration, State Inspectorate for Protection of Children’s Rights, Ministry of Education and Science, Road Traffic Safety Directorate, Eurostat, and other institutions.

The collection also presents results of the continuous Labour Force Survey, European Union statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), results of the survey on use of information and communication technologies and Personal and Professional Trips of Latvian Residents survey conducted by the CSB. In addition, it includes results of the survey Mobility of Latvian Population collected in 2017 and 2021 and results of the survey on gender-based violence against women and other forms of inter-personal violence collected in 2021.

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

More information on data:
Social Statistics Data Compilation and Analysis Section
Ieva Zabarovska
E-mail: Ieva.Zabarovska@csp.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366909