Planning to relocate or looking for a job in Latvia? Here is an up-to-date overview of the country's geography, climate, population, and culture to help you get oriented.
📍 General Overview
Capital city: Riga
Population: ~1,872,000 (as of 2026) * Language: Latvian (Official)
Government: Parliamentary republic
Country code: +371
Total area: 64,589 km²
Traffic: Driving on the right lane
Coastline: Washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga
🌍 Geography & Nature
Latvia is located in the Baltic region, on the western edge of the East European Plain. It shares borders with Estonia to the north (343 km), Lithuania to the south (576 km), Russia to the east (292 km), and Belarus to the southeast (171 km).
Coastline: The territory is washed by the Baltic Sea from the west, stretching across 498 km of sandy beaches.
Natural Resources: Latvia has rich deposits of peat, limestone, dolomite, gypsum, quartz sand, and clay. On the coast, Baltic amber is occasionally washed ashore. The cities of Ķemeri and Baldone are famous for their healing mineral springs and muds.
Green Country: Forests cover more than 50% of the territory today, making Latvia one of the greenest countries in Europe.
🌤️ Climate and Weather
Latvia has a temperate maritime/continental climate, offering four distinct seasons:
Winter (Mid-December to early March): Features frost and snow, with temperatures typically ranging from +5°C down to -15°C (occasionally dropping to -30°C during severe cold waves).
Spring (March to May): A beautiful transition period accompanied by spring floods. Temperatures gradually rise from 0°C to +15°C.
Summer (June to August): Warm and pleasant, with an average temperature of around +20°C, though heatwaves can push it up to +30°C or higher. Thunderstorms are common in July and August.
Autumn (September to November): A picturesque and colorful season. Temperatures steadily drop from +12°C in September to around 0°C by late November.
👥 Population and Demographics (2026 Data)
The ethnic composition of Latvia has shifted over recent years due to migration trends and natural demographic changes.
Most numerous ethnic groups:
Latvians: ~63.0%
Russians: ~22.5%
Ukrainians: ~3.8% (increased due to geopolitical shifts and migration)
Belarusians: ~3.0%
Poles: ~1.9%
📊 Status of Non-Citizens: As of 2026, the proportion of "non-citizens" (nepilsoņi) has decreased to roughly 9% of the population. Citizenship can be acquired through naturalization, which requires passing an examination in the Latvian language, basic history, and the Constitution.
🗣️ Language
State Language: Latvian is the sole official state language. It belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family and uses the Latin alphabet.
Regional Dialects: Latgalian is widely spoken and preserved in the eastern region of Latgale.
Foreign Languages: While older generations commonly understand Russian, younger generations and the corporate world (especially the IT and tech sectors) are highly fluent in English.
Public Space: By law, all official announcements, street signs, public transport timetables, and government instructions are strictly in Latvian.
⛪ Religion
Latvia is constitutionally a secular state with no state religion. The main religious denominations are:
Lutheranism: Traditional among the majority of Latvians in the western and central regions.
Roman Catholicism: Predominant in the eastern region (Latgale).
Eastern Orthodoxy & Old Believers: Mostly practiced by the Russian-speaking population and specific historical communities in the east.
Smaller communities of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and other faiths also coexist peacefully.
🏛️ Politics and Government
Latvia is a parliamentary unitary republic operating under its restored 1922 Constitution (Satversme).
Parliament (Saeima): Consists of 100 deputies elected by citizens every 4 years.
Head of State: The President, elected by the Saeima for a 4-year term, performs largely ceremonial and representative duties.
Executive Power: Held by the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister.
📅 Official State Holidays
January 1: New Year's Day — A nationwide official holiday to kick off the new year.
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday:(Dates vary in March/April) — Official holidays marking the Easter holiday weekend.
May 1: Convocation of the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Latvia (1920) & Labor Day.
May 4: Restoration of Independence Day. On this day in 1990, the parliament voted to begin restoring independence from the USSR.
June 23–24: Līgo and Jāņi — the Midsummer Solstice, the most celebrated and beloved national holidays in Latvia.
November 11: Lāčplēsis Day — Veterans/Soldiers Remembrance Day, honoring those who fought for freedom in 1919.
November 18: Proclamation Day of the Republic of Latvia — Latvia's National Day, celebrating the declaration of independence in 1918.
December 24–26: Christmas — Christmas Eve, First, and Second Christmas Days are all official national holidays.
December 31: New Year's Eve — Official day off to prepare for the New Year celebrations.
