This is the estimate from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSP) based on results of the population and housing census of 2021.
Many western countries no longer include data on their residents’ nationality. Residents’ nationality is no longer listed in censuses or registers.
For Latvia, however, this remains one of the most important demographic indexes.
As a result of internal migration in the Soviet Union in 1989, there were only 52% of Latvians in Latvia. The proportion of Russians in the country was 34%. There were also 0.9% of Jews and 0.1% of Germans in the country. The proportion of Latvians increased to 62.7%, whereas the proportion of Russians decreased to 24.5% in 2021. The proportion of Jews was 0.2% and the proportion of Germans was 0.1%.
Between 1989 and 2020 the number of representatives of different nationalities in Latvia went down together with the total population. The number of Latvians decreased by 200 000, the number of Russians decreased by 442 000, Belarusians – by 61 000, Ukrainians – by 50 000, Polish – by 23 000, Jewish – by 18 000, Lithuanians – by 13 000 people. At the same time, the number of residents of other nationalities increased by 38 000 people.
Between 1989 and 2020 Latvia saw the births of 475 000 new Latvians. However, 571 000 Latvians died during this period of time. Additionally, the population of Latvians in the country dropped as a result of natural processes by 96 000 and by 104 000 as a result of migration. The population of Russians, the second largest ethnic group in Latvia, dropped by 162 000 as a result of natural processes (151 000 were born, 313 000 died), and by 280 000 as a result of migration.
Changes are also observed for the population of Livs in Latvia. When residents were able to list their nationality during the population census, a total of 250 Livs were recorded in Latvia in 2011. According to administrative information, however, there were only 174 of Livs in the country. This indicates differences between the information available in registers and self-identification among residents. Administrative information indicates that in 2021 only 160 Livs were registered in Latvia.
Data indicates in 2021 a total of 70% of children and youngsters aged under 24 years were of Latvian nationality.
Of the total Latvian population, 28% were children and youngsters. The proportion of other nationalities – Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Polish, Lithuanians, Romanis, Jews – in this age group varied from 6% (Belarusians) and 16% (Russians). The biggest proportion in the youngest populations is for Romanis – 32%.
Data from CSP indicates that residents of other nationalities in Latvia are much older than most residents. Of all Jewish residents 49% were 65 years and older. This also applies to 37% of Estonians and 35% of Belarusians in this age group. 18% of Latvians and 26% of Russians were in this age group.
Between cities in Latvia, Valmiera is the only one in which the proportion of Latvians exceeds 80% – at the start of 2021 their proportion was 85.3%. Jekabpils is next with 63% of Latvians, Jelgava (61.7%), Ventspils (59.7%), Liepaja (59.2%) and Jurmala (52.8%). The proportion of Latvians living in Rezekne and Riga is approximately 47%. In Daugavpils only 20.7% of residents are of Latvian nationality. At the same time, CSP notes: the number of Latvians in cities has a tendency to increase.
Data also indicates that Alsunga, Lubana and Dundaga are the most Latvian regions in the country: the proportion of Latvians in those regions exceeds 95%. There are five regions in Latvia in which the proportion of Latvians is below 50%. These include Zilupe (25%), Daugavpils (35.1%), Olaine (46.5%), Kraslava (46.8%) and Salaspils (49.6%).