Compared to 1.0% in 2016, the 2017 population declined by 0.8%. Urban population shrank by 8.3 thousand people or 0.6%, while rural – by 7.4 thousand or 1.2%.
In 2017, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by 7.9 thousand, being the highest indicator recorded over the past four years (6.6 thousand in 2016). Last year, 20.8 thousand children were born (1 140 children fewer than in 2016), whereas 28.7 thousand people passed away (177 more than in 2016).
As a result of international long-term migration, population fell by 7.8 thousand in 2017 (12.2 thousand in 2016). Last year, 9.9 thousand people arrived in Latvia from other countries (1.6 thousand more than in 2016), while 17.7 thousand left the country (2.9 thousand fewer than in 2016). Approximately half (55 %) of immigrants are related to Latvia (e.g., born here, etc.).
The office also notes several other trends, like a population increase in the areas surrounding Rīga, as well as a slight increase in the number of children born in the country.
