At the beginning of 2015 the number of population of Latvia accounted for 1,986,100 people, which is 15,400 fewer than the year before, the Central Bureau of Statistics said.
In regional breakdown the number of population increased only in Riga region (by 600) while the largest drop was recorded in Latgale region – of 4,700.
One faint glimmer of hope lay in the fact that in 2014 the rate of population decline reduced slightly to 0.77% as compared to 2013's figure of 1.10%.
The population in Kurzeme region declined by 3,300, in Vidzeme - by 2,900, and in Zemgale by 2,700.
Last year the population grew only in 12 out of 110 districts, and all were located in the area around Riga. The largest growth in the number of population was recorded in Mārupe (793 people more), in Ķekava (295), Sigulda (205), Salaspils (120), Ikšķile (140), Babīte (170) and Ādaži (176).
A slight growth in the number population (of up to 50 people) was also recorded in Garkalne, Baldone, Stopiņi, Carnikava and Sēja.
In 2014 due to international long-term migration the population in Latvia dropped by 8,700 (in 2013 – by 14,200), and due to natural movement by 6,700 (in 2013 – by 8,100).
In contrast 10,300 people arrived in Latvia from other countries (2,100 more than in 2013), of which 65% where Latvian residents who returned to Latvia.
