Population declines everywhere in Latvia except around Rīga

The largest share of reduction in population numbers was recorded in Latgale region – 4,600 or 1.7 %, while Vidzeme lost 2,400 (1.3 %), Kurzeme shed 2,900 (1.2 %), and Zemgale lost 2,400 (1.0 %) people.

The annual population estimate showed that population numbers in Rīga itself fell by 5,400 or 0.8 %.

More than a half of population of Latvia lives in Rīga and Pierīga. Population of the capital often move to Pierīga region.

Population number also decreased in seven out of nine cities under state jurisdiction, except Jūrmala with increase of 252 people or 0.5 % and Valmiera with increase of 62 people or 0.3 %. The largest drop in the population number was registered in Riga – by 5357 people (0.8 %), Daugavpils – 646 (0.8 %), Ventspils – by 478 (1.4 %), Jelgava – 441 (0.7 %), Rēzekne – 336 (1.2 %), but the smallest – in Liepāja – by 0.3 % (235). In all cities under state jurisdiction number of deaths exceeded the number of births. Positive migration flow difference was in Jūrmala, Valmiera, Liepāja, Jēkabpils and Daugavpils.

Last year, in 17 counties out of 110 – Saulkrasti, Babīte, Stopiņi, Ķekava, Mārupe, Garkalne, Sigulda, Ādaži, Carnikava, Inčukalns, Ozolnieki, Ikšķile, Ropaži, Olaine, Salaspils, Brocēni, Līgatne – population number increased, except Ozolnieki, Brocēni and Līgatne counties; these are counties of Pierīga region. The largest increase of population number was in Saulkrasti county (of 13.6 % or 781 person) and similar as previously in Riga and Carnikava counties this might be explained with changes in immovable property tax and its advantages, which stimulated people to declare in dwellings where previously nobody was declared.

Most densely populated counties are Stopiņi, Mārupe and Salaspils – on average 200 people per 1 km2, but the smallest population number is in Rucava county (3 people per 1 km2).