Latvia

Latvia sits on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, and Belarus to the southeast. For stable research, the United Nations classifies Latvia with M49 code 428, ISO alpha-2 code LV, and ISO alpha-3 code LVA. The UN places Latvia in the region of Europe and the subregion of Northern Europe, and it is a UN member state. The World Bank lists Riga as the capital. These classifications are administrative facts, not political or territorial claims.

Core identifiers and where they come from

Before using any figure about Latvia, check the reference year and the issuing institution. The most stable identifiers are the UN M49 code (428), ISO codes (LV / LVA), and the regional grouping (Europe / Northern Europe). You can verify these directly in the UN Statistics Division M49 overview ( which also shows how the UN groups countries and territories. The World Bank lists Latvia as a member state with capital Riga in its country API ( These classification facts do not change often, but the UN M49 overview and World Bank API are the authoritative sources, not this page.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic. The Saeima, a unicameral parliament of 100 members, elects the President, who then appoints the Prime Minister. The government structure is defined in the Constitution of Latvia (Satversme), adopted in 1922 and restored in 1993 after the Soviet period. For the most recent government composition and election results, refer to the official website of the Latvian government or the Central Election Commission of Latvia. Do not rely on third-party summaries for current officeholders; ministry websites are the authoritative source.

Latvia is a member of the European Union, NATO, the OECD, and the Eurozone. It uses the euro (EUR) as its currency. The national statistical office is the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (Latvijas oficiālā statistika), which publishes census, demographic, and economic data. The Bank of Latvia is the central bank and the source for monetary and financial statistics.

Where the classification codes come from

The UN M49 standard provides the official coding of countries and areas. It is a coding system, not a political statement. The World Bank country API returns current country metadata including income level, region, and capital city. Both sources are useful for research and comparison because they define the same entity consistently across datasets.

One-sentence distinction

Latvia is one of only three Baltic states, and the only one where the capital, Riga, is both the largest city in the Baltic region and a UNESCO World Heritage site for its Art Nouveau architecture and medieval Old Town.

Population and people

Population figures change continuously. The UN Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections; the World Bank’s indicator API (for example SP.POP.TOTL) provides the latest estimate with a stated reference year. Latvia’s official statistical office, the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, is the primary source for census and intercensal updates. When comparing population figures, check the reference date and whether the number is a census count, an official estimate, or a UN projection. These methods can differ by tens of thousands of people, and none of them is “wrong”; they simply measure different things at different points in time.

How to verify current population

The UN Statistics Division maintains the M49 classification, which is a stable list of countries and areas for statistical use. It does not publish population counts. For population figures, use the UN World Population Prospects or the World Bank’s country dataset. The World Bank API returns country metadata, but population values are published in separate indicator series (e.g., SP.POP.TOTL). The reference year for any population figure must be named. Latvia’s official statistics office (Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia) is the primary source for national census and intercensal estimates; international sources may differ by a small margin because they use different projection dates.

For current population, use the World Bank’s country API ( to fetch the latest indicator value; the API returns the reference year for each value. For Eurostat or the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (official national statistical office), use their population tables and note the reference date. The World Bank’s indicator SP.POP.TOTL provides the total population, with values typically reported for the prior calendar year. Always name the reference year when quoting a population figure.

Population figures change frequently. The most reliable source is the United Nations World Population Prospects, which publishes annual estimates and projections. The World Bank also publishes population data using its own definitions and reporting calendar. Both should be cited with the reference year. For Latvia, the UN and World Bank figures will differ slightly because they use different estimation methods and update schedules. Always check the metadata: a figure labelled “2023 estimate” is not the same as a “2023 census count.”

Capital, currency, and languages

The capital is Riga, as listed in the World Bank country field. The official language is Latvian (lv), a Baltic language written in Latin script. For the latest distribution of languages spoken at home, consult the Latvian official statistical portal (Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia) or the latest census reports. The currency is the euro (EUR), which Latvia adopted when it joined the euro area on 1 January 2014 (European Central Bank, euro adoption timeline). Confirm current status via the European Central Bank or Latvijas Banka.

How to verify changing data

Population, currency, government structure, and visa rules change. For a stable research profile, treat every figure as a snapshot with a source and reference year.

• Population. The UN Population Division publishes estimates and projections; the World Bank also provides population data. Always check the reference year (e.g., 2023 or 2024) and the data source, because censuses are conducted only every few years.
• Languages. The official language is Latvian. For the latest distribution of languages spoken at home, consult the Latvian official statistical portal (Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia) or the latest census reports.
• Currency. Latvia uses the euro (EUR). Confirm current status via the European Central Bank or Latvijas Banka.
• Government. Latvia is a parliamentary republic. For current leadership, coalition, and election results, refer to the Latvian government portal or the Central Election Commission of Latvia.
• Economy. World Bank and IMF publish annual GDP, GDP per capita, and growth figures; each dataset has a distinct methodology and reference year.

For border, visa, and entry rules, always check your own government’s travel advisory and the IATA Travel Centre.