Annual change in population in Latvia
Latvia: Annual change in population was 1,340 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,340 people
Change on year
up 129.6%
World rank
163rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
34,186 people
in 1960
All-time low
-51,013 people
in 1993
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Latvia, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in population in Latvia is 1,340 people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 129.6% on the previous year and up 106.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Latvia peaked at 34,186 people in 1960 and was at its lowest, -51,013 people, in 1993.
That places Latvia 163rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Latvia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 15,193 people | — |
| 1952 | 15,622 people | +2.8% |
| 1953 | 15,663 people | +0.3% |
| 1954 | 16,836 people | +7.5% |
| 1955 | 18,428 people | +9.5% |
| 1956 | 19,042 people | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 20,612 people | +8.2% |
| 1958 | 23,173 people | +12.4% |
| 1959 | 33,689 people | +45.4% |
| 1960 | 34,186 people | +1.5% |
| 1961 | 26,004 people | -23.9% |
| 1962 | 25,114 people | -3.4% |
| 1963 | 23,517 people | -6.4% |
| 1964 | 23,949 people | +1.8% |
| 1965 | 23,016 people | -3.9% |
| 1966 | 21,587 people | -6.2% |
| 1967 | 21,724 people | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 21,206 people | -2.4% |
| 1969 | 20,377 people | -3.9% |
| 1970 | 19,896 people | -2.4% |
| 1971 | 19,516 people | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 18,796 people | -3.7% |
| 1973 | 19,902 people | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 21,221 people | +6.6% |
| 1975 | 18,786 people | -11.5% |
| 1976 | 14,761 people | -21.4% |
| 1977 | 14,064 people | -4.7% |
| 1978 | 12,759 people | -9.3% |
| 1979 | 8,162 people | -36.0% |
| 1980 | 6,230 people | -23.7% |
| 1981 | 8,216 people | +31.9% |
| 1982 | 12,048 people | +46.6% |
| 1983 | 14,956 people | +24.1% |
| 1984 | 15,797 people | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 16,464 people | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 20,547 people | +24.8% |
| 1987 | 26,185 people | +27.4% |
| 1988 | 26,281 people | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 12,589 people | -52.1% |
| 1990 | -4,708 people | -137.4% |
| 1991 | -11,198 people | +137.9% |
| 1992 | -34,100 people | +204.5% |
| 1993 | -51,013 people | +49.6% |
| 1994 | -42,582 people | -16.5% |
| 1995 | -35,290 people | -17.1% |
| 1996 | -28,041 people | -20.5% |
| 1997 | -24,678 people | -12.0% |
| 1998 | -23,012 people | -6.8% |
| 1999 | -19,395 people | -15.7% |
| 2000 | -22,502 people | +16.0% |
| 2001 | -30,021 people | +33.4% |
| 2002 | -26,941 people | -10.3% |
| 2003 | -22,375 people | -16.9% |
| 2004 | -24,804 people | +10.9% |
| 2005 | -24,392 people | -1.7% |
| 2006 | -20,748 people | -14.9% |
| 2007 | -18,265 people | -12.0% |
| 2008 | -23,064 people | +26.3% |
| 2009 | -35,666 people | +54.6% |
| 2010 | -44,210 people | +24.0% |
| 2011 | -37,894 people | -14.3% |
| 2012 | -25,301 people | -33.2% |
| 2013 | -21,635 people | -14.5% |
| 2014 | -18,851 people | -12.9% |
| 2015 | -16,279 people | -13.6% |
| 2016 | -18,011 people | +10.6% |
| 2017 | -17,264 people | -4.1% |
| 2018 | -15,013 people | -13.0% |
| 2019 | -13,319 people | -11.3% |
| 2020 | -13,148 people | -1.3% |
| 2021 | -15,526 people | +18.1% |
| 2022 | -4,534 people | -70.8% |
| 2023 | 1,340 people | -129.6% |
Latvia compared with similar countries
- Latvia's 1,340 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people, 42% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Latvia's 1,340 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382 people, 9% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Latvia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | -204.5% | -11,198 people | -34,100 people |
| 1990 | -137.4% | 12,589 people | -4,708 people |
| 1991 | -137.9% | -4,708 people | -11,198 people |
| 2023 | +129.6% | -4,534 people | 1,340 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19,806 people | 15,193 people | 33,689 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 24,068 people | 20,377 people | 34,186 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 16,786 people | 8,162 people | 21,221 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 15,931 people | 6,230 people | 26,281 people | 10 |
| 1990s | -27,402 people | -51,013 people | -4,708 people | 10 |
| 2000s | -24,878 people | -35,666 people | -18,265 people | 10 |
| 2010s | -22,778 people | -44,210 people | -13,319 people | 10 |
| 2020s | -7,967 people | -15,526 people | 1,340 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Latvia
More population data for Latvia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -3.55 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.8064 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.481 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Population density 14.87 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 31,860 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.7629 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Latvia?
- Annual change in population in Latvia was 1,340 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Latvia?
- The highest recorded value was 34,186 people in 1960.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Latvia?
- The lowest recorded value was -51,013 people in 1993.
- How does Latvia rank for annual change in population?
- Latvia ranks 163rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Latvia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 106.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latvia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.