Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia
Latvia: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 50.8% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia is 50.8%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia peaked at 50.8% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 1965.
That places Latvia 24th out of 179 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 47.5% | — |
| 1955 | 48.1% | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 47.3% | -1.7% |
| 1965 | 47.1% | -0.5% |
| 1970 | 47.7% | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 48.7% | +2.1% |
| 1980 | 49.8% | +2.4% |
| 1985 | 50.0% | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 50.1% | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 49.3% | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 48.6% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 48.6% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 48.8% | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 49.4% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 50.8% | +2.9% |
Latvia compared with similar countries
- Latvia's 50.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 29.2%, 1.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Latvia's 50.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.1%, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.8% | 47.5% | 48.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 47.2% | 47.1% | 47.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 48.2% | 47.7% | 48.7% | 2 |
| 1980s | 49.9% | 49.8% | 50.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 49.7% | 49.3% | 50.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 48.6% | 48.6% | 48.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 49.1% | 48.8% | 49.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 50.8% | 50.8% | 50.8% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Latvia
- 21 Guinea-Bissau 52.2% compare
- 22 United Arab Emirates 51.9% compare
- 23 French Polynesia 51.8% compare
- 25 East Timor 50.7% compare
- 26 Equatorial Guinea 50.4% compare
- 27 Mauritania 50.2% compare
More population data for Latvia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.8064 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -1.02 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -1.0% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 31,860 people (2100)
- Population density 14.87 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -1.0% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.481 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, per capita 0.3147 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Latvia was 50.8% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Latvia?
- The highest recorded value was 50.8% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Latvia?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 1965.
- How does Latvia rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Latvia ranks 24th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Latvia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Latvia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.