In the beginning of 2015, Latvia’s population accounted for 1 million 986.1 thousand people, which is 15.4 thousand less than a year before.

In 2014 the number of population witnessed a slower decrease (decrease of 0.77%) as compared to 2013 (1.10%). In regional breakdown the number of population increased only in Pierīga region (by 0.6 thousand). In turn, the largest drop was recorded in Latgale region – of 4.7 thousand, according to the latest data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia.

Population in Kurzeme declined by 3.3 thousand people, that of Vidzeme – by 2.9 thousand, and Zemgale – by 2.7 thousand. The number of population witnessed a drop in all cities under state jurisdiction, and the most rapid drop was recorded in Riga (by 2361 people), Daugavpils (968), Liepaja (801), while the smallest decline was registered in Jūrmala (104).

Last year the number of population grew only in 12 out of 110 counties, and they all are counties in Pierīga region. The largest growth in the number of population was recorded in Marupe (793 people more), in Ķekava (295), Sigulda (205), Salaspils (120), Ikskile (140), Babite (170) and Adazi (176) county. A slight growth in the number population (of up to 50 people) was also recorded in Garkalne, Baldone, Stopini, Carnikava and Seja. Out of the above-mentioned counties positive net migration was registered in 11 counties, while positive natural increase – in nine counties.

Affected by a slight birth rate growth, the number of children and youth (of up to 14 years of age) has increased by 3.3 thousand, accounting for 15.0% of the total number of population at the beginning of 2015 (at the beginning of 2014 – 14.7%). Also the number of population over working age (62 years and more) has grown – by 1.7 thousand. Their share in the total number of population has increased from 22.7% at the beginning of 2014 to 23.0% at the beginning of 2015. It should be noted that due to emigration the number of working-age population kept decreasing – by 20.4 thousand or 1.6%.

In 2014 the number of population of all major ethnicities in Latvia witnessed a drop: the number of Poles decreased by 2.1%, the number of Belarusians – by 2.0%, the number of Russians – by 1.5%, and the number of Latvians – by 0.4%. The share of Latvians in the total number of population, despite the decrease in absolute number, has grown from 61.4% at the beginning of 2014 to 61.6% at the beginning of this year.

Since 2011 the number of marriages per 1,000 population has been increasing: from 5.2 marriages in 2011 to 6.3 marriages in 2014. In turn, the number of divorces has been declining from 4.0 to 3.1 per 1 000 population, respectively.

21.8 thousand births and 28.5 thousand deaths were recorded in Latvia in 2014. Already for three successive years the number of births has been growing in Latvia. The number of births per 1,000 population has grown from 9.1 in 2011 to 10.9 in 2014. Mortality remains at the level of the previous years – 14.3 deaths per 1,000 population. Last year infant mortality kept decreasing – 83 children died during the first year of life. If in 2011 there were 6.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, then in 2014 this number decreased to 3.8.

Ref: 102.109.109.6783