Editing Latvia (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Latvia}}
{{Wide image|Riga Skyline Panorama, Latvia - Diliff.jpg|1000px|[[Riga]], capital and largest city of Latvia}}
{{bar box
|float = right
|title = Residents of Latvia by ethnicity (2021)<ref name=nat />
|bars =
{{bar percent|Latvians|DarkSlateGray|62.7}}
{{bar percent|Russians|DarkSlateGray|24.4}}
{{bar percent|Belarusians|DarkSlateGray|3.1}}
{{bar percent|Ukrainians|DarkSlateGray|2.2}}
{{bar percent|Poles|DarkSlateGray|2.0}}
{{bar percent|Lithuanians|DarkSlateGray|1.1}}
{{bar percent|Others|DarkSlateGray|4.1}}
}}
[[File:Population-of-Latvia.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|Population of Latvia (in millions) from 1920 to 2014]]
The [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) in 2018 was estimated to be 1.61 children born/woman, which is lower than the replacement rate of 2.1. In 2012, 45.0% of births were to unmarried women.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018 |title=Live births outside marriage |publisher=Eurostat – Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114113/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&plugin=1&language=en&pcode=tps00018 |archive-date= 6 October 2014 }}</ref> The life expectancy in 2013 was estimated at 73.2 years (68.1 years male, 78.5 years female).<ref name=cia /> As of 2015, Latvia is estimated to have the lowest male-to-female ratio in the world, at 0.85 males per female.<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Comparison to the World|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html|website=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=1 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016065003/https://www.cia.gov/library//publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html|archive-date=16 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017, there were 1,054,433 females and 895,683 males living in Latvian territory. Every year, more boys are born than girls. Up to the age of 39, there are more males than females. Above the age of 70, there are 2.3 times as many females as males.

=== Ethnic groups ===
In 2023, [[Latvian people|Latvians]] formed about 62.4% of the population, while 23.7% were [[Russians in the Baltic states|Russians]], [[Belarusians]] 3%, [[Ukrainians]] 3%, [[Polish people|Poles]] 2%, [[Lithuanians]] 1%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by ethnicity at the beginning of year 1935 - 2023 |url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |archive-date=21 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221234523/https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE010/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In some cities, including [[Daugavpils]] and [[Rēzekne]], ethnic Latvians constitute a minority of the total population. Despite a steadily increasing  proportion of ethnic Latvians for more than a decade, ethnic Latvians also still make up slightly less than a half of the population of the capital city of Latvia – [[Riga]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The share of ethnic Latvians declined from 77% (1,467,035) in 1935 to 52% (1,387,757) in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lka.edu.lv/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&topic=68 |title=About Latvia |publisher=Latvian Academy of Culture |access-date=28 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629231221/http://www.lka.edu.lv/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&topic=68 |archive-date=29 June 2007 }}</ref> In the context of a decreasing overall population, there were fewer Latvians in 2011 than in 1989, but their share of the population was larger&nbsp;– 1,285,136 (62.1% of the population).<ref>{{cite web|title=TSG11-06. Resident population on March 1, 2011 by ethnicity, sex and age group|url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/pxweb/en/tautassk_11/tautassk_11__tsk2011/TSG11-06.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=c8c8a0dd-6a8e-4e89-add7-718c9998db99|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia|access-date=27 February 2017}}{{dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The majority of Latvia's population are Latvians, who are an ethnic Baltic people. The country also has a significant Russian minority, as well as smaller populations of Ukrainians, Belarusians, and other Slavic peoples. These ethnic groups are all descended from peoples who settled in Latvia during the centuries of Russian and Soviet rule.

Latvia's ethnic diversity is a result of a number of factors, including a long history of foreign rule, its location on the Baltic Sea trade route, and its proximity to other Slavic countries. The Russian Empire conquered Latvia in the 18th century and ruled the country for over 200 years. During this time, the Russian authorities encouraged the settlement of Russian colonists in Latvia. After the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1918, Latvia became an independent country. However, the country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and remained under Soviet rule until 1991. The Soviets expelled some groups and resettled others in Latvia, especially Russians.  After 1991 many of the expellees returned to Latvia.<ref>James Minahan, ''Miniature Empires'' (1998) p. 216.</ref>

As a result of deteriorating relations with Russia, Latvia has decided it does not want Russian citizens in Latvia who will not integrate. In late 2023 it is expected that around 5-6,000 Russians will be returned to Russia as they have made little effort to learn the Latvian language, integrate with Latvia, or apply to become Latvian citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia to ask thousands of Russian citizens to leave the country |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2050380/latvia-to-ask-thousands-of-russian-citizens-to-leave-the-country |date=4 August 2023 |access-date=11 September 2023 |archive-date=11 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811072022/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2050380/latvia-to-ask-thousands-of-russian-citizens-to-leave-the-country |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Language ===
{{further|Language policy in Latvia}}
The sole official language of Latvia is [[Latvian language|Latvian]], which belongs to the [[Baltic languages|Baltic language sub-group]] of the [[Balto-Slavic languages|Balto-Slavic branch]] of the [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European language family]]. Another notable language of Latvia is the nearly extinct [[Livonian language]] of the [[Finnic languages|Finnic]] branch of the [[Uralic languages|Uralic language family]], which enjoys protection by law; [[Latgalian language|Latgalian]]&nbsp;– as a dialect of Latvian is also protected by Latvian law but as a historical variation of the Latvian language. [[Russian language|Russian]], which was widely spoken during the Soviet period, is still the most widely used minority language by far (in 2023, 37.7% spoke it as their mother tongue and 34.6% spoke it at home, including people who were not ethnically Russian).<ref name="eng.lsm.lv"/>
While it is now required that all school students learn Latvian, schools also include English, German, French and Russian in their curricula. English is also widely accepted in Latvia in business and tourism. {{As of|2014}} there were 109 schools for minorities that use Russian as the language of instruction (27% of all students) for 40% of subjects (the remaining 60% of subjects are taught in Latvian).

On 18 February 2012, Latvia held a [[2012 Latvian constitutional referendum|constitutional referendum]] on whether to adopt Russian as a second official language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28361.html/|title=Referendum on the Draft Law 'Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia'|publisher=Central Election Commission of Latvia|year=2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502013728/http://web.cvk.lv/pub/public/28361.html|archive-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> According to the Central Election Commission, 74.8% voted against, 24.9% voted for and the voter turnout was 71.1%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tn2012.cvk.lv/|title=Results of the referendum on the Draft Law 'Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia'|language=lv|publisher=Central Election Commission of Latvia|year=2012|access-date=2 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415075014/http://www.tn2012.cvk.lv/|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

From 2019, instruction in the [[Russian language in Latvia|Russian language]] was gradually discontinued in private colleges and [[private university|universities]] in Latvia, as well as general instruction in Latvian public [[high school]]s,<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvia pushes majority language in schools, leaving parents miffed |url=https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-pushes-majority-language-in-schools-leaving-parents-miffed/a-45385830 |agency=Deutsche Welle |date=8 September 2018 |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123223709/https://www.dw.com/en/latvia-pushes-majority-language-in-schools-leaving-parents-miffed/a-45385830 |archive-date=23 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Moscow threatens sanctions against Latvia over removal of Russian from secondary schools |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/03/moscow-threatens-sanctions-against-latvia-removal-russian-secondary/ |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 April 2018 |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181227040806/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/03/moscow-threatens-sanctions-against-latvia-removal-russian-secondary/ |archive-date=27 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> except for subjects related to culture and history of the Russian minority, such as Russian language and literature classes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/government-okays-transition-to-latvian-as-sole-language-at-schools-in-2019.a265290/|title=Government okays transition to Latvian as sole language at schools in 2019|date=23 January 2018|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]]|access-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816125825/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/government-okays-transition-to-latvian-as-sole-language-at-schools-in-2019.a265290/|archive-date=16 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 
All schools, including pre-schools, still using the Russian language in 2023 need to transition to using Latvian in all classes within 3 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Are Russian schools in Latvia ready to teach in official language? |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/02.05.2023-are-russian-schools-in-latvia-ready-to-teach-in-official-language.a507061/ |date=2 May 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003105443/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/education/02.05.2023-are-russian-schools-in-latvia-ready-to-teach-in-official-language.a507061/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Latvia}}
{{Bar box
| title=Religion in Latvia (2011)<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />
| float=right
| bars=
{{Bar percent|[[Lutheranism]]|DodgerBlue|34.2}}
{{Bar percent|[[Roman Catholicism]]|DarkOrchid|24.1}}
{{Bar percent|[[Russian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]]|Crimson|17.8}}
{{Bar percent|[[Old Believers]]|DeepPink|1.6}}
{{Bar percent|Other Christian|RoyalBlue|1.2}}
{{Bar percent|Other or [[irreligion|none]]|SlateGray|21.1}}
}}

The largest religion in Latvia is [[Christianity]] (79%).<ref name=cia /><ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" /> The largest groups {{As of|2011|lc=y}} were:
* [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia]]&nbsp;– 708,773<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />
* [[Roman Catholicism in Latvia|Roman Catholic]]&nbsp;– 500,000<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija">{{cite web|url=http://www.tm.gov.lv/lv/labumi/TM.docx |title=Tieslietu ministrijā iesniegtie reliģisko organizāciju pārskati par darbību 2011. gadā |language=lv |access-date=25 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126013327/http://www.tm.gov.lv/lv/labumi/TM.docx |archive-date=26 November 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Russian Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]]&nbsp;– 370,000<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />
[[File:Riga Dom 02.JPG|thumb|left|[[Riga Cathedral]]]]
In the [[Eurobarometer]] Poll 2010, 38% of Latvian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", while 48% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 11% stated that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".

Lutheranism was more prominent before the Soviet occupation, when it was adhered to by about 60% of the population, a reflection of the country's strong historical links with the [[Nordic countries]], and to the influence of the [[Hanseatic League|Hansa]] in particular and Germany in general. Since then, Lutheranism has declined to a slightly greater extent than Roman Catholicism in all three [[Baltic states]]. The Evangelical Lutheran Church, with an estimated 600,000 members in 1956, was affected most adversely. An internal document of 18 March 1987, near the end of communist rule, spoke of an active membership that had shrunk to only 25,000 in Latvia, but the faith has since experienced a revival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/latvia/SOCIETY.html |title=Latvia&nbsp;– SOCIETY |publisher=Mongabay.com |date=18 March 1987 |access-date=12 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919154752/http://www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/latvia/SOCIETY.html |archive-date=19 September 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The country's Orthodox Christians belong to the [[Latvian Orthodox Church]], a semi-autonomous body within the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. In 2011, there were 416 religious [[History of the Jews in Latvia|Jews in Latvia]] and 319 [[Islam in Latvia|Muslims in Latvia]].<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" /> As of 2004, there were more than 600 Latvian [[neopaganism|neopagans]], ''[[Dievturība|Dievturi]]'' (The Godskeepers), whose religion is based on [[Latvian mythology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bibelesbiedriba.lv/religiju-enciklopedija/statistika.html|title=Statistics of approved parishes in Latvia|date=1 January 2004|access-date=7 March 2007|work=Reliģiju Enciklopēdija|publisher=The Latvian Bible Society|language=lv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205160945/http://www.bibelesbiedriba.lv/religiju-enciklopedija/statistika.html|archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Žemaitis |first1=Augustinas |title=Dievturība (neo-paganism) |url=https://www.onlatvia.com/dievturiba-latvian-neo-paganism-187 |website=OnLatvia.com |access-date=21 March 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519081732/https://www.onlatvia.com/dievturiba-latvian-neo-paganism-187 |url-status=live }}</ref> About 21% of the total population is not affiliated with a specific religion.<ref name="Tieslietu Ministrija" />

Latvia has been seeking for a number of years to separate the Latvian Orthodox Church from Moscow, stating that longstanding ties to Russia pose "national security concerns".<ref>{{cite web |title=Latvia persists in granting independence to its Orthodox Church |url=https://cne.news/article/1750-latvia-persists-in-granting-independence-to-its-orthodox-church |date=26 September 2022 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=3 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103075908/https://cne.news/article/1750-latvia-persists-in-granting-independence-to-its-orthodox-church |url-status=live }}</ref> This was achieved in September 2022 with a law removing all influence or power over the Orthodox Church from non-Latvians, which would include the patriarch of Moscow.<ref>{{cite web |title=Orthodox Church of Latvia seceded from Moscow – It was a matter of national security, says the President |url=https://orthodoxtimes.com/orthodox-church-of-latvia-seceded-from-moscow-it-was-a-matter-of-national-security-says-the-president/ |date=10 September 2022 |access-date=25 October 2023 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922185349/https://orthodoxtimes.com/orthodox-church-of-latvia-seceded-from-moscow-it-was-a-matter-of-national-security-says-the-president/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Education and science ===
{{Main|Education in Latvia}}
{{See also|List of universities in Latvia}}
[[File:Latvijas Universitāte - ogre11 - Panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|University of Latvia]]
The [[University of Latvia]] and [[Riga Technical University]] are two major universities in the country, both successors to Riga Polytechnical Institute, and located in [[Riga]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtu.lv |title=Riga Polytechnical Institute Home Page |publisher=Rtu.lv |access-date=16 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020174805/http://www.rtu.lv/ |archive-date=20 October 2010 }}</ref> Other important universities, which were established on the base of State University of Latvia, include the [[Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies]] (established in 1939 on the basis of the Faculty of Agriculture) and [[Riga Stradiņš University]] (established in 1950 on the basis of the Faculty of Medicine). Both nowadays cover a variety of different fields. The [[University of Daugavpils]] is another significant centre of education.

Latvia closed 131 schools between 2006 and 2010, which is a 12.9% decline, and in the same period enrolment in educational institutions has fallen by over 54,000 people, a 10.3% decline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?lng=lv&cat=2300 |title=Latvijas Statistika |publisher=Csb.gov.lv |date=17 May 2010 |access-date=6 June 2010 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Latvian policy in science and technology has set out the long-term goal of transitioning from labor-consuming economy to knowledge-based economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.izm.gov.lv/en/science|title=Science|website=Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija|access-date=3 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129004953/http://www.izm.gov.lv/en/science|archive-date=29 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2020 the government aims to spend 1.5% of GDP on research and development, with half of the investments coming from the private sector. Latvia plans to base the development of its scientific potential on existing scientific traditions, particularly in organic chemistry, medical chemistry, genetic engineering, physics, materials science and information technologies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lza.lv/index.php?mylang=english|title=Latvijas Zinātņu Akadēmija|website=www.lza.lv|access-date=3 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813021724/http://www.lza.lv/index.php?mylang=english|archive-date=13 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The greatest number of patents, both nationwide and abroad, are in medical chemistry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://inventions.lza.lv/izgu_en.php|title=latvian|website=inventions.lza.lv|access-date=29 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014092151/http://inventions.lza.lv/izgu_en.php|archive-date=14 October 2017}}</ref> Latvia was ranked 42nd in the [[Global Innovation Index]] in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Innovation Index 2024 : Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship |url=https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/en/ |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=www.wipo.int |language=en}}</ref>

=== Health ===

{{Main|Health in Latvia}}
The Latvian healthcare system is a [[universal health care|universal programme]], largely funded through government taxation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Nov_18/ai_n15860135/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711124324/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2005_Nov_18/ai_n15860135/ |archive-date=11 July 2012 |title=Latvia's Healthcare System is Funded by General Taxation and All Latvians and Foreign Residents Are Guaranteed Medical Care &#124; Find Articles at BNET |publisher=Findarticles.com |date= 18 November 2005|access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> It is among the lowest-ranked healthcare systems in Europe, due to excessive waiting times for treatment, insufficient access to the latest medicines, and other factors.<ref>{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics/?doc=7137 |title=Latvia has worst health care system in Europe |publisher=[[The Baltic Course]] |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511212308/http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/analytics/?doc=7137 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> There were 59 hospitals in Latvia in 2009, down from 94 in 2007 and 121 in 2006.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/business/global/18lat.html?ref=business | work=The New York Times | title=Latvian Health Official Resigns Over Cuts | author=David Jolly | date=18 June 2009 | access-date=4 April 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511212454/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/business/global/18lat.html?ref=business | archive-date=11 May 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?cat=2310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216125055/http://www.csb.gov.lv/csp/content/?cat=2310 |archive-date=16 December 2007 |title=The basic indicators of health care, at the end of the year |publisher=Csb.gov.lv |date=22 January 2010 |access-date=5 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/the-baltic-states-their-health-systems-from-soviet-to-eu.html |title=The Baltic States and their health systems&nbsp;– From Soviet to EU |publisher=Healthcare-in-Europea |access-date=5 February 2010 |archive-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808211419/https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/the-baltic-states-their-health-systems-from-soviet-to-eu.html |url-status=live }}</ref>