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Life in Latvia

Live the life you always imagined

At a glance

A member of

NATO, EU, OECD & Schengen

50+%

Of the country covered by forests

96%

Of inhabitants speak at least two languages

500km

White sandy beach coastline

65

Countries represented by foreign students

4 seasons

Sizzling summers and white winters

Sincere & loyal

A friend is a friend for life

Something for everyone

In Latvia, anyone can live the life they’ve always dreamed of. Riga, a modern European metropolis, is a blossoming cultural hub with something for every palette.

Live in Latvia

Did you know that...

Living in Latvia offers a high quality of life with a relatively low cost of living. The country has a thriving economy and is home to many international companies, making it a good place to work and do business.

Work in Latvia

© University of Latvia

Latvia knows how to nurture talent

Offering world-class education, alongside a dynamic entrepreneurial environment, an excellent travel hub, and vibrant culture, Latvia is the perfect place for students to expand their knowledge, skills, and horizons – and do it all without breaking the bank.

Study in Latvia

Life in Latvia

Located in north-eastern Europe, the Republic of Latvia is a parliamentary democracy and an EU & NATO member. It’s home to about 1,850,000 Latvians, of which a third (~635,000) live in Riga, Latvia’s capital and largest city. The national language is Latvian – one of only two surviving Baltic languages – and the currency is the Euro. Our climate is temperate and Latvia enjoys four pronounced seasons, with snowy winters and sunny summers. The warmest month is July with an average maximum temperature of +21.5°C, while the coldest months are January and February with average minimums of -7.5°C and -7.9°C.

For those who prefer the great outdoors, unspoiled nature is always at arm’s reach. Most Latvians have found a balance between the two – cross-country skiing across a snow-covered beach in the morning, then popping into town for an opera in the evening.

Experience unforgettable moments

6 photos

How to experience Latvian nature

  • Go on a boating trip, drifting lazily down the river Gauja and spend the nights camping on its steep and picturesque sandy banks.
  • Watch the sunrise on a SUP board in the middle of a foggy bog.
  • Push yourself to the limit with the Kolka-Dubulti 136 km seaside trek.
  • Explore Latvia’s endless nature trails and gain a new perspective from the numerous observation decks and towers.
  • Or simply disappear off the map into a remote cottage in the middle of nowhere.
Latvia Travel

The capital city - Riga

As the cultural nexus of Latvia, Riga has something for everyone – intimate concert halls to sprawling venues, street-side walk-in contemporary art galleries to a National Art museum with 52,000 works, chocolate museums to open-air ethnographic ones, sports bars to jam-packed ice hockey arenas, local bistros to world-class restaurants. The cultural offerings are as varied and rich as the 800-year-old city itself.

Visit Latvia

Latvians have a close-knit bond, grounded in a strong sense of community, yet locals warmly welcome those who share and appreciate the Latvian values of inclusivity, focus on the common good, and deep respect for nature. Some may consider Latvians to be distant, but finding the key to our hearts is easy. We’ll become fast and loyal lifelong friends to those who share any of our many passions for singing, dancing, theater, ice hockey, winter sports, basketball, technology, nature, healthy living, food, or beer.

Perhaps...

  • 32% of the population attend the theater at least once a year. Ticket hunting has become a national pastime – most get snatched up the moment they go on sale. But don’t worry, Latvians will be happy to show you our secret tips and tricks to get that front-row seat.

  • In Latvia, eating clean is the default. With farmers’ markets in every major neighborhood (without costly markups, no less), finding clean, affordable, and fresh produce is the status quo. Seasonal eating is the norm. So is foraging for mushrooms and berries. You don’t have to strive to eat healthy here, it comes with the territory.

  • With the tallest women in the world, Latvia ranks 5th globally in female models per capita. We’re mindful of our appearance, thus style and fashion matter a lot to Latvians. From embracing luxury brands to searching for vintage hidden gems, we’re always in tune with what’s hot.

  • Latvians love an underdog story because we’re usually the biggest underdogs of them all! That’s why you’ll always see hordes of roaring fans follow our teams and athletes across the world to show support and have a great time. An ice hockey game featuring the national team is an unforgettable, must-attend event in Latvia.

Live in Latvia

Thrive on both ends of your work-life balance

As a modern European business hub with a dynamic economy, business-friendly environment, and strong focus on innovation and sustainability, Latvia is an attractive destination for professionals and entrepreneurs from all over the world. Whether you’re a tenured engineer or a first-time entrepreneur, Latvia is hungry for your talent and, in return, offers rewarding opportunities, a welcoming and equitable community, and perhaps Europe’s best work-life balance.

At a glance

  • Latvians love to build new things. The country’s entire industry ecosystem is built around fostering innovations and synergizing various players – industry, academia, research, and government – to facilitate the birth of new ideas.

    Accordingly, we need help building them. The three most in-demand professions in 2022 were

    1. Software developers
    2. Marketing specialists, accountants, and financial experts
    3. Construction workers

  • Latvian is the official language, but English and other European languages are also widely spoken. 96% of inhabitants speak at least 2 languages, and 42% of 15-34 year olds are fully fluent in English – the highest rate in the Baltics.

  • Latvia boasts the highest proportion of women in corporate leadership positions among EU countries. Latvia is also ranked 10th in the world in workforce equality by the Women Workplace Equality Index.

  • Latvia has a thriving startup scene with more than 500 startups, of which 1 is a unicorn. Index Ventures has dubbed Latvia the most startup-friendly country in the world – no wonder investments continue to rise year-on-year.

  • Latvia is 4th in Europe for the maturity of its E-government system. Most public and private services can be accessed digitally. And from virtually anywhere – with 99% of Latvia covered in a fast 4G connection alongside growing 5G availability, the country is one of the most digitally connected in the world.

Work in Latvia

Study in Latvia

Every year, Latvia’s 29 higher education institutions welcome thousands of students from Germany, Sweden, Italy, India, and more than 50 other countries seeking to pursue their passions and lay the groundwork for a successful future.

Medicine, business, law, and ICT are some of Latvia’s most popular internationally recognized study programmes, and the professionals they produce are in high demand both locally and globally.

© Riga Technical University Science and Innovation Center

Student life in Latvia is vibrant, affordable, and diverse, which makes it easy to find people to party with and difficult to get bored. From world-class ballet and modern museums to massive music festivals and roaring sports events, there’s something for every taste and every wallet.

Study in Latvia

Latvians – world explorers

Latvians can be found in every corner of the world, and each Latvian is dear to this country.  Sometimes they can be recognized by their language, their jewelry, their uniquely Latvian name, or the crafts in their homes. We celebrate their accomplishments, and believe each Latvian abroad is an ambassador of Latvian culture.

The largest Latvian communities can be found in the UK, Canada, the United States, Australia, as well as smaller communities around Europe, Asia, and even Brasil. This often has to do with historical events.

Diaspora

With less than 2 million people living in Latvia itself, the nearly 400,000-person-strong diaspora community is a key component of the Latvian identity, keeping the language and culture alive, and strengthening global ties.

We invite all Latvians abroad to enjoy their Latvian heritage to the fullest, and to use their unique experience to the benefit of global Latvian communities worldwide.

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