Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Latvia
Latvia: Population density (people per sq. km of land area) was 29.99 people per sq. km of land area in 2024. ▼ Falling
Population density in Latvia, 1992–2024
Source: FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in people per sq. km of land area.
Analysis
In 2024, population density in Latvia stood at 29.99 people per sq. km of land area. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population density in Latvia peaked at 42.01 people per sq. km of land area in 1992 and was at its lowest, 29.99 people per sq. km of land area, in 2024.
Latvia ranks 172nd of 216 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Latvia, year by year
| Year | people per sq. km of land area | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 42.01 people per sq. km of land area | — |
| 1993 | 41.19 people per sq. km of land area | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 40.51 people per sq. km of land area | -1.7% |
| 1995 | 39.94 people per sq. km of land area | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 39.49 people per sq. km of land area | -1.1% |
| 1997 | 39.1 people per sq. km of land area | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 38.73 people per sq. km of land area | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 38.42 people per sq. km of land area | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 38.05 people per sq. km of land area | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 37.56 people per sq. km of land area | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 37.12 people per sq. km of land area | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 36.77 people per sq. km of land area | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 36.37 people per sq. km of land area | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 35.98 people per sq. km of land area | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 35.65 people per sq. km of land area | -0.9% |
| 2007 | 35.36 people per sq. km of land area | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 34.99 people per sq. km of land area | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 34.42 people per sq. km of land area | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 33.71 people per sq. km of land area | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 33.1 people per sq. km of land area | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 32.69 people per sq. km of land area | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 32.34 people per sq. km of land area | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 32.04 people per sq. km of land area | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 31.78 people per sq. km of land area | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 31.49 people per sq. km of land area | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 31.21 people per sq. km of land area | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 30.97 people per sq. km of land area | -0.8% |
| 2019 | 30.76 people per sq. km of land area | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 30.54 people per sq. km of land area | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 30.28 people per sq. km of land area | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 30.2 people per sq. km of land area | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 30.27 people per sq. km of land area | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 29.99 people per sq. km of land area | -0.9% |
Latvia compared with similar countries
- Latvia's 29.99 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for high income countries, which is 147 people per sq. km of land area, 20% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Latvia's 29.99 people per sq. km of land area is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 85.13 people per sq. km of land area, 35% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 39.92 people per sq. km of land area | 38.42 people per sq. km of land area | 42.01 people per sq. km of land area | 8 |
| 2000s | 36.23 people per sq. km of land area | 34.42 people per sq. km of land area | 38.05 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.01 people per sq. km of land area | 30.76 people per sq. km of land area | 33.71 people per sq. km of land area | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.26 people per sq. km of land area | 29.99 people per sq. km of land area | 30.54 people per sq. km of land area | 5 |
Countries ranked near Latvia
- 169 Estonia 32.12 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 170 Angola 30.39 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 171 Somalia 30.3 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 173 Eritrea 29.27 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 174 Solomon Islands 29.27 people per sq. km of land area compare
- 175 Zambia 28.67 people per sq. km of land area compare
More urban development data for Latvia
- Population in the largest city 48.6% (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 13.01 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in largest city 615,764 (2025)
- Establishments, bedrooms and bed-places in tourist accommodation, by 1,345 Number (2025)
- PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO 89.0% (2017)
- Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by degree of 4.69 million Number (2024)
- Housing cost overburden rate by NUTS 2 region 5.7% (2025)
- Expenditure on housing function by type of benefit and means-testing 44.99 Million euro (2024)
- Wagons and their load capacity by type of wagons 4,920 Number (2024)
- Road freight transport by load capacity (LC) of vehicle and type of 15,108 Million tonne-kilometre (TKM) (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population density in Latvia?
- Population density in Latvia was 29.99 people per sq. km of land area in 2024, according to FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest population density recorded in Latvia?
- The highest recorded value was 42.01 people per sq. km of land area in 1992.
- What is the lowest population density recorded in Latvia?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.99 people per sq. km of land area in 2024.
- How does Latvia rank for population density?
- Latvia ranks 172nd out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population density rising or falling in Latvia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Latvia data come from?
- The figures come from FAO population estimates, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Population density (people per sq. km of land area). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.