# Latvia — key facts

Source: GeoReality (https://geo-reality.com) — verified country data, regenerated 2026-09-01.
When citing a figure, attribute both GeoReality and the primary source in the third column.

- Capital: Riga
- Region: Europe · Northern Europe
- Full profile: https://geo-reality.com/country/lv
- Methodology and source URLs: https://geo-reality.com/data-sources

| Fact | Value | Primary source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,847,785 | World Bank SP.POP.TOTL |
| Area | 62,230 km² | World Bank AG.LND.TOTL.K2 |
| GDP per capita (nominal) | 26,312 USD | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.CD |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | 46,137 intl $ | World Bank NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD |
| GDP (total) | 48.6 bn USD | World Bank NY.GDP.MKTP.CD |
| Human Development Index | 0.88 | UNDP Human Development Report (2022) |
| Global Peace Index (lower = more peaceful) | 1.59 | IEP Global Peace Index (2024) |
| Life satisfaction (Cantril ladder, 0-10) | 6.37 | World Happiness Report — Data for Figure 2.1, life evaluation (Cantril ladder) (2026) |
| Life expectancy at birth | 76.4 years | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Fertility rate | 1.24 births/woman | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Unemployment | 6.6% | World Bank SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS |
| Inflation (CPI, annual) | 3.7% | World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG |
| Gini income inequality | 34 | World Bank SI.POV.GINI |
| Cost of living index (NYC = 100) | 52.3 | Numbeo (2026) |
| Safety index (Numbeo) | 63.7 | Numbeo (2026) |
| Median fixed broadband | 139.88 Mbps | Ookla Speedtest Global Index (2025) |
| Internet users | 92.7% of population | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 68.6% | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Renewable share of energy | 44% | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Forest area | 55% of land | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |
| CO2 emissions per capita | 3.65 t/yr | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Corporate tax rate | 0% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (corporate column, headline statutory rate) (2024) |
| VAT / GST standard rate | 21% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (VAT/GST/Sales column, standard-rate preferred) (2024) |
| Top personal income tax | 31.4% | Wikipedia — List of countries by tax rates (Individual income / Highest column) (2024) |

## Two decades of change

| Indicator | First → last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 71.36 (2005) → 76.43 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.LE00.IN |
| Internet users | 53.63 (2006) → 92.71 (2024) | World Bank IT.NET.USER.ZS |
| Urban population | 67.87 (2006) → 68.63 (2025) | World Bank SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS |
| Births per woman | 1.39 (2005) → 1.24 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.TFRT.IN |
| Renewable share of energy | 36.1 (2004) → 44 (2021) | World Bank EG.FEC.RNEW.ZS |
| Access to electricity | 99.7 (2005) → 100 (2024) | World Bank EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS |
| Infant mortality | 8.6 (2005) → 2.2 (2024) | World Bank SP.DYN.IMRT.IN |
| CO2 emissions per person | 3.59 (2005) → 3.65 (2024) | World Bank EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 |
| Forest area | 52.93 (2004) → 55 (2023) | World Bank AG.LND.FRST.ZS |

Context across all countries: https://geo-reality.com/changed

## Human Development Index, 1990–2022

Source: UNDP Human Development Report, composite indices complete time series (2023-24). Annual values as published, none interpolated.

| Year | HDI |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.732 |
| 1991 | 0.730 |
| 1992 | 0.707 |
| 1993 | 0.691 |
| 1994 | 0.687 |
| 1995 | 0.696 |
| 1996 | 0.711 |
| 1997 | 0.725 |
| 1998 | 0.736 |
| 1999 | 0.750 |
| 2000 | 0.761 |
| 2001 | 0.772 |
| 2002 | 0.784 |
| 2003 | 0.795 |
| 2004 | 0.805 |
| 2005 | 0.815 |
| 2006 | 0.821 |
| 2007 | 0.825 |
| 2008 | 0.832 |
| 2009 | 0.831 |
| 2010 | 0.827 |
| 2011 | 0.833 |
| 2012 | 0.837 |
| 2013 | 0.846 |
| 2014 | 0.850 |
| 2015 | 0.853 |
| 2016 | 0.858 |
| 2017 | 0.863 |
| 2018 | 0.868 |
| 2019 | 0.873 |
| 2020 | 0.873 |
| 2021 | 0.865 |
| 2022 | 0.879 |

Chart: https://geo-reality.com/country/lv#hdi-history

Vintages marked "varies" are the most recent value the source publishes per country; the profile page states the exact year per figure.