GeoRealityMatch
Aerial view of Riga, Latvia showcasing its iconic bridge and cathedral in winter.Stunning aerial photograph of Riga's historic center and Daugava River skyline in Latvia.

Latvia

Europe · Northern Europe

Very high safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and human development is high. Incomes are low for Europe.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 140 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and very high safety.
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Safety

19th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.589lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#19 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
2.5per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
63.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€13,983per adult, a year, after tax and transfersLow
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
11.9New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.9years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 186% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 47% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$46,137 PPP$26,312Inflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $9,212 a person, $14,180 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2007, $13,371 a person, $16,246 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2008, $15,678 a person, $17,443 at PPP, inflation 15.4%2009, $11,996 a person, $15,545 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2010, $11,188 a person, $16,373 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2011, $12,903 a person, $17,680 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2012, $13,329 a person, $19,417 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2013, $14,484 a person, $20,474 at PPP2014, $15,186 a person, $21,554 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2015, $13,322 a person, $22,544 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2016, $13,839 a person, $24,063 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2017, $15,132 a person, $25,764 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2018, $17,252 a person, $29,818 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2019, $17,295 a person, $32,199 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $17,564 a person, $32,741 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2021, $20,262 a person, $36,912 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2022, $20,221 a person, $40,546 at PPP, inflation 17.3%2023, $22,710 a person, $42,784 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2024, $23,579 a person, $43,873 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2025, $26,312 a person, $46,137 at PPP, inflation 3.7%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year20%0200620102015202020252006, $9,212 a person, $14,180 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2007, $13,371 a person, $16,246 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2008, $15,678 a person, $17,443 at PPP, inflation 15.4%2009, $11,996 a person, $15,545 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2010, $11,188 a person, $16,373 at PPP, inflation -1.1%2011, $12,903 a person, $17,680 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2012, $13,329 a person, $19,417 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2013, $14,484 a person, $20,474 at PPP2014, $15,186 a person, $21,554 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2015, $13,322 a person, $22,544 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2016, $13,839 a person, $24,063 at PPP, inflation 0.1%2017, $15,132 a person, $25,764 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2018, $17,252 a person, $29,818 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2019, $17,295 a person, $32,199 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $17,564 a person, $32,741 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2021, $20,262 a person, $36,912 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2022, $20,221 a person, $40,546 at PPP, inflation 17.3%2023, $22,710 a person, $42,784 at PPP, inflation 8.9%2024, $23,579 a person, $43,873 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2025, $26,312 a person, $46,137 at PPP, inflation 3.7%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
76.4years, at birthHigh
#76 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
77WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
9.6PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Around the European middle for youth unemployment

Youth unemployment
14.8%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceModerate
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
140 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
598EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet140 MbpsVery fast
Mobile150 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaMedium

Minimum income
€3,843 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
€60about $66
  • Tax treatmentSpecial or flat rate
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official pageImmigration portal
Stunning aerial photograph of Riga's historic center and Daugava River skyline in Latvia.
How it changed

Latvia's Human Development Index

0.889Very high human development

41st of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 30th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #40Portugal0.890
  2. #41Croatia0.889
  3. #41Latvia0.889
  4. #43Qatar0.886
  5. #44Slovakia0.880
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.736 in 1990 to 0.889 in 2023.

0.650.800.950.88919902000201020231990: 0.7361991: 0.7331992: 0.7091993: 0.6921994: 0.6861995: 0.6951996: 0.7141997: 0.7271998: 0.7381999: 0.7532000: 0.7642001: 0.7752002: 0.7862003: 0.7982004: 0.8092005: 0.8182006: 0.8232007: 0.8292008: 0.8372009: 0.8362010: 0.8332011: 0.8402012: 0.8432013: 0.8522014: 0.8542015: 0.8592016: 0.8642017: 0.8702018: 0.8752019: 0.8802020: 0.8792021: 0.8712022: 0.8812023: 0.8890.650.800.9519902000201020231990: 0.7361991: 0.7331992: 0.7091993: 0.6921994: 0.6861995: 0.6951996: 0.7141997: 0.7271998: 0.7381999: 0.7532000: 0.7642001: 0.7752002: 0.7862003: 0.7982004: 0.8092005: 0.8182006: 0.8232007: 0.8292008: 0.8372009: 0.8362010: 0.8332011: 0.8402012: 0.8432013: 0.8522014: 0.8542015: 0.8592016: 0.8642017: 0.8702018: 0.8752019: 0.8802020: 0.8792021: 0.8712022: 0.8812023: 0.889

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
76.4 years2024at birthUp 5.1 years from 71.4 years in 2005
Internet users
93%2024of people onlineUp 39 points from 54% in 2006
Urban population
69%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 1 point from 68% in 2006
Births per woman
1.242024births per womanDown 0.15 from 1.39 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
44%2021of energy usedUp 8 points from 36% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 6 from 9 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
3.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.1 t from 3.6 t in 2005
Forest area
55%2023of land under forestUp 2 points from 53% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Art Nouveau architecture and affordable Baltic living, with a strong startup scene. The case for living here is peace and very high human development. The case against is low incomes for Europe.

About Latvia

Latvia is a Baltic country with a beautifully preserved Art Nouveau capital in Riga, a wild and largely empty coastline along the Baltic Sea, and deep forests and river valleys that give way to a culture rooted in song, nature, and a remarkable tradition of choral music. The people are reserved at first but warm once trust is established, and the food and café culture have developed considerably. It suits those who appreciate quietness, design, and the particular northern European quality of light.

Practical facts

  • CapitalRiga
  • LanguagesLatvian
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area62,230 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Latvia's Human Development Index?

Latvia's Human Development Index is 0.889 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #41 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Latvia safe?

Latvia scores 1.59 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #19 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Latvia?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Latvia at 52.3 (New York = 100); that is #104 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Latvia?

Life expectancy at birth in Latvia is 76.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #76 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Latvia?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Latvia at 167.3, ranked #31 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.