Latvia
Europe · Northern Europe
Art Nouveau architecture and affordable Baltic living, with a strong startup scene.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Latvia's Human Development Index
0.879
Very High human development#36 of 191 countries worldwide, #26 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 82% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Riga has more Art Nouveau architecture per square kilometre than any city in Europe.
- One of the fastest-shrinking populations in the world due to emigration.
- Invented the Christmas tree tradition — predating Germany's claim.
Quick Facts
Capital
Riga
Language
Latvian
Currency
€ EUR
Area
62,230 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
140Mbps
Mobile
150Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
€3,843/mo
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~€60
~$66
GDP / Capita
$26K
PPP / Capita
$46K
Inflation
3.7%
Unemployment
6.6%
Innovation (GII)
37.5
GNI / Capita
$25K
Tax Revenue
17.6%
FDI Inflows
0.5%
Education Spend
4.3%
Cost of Living
52.3
Price Level Index
32nd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.732 → 0.879 (+0.147)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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Latvia head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Latvia's Human Development Index?
Latvia's Human Development Index is 0.879 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #36 of 191 countries.
Is Latvia safe?
Latvia scores 1.59 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #19 of 160 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.