Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to the southeast and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia covers an area of 64,573 km2 (24,932 sq mi), with a population of 1.83 million. The country has a temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Riga. Latvians, who are the titular nation and comprise 65.5% of the country's population, belong to the ethnolinguistic group of the Balts and speak Latvian. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population; 37.7% of the population speak Russian as their native tongue.
Source: tolatvia.com
Riga, Baltic nature & authentic city life
Explore Latvia’s landscapes, cities, and highlights through a cinematic travel video.
Walk through Riga’s historic center with cobblestone streets and medieval architecture.
Stunning aerial footage showing forests, coastlines, and Riga skyline from above.
Experience everyday life, markets, and modern city scenes in Latvia’s capital.
Discover peaceful forests, lakes, and rural landscapes across Latvia.
Relaxing views of Latvia’s famous seaside resort and sandy Baltic beaches.
Extended walking tour covering multiple districts of Riga in one video.
A deeper look into Latvian culture, history, and daily life.
On Monday, April 13th, 100 young people from all over Latvia stepped into the shoes of Saeima deputies for a day. The 13th Youth Saeima convened in Parliament – they elected the parliamentary praesidium, and then went to work in four different Saeima committees, Latvian Television reports.
Several "New Unity" (Jaunā Vienotība/JV) cabinet ministers, including the Prime Minister, a Deputy Mayor of Riga, the head of the party's parliamentary faction and other members of parliament went on a pleasant-sounding trip to Italy at the end of last week, reports Latvian Television.
Three Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from Latvia rent premises in their home country from their political parties, but at least one other office maintained with European money regularly produces party-related content, according to an investigation by the Latvian Television programme "De facto".
Latvian parliamentarians may not always be skilled in the debating chamber but they proved themselves skilled on the basketball court on April 11th, winning first place in the Baltic Assembly Travelling Cup, defeating the Lithuanian Seimas and Estonian Rīgikogu teams.
The Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania reiterated on Friday that they have not given Ukraine permission to use Baltic airspace to launch attacks on aggressor state Russia.
On Friday, April 10, the Rēzekne City Council elected the current deputy mayor, Jānis Tutins (Latvia First/Together for Latvia), as mayor, LSM's Latgale editorial reports.
To seek answers to the challenges of the European Union's future security, unity and global influence in a rapidly changing world order, an international conference titled "EU Negotiations 2026: Protecting the Future" will be held in the Saeima on Friday, April 10.
Riga city councillor and former head of the "For Stability!" party in the Saeima, Aleksejs Rosļikovs resigned from the position of chairman and member of the political force's board on Monday, according to another leader of the party, Saeima deputy Svetlana Čulkova.
Writer, journalist and political commentator Māris Zanders was the guest in last week's "Brīvības bulvāris" discussion show on Latvian Radio, casting his experienced and expressive eye over the political landscape in general and the looming parliamentary elections in October in particular.
With parliamentary elections looming on October 3rd, Latvia's political parties continue to jostle for voters' affections, as demonstrated by the latest SKDS poll for Latvian Television.
In order to find a solution to the long-standing financial problems of Valka municipality, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has called on the local government to change its current approach to budget and financial management, settle accounts with creditors, and pay outstanding taxes by June 1.
Recipients of the latest round of state awards, due to be handed out on May 4th, have been announced.
On April 1st, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs will play host to President of Moldova Maia Sandu at Rīga Castle.
On Thursday, March 26th, the Saeima supported amendments to the National Defence Financing Law in its final reading, which mean national defence spending must be equivalent to at least 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) every year from next year.
For Stability! party has deleted social media entries based on which the Prosecutor General’s Office was going to file a petition with the court to suspend the party’s activities, the Prosecutor General’s Office said.
On Thursday, March 26th, the Saeima adopted an amendment to the Saeima Election Law, which means that all vote counting in the 15th Saeima elections, due to take place in the Autumn, will be by hand.
Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that on March 25th it had summoned a Russian diplomat – not for the first time – to be handed a protest note in connection with that country's warmongering.
Counting votes manually could slightly increase the cost of the 15th Saeima elections in October this year, Māris Zviedris, chairman of the Central Election Commission (CVK), said in interviews with Latvian Television and Latvian Radio on Tuesday morning.
In the upcoming 15th Saeima elections this fall, votes will have to be counted manually, President Edgars Rinkēvičs said in a statement on 23rd March.
The award-winning civic participation platform “ManaBalss.lv” has announced a new visual identity and a completely new platform design, which it says will offer users a more modern and organized experience.
On Thursday, the Saeima referred to the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee for review amendments to the Child Protection Law prepared by the Progressives parliamentary faction, which would prohibit adults in positions of authority from engaging in intimate relationships with young people aged 16 to 18.
The annual Democracy Report from the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg lists Latvia among the top countries in the world when it comes to actively implementing the principles of liberal democracy in 2025.
March 16th, 2026 marks twelve years since Russia staged bogus referendums on the annexation of Ukrainian territories to the Russian Federation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
"Alternative for Latvia" (Alternatīva Latvijai) is the name chosen for a future political party, whose founders gathered for their first congress on Saturday. The name has an obvious echo of the far right "Alternative for Germany" (Alternative für Deutschland) party in Germany.
Members of the Parliaments of Estonia and Latvia are discussing cross-border connections in Pärnu, Estonia on March 13th.
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa delivered her review of her government's achievements during the last year to the Saeima on March 12th.
The Riga City Council Ethics Commission is to assess the aggressive and rude actions of opposition deputy Rūdolfs Brēmanis (Sovereign Power/Young Latvians Union), which received widespread attention over the weekend.
With four repatriation flights having already brought Latvians home from the war-torn Middle East, no additional flights are now required, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
On 10th–11th March, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs will play host the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, and First Lady, Eva Pavlova, who are on a state visit to Latvia.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires on Monday, March 9th.
In 2025, women held 33.6% of the seats in national parliaments across the EU, marking a 5.4 percentage points (pp) increase compared with 2015. Latvia fared slightly worse than this at 31% – despite famously having more women than men than anywhere else, as a proportion of the population.
Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, decided on March 5th not to back proposals to change the rules on second-pillar pension savings.
On February 25th, the State Security Service (VDD) urged the prosecutor's office to initiate criminal proceedings against a Latvian citizen for unlawfully influencing the choice of several voters in last year's municipal elections in the Cēsis municipality.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže is in Warsaw on Wednesday, attending an allied ministerial meeting of the Baltic Sea countries in Warsaw with the ministers of Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, and European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs made an inspection trip to Latvia's soggy eastern border on March 2nd.
Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) perhaps unsurprisingly said her government was doing well on March 2nd, as she outlined its achievements over the last year.
There may be only 100 members of the Latvian parliament, but that didn't stop nearly a tenth of them falling foul of either the law or the Saeima's own rules between September last year and January this year.
The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 1st invited citizens who are in parts of the Middle East affected by the armed conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States to register their names.
A statement released by the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the wake of an American-Israeli attack on Iran and subsequent counter-attacks by Iran on other Middle Eastern countries recommends that Latvians in the conflict zone follow the advice of whichever country they happen to be in.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs announced on 27th February that he had signed and submitted to the Presidium of the Saeima a draft law “Amendment to the Law on Financing National Defence”, proposing to enshrine in the Law on Financing National Defence a commitment that, starting from 2027, no less than 5% of the gross domestic product projected for the respective year be allocated to national defence.
On February 20th, Uldis Bluķis, a scientist and one of the founders and activists of the Baltic Appeal to the United Nations, passed away at the age of 93 in New York State, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Saeima on Thursday, February 26th, supported in its final reading urgent changes to the law to increase housing benefits for low-income residents, as well as vulnerable families with children, during this cold winter.
On Wednesday, the Rīga City Council approved the list of polling stations for the 15th Saeima elections scheduled for October 3 this year – voters in the capital will be able to cast their ballots at 158 polling stations.
The National Alliance party will have to repay the state budget for the unlawfully used state budget funds in the amount of EUR 210,673, the LETA agency found out in court.
The leaders of the Baltic states and the Nordic countries, collectively known as the Nordic-Baltic 8 (NB8) gathered in Kyiv, Ukraine on February 24th in a show of support for President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his people. They issued the following joint statement:
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 24th February 2026, exactly four years since Russia launched its failed full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa is on a working visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 24th to mark four years since the start of the brutal war launched by Russia.
Member of the European Parliament (EP) Nils Ušakovs has left the board of the Harmony party, LETA reports on 24th February.
Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine has been going on for four years now, and it has become clear that the end of the war will be neither quick nor easy, said President Edgars Rinkēvičs in a video address on Tuesday, February 24th, the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine.
A former Latvian diplomat who was subject to searches as part of a corruption investigation has had his complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected, according to a release from the court.
On Monday, April 13th, the additional application period for the July draft of the National Defence Service – Latvia's compulsory national military service programme – closed.
On Tuesday, April 14th, demonstrating NATO's presence in the region, two French Rafale fighter jets paid a visit to Latvia's Lielvārde airbase. These aircraft are currently stationed in Šiauliai, Lithuania, where they perform daily tasks of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission.
On the evening of Monday, April 13, an inspector from the State Police (VP) Special Assignment Battalion saved the life of a 17-year-old who had jumped into the Daugava River from the Vanšu Bridge, the VP reported.
The State Police have requested that criminal proceedings be initiated against a fake electrician for robbing seniors in Rīga, Daugavpils, and Liepāja, the police said on April 14th. The man has also come to the attention of law enforcement agencies in other Baltic countries for similar crimes.
One of the most striking Latvian entrepreneurial success stories overseas was the "Riga Bakery" in Sydney, Australia, founded by Voldemars Bērziņš. From a small shop in post-war Australia, the company grew into one of the most prominent niche bread producers in the country. The bakery not only popularized the name of the Latvian capital in Australia, but also introduced Latvian bread traditions to a wider audience, supplying the east coast of Australia and exporting products as far as Singapore and Hong Kong.
Rīga residents use the municipal police mobile app actively, with thousands of reports per month. Residents most often use it to report violations of stopping or parking regulations and untidy areas, Latvian Television reported on 13th April.
The transition of minority schools to instruction in Latvian was formally completed at the start of this school year, when all students are required to study exclusively in the state language. Latvian Television's "Forbidden Method", aired on 13th April, tried to look at the way this reform has been implemented.
On April 7th, the State Security Service (VDD) urged the prosecutor’s office to initiate criminal proceedings against a long-time Russian ethnic policy activist for violating European Union (EU) sanctions by providing content to a Russian propaganda outlet. Latvian Television reports the individual in question is pro-Kremlin activist Viktors Guščins.
April 13th sees the start of the international military exercise "FORTES 26" organized by the Latvian Navy in the Kurzeme region, which run until August 19th.
The Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB), one of Latvia's three security intelligence services, has published a new report titled "Western sanctions cause significant losses for Russia's economy", which – as the title itself states – concludes that sanctions against the aggressor state are effective.
As the active nature tourism season begins, the Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) is urging the public not to leave litter in the forest, not to pick protected plants, and to observe fire safety regulations.
This spring the issue of cutting down younger trees has returned. This time, members of the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) attempted to include it on the parliamentary agenda. Although the proposal was rejected, a similar proposal will most likely be submitted again, according to the Latvian Television programme "De Facto" aired on 12th April.
In one of the most popular of Latvia's nature parks – Gauja National Park – the nature department regularly removes dangerous trees that can endanger people. However, an experienced conservationist, Sigulda resident Māris Mitrevics, is concerned that many dead trees have still not been cut down and could be dangerous to people.
The Prosecutor’s Office has imposed a prison sentence of five months and 15 days on a Moldovan citizen accused of abandoning an infant on the street in Ķengarags, Rīga, last August.
It will come as no surprise to learn that online social networks are very popular among young Europeans, according to Eurostat data published on April 9th, with 89.3% of 16-29-year-olds in the EU having reported using them in 2025.
The Baltic Academies of Sciences in cooperation with the UNESCO National Commissions are announcing the third joint fellowship competition for women scientists “Women in Science Baltic Fellowship 2026”, reports Labs of Latvia.
The Rīga City Court has decided to place in custody Aleksejs Rosļikovs, a Rīga City Council deputy and former leader of the For Stability! party who is accused of inciting ethnic hatred.
In February, the State Police detained two individuals suspected of recruiting women living in Latvia and trafficking them to Greece for sexual exploitation by offering them jobs in nightclubs, the police reported.
The State Police has referred a case to the prosecutor’s office for criminal prosecution against a man accused of killing a dog in a public place with multiple knife stabs, the police said on 9th April.
A new laboratory has been opened at the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Science Hub’s Institute of Microbiology and Virology, established with an investment of more than EUR 90,000 from the laboratory equipment manufacturer Biosan Ltd. reports Labs of Latvia.
Strengthening existing cooperation between Latvia and Ukraine, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds and the Head of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine Oleksandr Potii have signed a letter of intent on cooperation that could lead to the establishment of a regional cybersecurity center in Ukraine, reports Labs of Latvia.
Colonel James Smith, the commander of Canadian forces in Latvia, has been suspended from his post and charged with violations related to compensation and benefits, reports Canadian public media CBC, based upon a release from the Canadian Department of National Defence. Smith has been serving in Latvia since July 2024.
More than 10,000 signatures have been collected on the "Manabalss.lv" initiative portal to cover the cost of glucose monitoring sensors for patients with type 1 diabetes. This means that the initiative will be submitted to the Saeima for consideration, Latvian Television reported on 8th February.
In late February, the State Police detained four individuals in Rīga on suspicion of human trafficking and pimping as part of an organised group, the police said on 8th April.
The Riga Regional Court sentenced painter and lecturer at the Art Academy of Latvia (LMA) Pēteris Postažs to ten years in prison for sexual abuse of young girls committed more than 30 years ago, according to the LETA news agency.
Latvia's Ministry of Defence confirmed on April 7th that it will make a substantial financial contribution towards staging the annual 'Riga Conference' geopolitical talking-shop.
In 2025, about half of Latvian residents (aged 16 and over) rated their health as good (43.7%) or very good (4.5%), according to data published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) to mark World Health Day on April 7th.
Police in Estonia have detained five people, including two teen minors and a 19-year-old, in connection with a killing in Valga over the weekend, reports ERR News.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in urban security monitoring, and in Jelgava it has already become a daily work tool for operational services, reports Zemgale Television.
A snail just two centimetres long, yet of great significance to the fauna and cultural identity of the islands of French Polynesia. A treasure of the Polynesian ecosystem – the Partula snail – is no longer found in the wild. Zoos around the world, including the Rīga Zoo, are helping to restore the ecosystem, Latvian Television reported on 6th April.
There is a Latvian school in Stockholm every Saturday, which is attended by families from the surrounding area for whom it is important that their children do not lose touch with Latvia.
Young man Andris Beļakovs, who has lived in Latvia all his life but was born in Russia and thus has Russian citizenship, is facing the threat of losing his Latvian citizenship, through no fault of his own, as a result of a series of Kakfaesque legal loopholes.
Spanish slugs are becoming an increasingly big problem in Latvia – in some places they are just starting to appear, but in others the infestation is already spreading rapidly. Although this species was recently officially recognized as invasive, obliging municipalities to contain it and giving them the right to fine landowners who don't try to tackle the pests, at least for now Riga, Bauska and Talsi municipalities do not plan to impose penalties.
At the end of March, the State Police discovered an illegal gas station in Carnikava, Ādaži Municipality, from which approximately 15 tonnes of illegally stored diesel fuel were seized, police said on 2nd April.
Latvia's Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) has published the names of six officers from the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU) and one from the Belarusian GRU, who it says spied on Latvia, as part of its annual activity report for 2025.
A man was shot on the premises of a fueling station at Latgales Street 427B in Rīga on Wednesday, April 1st, according to the State Police.
As the weather improves and days get longer, the camping and caravanning season kicks off. In 2025, nights spent at camping grounds, recreational vehicle (RV) parks and trailer parks in the EU reached 413 million, according to Eurostat figures published on April 2nd.
The management of the Riga Technical University (RTU) Liepaja Academy has begun looking for another hotel for students, as young women in particular feel their safety is threatened in the current residences.
The latest campaign in support of Ukraine has already garnered a huge and heartfelt response and support. Children in Latvia are responding to the call to donate bicycles to Ukrainian children affected by the war. Along with the bikes come both good wishes and a special story, Latvian Television reported on 1st April.
Jorens Liopa, who was arrested in a criminal case related to IT procurement, has been remanded in custody as a precautionary measure, the Riga Regional Court ruled on Wednesday, April 1st. Liopa is the former director of the State Digital Development Agency and was arrested in mid-March in a criminal case initiated by the European Public Prosecutor's Office.
The majority of the Saeima on Wednesday, April 1st, rejected a motion of no confidence in Defence Minister Andris Sprūds (Progressives), demanded by the opposition party "Latvia First" (LPV), in connection with recent drone incidents.
On Wednesday, April 1st, the State Police received a report from a resident that debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle had possibly been found in Silmala Parish, Rēzekne Municipality. The police state that they confirmed the information at the scene. There is no danger to the public; the debris is not explosive, the police stated.
The farm "Jaunžūras" in Cēsis district has become the first in Latvia and the Baltics to start breeding water buffalo. The owners plan to develop a new type of business - to produce mozzarella cheese and other dairy products from water buffalo milk.
Chanting "No to cages!", "Freedom for chickens!", and "No to cruelty – cage-free chickens for the future!", on Wednesday, April 1st, several dozen people gathered outside the Saeima, calling for the reintroduction and advancement of a bill to ban the keeping of laying hens in industrial cages in Latvia.
In the spring, migrating geese cause severe damage to winter crops and grasslands, often destroying them to the point where nothing can sprout or grow. To protect their crops from bird attacks, farmers use various deterrent methods, Latvian Radio reported on 1st April.
The Latvian State Police said on March 31st that in the early morning of March 15 – two weeks ago – they received a call to an apartment in Riga, in the Avoti suburb, stating that a woman born in 1974 needed help and that her husband had used violence against her and tied her up.
The Riga District Court has handed out prison sentences and ordered the payment of more than 1.3 million euros in fines in a case involving the contamination of Zemgale countryside with a poisonous substance in 2019, the prosecutor's office announced.
In Latvia and other European Union countries, farms are primarily run by middle-aged people; the average age of a farm owner in Latvia is 57. The trend suggests that this situation is not improving, Latvian Radio reported on 31st March.
An attractive place has been created in Ludza at the foot of the castle mound – an illuminated pedestrian walkway or 'Great Lakefront Promenade' stretches along the lakeside, where the waterfront area has also been improved.
On Monday evening, a foreign unmanned aerial vehicle approached Latvian airspace from the Russian side but then flew away, the National Armed Forces (NBS) reported.
The government decided on Tuesday, April 14th, that a solidarity levy will be imposed on fuel retailers if their actual retail price exceeds the objectively calculated price by more than 3%. The final decision on the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Economics (EM) will be made by the Saeima.
More than half of Latvia’s residents are convinced that their income this year will either remain at the current level (41%) or decrease (19%). 22% expect a slight increase in income, while only 4% anticipate that their income will rise significantly, according to a survey conducted by SEB Bank in collaboration with the research agency Norstat.
The number of online shoppers is growing year by year, as shopping is fast and convenient. But is it always safe? The Consumer Rights Protection Centre (PTAC) notes that scammers, in order to attract buyers in Latvia, use artificial intelligence to create attractive e-store websites with Latvian names yet most often the sellers themselves are located outside the European Union, most commonly in China, Latvian Radio reported on 12th April.
Data released by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) on April 10th show that in March 2026, compared to February 2026, the average level of consumer prices in Latvia increased by 1.9 %.
Provisional data published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) on April 9th show that in February 2026 Latvia had foreign trade turnover of EUR 3.44 billion (at current prices 1.5 % more than a year ago), of which the value of exported goods reduced by 5.0 %, while the value of imported goods went up by 7.5 %.
According to data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), the average consumer price level for fuel in March rose by 21% compared to February of this year. The most significant factor contributing to the rise in fuel prices was a 25.4% increase in diesel prices. Gasoline prices rose by 11.3%, while autogas prices increased by 7.5%.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, house prices in the EU rose by 5.5%, while rents increased by 3.2% compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, according to Eurostat data published on April 7th.
Central Statistical Bureau calendar adjusted data published on April 7th show that in February 2026 industrial production output increased by 4.0 % year-on-year.
The season is already in full swing at greenhouse farms, and cucumbers grown at the "Kliģēni" farm in Cēsis will soon join the "Mārupes" cucumbers on store shelves, while at the end of April, the harvest will also arrive at the "Bušas" farm in Burtnieki Parish. Gardeners’ forecasts for vegetable prices following the harsh winter and rising fuel costs vary, Latvian Radio reported on 7th April.
In Latvia, import bans on agricultural and feed products from Russia and Belarus have been extended until July 1, 2027. This is provided for in amendments to the Law on Agriculture and Rural Development, which were approved by the Saeima in their final reading on Wednesday, April 1.
The Latvian Ministry of Finance (FM) has withdrawn its plan to introduce threshold declarations for cash deposit transactions of 750 euros or more, according to information on the Legislative Drafts Portal, reports the LETA newswire.
Fresh data from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) offer some insight into the retail sector with the figures showing that, compared to February 2025, in February 2026 total retail trade turnover rose by 4.3 %.
On Thursday, March 26, the Kuldīga District Council decided to introduce a municipal tax on the accommodation of vacationers and tourists, effective July 1 of this year.
From April 1 to June 30 of this year, the excise tax on diesel fuel in Latvia will be reduced by 15.2%, as decided by the Saeima in its final reading on Thursday, March 26. This decision was made to limit the impact of rapidly rising fuel prices on the economy and residents.
On Tuesday, March 24th, the Cabinet of Ministers is scheduled to consider what is described as a "fiscally neutral" draft law prepared by the Ministry of Finance (FM) on reducing the excise tax on diesel fuel in order to mitigate the impact of the rapid increase in fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East.
Last year, the number of tourists in Jelgava increased by 25%, reaching 15,000. The industry attributes this rise to major international events held in the municipality, such as the ice sculpture festival and concerts, Zemgale Regional Television reported on 24th March.
On Tuesday, March 24th, the Ministry of Finance (MF) will submit a draft law to the government regarding a reduction in the excise tax on diesel fuel.
In 2025, 47.3% of the electricity generated in the EU came from renewable energy sources. This represents a minimal increase from 2024, when the share was 47.2%, according to Eurostat figures published on March 19th.
Fresh data published by Eurostat on March 18th helps to show just how Latvia has managed to reduce its energy dependency on external suppliers – and especially Russia.
Banks are beginning to release lending data for last year, and the statistics show a significant increase in housing loans granted in the regions outside the vicinity of Rīga, Latvian Radio reports on 18th March. However, some transactions take place in the shadow economy.
Measures are being prepared to limit fuel price increases starting in April. Plans include reducing the excise tax on fuel and introducing a windfall profit tax on fuel retail sales. The government discussed this on Tuesday, 17th March, and Economics Minister Viktors Valainis (Union of Greens and Farmers) spoke about it at a press conference following the government meeting.
"Skai Baltija" LLC, which operates the "Sky" supermarket chain, filed for bankruptcy on Friday, March 13th, the company announced.
Latvia's strong housing market shows little sign of cooling with provisional data published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) on March 13th showing that, compared to the 3rd quarter of 2025, in the 4th quarter of 2025 prices of dwellings rose by 1.9 %. Prices of new dwellings fell by 0.3 %, but prices of existing dwellings increased by 2.3 %.
Provisional data published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in January 2026 Latvia had foreign trade turnover of EUR 3.32 billion (at current prices 7.5 % lower than a year ago).
Data published on March 10th by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that in February 2026, compared to February 2025, the average level of consumer prices increased by 2.3 %.
There is no fuel shortage in Latvia – supply chains are working very well, they are sufficiently diversified. It is clear that we are not currently threatened by any disruptions in the fuel market, claimed Minister of Economy Viktors Valainis (Union of Greens and Farmers) in an interview on Latvian Television's "Morning Panorama" on March 10th.
Latvian Radio reports that to ensure the possibility of delivering liquefied propane gas to Latvia by tankers, the company "Latvijas Propāna Gāze" (Latvian Propane Gas, LPG) has invested ten million euros in the modernization of its terminal.
Central Statistical Bureau calendar adjusted data at constant prices, published on 6th March, show that in January 2026, industrial production output increased by 13.2 % year-on-year.
To make it easier for Latvian residents to obtain complete information about their financial obligations and creditworthiness, the Saeima on Thursday, March 5th, supported amendments to the Law "On Taxes and Duties" in a second reading.
There is currently no panic over fuel supply or rapid price hikes due to the events in the Middle East, said Ieva Ligere, chair of the Latvian Fuel Traders Association, in an interview on Latvian Television's "Rīta Panorāma" programme on Wednesday morning.
Energy communities are beginning to form in Latvia – their goal is to share surplus electricity with neighbours rather than feeding it into the general power grid. Such projects are not allowed to generate profit – any funds earned must be invested in the community's needs, Latvian Television reported on 2nd March.
The State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Ģirts Krūmiņš, who in recent years has been the ministry's representative as a shareholder in Latvijas Valsts meži (LVM), has been let go from the post. On the LTV programme "De Facto," aired on 1st March, Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze (ZZS) cited a possible conflict of interest as one of the reasons for this decision.
As of March 1st it is possible to submit annual income declarations to the State Revenue Service (VID).
Data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) on 27th February show that in 2025, compared to 2024, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose by 2.1 %. Last year GDP at current prices amounted to EUR 43.0 billion.
In order to promote entrepreneurship and investment in the regions, the Saeima on Thursday, February 26, adopted amendments to the laws extending the term of operation of the Rēzekne Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Liepāja SEZ until December 31st, 2050.
Investigative journalism organization Re:Baltica has a new story examining the relationships between the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and the German industrial giant Rheinmetall (RHM), which has advanced plans to build munitions factories in the region.
This month, the final reports were officially submitted and the 2014-2020 European Union (EU) funds planning period was completed. Summarizing the data, it can be seen that during this period, a total of 4.6 billion euros of funding flowed into the Latvian economy from EU sources, with around 2,450 projects in various fields supported.
On Tuesday, February 24th, the government approved the allocation of €1.88 million to support Ukraine's energy and military sectors.
Latvia has begun manufacturing wooden cladding panels, which promise to double the speed of insulating apartment buildings. The facade parts prepared at the factory only need to be attached to the building wall like a construction set. The first such building is being constructed in the northern town of Valka, Latvian Television reported on 23rd February.
Latvia's agricultural sector adds considerable and increasing value to the country's gross domestic product (GDP), according to Eurostat figures published on February 23rd.
Central Statistical Bureau provisional data, published on 18th February, show that almost 3.2 million tonnes of grain were harvested in 2025, which is 44.5 thousand tonnes (1.4 %) more compared with 2024.
While January and February brought real winter frosts to Latvia, work continued unabated in the greenhouses. Young people from Bulduri Technical School are now planting spring flowers, while cucumbers are ripening in the greenhouses in Mārupe. However, the cold weather has significantly increased heating costs, Latvian Television reports on 20th February.
Provisional data from the Central Statistical Bureau published on February 19th show that in 2025 Latvia exported EUR 19.54 billion worth of goods, EUR 698.1 million or 3.7 % more than in 2024, and imported EUR 23.19 billion, EUR 1.5 billion or 6.9 % more.
Latvia's Ministry of Finance (FM) said on February 17th that it has raised its GDP growth forecast for 2026 from 2.1% to 2.6%.
Latvia saw its highest electricity consumption in recent years in January, and this high consumption trend is expected to continue in February bills. At the same time, last month's prices on the electricity exchange reached record highs, Latvian Television reported on 16th February.
Central Statistical Bureau provisional data, published on 16th February, show that in 2025, the output of dairy products for sale increased by 14.4 thousand tonnes (9.6 %) compared with the year before.
To promote entrepreneurship and investment in the regions, the Saeima on Thursday, February 12th, adopted amendments extending the term of the Latgale Special Economic Zone (SEZ) until December 31, 2050 and adding Alūksne municipality to the SEZ.
In December 2025, compared to December 2024, Latvian exports of timber and wood products to the United States (US) decreased significantly. The Latvian Timber Federation (LKF) explained the significant drop in exports by the tariffs imposed by the US on wood last fall, but this is not the only reason.
The data of the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB), published on 11th February, show that in January 2026, compared to December 2025, the average level of consumer prices remained unchanged.
Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) provisional data published on February 10th show that in December 2025 Latvia had foreign trade turnover of EUR 3.37 billion, and at current prices it was 1.4 % higher than a year earlier.
Forecasts indicate that the weather in Latvia will be mostly warm and sunny this week.
Forecasts indicate that the weather will gradually become warmer both over the weekend and next week.
Forecasts indicate that the warmest weather on Friday will be in southern Kurzeme.
Forecasts indicate that Tuesday will be chilly throughout Latvia, with occasional rain and wet snow expected in some areas.
Easter in Latvia will be slightly warmer, with more sunshine, though precipitation is also possible, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
Forecasts indicate that a variety of weather conditions are expected in Latvia over the long Easter weekend – ranging from spring-like warmth and sunshine to rain, sleet, and gusty winds.
Forecasts indicate that there will be no major changes in the weather this week.
Forecasts indicate that the weather in Latvia will remain spring-like and warm this week, but will turn cooler next week, with snow in some areas.
Forecasts indicate that the weather in Latvia will remain spring-like and warm this week, with temperatures in some areas potentially exceeding +15 degrees on certain days.
While winter's precipitation continues to melt away, a yellow alert (potential danger) remains in place across a large part of eastern and southern Latvia over the weekend, and into next week, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
Forecasts indicate that the weekend will be sunny throughout Latvia.
According to information on the website "timeanddate.com," starting on March 18, the length of the day in Latvia exceeds the length of the night.
Forecasts indicate that thick fog is expected in many parts of Latvia on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
Forecasts indicate that the weather in Latvia will become slightly cooler this week, though temperatures will remain above the seasonal average.
The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre forecasts light frost in many parts of Latvia over the coming nights.
The record for the maximum air temperature in Latvia on March 14th was broken across the country on Saturday, according to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center (LVĢMC).
As a general thaw enters what is hopefully its final stages across Latvia, it is worth noting that a yellow warning for high water levels remains in place across a large part of the country.
As a general thaw continues across Latvia, a nationwide yellow warning (potential danger) has been issued by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
According to forecasts, dry and gradually warmer weather is expected in Latvia until at least mid-March.
According to forecasts, Thursday will be mostly sunny in Latvia.
According to information from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC), meteorological spring began in Latvia on February 27.
On the last day of February and the first day of March, ten maximum air temperature records were broken in Latvia, according to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
In the coming nights, the air will cool down to 0...-3 degrees in many places, while during the day, above freezing air temperatures are expected throughout the country, which will cause the snow to continue melting, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
As a widespread thaw sets in across Latvia, the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) has issued warnings about potential hazards, particularly in the western Kurzeme district.
The last working day of the week in Latvia will bring grey weather conditions, with a thaw prevailing, but a frost is also possible in the east of the country, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Center (LVĢMC).
Wednesday in Latvia will be mostly sunny and dry, with light snow expected in the southeast in the morning, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
Overnight from Tuesday, February 17th to Wednesday, February 18th, a yellow (potential danger) alert is in place across the eastern half of Latvia, issued by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
Early Tuesday morning, the temperature at the Daugavpils observation station, located east of the city near the Ruģeļi water body, reached -32 degrees Celsius, which is the coldest temperature in Europe this morning and a new record for February 17th in Latvia.
The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) has issued another set of weather warnings concerning very cold temperatures expected from Monday, February 16 to Tuesday, February 17.
The cold weather will continue in Latvia this week, with very severe frosts at night in some places, but the air temperature will rise at the weekend, approaching zero in the western regions, according to forecasts by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
Weather warnings have been issued for southern parts of Latvia overnight from February 15th to 16th.
A yellow weather warning (potential danger) has been issued for all of Latvian territory overnight from February 14th to 15th.
After the snowstorm that will sweep across Latvia on Friday, the weather will improve over the weekend, but it will become colder, according to forecasts.
On Friday morning, winds are gradually picking up in Latvia and snow is falling across an increasing part of the country, according to meteorological information.
On Friday morning, Latvia will be hit by a major snowstorm, which, according to weather forecasters, is likely to be the strongest this winter in many parts of the country.
Since Wednesday afternoon, the snow cover in Dagda has increased from 45 to 51 centimetres, which is the deepest snow in Latvia in the last three years, according to data from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
Are weather forecasts accurate, and if not, then what's the point? And what's up with the Latvian town of Zosēni, where it's always coldest? Toms Bricis, LSM's weatherman and a household name for many ("Bricis said..."), answered these intriguing questions in a conversation with Latvian Television.
On Friday, February 13th – yes, it's Friday the 13th – and overnight into Saturday, February 14th, Latvia is expected to experience heavy snowfall, according to the latest weather forecasts.
A 'yellow alert' (potential danger) has been issued by the Latvian Evironment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) for freezing conditions in the north-east of the country for the remainder of Tuesday and into Wednesday.
As the cold weather continues, temperatures in some parts of Latvia will remain around -25 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning, warns the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
The deepest snow in Latvia remains in the southern part of Latgale, where the ground is covered with a layer of snow up to 46 centimeters high, according to data from the Latvian Center for Environment, Geology and Meteorology (LVĢMC).
The average air temperature in Latvia during the first month of this year was -8.7 degrees Celsius, which is 5.7 degrees lower than the 1991–2020 average, according to data compiled by the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
According to forecasts, Latvia will continue to experience severe frost and sunny weather until the middle of the week, but in the second half of the week, the skies will cloud over and it will become slightly warmer.
Last night and this morning, Latvia reached a national cold record for February 2nd, according to information from the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC).
Latvia's severe cold snap is set to continue on Sunday night and into Monday morning with further severe weather warnings issued across almost the whole of the country.
On the morning of Saturday, January 31st, the air temperature at the Daugavpils observation station in south-eastern Latvia dropped to -32 degrees Celsius – the biggest freeze recorded in the country since February 2012, according to data from the Latvian Center for Environment, Geology and Meteorology (LVĢMC).
The cold weather in Latvia will intensify over the weekend, with significantly warmer temperatures expected only in the middle of next week, according to forecasts.
On Thursday night and Friday morning, a yellow alert, the lowest level, will be in effect in central and eastern Latvia due to severe frost, according to the Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre.
On Thursday, the weather in Latvia will be mostly sunny, but the frost will intensify, according to forecasts.
The Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre (LVĢMC) warns that prolonged snowfall is expected in southern Latvia on Tuesday night.
