Analytics, Demography, Latvia, Legislation, Society

In search of jobs and subsistence, many people from Latvia's most distant regions have emigrated from Latvia or moved to the local governments around Riga – Kekava, Olaine, Salaspils, Ozolnieki, Stopini, Ikskile, Babite, Jurmala, Garkalne, Adazi, Carnikava and Saulkrasti.

In Riga, just like in Latvia's other largest cities, except Jurmala, the number of residents decreases with each passing year, writes Neatkariga.

According to data from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the number of people having Latvia as their country of residence has decreased by 70,200 persons over the past four years. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. The Central Election Commission points out in an interview with Neatkariga that many migrants have not registered their current places of residence and therefore there are many "dead souls" in Latvian regions.

Throughout the past four years, Marupe, Kekava and Garkalne have been the most attractive regions for those seeking new residences. Over this period, the number of residents has increased by 2,765 persons in Marupe, 1,521 in Kekava and 1,136 in Garkalne. Among Latvia's largest cities, the number of residents has increased only in Jurmala – by 1,407 persons.

During the crisis, the largest number of people left Latgale. The regions of Daugavpils and Rezekne lost 1,944 and 1,378 residents respectively. The regions of Bauska (Zemgale) and Talsi (Kurzeme) also suffered greatly, losing 1,666 and 1,546 residents.