RIGA, Dec 30 (LETA) - In 2019, GDP of Latvia at current prices was EUR 30.6 billion. Meanwhile, 52.8 percent (EUR 16.2 billion) of GDP of Latvia is attributable to Riga, according to the Central Statistical Bureau data on the GDP by regions

Riga was followed by Pieriga (the surrounding area of the capital) with 16.9  percent (EUR 5.1 billion), and these two areas cover two thirds (69.7 percent) of the GDP of Latvia. 

The GDP share was followed by Kurzeme with 9.3 percent (EUR 2.9 billion), Zemgale with 7.7 percent (EUR 2.4 billion), Latgale and Vidzeme with 6.6 percent (EUR 2 billion) in each.

Given that regions differ in size and population, it is useful to compare statistical regions in terms of their productivity or GDP per capita. Although the share of Latgale and Vidzeme regions in the total economy is equal, the productivity in Vidzeme exceeds the productivity in Latgale by 38.9 percent. 

The highest GDP per capita is in Riga (EUR 25,800), but the lowest – in Latgale region (EUR 7,900). Thus productivity in Riga is 3.3 times larger than in Latgale.

Compared to 2018, in 2019 the GDP grew the fastest in Zemgale region – by 16.7 percent (EUR 337.4 million) and in Pieriga – by 16.4  percent (EUR 726 million). With the growth of the GDP of other regions as well as the decrease of the GDP of Riga, in 2019, compared to 2018, the share of Riga in the total economy of Latvia decreased by 3.5 percentage points.

In 2019, among the large cities, the largest GDP per capita – EUR 25,800 – was in the capital. In second place was Valmiera with EUR 20,900, in third place – Liepaja with EUR 14,400. It was followed by Ventspils with EUR 12,800, Jelgava with EUR 12,600, Rezekne with EUR 11,300, Jekabpils with EUR 10,700, Daugavpils with EUR 9,800 and Jurmala with EUR 8,600.