RIGA, May 28 (LETA) - 32 percent of the population of Latvia live in Riga, LETA learned from the Central Statistical Bureau.

At the beginning of 2021, Latvia had a population of 1.893 million, including 1.290 million or 68 percent of the population living in cities and towns, and 603,000 or 32 percent in the regions.

Almost 615,000 people live in Riga, which is 32 percent of the total population of the country and 48 percent of the total urban population. Most Rigans, 54,000, live in Purvciems neighborhood and 41,000 to 45,000 live in Kengarags, Imanta and Plavnieki each.

More than half (52 percent) of the population lives in Riga and Pieriga. In recent years, there has been a trend that residents of the capital often move to the Pieriga region.

In 2020, the population increased only in Pieriga - by 0.9 percent or 3,400. In turn, the largest decrease in the population was registered in Latgale - by 1.8 percent (4,500), Vidzeme - by 1.1 percent (2,100), in Kurzeme - by 1.1 percent (2,600), In Zemgale - by 0.9 percent (2,100). The population of Riga decreased by 1 percent or 6,500.

In the last 10 years Latgale has lost 17 percent (52,000) population, Vidzeme - 14 percent (29,000), Kurzeme - 13 percent (35,000), Zemgale - 11 percent (27,000), Riga - 7 percent (45,000), and only the population of Pieriga has increased by 2 percent (7,000).

Last year, the population also decreased in eight out of nine cities of Latvia, except for Jurmala where there was an increase of 0.5 percent or 263 people. The population decreased the most in Ventspils - by 1.3 percent (427 people), in Daugavpils - by 1.2 percent (960), in Riga - by 1 percent (6,502), in Rezekne - by 1 percent (261), in Jekabpils - by 0.9 percent (207), in Liepaja - by 0.5 percent (349), in Jelgava - by 0.3 percent (181), and the least in Valmiera - by 0.2 percent (47). In all these cities, the number of deaths exceeded the number of births. There was a positive net migration in Jurmala, Liepaja and Valmiera.

In 2020, in 19 regions out of 110 the population increased, and 15 of them were Pieriga regions. Outside Pieriga, a very small increase in population (by 1-4 persons) has been observed in Nica, Rucava and Skriveri regions.

A larger increase - by 35 persons more than a year earlier - was registered in Strenci Region, mainly due to domestic migration from Riga and Valmiera. In all regions, except Sigulda Region, there was a positive net migration, whereas a positive natural increase was registered in nine regions. The largest increase in population was in Stopini Region (5.5 percent or 638 persons).

As a result of the new territorial reform, instead of 110 regions there will be 35 regions in Latvia. In terms of population, Ogre Region will be the largest region with a population of 57,600, followed by Valmiera Region with a population of 51,400. Valka Region will be the smallest one with a population of 7,600, while Saulkrasti Region will have a population of 9,200.

Last year, the population increased in seven new regions (Marupe, Ropazi, Adazi, Kekava, Saulkrasti, Olaine and Salaspils). Five of them also had positive natural growth, but immigration was the main driver of population growth.