Meet the Latvia. An Overview of the Heart of Baltic States

READ TIME - 12min

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Most common greeting:

Čau!

(pronounced “ciao”, like the Italians)

Currency:
Euro

Official language:
Latvian

Population:
1.87 million

Capital city:
Riga

Ethnic makeup:

Latvians 62.7%
Russians 24.5%
Belarusians 3.1%
Ukrainians 2.2%
Poles 2%
Lithuanians 1.1%
Others 4.1%

Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, 2021

Emergency number:
112

On the world map, Latvia is located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea at the crossroads of Northern and Eastern Europe. Latvia, a parliamentary republic, is bordered by Estonia to the north, Russia and Belarus to the east, and Lithuania to the south, with a maritime border with Sweden to the west. The total length of Latvia’s coastline is 498 km.

Weather

Latvia experiences the four seasons at their fullest. The warmest month is July with average maximum temperature of +26.5°C, while the coldest months are January and February with average minimums of -4.5°C and -4.9°C. Latvia practically doesn’t experience natural disasters. The worst you’ll get is some snow, which locals will be thrilled about as they pull out their cross-country skis

Latvians

They may seem a bit distant at first. But when you get to know them, you can be certain that you’ve come across true friendship. You always know where you stand. Latvia is a country where everyone has space to live their lives as they’ve imagined, with plenty of room for your own self expression. We’re a small, but mighty country when we come together, and boy do we love to come together when we’re facing a collective challenge. Be that in sports, in sadness, or pride of our achievements.

All-natural by default

In Latvia, eating clean is the default. With farmer’s markets in every major neighbourhood (without costly markups, no less), finding clean, affordable, and fresh produce is the status quo. Moreover, seasonal eating is the norm. You’ll find local produce in all major grocery stores or you can buy freshly harvested fruit and vegetables directly from farmers in markets, stores, and roadside stalls. You don’t have to strive to eat healthy here, it comes with the territory. Getting to know neighbours will also likely result in veggie swaps when there’s a seasonal overflow. Prepare for being offered zucchinis and pumpkins in the fall!

Latvians love going foraging for mushrooms and berries. Every Latvian knows “a spot” - an untouched corner deep within a forest rich with wild blueberry bushes or chanterelle spawns. A true mark of friendship with a Latvian is when they’re willing to share their secret location.

Proximity to nature:

53% of territory covered by forest
496km white sandy beach coastline
2,000 lakes
12,000 rivers

Latvians cherish nature, and make full use of it being so accessible. It’s completely feasible to take a sunrise walk in a bog and manage to be at the office by 9am, or decide to have your lunch at the beach and get there in 20min. Riga itself has forests in the city, making it possible not only to enjoy the forest that’s at arms’ reach, but also to indulge in autumn foraging – essentially a national pastime. The luxury of easy access to nature is a lifestyle that can’t be beat.

A Land Of Opportunities

#1 most startup-friendly country in the world (Sifted, 2021)
#1 drone-friendly city in the world - Riga (FDI Intelligence, 2021)
3 degrees of separation

A natural playground to execute ideas, start businesses, develop skills, and test the waters. Our policies are entrepreneur-friendly, our people are skilled, our location puts you at the crossroads between the East and the West – everything you need to thrive is readily available. Within Latvia’s small community of less than 2 million, anyone can usually be reached by 2 to 3 calls (or tweets), even the ministers.

Technological early-adopters

This country likes to move fast when it comes to trying out new things and adopting the latest tech. With one of the most connected societies and some of the fastest internet in the world, we like to try new things, build digital tools, and enjoy a connected lifestyle.

#3 in the world in mobile data usage
#10 in the European Union in Digital public services
99% of territory covered by 4G
5G pioneers

Latvia calls itself the singing nation – and for good reason!

Song permeates everyday life – many people sing in choirs, music can be often heard on the streets, and musical events are frequent and usually at a very affordable price. Latvia is home to world-class musicians such as opera singers Elina Garanca, Inese Galante, Kristine Opolais, conductor Andris Nelsons, violinist Gidons Kremers, and so many more.

Countless renowned classical musicians

2.2% of the population participates in the UNESCO-protected Song and Dance Festival

Cultural hot-spot

Latvians love and respect culture – in all forms. Traditional culture is respected and maintained, with songs, dances, ancient crafts and rituals abounding. Theatre, opera, and ballet performances are world-class, and available at a price that anyone can attend – and they do! It’s no wonder Latvia was the springboard for ballet dancer and choreographer Mihail Barishnikov, and internationally acclaimed theatre director Alvis Hermanis, to name a few.

Latvian sports fans = the best sports fans

Latvians love to get behind their teams. Usually it’s a David and Goliath type situation, and the Latvians take down the giant. We do particularly well in winter sports – ice hockey, where we’re the smallest country in the International Ice Hockey Federation, bobsleigh, where we’ve taken many international medals, and skeleton, where our duo of Dukurs brothers are bound to take the pedestal. We also have many players in the NBA and NHL, making being international sports fans a national pastime.

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