Riga, Latvia Population 2024

Riga's 2024 population is now estimated at 618,560In 1950, the population of Riga was 490,423Riga experienced a decrease of -2,809 residents over the past year, marking an annual decline of -0.45%.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Riga, which typically includes Riga's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Riga is Latvia’s capital city. In addition to being the capital, it is also the largest city by population, with over one-third of the country’s population living within the city.

Population Size of Riga

It is also the most populous across all of the Baltic states, boasting a population of 641,423 per 2017 data.

City Size and Population Density

The city has an overall area of 125 square miles (324 kilometers squared), with a population density of 5,100 people per square mile (2,000/km²). In addition to having a large population, Riga is also a popular tourist destination, with 2.3 million visitors coming to the city in 2016. The metro area, known as the Riga Planning Region, has a population that exceeds 1 million as of 2017.

Demographics of Riga Population

Over 44% of Riga residents are native to Latvia. Latvians made up 44.03% of the population of Riga, while ethnic Russians formed 37.88%, Belarusians 3.72%, Ukrainians 3.66%, Poles 1.83% and other ethnicities 8.10%. There is also a high percentage of Russian residents, making up over 37% of the population. Other ethnicities include Ukrainians, Poles and Belarusians. The high rate of Russians living in Riga is expected to decline in the years to come as emigration continues.

History Notes

Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, declared its independence on 18 November 1918 after the Armistice forced a previous treaty to be renounced. Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union in June 1940 and then was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1941–1944. The Rumbula massacre occurred near this time as well, very close to Riga.

Population Growth in Riga

Despite having the highest population in the country, it has actually declined from numbers posted in the 1990s. During that time, the population exceeded 900,000 but has dropped in recent years due to low birth rates and emigration. In fact, the city has been predicted to see its population cut in half by the year 2050 due to continued emigration and low birth rates.

Country
Latvia
Growth Rate
-0.45%

86 Rows

Year
Population
2035588,489
2034591,162
2033593,846
2032596,542
2031599,251
2030601,972
2029604,706
2028607,451
2027610,210
2026612,980
2025615,764
2024618,560
2023621,369
2022624,925
2021627,763
2020630,692
2019633,820
2018637,089
2017639,982
2016642,888
2015645,815
2014648,752
2013651,702
2012654,661
2011657,642
2010664,645
2009673,769
2008683,005
2007692,394
2006701,898
2005711,533
2004721,287
2003731,202
2002741,239
2001751,414
2000761,714
1999771,338
1998781,336
1997792,306
1996810,172
1995824,988
1994843,552
1993856,940
1992876,673
1991895,126
1990904,820
1989909,181
1988904,724
1987896,326
1986888,018
1985879,788
1984871,644
1983863,554
1982855,550
1981847,620
1980839,774
1979831,980
1978821,711
1977809,491
1976797,469
1975785,593
1974773,910
1973762,400
1972751,078
1971739,893
1970727,594
1969713,383
1968699,470
1967685,790
1966672,396
1965659,264
1964646,406
1963633,764
1962621,386
1961609,250
1960597,367
1959585,685
1958574,246
1957563,031
1956552,049
1955541,253
1954530,682
1953520,317
1952510,169
1951500,192
1950490,423

86 Rows

Year
Population
Change
Growth
1950490,4230%0
1951500,1921.99%9,769
1952510,1691.99%9,977
1953520,3171.99%10,148
1954530,6821.99%10,365
1955541,2531.99%10,571
1956552,0491.99%10,796
1957563,0311.99%10,982
1958574,2461.99%11,215
1959585,6851.99%11,439
1960597,3671.99%11,682
1961609,2501.99%11,883
1962621,3861.99%12,136
1963633,7641.99%12,378
1964646,4061.99%12,642
1965659,2641.99%12,858
1966672,3961.99%13,132
1967685,7901.99%13,394
1968699,4701.99%13,680
1969713,3831.99%13,913
1970727,5941.99%14,211
1971739,8931.69%12,299
1972751,0781.51%11,185
1973762,4001.51%11,322
1974773,9101.51%11,510
1975785,5931.51%11,683
1976797,4691.51%11,876
1977809,4911.51%12,022
1978821,7111.51%12,220
1979831,9801.25%10,269
1980839,7740.94%7,794
1981847,6200.93%7,846
1982855,5500.94%7,930
1983863,5540.94%8,004
1984871,6440.94%8,090
1985879,7880.93%8,144
1986888,0180.94%8,230
1987896,3260.94%8,308
1988904,7240.94%8,398
1989909,1810.49%4,457
1990904,820-0.48%-4,361
1991895,126-1.07%-9,694
1992876,673-2.06%-18,453
1993856,940-2.25%-19,733
1994843,552-1.56%-13,388
1995824,988-2.2%-18,564
1996810,172-1.8%-14,816
1997792,306-2.21%-17,866
1998781,336-1.38%-10,970
1999771,338-1.28%-9,998
2000761,714-1.25%-9,624
2001751,414-1.35%-10,300
2002741,239-1.35%-10,175
2003731,202-1.35%-10,037
2004721,287-1.36%-9,915
2005711,533-1.35%-9,754
2006701,898-1.35%-9,635
2007692,394-1.35%-9,504
2008683,005-1.36%-9,389
2009673,769-1.35%-9,236
2010664,645-1.35%-9,124
2011657,642-1.05%-7,003
2012654,661-0.45%-2,981
2013651,702-0.45%-2,959
2014648,752-0.45%-2,950
2015645,815-0.45%-2,937
2016642,888-0.45%-2,927
2017639,982-0.45%-2,906
2018637,089-0.45%-2,893
2019633,820-0.51%-3,269
2020630,692-0.49%-3,128
2021627,763-0.46%-2,929
2022624,925-0.45%-2,838
2023621,369-0.57%-3,556
2024618,560-0.45%-2,809
2025615,764-0.45%-2,796
2026612,980-0.45%-2,784
2027610,210-0.45%-2,770
2028607,451-0.45%-2,759
2029604,706-0.45%-2,745
2030601,972-0.45%-2,734
2031599,251-0.45%-2,721
2032596,542-0.45%-2,709
2033593,846-0.45%-2,696
2034591,162-0.45%-2,684
2035588,489-0.45%-2,673

Riga Population Data (Urban Area)

Name
2024 Pop.
2024 Growth
Riga618,560-0.45%

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