Latvia Cultural Groups

Latvia Wiki Topics

Latvia Beginning Research

Getting Started Online Learning Record Finder Research Strategies Finding Town of Origin

Record Types

Business & Occupations Cemeteries Census Church Records Civil Registration Compiled Genealogies Court Records Directories Emigration & Immigration Jewish Records Land & Property Military Records Newspapers Online Genealogy Records Passports Religious Records Taxation Websites

Latvia Background

For Further Reading Gazetteers History Jurisdictions Languages Maps Naming Customs Periodicals Social Life & Customs

Latvia Genealogical Word Lists

German Latin Latvian Russian

Cultural Groups

Cultural Groups

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Local FamilySearch Center

In other languages: latviešu

Latvia

Cultural Groups

In 1935, 75.5% of the population was ethnic Latvian. After the Soviet Union occupied the country in 1944 there was an influx of Russians. In 2002 there were approximately 2.4 million inhabitants. Of these 52% were ethnic Latvians, 34% Russians, 5% Belarussians, 3% Ukrainians, 2% Poles, 4% Other.

Almost 50% of the population lives in the vicinity of the capital city of Riga. Other large cities include Daugavpils, Liepāja, and Jelgava. The dominant religions are Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox, Old Believer, and Baptist.