Latvia: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Latvia?

Life expectancy at birth in Latvia was 76.8 years in 2025, up from 76.4 in 2024, according to CSB table IRP010. It was 72.3 years for men and 81.0 years for women, a gap of almost nine years.

Eurostat's life expectancy data put the EU average at 81.5 years in 2024, when Latvia's figure was 76.4. Life expectancy at birth is a summary of death rates in a given year, not a forecast of how long people born that year will live.

Official sources: CSB table IRP010: Average life expectancy at birth · Eurostat: Life expectancy by age and sex

What is the birth rate in Latvia?

11,931 children were born in Latvia in 2025, 7.4% fewer than in 2024, while 26,109 deaths were registered, according to the Central Statistical Bureau. Deaths outnumbering births reduced the population by 14.2 thousand.

Latvia's total fertility rate was 1.24 children per woman in 2024, down from 1.34 in 2023, according to Eurostat; the EU rate was 1.34. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable without migration. The CSB revised its population method in 2025, so compare with earlier years with care.

Official sources: CSB: Latvia has a population of 1.845 million · Eurostat: Fertility indicators

How many doctors are there in Latvia?

There were 289 inhabitants for each practising medical doctor in Latvia in 2025, down from 293 in 2024, according to CSB table VAP050, which also gives figures by region. That is roughly 3.5 practising doctors per 1,000 people.

The figure counts doctors who treat patients, not all licensed doctors. Related CSB tables give doctors by speciality and other health professionals. The Ministry of Health and the National Health Service publish information on state-funded services and waiting times.

Official sources: CSB table VAP050: Inhabitants per practising medical doctor

How much does Latvia spend on health care?

Latvia's 2026 state budget allocates EUR 1.9 billion to health, EUR 27.9 million more than in 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance. A further EUR 94.8 million is earmarked for families with children and maternal and child health care.

State-funded health care is purchased by the National Health Service from hospitals, family doctors and other providers. The budget figure covers central government health spending, not private spending by households, such as patient fees and medicines, which the CSB records in its health care expenditure tables.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: Government approves #Budget2026

What is the average life expectancy in Latvia?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Latvia was 76.4 years in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 79.5 years; Latvia is 39th highest of 52. World rank, highest first: 74th of 193.

How many babies die in Latvia?

In 2024, the infant mortality rate in Latvia was 2.2 per 1,000, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. No year since 2005 has been lower. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.4 per 1,000; Latvia is 39th highest of 51. Worldwide: 178th of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Latvia?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 19.0 per 100,000. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 6.0 per 100,000, and Latvia placed 4th highest of 51. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 123rd highest.

What is Latvia's health spending?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Latvia was 7.3% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 9.4% of GDP; its low point was 2013, at 5.6% of GDP. Europe & Central Asia median: 7.5% of GDP; Latvia is 31st highest of 51. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 77th highest.

How much do people in Latvia pay for health care themselves?

According to the WHO, out-of-pocket health spending in Latvia was 35.1% in 2023. The peak was 43.3% in 2016 and the low 27.0% in 2021. It is 11th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 22.0%. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 66th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Latvia?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Latvia was 3.4 per 1,000 in 2022. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 29th highest of 42 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.7 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 40th of 125.

How many hospital beds does Latvia have?

In 2023, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Latvia was 5.0 per 1,000, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been lower. It is 9th highest of 23 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 4.2 per 1,000. Of 73 countries with 2023 data, 12th highest.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Latvia?

98.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Latvia for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. The peak was 99.0% in 2019 and the low 90.0% in 2012. Europe & Central Asia median: 94.0%; Latvia is 7th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 20th of 191.