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Population in Latvia compared to Romania: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Latvia was 1,866,124 in 2024 vs 19,051,804 people in Romania in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Latvia's population is 1,829,763 people compared to 18,839,108 in Romania.

Population statistics:

  • Romania's population is 10.3 times bigger than Latvia's.
  • Latvia is ranked the 149th most populous country in the world, while Romania is the 70th.
  • The countries together account for 0.25% of the world: 0.02% for Latvia vs 0.23% for Romania.
  • For the last 10 years, Latvia has had an average growth rate of -0.68% per year vs -0.43% in Romania.
  • Since 2006, the population of Latvia has decreased from 2.22M people to 1.83M (17.5% decline), while Romania has declined from 21.2M to 18.8M (11.1% decline).

Latvia vs Romania: population by year and forecast

Latvia
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Latvia Romania
2100 923,408 10,801,385
2099 932,882 10,885,505
2098 942,357 10,969,050
2097 951,702 11,052,086
2096 961,114 11,134,776
2095 970,470 11,217,462
2094 979,811 11,299,298
2093 989,107 11,382,352
2092 998,497 11,464,817
2091 1,007,961 11,546,872
2090 1,017,465 11,630,335
2089 1,026,994 11,713,468
2088 1,036,657 11,796,733
2087 1,046,527 11,880,373
2086 1,056,483 11,966,550
2085 1,066,499 12,052,744
2084 1,076,818 12,140,454
2083 1,087,423 12,229,714
2082 1,098,154 12,319,480
2081 1,109,075 12,412,385
2080 1,120,211 12,507,333
2079 1,131,602 12,603,302
2078 1,143,002 12,700,870
2077 1,154,458 12,799,985
2076 1,166,122 12,900,610
2075 1,177,964 13,002,848
2074 1,189,889 13,107,513
2073 1,201,798 13,213,407
2072 1,213,804 13,323,211
2071 1,226,159 13,435,661
2070 1,238,635 13,550,449
2069 1,251,199 13,667,892
2068 1,264,197 13,786,771
2067 1,277,382 13,909,141
2066 1,290,492 14,034,214
2065 1,304,082 14,163,381
2064 1,317,729 14,293,294
2063 1,331,316 14,424,068
2062 1,344,939 14,557,025
2061 1,358,659 14,689,897
2060 1,372,730 14,821,441
2059 1,386,684 14,952,855
2058 1,400,736 15,082,857
2057 1,414,911 15,211,914
2056 1,429,035 15,340,213
2055 1,442,863 15,467,019
2054 1,456,686 15,590,545
2053 1,470,334 15,712,155
2052 1,483,843 15,834,374
2051 1,496,515 15,954,507
2050 1,509,248 16,073,070
2049 1,521,989 16,192,498
2048 1,534,656 16,311,535
2047 1,547,203 16,430,565
2046 1,559,641 16,547,661
2045 1,572,396 16,665,026
2044 1,584,822 16,783,383
2043 1,597,317 16,900,955
2042 1,609,668 17,018,000
2041 1,622,468 17,136,818
2040 1,635,132 17,253,674
2039 1,648,215 17,370,310
2038 1,661,175 17,488,193
2037 1,674,137 17,604,853
2036 1,687,461 17,721,511
2035 1,700,759 17,837,396
2034 1,714,411 17,950,976
2033 1,728,562 18,064,449
2032 1,742,976 18,176,399
2031 1,757,310 18,288,437
2030 1,772,264 18,399,699
2029 1,786,824 18,511,331
2028 1,801,228 18,621,197
2027 1,815,599 18,730,482
2026 1,829,763 18,839,108
2025 1,850,593 18,946,392
2024 1,866,124 19,051,804
2023 1,883,710 19,061,062
2022 1,879,383 19,048,502
2021 1,884,490 19,122,059
2020 1,900,449 19,265,250
2019 1,913,822 19,371,648
2018 1,927,174 19,473,970
2017 1,942,248 19,588,715
2016 1,959,537 19,702,267
2015 1,977,527 19,815,616
2014 1,993,782 19,908,979
2013 2,012,647 19,983,693
2012 2,034,319 20,058,035
2011 2,059,709 20,147,528
2010 2,097,555 20,246,871
2009 2,141,669 20,367,487
2008 2,177,322 20,537,875
2007 2,200,325 20,882,982
2006 2,218,357 21,193,760
2005 2,238,799 21,319,685
2004 2,263,122 21,451,748
2003 2,287,955 21,574,326
2002 2,310,173 21,730,496
2001 2,337,170 22,131,970
2000 2,367,550 22,442,971
1999 2,390,482 22,472,040
1998 2,410,019 22,507,344
1997 2,432,851 22,553,978
1996 2,457,222 22,619,004
1995 2,485,056 22,684,270
1994 2,520,742 22,730,211
1993 2,563,290 22,763,280
1992 2,614,338 22,794,284
1991 2,650,581 23,001,155
1990 2,663,151 23,201,835
1989 2,666,955 23,161,458
1988 2,653,434 23,057,662
1987 2,626,583 22,949,430
1986 2,599,892 22,836,841
1985 2,578,873 22,732,999
1984 2,562,047 22,640,547
1983 2,546,011 22,560,478
1982 2,531,080 22,475,741
1981 2,519,421 22,353,070
1980 2,511,701 22,207,282
1979 2,505,953 22,090,488
1978 2,497,921 21,951,464
1977 2,485,073 21,756,096
1976 2,470,989 21,551,634
1975 2,456,130 21,293,583
1974 2,437,186 21,029,429
1973 2,415,819 20,835,681
1972 2,395,674 20,657,957
1971 2,376,389 20,461,567
1970 2,359,164 20,250,398
1969 2,343,173 20,009,141
1968 2,323,619 19,799,831
1967 2,301,220 19,534,242
1966 2,283,217 19,215,450
1965 2,265,919 19,031,576
1964 2,240,623 18,919,126
1963 2,210,919 18,797,850
1962 2,181,586 18,676,550
1961 2,152,681 18,555,250
1960 2,120,979 18,406,905

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/latvia/romania | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Latvia decreased by 258,820 people (a 11.7% decline), while Romania lost 1,491,493 people (a 7.04% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Latvia lost 129,774 people (a 6.62% decline), while Romania's population decreased by 863,159 people (a 4.38% decline).

Latvia was ranked 140th most populous country in 2006 and is 149th in 2026. Romania was ranked 51st in 2006 and ranked 70th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Latvia's population will shrink by 17.5% to 1,509,248 people with a rank change from 149th to 155th. The population of Romania will decrease by 14.7% to 16,073,070 people and rank change from 70th to 81st.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.3% of the population in Latvia and 31.5% in Romania.

Population growth rate by year

Latvia
Factual

Projection
Romania
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Latvia Romania
2100 -1.02% -0.77%
2099 -1.01% -0.76%
2098 -0.98% -0.75%
2097 -0.98% -0.74%
2096 -0.96% -0.74%
2095 -0.95% -0.72%
2094 -0.94% -0.73%
2093 -0.94% -0.72%
2092 -0.94% -0.71%
2091 -0.93% -0.72%
2090 -0.93% -0.71%
2089 -0.93% -0.71%
2088 -0.94% -0.7%
2087 -0.94% -0.72%
2086 -0.94% -0.72%
2085 -0.96% -0.72%
2084 -0.98% -0.73%
2083 -0.98% -0.73%
2082 -0.98% -0.75%
2081 -0.99% -0.76%
2080 -1.01% -0.76%
2079 -1% -0.77%
2078 -0.99% -0.77%
2077 -1% -0.78%
2076 -1.01% -0.79%
2075 -1% -0.8%
2074 -0.99% -0.8%
2073 -0.99% -0.82%
2072 -1.01% -0.84%
2071 -1.01% -0.85%
2070 -1% -0.86%
2069 -1.03% -0.86%
2068 -1.03% -0.88%
2067 -1.02% -0.89%
2066 -1.04% -0.91%
2065 -1.04% -0.91%
2064 -1.02% -0.91%
2063 -1.01% -0.91%
2062 -1.01% -0.9%
2061 -1.03% -0.89%
2060 -1.01% -0.88%
2059 -1% -0.86%
2058 -1% -0.85%
2057 -0.99% -0.84%
2056 -0.96% -0.82%
2055 -0.95% -0.79%
2054 -0.93% -0.77%
2053 -0.91% -0.77%
2052 -0.85% -0.75%
2051 -0.84% -0.74%
2050 -0.84% -0.74%
2049 -0.83% -0.73%
2048 -0.81% -0.72%
2047 -0.8% -0.71%
2046 -0.81% -0.7%
2045 -0.78% -0.71%
2044 -0.78% -0.7%
2043 -0.77% -0.69%
2042 -0.79% -0.69%
2041 -0.77% -0.68%
2040 -0.79% -0.67%
2039 -0.78% -0.67%
2038 -0.77% -0.66%
2037 -0.79% -0.66%
2036 -0.78% -0.65%
2035 -0.8% -0.63%
2034 -0.82% -0.63%
2033 -0.83% -0.62%
2032 -0.82% -0.61%
2031 -0.84% -0.6%
2030 -0.81% -0.6%
2029 -0.8% -0.59%
2028 -0.79% -0.58%
2027 -0.77% -0.58%
2026 -1.13% -0.57%
2025 -0.83% -0.55%
2024 -0.93% -0.05%
2023 0.23% 0.07%
2022 -0.27% -0.38%
2021 -0.84% -0.74%
2020 -0.7% -0.55%
2019 -0.69% -0.53%
2018 -0.78% -0.59%
2017 -0.88% -0.58%
2016 -0.91% -0.57%
2015 -0.82% -0.47%
2014 -0.94% -0.37%
2013 -1.07% -0.37%
2012 -1.23% -0.44%
2011 -1.8% -0.49%
2010 -2.06% -0.59%
2009 -1.64% -0.83%
2008 -1.05% -1.65%
2007 -0.81% -1.47%
2006 -0.91% -0.59%
2005 -1.07% -0.62%
2004 -1.09% -0.57%
2003 -0.96% -0.72%
2002 -1.16% -1.81%
2001 -1.28% -1.39%
2000 -0.96% -0.13%
1999 -0.81% -0.16%
1998 -0.94% -0.21%
1997 -0.99% -0.29%
1996 -1.12% -0.29%
1995 -1.42% -0.2%
1994 -1.66% -0.15%
1993 -1.95% -0.14%
1992 -1.37% -0.9%
1991 -0.47% -0.86%
1990 -0.14% 0.17%
1989 0.51% 0.45%
1988 1.02% 0.47%
1987 1.03% 0.49%
1986 0.82% 0.46%
1985 0.66% 0.41%
1984 0.63% 0.35%
1983 0.59% 0.38%
1982 0.46% 0.55%
1981 0.31% 0.66%
1980 0.23% 0.53%
1979 0.32% 0.63%
1978 0.52% 0.9%
1977 0.57% 0.95%
1976 0.6% 1.21%
1975 0.78% 1.26%
1974 0.88% 0.93%
1973 0.84% 0.86%
1972 0.81% 0.96%
1971 0.73% 1.04%
1970 0.68% 1.21%
1969 0.84% 1.06%
1968 0.97% 1.36%
1967 0.79% 1.66%
1966 0.76% 0.97%
1965 1.13% 0.59%
1964 1.34% 0.65%
1963 1.34% 0.65%
1962 1.34% 0.65%
1961 1.49% 0.81%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/latvia/romania | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Latvia declined by 0.93%, while Romania's population declined by 0.05%.

Live population counters

Latvia Romania
Current population
1829763
18839108
Population rank 149/197 70/197
Percent of world population 0.02% 0.23%
One net population change
29.9 minutes
56.8 minutes
One birth every
36.2 minutes
3.45 minutes
One death every
18.7 minutes
2.17 minutes
Daily growth/decline -48 -25
Annual growth/decline -17,586 -9,258
Annual growth/decline rate -0.93% -0.05%
Population growth rate rank 193/197 169/197
One migration net change every
1.2 hours
18.1 minutes
Annual migration change -7,330 -29,041
Net migration rank 125/196 163/196
Foreign-born residents 220,471 655,579
Foreign-born residents rank 108/195 73/195
Foreign-born share of population 11.8% 3.4%
Foreign-born share rank 57/195 112/195

Natural population change vs migration

Latvia
Natural

Migration
Romania
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Latvia Romania
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -7,330 - -29,041
2024 - -2,225 - -28,466
2023 -13,563 7,966 -89,587 -27,780
2022 -14,847 22,027 -93,338 89,076
2021 -17,337 -280 -141,504 -17,731
2020 -11,402 -3,147 -100,179 -13,202
2019 -8,995 -3,416 -60,053 -27,909
2018 -9,636 -4,972 -62,316 -33,018
2017 -7,963 -7,867 -50,930 -33,081
2016 -6,663 -12,327 -53,196 -33,073
2015 -6,526 -10,826 -59,447 -35,751
2014 -6,779 -8,799 -55,745 -35,448
2013 -8,252 -14,386 -59,951 -34,910
2012 -9,154 -11,914 -54,157 -37,589
2011 -9,886 -20,202 -56,413 -102,769
2010 -10,278 -36,128 -46,567 -122,364
2009 -7,924 -34,807 -34,625 -137,953
2008 -6,531 -22,445 -30,806 -144,368
2007 -9,021 -8,027 -37,590 -133,089
2006 -10,204 -9,211 -38,148 -132,777
2005 -10,746 -11,134 -40,508 -131,176
2004 -11,542 -15,136 -42,904 -117,432
2003 -11,439 -11,422 -56,093 -107,139
2002 -12,475 -9,160 -58,673 -106,585
2001 -13,322 -18,634 -37,625 -91,154
2000 -11,838 -15,679 -22,443 -92,451
1999 -13,387 -3,229 -31,461 -82,590
1998 -15,906 -5,504 -33,761 -81,366
1997 -14,841 -9,183 -42,853 -88,734
1996 -14,498 -9,888 -56,548 -70,799
1995 -17,396 -13,288 -36,295 -73,779
1994 -17,645 -21,446 -18,184 -76,246
1993 -12,560 -32,914 -13,658 -73,475
1992 -3,660 -52,180 -4,559 -63,200
1991 0 -12,020 25,301 -36,824
1990 2,929 -13,196 69,605 -38,157
1989 6,401 -4,960 122,756 -33,866
1988 9,022 15,784 126,817 -48,911
1987 9,981 19,249 128,517 -42,868
1986 10,660 13,972 134,737 -50,450
1985 5,673 12,037 111,392 -28,108
1984 7,430 8,847 117,731 -24,629
1983 8,147 8,115 87,986 3,093
1982 6,327 8,116 119,121 -4,725
1981 3,779 6,536 156,472 -20,870
1980 3,265 3,099 168,776 -16,668
1979 2,506 3,661 194,397 -29,600
1978 2,997 7,399 204,148 -31,427
1977 3,480 11,992 215,385 -28,135
1976 4,200 8,870 213,361 18,748
1975 4,913 12,166 219,324 9,125
1974 6,824 14,420 235,530 6,725
1973 6,040 15,997 175,020 58,651
1972 7,666 11,077 198,316 61,920
1971 8,793 10,846 206,662 74,473
1970 7,785 12,494 234,905 71,919
1969 6,561 13,718 264,120 74,851
1968 7,668 13,465 338,577 33,601
1967 7,825 14,177 347,709 37,282
1966 8,677 13,465 115,293 -25,458
1965 8,384 13,218 114,190 -60,430
1964 12,100 13,010 134,326 -59,500
1963 11,055 12,308 139,104 -58,076
1962 11,562 12,344 130,736 -56,152
1961 14,207 12,364 163,286 -54,642
1960 14,211 11,420 191,431 -55,397

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/latvia/romania | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 82.7% of the population change in Latvia is from natural causes (a loss of 103,711 people) and 17.3% is from migration (a loss of 21,641 people). In Romania 82% is from natural causes (a loss of 766,295 people) and 18% is from migration (a loss of 167,917 people).

As of 2024, 220,471 residents or 11.8% of the population were not native-born in Latvia, compared to 655,579 people or 3.4% in Romania.

Biggest cities by population

Latvia
City Population
Riga 595K
Daugavpils 78.1K
Liepaja 67.4K
Jelgava 54.8K
Jurmala 52K
Ventspils 32.7K
Rezekne 26.4K
Valmiera 22.8K
Ogre 22.8K
Jekabpils 21K
Romania
City Population
Bucharest 1.72M
Cluj-Napoca 287K
Iasi 272K
Constanta 264K
Timisoara 251K
Brasov 238K
Craiova 234K
Galati 218K
Oradea 183K
Ploiesti 181K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/latvia/romania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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