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- Flash Comment: Latvia - January 18, 2012
Flash Comment: Latvia - January 18, 2012
18-01-2012 17:14
2011 population census results: 191 thousand less inhabitants than Population register suggested
- According to preliminary results of Population Census, there were 2067.9 thousand inhabitants in Latvia on March 1st, 2011, which is by 191 thousand persons less that Population Register suggested. During 10 years since last census, Latvian population diminished by 13% or 309 thousand persons. Of that, number of inhabitants was declined by 119 thousand due to the number of deaths being higher than the number of births and by 190 thousand persons due to the international migration.
- During last 10 years there were significant changes in the age structure (smaller share of children and larger share of pensioners) and regional distribution. Population census results revealed also smaller employment – 838 thousand as of March 1st 2001 vs. 944 thousand reported for the first quarter of last year by labour force survey). Unemployment rate appeared to be actually larger than suggested before. According to census, it was 17.7% in March 2011, while labour force survey for the first quarter revealed 16.6%.
- If current trends continue, in a couple of years’ time Latvian population will be smaller than 2 million. It requires urgent and decisive action by the government to implement reforms in economic, social, regional, and education policies. The longer they are postponed, the more painful solutions will be necessary.
