Survey: nearly half of Latvians say boosting birth rate is key to fixing demographic decline
A Delfi-commissioned SKDS survey shows that almost half of Latvia's population sees promoting birth rates as the top priority for improving the country's demographic situation, far ahead of encouraging remigration or labor immigration.
Ahead of the upcoming 15th Saeima elections this autumn, news portal Delfi commissioned research company SKDS to survey Latvian residents on several socially divisive issues, including how to address the country's demographic challenges.
Birth rate seen as top priority
According to the survey, 48% of respondents believe that boosting the birth rate should be Latvia's main focus for improving its demographic situation. Significantly fewer people, roughly one in five, pointed to encouraging remigration — the return of Latvians who have emigrated — as the priority, while only a small share favored promoting labor immigration as a solution. Some respondents suggested other approaches, ranging from improving the economy and welfare, healthcare and social services, to addressing housing issues and reducing social conflict.
Differences by gender, age and political preference
Men were more likely than women to name birth rate promotion as the most important solution. Age also played a role: residents between 25 and 44 years old most strongly emphasized the importance of raising the birth rate, while opinions among young people aged 18 to 24 were more evenly split between supporting births and encouraging remigration.
The survey also broke down responses by political preference. Among supporters of both "Sovereign Power/Union of Young Latvians" and "Apvienotais saraksts," boosting the birth rate was the most common answer, though the two groups differed in how much importance they placed on remigration.
The survey was conducted from July 10 to 15 among 1,205 permanent residents of Latvia aged 18 to 75. Only responses from Latvian citizens were included in the question about voting preferences. The 15th Saeima elections will take place on Saturday, October 3, with polling stations open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
