EC forecasts: Latvia will continue to face population aging
The latest European Commission report indicates that Latvia's population is aging, with rising median age, low birth rates, and increasing life expectancy. By 2100, the country's population could drop to about 1.23 million.
According to the European Commission's (EC) latest report on demographic changes in the EU, Latvia already has one of the highest median ages among member states. In 2025, the median age reached approximately 44 years, up from a decade earlier. The median age means half the population is younger than that threshold and half older. For women, the median age is 48; for men, 41.
The report also projects a rise in life expectancy. For women, life expectancy in 2025 is about 80 years and could exceed 90 by the end of the century. For men, it is projected to increase from about 70 to 85 years.
Latvia's fertility rate is among the lowest in the EU – the total fertility rate in 2025 is about 1.14 children per woman. Forecasts suggest it could rise to 1.55 by 2100.
The share of foreign-born residents in Latvia is lower than in many Western European countries, such as Luxembourg, Malta, or Cyprus.
The EC emphasizes that these demographic trends will pose challenges for labor markets, healthcare, and public finances, but could also open new opportunities for innovation and the longevity economy.
According to Eurostat projections, Latvia's population will continue to decline. At the start of 2025, the country had about 1.86 million inhabitants. By 2050, this could fall to 1.53 million, and by 2100 to 1.23 million.
