Latvia Faces Further Population Aging, EC Report Warns

According to the latest European Commission (EC) report on demographic changes in the European Union, Latvia will experience significant population aging in the coming decades.

Currently, Latvia already ranks among EU states with the highest median age – about 44 years in 2025, up from 2015. The report also forecasts increasing life expectancy: for women, expected lifespan at around 80 years in 2025 could exceed 90 by the end of the century, while for men it may rise from about 70 to 85 years.

Fertility in Latvia is among the lowest in the EU, with a total fertility rate of approximately 1.14 children per woman in 2025, projected to increase to about 1.55 by 2100. The share of foreign-born population in Latvia is moderate and lower than in many Western European countries.

Overall, the EU population is projected to shrink from the current 450.6 million to 398.8 million by 2100. In Latvia, the population is expected to decline from roughly 1.86 million at the start of 2025 to 1.53 million by 2050 and 1.23 million by 2100, according to Eurostat forecasts published in April.

The EC report notes that these changes will challenge labor markets, healthcare, and public finances, but also create opportunities for innovation and the so-called "longevity economy." Targeted policies in skills development, housing affordability, and care are needed to mitigate the impacts.