Study: Only 37% of Latvians Say They Would Defend Their Country Themselves

A study by the Analytical Service of the Saeima, Latvia's parliament, on public willingness to defend the country shows that most residents back armed resistance in the event of a military attack, but a much smaller share would take part themselves. Armed resistance is supported by 66% of respondents, while 37% would be prepared to defend Latvia personally. The findings matter because they show how far society is ready to contribute to national security.

Comparison with neighbours

Among Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Finland, Latvia has the lowest figures on both measures. Willingness to defend the country was expressed by 45% of Estonians, 52% of Lithuanians and 64% of Finns. Armed resistance in case of an attack is supported by 73% of Estonians, 74% of Lithuanians and 87% of Finns.

Differences within Latvia

The lowest willingness to defend the country was recorded in Latgale, where only 26.5% of respondents expressed it in 2024. A 2022 survey found that 36% of respondents who speak Latvian at home and 14% of those who speak Russian at home would be ready to defend Latvia with weapons.

Far more people would be willing to help without weapons. In the 2022 survey, 60% of respondents said they were ready to assist the armed forces in a non-military way. Study author Inta Krūmiņa stresses the need to create opportunities for everyone to get involved in line with their knowledge and abilities.

What shapes willingness

The study concludes that willingness to defend the country is influenced not only by patriotism but also by trust in state institutions, confidence in NATO security guarantees and knowledge of how to act in crisis situations. Estonia and Finland are cited as positive examples, having run national defence and security courses for various social groups for many years.

Krūmiņa notes that intentions voiced in surveys do not always reflect actual behaviour in a crisis. In Ukraine, about 45% of respondents were ready to defend the country before Russia's full-scale invasion, and after the war began that figure rose by about 31%. She emphasises that readiness is not built in a day: it is long-term work in which educating residents and giving them practical training before a possible threat is essential.