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Latvia

LV

Northern Europe

Latvia is home to 6 documented ethnic groups in Northern Europe — led by Latvian (~63%), Russian Latvia (~25%), Latvia Other (~6%), Belarusian Latvia (~3%). This page blends their phenotype and demographic data into one weighted reference: skin tone, facial features, hair texture and build, drawn from published census and ancestry sources.

Demographic Composition

Composition weights are derived from self-identification in published census and demographic surveys. Each row links to the source ethnic-group atlas page.

Ethnic groupWeightSource
LatvianLatvian62.5%Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia 2021 Census; Latvians (~62.5%, ~1.18M+ of ~1.88M total). Baltic ethnic-linguistic group, predominantly Lutheran Protestant historically with substantial post-Soviet secularization plus Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox sub-populations
Russian LatviaRussian Latvia24.6%Latvia 2021 Census; Russians (~24.6%, ~462,000+); concentrated in Riga (~40% of Riga population) plus Daugavpils. Substantial pre-1991-Soviet-era settlement
Latvia OtherLatvia Other5.6%Latvia 2021 Census residual; includes Lithuanian, Jewish, Roma, Estonian, German, plus other smaller groups
Belarusian LatviaBelarusian Latvia3.1%Latvia 2021 Census; Belarusian (~3.1%, ~58,000+)
Ukrainian LatviaUkrainian Latvia2.2%Latvia 2021 Census plus post-2022 estimates; Ukrainians (~2.2%); pre-2022 community plus substantial post-2022 Ukrainian refugee population
Polish LatviaPolish Latvia2.0%Latvia 2021 Census; Polish (~2%, ~38,000+); concentrated in eastern Latvia (Latgale)

Latvia Phenotype Profile

Latvia has a Latvian-majority structure (~62.5%) with substantial Russian (~24.6%), Belarusian (~3.1%), Ukrainian (~2.2%), Polish (~2%), and other communities. Adult Latvian male mean stature approximately 181-183 cm — among the tallest globally.

A descriptive view, not a claim about individuals

This page shows a weighted aggregate of phenotype observations across the Latvia population, based on demographic composition from published census and ancestry sources. Phenotypes within any country are far more varied than the aggregate suggests; this is a descriptive reference, not a deterministic claim about any individual. For source-level detail on individual ethnic groups, see the constituent atlas pages linked below.

Methodology Notes

Composition weights derived from Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia 2021 Census.

See full project methodology →

Primary Sources

  1. 1.Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia. Population and Housing Census 2021. Riga: CSB; 2022.
  2. 2.Plakans A. The Latvians: A Short History. Hoover Institution Press; 1995.
  3. 3.Smith DJ, Pabriks A, Purs A, Lane T. The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Routledge; 2002.
  4. 4.Eglitis DS. Imagining the Nation: History, Modernity, and Revolution in Latvia. Penn State University Press; 2002.
  5. 5.Kalnins M. Latvia: A Short History. Hurst; 2015.

Other countries in Northern Europe

Aggregate phenotype references for neighbouring Northern Europe nations, weighted by demographic composition.

Browse all Northern Europeethnic groups & countries →