List of cities in Latvia
This is a list of cities in Latvia . It lists all regional authorities that have the title city and sorts them in descending order according to their number of inhabitants.
Cities and city rights
In 2016 there were a total of 76 cities in Latvia with a size between less than 1,000 and more than 750,000 inhabitants. The largest and oldest city in Latvia is Riga . Riga is also by far the largest agglomeration with 882,272 inhabitants (2005). This means that around 40% of the country's population is concentrated in the capital region. The smallest city in Latvia is Durbe with 561 inhabitants (2016).
“City” is understood in the legal sense, insofar as a place has been formally granted city rights . Therefore, the year of foundation and the year of the city census are given for each city. Of the 76 cities, 56 only received the title in the course of the 20th century. Eight of these were from the October Revolution, 23 from the time of Latvia's first independence and four from the time of the Soviet Union. After Latvia regained independence, another 21 villages became cities.
Insofar as “city” is legally defined for inclusion in this list and not in terms of settlement geography, some municipalities are missing, especially in the area around Riga, which have a (small) urban character, but “only” the status of a municipality. Conversely, the list contains small places with a village character, which, however, have received and retained town charter throughout history.
To the table
The following table shows the results of the census on January 12, 1989, March 31, 2000 and March 1, 2011. This is followed by the higher-level administrative unit ( Novads ) to which the city belongs. The capital Riga and the cities of Daugavpils , Jelgava , Jūrmala , Liepāja , Rēzekne , Ventspils , Jēkabpils and Valmiera have a special status as so-called “ Republic cities ” and do not belong to any Novads. The population figures refer to the actual city without the suburban belt.
Rank (2011) |
Latvian name |
German name |
1989 population census |
Population 2000 census |
Population census 2011 |
Administrative unit | Year of foundation |
City law since |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Riga | Riga | 910.445 | 764,329 | 658.640 | Riga | 1201 | 1225 |
2. | Daugavpils | Dünaburg | 124.910 | 115.265 | 93,312 | Daugavpils | 1275 | 1582 |
3. | Liepāja | Libau | 114,486 | 89,448 | 76,731 | Liepāja | 1253 | 1625 |
4th | Jelgava | Mitau | 74.105 | 63,652 | 59,511 | Jelgava | 1225 | 1573 |
5. | Jurmala | Riga beach | 60,600 | 55,718 | 50,840 | Jurmala | 1959 | 1959 |
6th | Ventspils | Windau | 50,646 | 43,928 | 38,750 | Ventspils | 1290 | 1378 |
7th | Rēzekne | Rositten | 42,477 | 39,233 | 32,328 | Rēzekne | 1285 | 1773 |
8th. | Valmiera | Wolmar | 29,190 | 27,752 | 25,130 | Valmiera | 1283 | 1323 |
9. | Ogre | Ogershof | 29,656 | 26,573 | 24,840 | Ogres novads | 1206 | 1928 |
10. | Jēkabpils | Jakobstadt | 30,865 | 27,871 | 24,635 | Jēkabpils | 1237 | 1670 |
11. | Tukums | Tuckum | 21,439 | 18,886 | 18,402 | Tukuma novads | 1253 | 1795 |
12. | Salaspils | Kirchholm | 18,111 | 18,121 | 17,099 | Salaspils novads | 1186 | 1993 |
13. | Cēsis | Turn | 21,123 | 18,732 | 16,764 | Cēsu novads | 1206 | 1323 |
14th | Olaine | Olai | 14,989 | 12,952 | 12,023 | Olaines novads | 1939 | 1967 |
15th | Kuldīga | Goldingen | 14,225 | 13,678 | 11,761 | Kuldīgas novads | 1242 | 1378 |
16. | Balance | Frauenburg | 12,330 | 12,581 | 11,396 | Saldus novads | 1253 | 1917 |
17th | Sigulda | Segewold | 11,074 | 10,727 | 10,702 | Siguldas novads | 1207 | 1928 |
18th | Dobele | Doblen | 15,023 | 11,553 | 10,331 | Dobeles novads | 1254 | 1917 |
19th | Talsi | Talsen | 13,031 | 12,374 | 10,266 | Talsu novads | 1231 | 1917 |
20th | Bauska | Bauske | 11,684 | 10,840 | 9,508 | Bauskas novads | 1443 | 1609 |
21st | Krāslava | Kreslau | 12,434 | 11,412 | 9.112 | Krāslavas novads | unknown | 1923 |
22nd | Ludza | Ludsen | 11,853 | 10,822 | 8,931 | Ludzas Novads | 1177 | 1777 |
23. | Gulbene | Schwanenburg | 10,346 | 9,629 | 8,314 | Gulbenes novads | 1224 | 1928 |
24. | Līvāni | Livenhof | 12,263 | 10,368 | 8,071 | Līvānu novads | 1533 | 1926 |
25th | Alūksne | Marienburg | 10,913 | 9,482 | 8,057 | Alūksnes novads | 1284 | 1920 |
26th | Madona | Madohn | 9,975 | 9,553 | 7,990 | Madonas novads | 1461 | 1926 |
27. | Aizkraukle | Ash damage | 10.100 | 9,099 | 7,830 | Aizkraukles novads | 1211 | 1967 |
28. | Limbaži | Lemsal | 9,985 | 9,237 | 7,788 | Limbažu novads | 1223 | 1385 |
29 | Price | Prely | 9,421 | 8,909 | 7,273 | Price novads | 1250 | 1928 |
30th | Balvi | Bolwen | 9,340 | 8,655 | 7.176 | Balvu novads | 1224 | 1928 |
31. | Lielvārde | Lennewarden | 4,823 | 5,264 | 6.241 | Lielvārdes novads | 1201 | 1992 |
32. | Baloži | Rollbusch | 4,050 | 3,967 | 6.015 | Ķekavas novads | 1947 | 1991 |
33. | Smiltene | Smiled | 6,393 | 6,287 | 5,518 | Smiltenes novads | 1427 | 1920 |
34. | Valka | walk | 8,230 | 6,782 | 5,471 | Valkas novads | 1286 | 1584 |
35. | Aizpute | Hasenpoth | 6,199 | 5,799 | 4,550 | Aizputes novads | 1253 | 1378 |
36. | Grobiņa | Coarse | 4,583 | 4,326 | 3,912 | Grobiņas novads | 854 (1253) | 1695 |
37. | Kandava | Kandau | 4,631 | 3,697 | 3,860 | Kandavas novads | 1253 | 1917 |
38. | Ikšķile | Uexkull | 3,445 | 3,469 | 3,799 | Ikšķiles novads | 1185 | 1992 |
39. | Vangaži | Wangash | 4,366 | 4.138 | 3,574 | Inčukalna novads | 17th century | 1991 |
40. | Pļaviņas | Stockmannshof | 4,415 | 4,073 | 3,422 | Pļaviņu novads | 1561 | 1927 |
41. | Viļāni | Welons | 4,680 | 4,049 | 3,208 | Viļānu novads | 1495 | 1928 |
42. | Rūjiena | Rujen | 3,982 | 3,744 | 3,162 | Rūjienas novads | 1461 | 1920 |
43. | Brocēni | Berghof | 3,724 | 3,588 | 3,096 | Brocēnu novads | 1528 | 1992 |
44. | Saulkrasti | Neubad | 3,418 | 3,277 | 3,092 | Saulkrastu novads | 1823 | 1991 |
45. | Salacgrīva | Salismünde | 3,481 | 3,527 | 2,930 | Salacgrīvas novads | 1215 | 1928 |
46. | Auce | Alt-Autz | 3,347 | 3.216 | 2,625 | Auces novads | 1667 | 1924 |
47. | Ilūkste | Illuxt | 3,275 | 2.983 | 2,555 | Ilūkstes novads | 1550 | 1917 |
48. | Dagda | Dagden | 3,325 | 2,820 | 2,382 | Dagdas novads | 17th century | 1992 |
49. | Baldons | Baldohn | 2,058 | 2,084 | 2,312 | Baldones novads | 1648 | 1991 |
50. | Ķegums | Keggum | 2.148 | 2,441 | 2,279 | Ķeguma novads | 1936 | 1993 |
51. | Kārsava | Karsau | 3.110 | 2,722 | 2,231 | Kārsavas novads | 1770 | 1928 |
52. | Skrunda | Cracks | 5,235 | 2,737 | 2.176 | Skrundas novads | 1253 | 1996 |
53. | Priekule | Prokuls | 3.834 | 2,625 | 2.151 | Priekules novads | 1483 | 1928 |
54. | Jaunjelgava | Friedrichstadt | 2,417 | 2,400 | 2,041 | Jaunjelgavas novads | 1450 | 1647 |
55. | Varakļāni | Warkland | 2,798 | 2,413 | 1,979 | Varakļānu novads | 1483 | 1928 |
56. | Viesīte | Corner counts | 2,602 | 2,225 | 1,785 | Viesītes novads | 1890 | 1928 |
57. | Stende | Stenden | 2.134 | 2.012 | 1,732 | Talsu novads | 1904 | 1991 |
58. | Lubāna | Luban | 2.114 | 1,974 | 1,701 | Lubānas novads | 13th century | 1992 |
59. | Zilupe | Rosenau | 2,441 | 1.953 | 1,658 | Zilupes novads | 1900 | 1931 |
60. | Cesvaine | Seßwegen | 1,970 | 1,864 | 1,574 | Cesvaines novads | 1209 | 1991 |
61. | Viļaka | Marienhausen | 2.152 | 1,850 | 1,487 | Viļakas novads | 1293 | 1945 |
62. | Strenči | Stacking | 2,222 | 1,640 | 1,412 | Strenču novads | 1889 | 1928 |
63. | Seda | Sedde | 2,239 | 1,830 | 1,347 | Strenču novads | 1952 | 1991 |
64. | Mazsalaca | Salisburg | 2,105 | 1,751 | 1,301 | Mazsalacas novads | 1528 | 1928 |
65. | Valdemārpils | Pissed off | 1,581 | 1,489 | 1,244 | Talsu novads | 1582 | 1917 |
66. | Aloja | Allendorf | 1,565 | 1,553 | 1,235 | Alojas novads | 1449 | 1992 |
67. | Sabile | Zabeln | 1,790 | 1,626 | 1,213 | Talsu novads | 1253 | 1917 |
68. | Līgatne | Ligature | 1,767 | 1,475 | 1,142 | Līgatnes novads | 17th century | 1993 |
69. | Aknīste | Oknist | 1,488 | 1,352 | 1,138 | Aknīstes novads | 1298 | 1991 |
70. | Piltene | Pilten | 1,193 | 1,135 | 1,076 | Ventspils novads | 1295 | 1557 |
71. | Staicele | Staizel | 1,380 | 1,209 | 1,032 | Alojas novads | 1846 | 1992 |
72. | Pāvilosta | Paulshafen | 1,299 | 1,205 | 1,026 | Pāvilostas novads | 1230 (1879) | 1991 |
73. | Ape | Hoppenhof | 1,637 | 2,088 | 983 | Apes novads | 1420 | 1928 |
74. | Ainaži | Haynasch / Hainasch | 1,257 | 1,315 | 862 | Salacgrīvas novads | 1564 | 1926 |
75. | Subate | Subbath | 1,041 | 935 | 659 | Ilūkstes novads | 1570 | 1917 |
76. | Durbe | Durben | 389 | 467 | 552 | Durbes novads | 1261 | 1893 |
See also
Web links
- Central Statistical Office of the Republic of Latvia: Results of the 2011 census , accessed on July 7, 2016 (Latvian and English)
- LATVIA. Thomas Brinkhoff, www.citypopulation.de, accessed on June 12, 2009 (private site about populationfiguresworldwide).