Administrative division of Latvia

Administrative division of Latvia

The administrative division of Latvia comprises nine republic cities ( Latvian republikas pilsētas ) and 110 districts ( novadi ).

Administrative reform (1999-2009)

Discussions about reforming the territorial administration began immediately after Latvian independence. As a result, a single-stage model was adopted in which several municipalities were to be combined and the districts to be abolished.

As early as 1996, the first municipal administrations were united near Kandava . When reform stalled, the 2009 local elections were set as the final date. At this point in time, the remaining 424 municipalities ( pagasti ) and 50 district towns were transformed into 110 districts ( novadi ) and nine republic towns. Some of the old municipal administrations still exist.

Republic cities

No.	city	coat of arms	Republic - city rights	surface	population	Settlement density
1.	Daugavpils		1940	72.48	102,496	1414.1
2.	Jēkabpils		2009	23.00	26,284	1142.8
3.	Jelgava		1940	60.10	64,516	1073.5
4th	Jurmala		1959	100.00	56,060	560.6
5.	Liepāja		1940	60.37	83,884	1389.5
6th	Rēzekne		1953	17.48	34,912	1997.3
7th	Riga		1931/1940	307.17	703.581	2290.0
8th.	Valmiera		2009	18.18	27,217	1497.1
9.	Ventspils		1940	55.40	42,657	770.0

Districts

No.	district	coat of arms	center	Cities	Communities	surface	population	Population density
01.	Ādažu novads		Ādaži	0	0	162.9	9,878	60.6
02.	Aglonas novads		Aglona	0		392.7	4,426	11.3
03.	Aizkraukles novads		Aizkraukle	1 ( aizkraukle )	1 ( Aizkraukles pagasts )	102.3	9,986	97.6
04th	Aizputes novads		Aizpute	1 ( Aizpute )		640.2	10,368	16.2
05.	Aknīstes novads		Aknīste	1 ( Aknīste )		285.0	3,236	11.4
06th	Alojas novads		Aloja			630.7	6,025	9.6
07th	Alsungas novads		Alsunga	0	0	190.0	1,620	8.5
08th.	Alūksnes novads		Alūksne	1 ( Alūksne )		1699.8	19,221	11.3
09.	Amatas novads		Drabesi	0		741.8	6,357	8.6
10.	Apes novads		Ape	1 ( ape )		545.1	4,287	7.9
11.	Auces novads		Auce	1 ( Auce )		517.8	8,564	16.5
12.	Babītes novads		Piņķi	0		241.7	9.223	38.2
13.	Baldones novads		Baldons	1 ( Baldone )	1 ( Baldones pagasts )	179.1	5,726	29.7
14th	Baltinavas novads		Baltinava	0	0	185.0	1,351	7.3
15th	Balvu novads		Balvi	1 ( Balvi )		1044.5	15,597	14.9
16.	Bauskas novads		Bauska	1 ( Bauska )		784.9	28,028	35.7
17th	Beverīnas novads		Mūrmuiža	0		301.8	3,553	11.8
18th	Brocēnu novads		Brocēni	1 ( Brocēni )		498.5	7,068	14.2
19th	Burtnieku novads		Burtnieki	0		710.1	8,487	12.0
20th	Carnikavas novads		Carnikava	0	0	80.2	6,513	81.2
21st	Cēsu novads		Cēsis	1 ( Cēsis )	1 ( Vaives pagasts )	171.7	19,671	114.6
22nd	Cesvaines novads		Cesvaine	1 ( Cesvaine )	1 ( Cesvaines pagasts )	190.5	3.114	16.3
23.	Ciblas novads		Blonti	0		509.4	3,309	6.5
24.	Dagdas novads		Dagda	1 ( Dagda )		948.8	9,331	9.8
25th	Daugavpils novads		Daugavpils	0		1877.6	28,211	15.0
26th	Dobeles novads		Dobele	1 ( Dobele )		889.7	24,390	27.4
27.	Dundagas novads		Dundaga	0		675.6	4,767	7.1
28.	Durbes novads		Lieģi	1 ( Durbe )		320.7	3,401	10.6
29	Engures novads		Smārde	0		397.9	8,045	20.2
30th	Ērgļu novads		Ērgļi	0		379.5	3,535	9.3
31.	Garkalnes novads		Rīga ( Berģi )	0	0	150.5	7,227	48.0
32.	Grobiņas novads		Grobiņa	1 ( Grobiņa )		490.2	10,220	20.8
33.	Gulbenes novads		Gulbene	1 ( Gulbene )		1876.1	25,073	13.4
34.	Iecavas novads		Iecava	0	0	311.6	9,818	31.5
35.	Ikšķiles novads		Ikšķile	1 ( Ikšķile )	1 ( Tīnūžu pagasts )	132.1	8,764	66.3
36.	Ilūkstes novads		Ilūkste			648.4	9,062	14.0
37.	Inčukalna novads		Inčukalns	1 ( Vangaži )	1 ( Inčukalna pagasts )	112.2	8,510	75.8
38.	Jaunjelgavas novads		Jaunjelgava	1 ( Jaunjelgava )		685.0	6,486	9.5
39.	Jaunpiebalgas novads		Jaunpiebalga	0		251.0	2,671	10.6
40.	Jaunpils novads		Jaunpils	0		210.2	2,743	13.0
41.	Jēkabpils novads		Jēkabpils	0		906.0	5,747	6.3
42.	Jelgavas novads		Jelgava	0		1319.0	27,103	20.5
43.	Kandavas novads		Kandava	1 ( Kandava )		649.0	9,897	15.2
44.	Kārsavas novads		Kārsava	1 ( Kārsava )		628.4	6,941	11.0
45.	Kocēnu novads		Kocēni	0		498.1	7,018	14.1
46.	Kokneses novads		Cocaine	0		360.6	6,036	16.7
47.	Krāslavas novads		Krāslava	1 ( Krāslava )		1078.4	19,811	18.4
48.	Krimuldas novads		Ragana	0		339.1	5,778	17.0
49.	Krustpils novads		Krustpils	0		812.2	6,680	8.2
50.	Kuldīgas novads		Kuldīga	1 ( Kuldīga )		1756.7	27,213	15.5
51.	Ķeguma novads		Ķegums	1 ( Ķegums )		490.0	6,306	12.9
52.	Ķekavas novads		Ķekava	1 ( Baloži )		270.2	21,673	80.2
53.	Lielvārdes novads		Lielvārde	1 ( Lielvārde )		225.7	11,400	50.5
54.	Līgatnes novads		Līgatne	1 ( Līgatne )	1 ( Līgatnes pagasts )	167.7	4,045	24.1
55.	Limbažu novads		Limbaži	1 (Limbaži)		1170.9	19,538	16.7
56.	Līvānu novads		Līvāni	1 ( Līvāni )		624.6	14,046	22.5
57.	Lubānas novads		Lubāna	1 ( Lubāna )	1 ( Indrānu pagasts )	346.9	2,851	8.2
58.	Ludzas Novads		Ludza	1 ( Ludza )		966.0	15,667	16.2
59.	Madonas novads		Madona	1 ( Madona )		2153.4	27,732	13.4
60.	Mālpils novads		Mālpils	0	0	220.9	4,039	18.3
61.	Mārupes novads		Marupe	0	0	103.9	15,130	145.6
62.	Mazsalacas novads		Mazsalaca	1 ( Mazsalaca )		417.0	3,953	9.5
63.	Mērsraga novads		Mērsrags	0	0	109.0	1,832	16.8
64.	Naukšēnu novads		Naukšēni	0		281.0	2,291	8.2
65.	Neretas novads		Nereta	0		645.5	4,383	6.8
66.	Nīcas novads		Nīca	0		350.8	3,858	11.0
67.	Ogres novads		Ogre	1 ( Ogre )		992.3	38,861	39.2
68.	Olaines novads		Olaine	1 ( Olaine )	1 ( Olaines pagasts )	297.0	20,627	69.5
69.	Ozolnieku novads		Ozolnieki	0		286.1	10,406	36.4
70.	Pārgaujas novads		Stalbe	0		487.5	4,425	9.1
71.	Pāvilostas novads		Pāvilosta	1 ( Pāvilosta )		515.0	3.233	6.3
72.	Pļaviņu novads		Pļaviņas	1 ( Pļaviņas )		376.8	6,294	16.7
73.	Price novads		Price	1 ( price )		365.3	11,764	32.2
74.	Priekules novads		Priekule	1 ( Priekule )		519.7	6,611	12.7
75.	Priekuļu novads		Priekuļi	0		301.8	9,293	31.1
76.	Raunas novads		Rauna	0		309.0	4,008	13.0
77.	Rēzeknes novads		Rēzekne	0		2524.1	31,602	12.5
78.	Riebiņu novads		Riebiņi	0		630.0	6,179	9.8
79.	Rojas novads		Roja	0	0	200.5	4,412	31.1
80.	Ropažu novads		Ropaži	0	0	326.4	7.130	21.8
81.	Rucavas novads		Rucava	0		449.0	1,998	4.4
82.	Rugāju novads		Rugāji	0		512.0	2,652	5.2
83.	Rūjienas novads		Rūjiena	1 (Rūjiena)		352.2	6,144	17.4
84.	Rundāles novads		Pilsrundāle	0		231.1	4,259	18.4
85.	Salacgrīvas novads		Salacgrīva			637.6	9,408	14.8
86.	Salas novads		Sala	0		317.1	4,297	13.6
87.	Salaspils novads		Salaspils	1 ( salaspils )	1 ( Salaspils pagasts )	127.0	23,219	182.8
88	Saldus novads		Balance	1 ( balance )		1683.3	28,705	17.1
89.	Saulkrastu novads		Saulkrasti	1 ( Saulkrasti )	1 ( Saulkrastu pagasts )	47.7	6,144	128.8
90.	Sējas novads		Loja	0	0	227.9	2,496	11.0
91.	Siguldas novads		Sigulda	1 ( Sigulda )		360.9	17,779	49.3
92.	Skrīveru novads		Skrīveri	0	0	105.4	4,066	38.6
93.	Skrundas novads		Skrunda	1 ( Skrunda )		553.2	5,968	10.8
94.	Smiltenes novads		Smiltene	1 ( Smiltene )		949.0	14,276	15.0
95.	Stopiņu novads		Ulbroka	0	0	53.5	9,908	185.2
96.	Strenču novads		Strenči			375.7	4,192	11.2
97.	Talsu novads		Talsi			1763.0	34,443	19.5
98	Tērvetes novads		Zelmeņi	0		223.8	4,088	18.3
99	Tukuma novads		Tukums	1 ( Tukums )		1199.7	33,396	27.8
100.	Vaiņodes novads		Vaiņode	0		344.0	2,932	8.5
101.	Valkas novads		Valka	1 ( Valka )		908.0	10,513	11.6
102.	Varakļānu novads		Varakļāni	1 ( Varakļāni )		279.0	3,915	14.0
103.	Vārkavas novads		Vecvārkava	0		288.9	2,369	8.2
104.	Vecpiebalgas novads		Vecpiebalga	0		542.5	4,781	8.8
105.	Vecumnieku novads		Vecumnieki	0		844.0	9,708	11.5
106.	Ventspils novads		Ventspils	1 ( Piltene )		2472.0	13,510	5.5
107.	Viesītes novads		Viesīte	1 ( Viesīte )		650.5	4,614	7.1
108.	Viļakas novads		Viļaka	1 ( Viļaka )		639.7	6.364	9.9
109.	Viļānu novads		Viļāni	1 ( Viļāni )		285.1	7,098	24.9
110.	Zilupes novads		Zilupe	1 ( Zilupe )		308.9	3,651	11.8

historical development

From the Middle Ages to the First World War

• The Livonian Confederation of the Middle Ages consisted of the territories of the bishops and the Livonian Order. The country of the order was divided into commanderies .
• In 1561 the state was divided: in the Duchy of Courland and Zemgallen there were 10 districts. The Polish-Lithuanian Duchy of Livonia, on the other hand, was initially divided into four districts and from 1598 into three voivodships . In 1629 the Swedes established the Riga and Cēsis districts in the conquered area. The part that remained with Poland became the Livonia Voivodeship .
• After all Latvian territories fell to Russia in the 18th century, the governorate of Livonia and the governorate of Courland existed - both were divided into districts. Polish Livonia became part of the Vitebsk Governorate in 1772 .
• In the Middle Ages, the Latvian communities emerged at the places where goods were delivered to the overlords. The community (Latvian pagasts ) had no powers, but regulated affairs and disputes among the peasants. They received an official function only after serfdom was abolished in the 19th century.

1919 to 2009

Administrative division of Latvia 1924–1945

Administrative division of Latvia 2007 (before the last administrative reform was completed in 2009)

A new administrative division was carried out in independent Latvia in 1924: the country consisted of 19 districts ( apriņķi ) and 519 municipalities ( pagasti ).

With the establishment of Soviet power in 1945, the number of districts (now Rajons ) was first increased. In 1949 the communities were dissolved. For the establishment of the collective farm there were now cities, workers' settlements and settlements that initially had no fixed territorial borders.

A reform did not take place until 1990 and after the Latvian independence the municipalities were established again. The rural areas of the cities were now also referred to as communities. In 1999 a reform was decided with the aim of a single-level administrative structure.

By July 1, 2009, the country was divided into the following 26 districts ( rajoni ):

Aizkraukles rajons , Alūksnes rajons , Balvu rajons , Bauskas rajons , Cēsu rajons , Daugavpils rajons , Dobeles rajons , Gulbenes rajons , Jēkabpils rajons , Jelgavas rajons , Krāslavas rajons , Kuldīgas rajons , Liepājas rajons , Limbažu rajons , Ludzas rajons , Madonas rajons , Ogres rajons , Preiļu rajons , Rēzeknes rajons , Rīgas rajons , Saldus rajons , Talsu rajons , Tukuma rajons , Valkas rajons , Valmieras rajons , Ventspils rajons

literature

• Latvijas Pagastu Enciklopēdija. 2002, ISBN 9984-00-436-8 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ As of January 3, 2011 www.raplm.gov.lv
2. ↑ Latvijas Vēstnesis. Latvijas pašvaldību attīstības vadlīnijas , publicēts: December 14, 1995.
3. ↑ Ministry for Regional Development and Local Self-Government ( Memento of December 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (accessed on March 16, 2010)