Rural development in Latvia focuses on addressing depopulation through improving quality of life and economic opportunities in rural areas. Only 32% of Latvia's population lives rurally, down from 63% in 1939. Most rural residents now commute to jobs in nearby towns and cities. Future development strategies aim to boost rural employment in agriculture, tourism, services and through digital commuting/remote work. Creating an attractive place to live through local activities and engaging youth are also priorities to reverse rural population decline.

1. Rural Development
Perspectives in Latvia
Zintis Hermansons,
Zintis Hermansons,
Alise Vitola,
Alise Vitola,
Ministry of Environmental
Ministry of Environmental
Riga Technical University
Riga Technical University Protection
Protection
and Regional Development
and Regional Development
October 2012

2. UK (1950)
UK (1950) Germany (1950)
Germany (1950)
Working in agriculture: 5%
Working in agriculture: 5% Working in agriculture: 24%
Working in agriculture: 24%
Labor productivity,
Labor productivity,
compared to UK: 66%
compared to UK: 66%

3. Rural population in Latvia
Rural population in Latvia
1939: 63%
1939: 63%
1959: 48%
1959: 48%
1979: 34%
1979: 34%
2011: 32%
2011: 32%

4. Abstract tasks
Abstract tasks
1960: basis
1960: basis
1980: +3%
1980: +3%
2002: +12%
2002: +12%
Manual tasks
Manual tasks
Routine tasks
Routine tasks
1960: basis
1960: basis
1980: -6%
1980: -6%
1960: basis
1960: basis
2002: -8%
2002: -8%
1980: +3%
1980: +3%
2002: -4%
2002: -4%

6. Public services
Public services Agriculture
Agriculture
10-14% of employed
10-14% of employed 6-10% of employed
6-10% of employed
2020: 9-10%
2020: 9-10% 2020: 4-5%
2020: 4-5%
Tourism &
Tourism &
Nature preservation
Nature preservation leisure activities
leisure activities

7. (Digital) commuting
(Digital) commuting
Second home
Second home
Rural lifestyle &
Rural lifestyle & Exclusive place
Exclusive place
social functions
social functions of residence
of residence

8. A good place to
A good place to
A nice place to live:
A nice place to live: fulfill ones aims and
fulfill ones aims and
76%
76% dreams: 33%
dreams: 33%
A good place
A good place
A nice place for
A nice place for to work: 26%
to work: 26%
recreation: 76%
recreation: 76%
A beautiful place: 65%
A beautiful place: 65%

9. Where do locals work?
Durbe– a typical
Durbe– a typical
1 rural municipality
rural municipality
2-5
8
11 - 14
253
906
73% of employers which employ inhabitants
73% of employers which employ inhabitants
from Durbe are located in surrounding
from Durbe are located in surrounding
municipalities; 18% in Riga
municipalities; 18% in Riga Largest employers in
Largest employers in
the municipality:
the municipality:
Data: State Revenue Service of Latvia, 2011
Location of territorial office of State
public sector and
public sector and
Revenue Service which serves agriculture
agriculture Map created by authors
surrounding territory
using Latvia GIS 10.0

10. Proportion of inhabitants who live in particular municipality and have also declared their address
there (%). It indicates that rural areas around big cities are not seen as places for permanent living
and working – ie. traditional country lifestyle
81,78 - 87,92
87,93 - 92,29
92,30 - 94,63
94,64 - 96,36 Data: Central Statistical Bureau
96,37 - 97,97 of Latvia, Census, 2011;
Map created by authors using
Latvia GIS 10.0

11. Micro and small
Micro and small
entrepreneurship
entrepreneurship
(i.a. cooperation & coordination)
(i.a. cooperation & coordination)
Attractive place of
Attractive place of
residence (local
residence (local
activities)
activities)
Virtual proximity
Virtual proximity
(telework, services)
(telework, services)
Youth measures
Youth measures
(projects, traineeships,
(projects, traineeships,
mentoring)
mentoring)