Who Leads Latvia?

Leadership

Evika Siliņa

Prime Minister of Latvia

Political Party

New Unity

Inaugurated

Sep 15, 2023

Term Ends

2026

Next Election

2026

Born

Jun 4, 1975 in Riga, Latvia

Country Population

1.8M

Continent

Europe

Evika Silina became Latvia's first female Prime Minister in September 2023. A former state secretary with a background in public administration, she leads the New Unity party. She has prioritized defense spending, energy security, and economic competitiveness while maintaining Latvia's strong support for Ukraine and Baltic regional cooperation.

Government

Capital

Riga

Official Language(s)

Latvian

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Government Type

Parliamentary Republic

Area

64,589 km²

Latvia is a Baltic state with a rich cultural heritage, Art Nouveau architecture in Riga, and vast forests covering half the country. It regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and joined the EU and NATO in 2004. Latvia has a significant Russian-speaking minority and has been at the forefront of European defense discussions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Latvia is a parliamentary republic. President Edgars Rinkevics was elected by the Saeima (parliament) on May 31, 2023, and inaugurated July 8, 2023. He is Latvia's first openly gay president. Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) leads the government. The Saeima has 100 seats. Latvia joined EU and NATO in 2004 and adopted the euro in 2014.

Economic Snapshot

GDP

$43.6B

GDP Per Capita

$23,700

Income Group

High income

Trade Balance

Deficit

Inflation

8.9% (CSB, 2023; declining)

Latvia's economic transformation since 1991 independence has been rapid. EU accession (2004) and euro adoption (2014) anchored the economy to European markets. Latvia suffered one of the world's worst GDP contractions during the 2008-2009 financial crisis (GDP fell approximately 25%), implementing a dramatic internal devaluation (wage and spending cuts rather than currency devaluation) that became a controversial model studied by economists. The recovery was equally rapid, with GDP returning to pre-crisis levels faster than most economists expected. Riga's Art Nouveau heritage is underappreciated outside Europe: the collection is extraordinary, built when Riga was the Russian Empire's third-largest city and a major Baltic port. The facades feature faces, plants, serpents, goddesses, and intricate geometric patterns that turn entire city blocks into outdoor art galleries. Riga's German, Swedish, Russian, Polish, and Latvian cultural layers make it one of Europe's most complex and undervisited cities.

Major Industries

• Wood & timber products
• Food & beverages
• IT & technology services (Riga tech hub)
• Financial services (Riga as Baltic financial center)
• Manufacturing (rail equipment; medical)
• Agriculture (dairy; grain)

Latvia is known for: Latvia's Riga is home to the largest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in the world; approximately 800 Art Nouveau buildings in the UNESCO-listed Old Town and surrounding streets, built 1897-1914 during the Russian Empire's industrial boom. Latvia is a significant wood and timber exporter. Latvian balsam (Rīgas Melnais Balzāms; a herbal liqueur made from 24 plants) is one of the world's most distinctive spirits.

Trade Profile

Latvia runs a trade deficit offset partly by tourism and services revenues. The disconnection from Russian energy has increased import costs but is strategically essential.

Top Exports

• Wood & timber products
• IT services
• Food products
• Machinery
• Chemicals
• Rail vehicles

Top Imports

• Petroleum & gas
• Machinery
• Consumer goods
• Vehicles
• Electronics
• Chemicals

Export Destinations

• Lithuania
• Estonia
• Germany
• Sweden

Import Partners

• Lithuania
• Germany
• Poland
• Estonia

The world depends on Latvia for: Baltic amber, wood and timber products, and IT outsourcing services

Latvia depends on the world for: Petroleum, machinery, consumer goods, vehicles, and electronics

Global Role

Latvia's global significance is Riga's Art Nouveau architecture (world's largest concentration), President Rinkevics as the first openly gay post-Soviet head of state, the Baltic energy synchronization milestone, Latvian amber, and Soviet occupation/deportation history.

• President Edgars Rinkevics is the first openly gay head of state in any post-Soviet country, a historic milestone given the region's typical social conservatism
• Riga has the world's highest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings: approximately 800 structures in the UNESCO Old Town and surrounding streets
• Soviet deportations of Latvians: approximately 40,000 Latvians were deported to Siberia in two waves (June 1941 and March 1949); roughly 10% of the pre-war Latvian population was imprisoned, deported, or killed
• Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia completed their disconnection from the Soviet-era BRELL electricity ring (linking them to Russia and Belarus) and joined the European ENTSO-E grid in February 2025
• Latvian amber (succinite) is among the finest in the world; Baltic amber has been traded since prehistoric times; amber is found on Latvian beaches after storms
• Riga Central Market (five restored Zeppelin hangars from WWI; Europe's largest market by area) is a UNESCO World Heritage element
• Latvia received NATO Enhanced Forward Presence battle groups following Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion; Canada leads the NATO battle group in Latvia

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the current President of Latvia?

Edgars Rinkevics has been President since July 8, 2023. He was elected by the Saeima (parliament) on May 31, 2023. Before the presidency he served as Latvia's Foreign Minister for 12 years (2011-2023), overseeing Latvia's strong pro-Ukraine and pro-NATO foreign policy. He publicly came out as gay in 2014, making him the only openly gay Foreign Minister in the EU at the time, and is now the first openly gay president in any post-Soviet country.

What is special about Riga's architecture?

Riga has the world's highest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture: approximately 800 buildings in and around the UNESCO Old Town, primarily built between 1897 and 1914 when Riga was one of the Russian Empire's most dynamic industrial cities. The facades feature elaborate human faces, animal figures, mythological imagery, and organic plant motifs. Mikhail Eisenstein (father of film director Sergei Eisenstein) designed some of the most spectacular examples. One third of Riga's historic center is Art Nouveau.

What happened to Latvia under Soviet occupation?

Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union from 1940-1941 (forcibly annexed), then occupied by Nazi Germany 1941-1944, then re-occupied by the Soviet Union 1944-1991. During Soviet occupation, approximately 40,000 Latvians were deported to Siberia in mass deportations (June 1941 and March 1949). Latvia's Jewish population (approximately 75,000) was almost entirely murdered during the Holocaust. Latvia's pre-war population was significantly reduced. Latvia regained independence on May 4, 1990 (declaration) and internationally recognized independence on September 6, 1991.

Related Countries

• Lithuania: Deepest Baltic trade partner; shared Soviet history; fellow EU/NATO; Baltic energy synchronization
• Estonia: Baltic neighbor; fellow EU/NATO; shared Soviet history
• Russia: Borders Latvia; Soviet occupation history; NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia targets Russian threat
• Germany: Largest Western trade partner; historic German Baltic (Livonian) cultural heritage in Riga
• Ukraine: Latvia has been one of the strongest per-capita Ukraine supporters; NATO eastern flank concern
• Finland: Nordic neighbor; Finno-Baltic economic links; both near Russia