# Demografía de Letonia

Este artículo describe las características de la demografía de Letonia

## Población

Históricamente, en Letonia han estado presentes minorías alemanas, judías y polacas bastante importantes. En 1897 el primer censo oficial reflejó que los letones eran el 68.3 % de una población total de 1.93 millones, un 12% eran de origen ruso, el 7.4% judíos, el 6.2% alemanes y el 3.4% polacos. La demografía cambió drásticamente en el siglo XX debido a las guerras mundiales, la repatriación de los alemanes bálticos, el holocausto, y la ocupación por la Unión Soviética. La proporción de letones descendió del 77% (1.467.035) en 1935 al 52% (1.387.757) en 1989.
En 2005 había incluso menos letones que en 1989, si bien el número de habitantes total era superior- 1.357.099 (58.8% de los habitantes). Los ciudadanos llegados a Letonia durante la era soviética y sus descendientes inmigrados antes de 1991, debieron naturalizarse para obtener la ciudadanía letona. Los hijos de los residentes a partir de la independencia en 1991 comenzaron a adquirir automáticamente la ciudadanía letona. Unas 100 000 personas se han naturalizado como ciudadanos letones en años recientes, pero hay más de 360 000 personas que residen en Letonia con pasaporte extranjero.
Actualmente la población de origen letón representa aproximadamente 62.5% de los habitantes del país. Otros grupos son los de origen ruso (24,7%), bielorruso, ucraniano, lituano y polaco. Con objeto de evitar tensiones entre las diferentes nacionalidades, en 1998 los letones votaron a favor de facilitar la obtención de la nacionalidad letona.

## Etnias

Los letones y Livos, etnias originarias de Letonia, conforman en la actualidad menos del 60% de la población. Los livos son otro grupo étnico indígena, de los que sobreviven actualmente cerca de 100. Algunos latgalianos se consideran un grupo aparte de los livos, pero el criterio predominante es que los latgalianos son un subgrupo de los letones.

## Estadísticas Vitales

Latvijas Statistika UN Demographic Yearbooks
| | Población | Nacidos | Muertes | Cambio Natural | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Total fertility rate | Infant mortality rate (per 1000 births) | Expectativas de vida (hombres) | Expectativas de vida (mujeres) |
| 1920 | 1,727,000 | 29,434 | 33,891 | −4,457 | 17.0 | 19.6 | −2.6 | | 128.4 |
| 1921 | 1,850,000 | 36,420 | 25,331 | 11,089 | 19.7 | 13.7 | 6.0 | | 93.2 |
| 1922 | 1,883,000 | 41,146 | 27,553 | 13,593 | 21.9 | 14.6 | 7.2 | | 90.8 |
| 1923 | 1,909,000 | 41,796 | 26,080 | 15,716 | 21.9 | 13.7 | 8.2 | | 88.4 |
| 1924 | 1,845,000 | 41,172 | 28,399 | 12,773 | 22.3 | 15.4 | 6.9 | | 100.8 |
| 1925 | 1,857,000 | 41,314 | 27,683 | 13,631 | 22.3 | 14.9 | 7.3 | | 107.2 |
| 1926 | 1,871,000 | 41,073 | 27,557 | 13,516 | 22.0 | 14.7 | 7.2 | | 87.9 |
| 1927 | 1,883,000 | 41,610 | 28,941 | 12,669 | 22.1 | 15.4 | 6.7 | | 95.7 |
| 1928 | 1,895,000 | 39,126 | 27,299 | 11,827 | 20.7 | 14.4 | 6.2 | | 96.3 |
| 1929 | 1,900,000 | 35,673 | 28,512 | 7,161 | 18.8 | 15.0 | 3.8 | | 106.7 |
| 1930 | 1,910,000 | 37,835 | 27,110 | 10,725 | 19.8 | 14.2 | 5.6 | | 90.0 |
| 1931 | 1,920,000 | 36,972 | 26,891 | 10,081 | 19.3 | 14.0 | 5.3 | | 86.3 |
| 1932 | 1,931,000 | 37,366 | 26,342 | 11,024 | 19.4 | 13.6 | 5.7 | | 89.3 |
| 1933 | 1,939,000 | 34,576 | 26,319 | 8,257 | 17.8 | 13.6 | 4.3 | | 76.4 |
| 1934 | 1,947,000 | 33,383 | 27,065 | 6,318 | 17.2 | 13.9 | 3.2 | | 95.1 |
| 1935 | 1,953,000 | 34,419 | 27,660 | 6,759 | 17.6 | 14.2 | 3.5 | | 78.9 |
| 1936 | 1,961,000 | 35,468 | 27,646 | 7,822 | 18.1 | 14.1 | 4.0 | | 80.1 |
| 1937 | 1,968,000 | 34,863 | 28,083 | 6,780 | 17.7 | 14.3 | 3.4 | | 85.0 |
| 1938 | 1,978,000 | 36,386 | 26,703 | 9,683 | 18.4 | 13.5 | 4.9 | | 68.1 |
| 1939 | 2,000,000 | 36,932 | 27,827 | 9,105 | 18.5 | 13.9 | 4.6 | | 70.2 |
| 1940 | 1,940,000 | 37,493 | 30,355 | 7,138 | 19.3 | 15.7 | 3.6 | | 73.2 |
| 1941 | 1,755,000 | 36,295 | 30,434 | 5,861 | 20.7 | 17.3 | 3.4 | | 81.7 |
| 1942 | 1,750,000 | 36,370 | 29,940 | 6,430 | 20.7 | 17.1 | 3.6 | | 81.1 |
| 1943 | 1,760,000 | 35,915 | 29,904 | 6,011 | 20.4 | 16.9 | 3.5 | | 93.4 |
| 1944 | | | | | | | | 2.30 | |
| 1945 | | 26,217 | 32,230 | −6,013 | | | | | 111.1 |
| 1946 | 1,553,577 | 30,544 | 32,266 | -1,722 | 18.7 | 19.7 | -1.0 | | 93.9 |
| 1947 | 1,716,773 | 34,832 | 32,435 | 2,397 | 19.5 | 18.2 | 1.3 | | 108.7 |
| 1948 | 1,856,419 | 35,402 | 26,500 | 8,902 | 18.9 | 14.2 | 4.7 | | 79.3 |
| 1949 | 1,886,792 | 35,671 | 25,640 | 10,031 | 18.9 | 13.6 | 5.3 | | 83.3 |
| 1950 | 1,884,077 | 33,137 | 24,250 | 8,887 | 17.6 | 12.9 | 4.7 | | 70.0 |
| 1951 | 1,889,974 | 32,764 | 23,898 | 8,866 | 17.3 | 12.6 | 4.7 | | 69.6 |
| 1952 | 1,898,577 | 32,278 | 22,680 | 9,598 | 16.9 | 11.9 | 5.0 | | 52.9 |
| 1953 | 1,912,837 | 30,986 | 22,761 | 8,225 | 16.1 | 11.8 | 4.3 | | 46.8 |
| 1954 | 1,939,138 | 33,202 | 22,500 | 10,702 | 17.0 | 11.5 | 5.5 | | 45.9 |
| 1955 | 1,966,567 | 32,968 | 21,330 | 11,638 | 16.6 | 10.8 | 5.8 | | 42.0 |
| 1956 | 1,995,354 | 32,590 | 20,339 | 12,251 | 16.1 | 10.1 | 6.0 | | 33.9 |
| 1957 | 2,040,978 | 33,714 | 21,087 | 12,627 | 16.4 | 10.3 | 6.1 | | 32.3 |
| 1958 | 2,066,368 | 35,068 | 20,910 | 14,158 | 16.9 | 10.1 | 6.8 | | 29.5 |
| 1959 | 2,079,948 | 35,028 | 22,601 | 12,427 | 16.7 | 10.8 | 5.9 | | 30.8 |
| 1960 | 2,104,128 | 35,468 | 21,314 | 14,154 | 16.7 | 10.0 | 6.7 | 1.99 | 27.0 |
| 1961 | 2,137,830 | 35,993 | 21,759 | 14,234 | 16.7 | 10.1 | 6.6 | 2.01 | 24.1 |
| 1962 | 2,167,531 | 35,061 | 23,592 | 11,469 | 16.1 | 10.8 | 5.3 | 1.91 | 24.2 |
| 1963 | 2,195,640 | 33,843 | 22,703 | 11,140 | 15.3 | 10.3 | 5.0 | 1.85 | 25.9 |
| 1964 | 2,226,198 | 33,053 | 21,165 | 11,888 | 14.8 | 9.4 | 5.4 | 1.79 | 22.0 |
| 1965 | 2,255,048 | 31,212 | 22,780 | 8,432 | 13.8 | 10.1 | 3.7 | 1.74 | 18.9 |
| 1966 | 2,276,789 | 31,974 | 23,350 | 8,624 | 14.0 | 10.2 | 3.8 | 1.76 | 17.0 |
| 1967 | 2,289,645 | 32,232 | 24,362 | 7,870 | 14.0 | 10.6 | 3.4 | 1.80 | 17.3 |
| 1968 | 2,312,795 | 32,693 | 25,104 | 7,589 | 14.1 | 10.8 | 3.3 | 1.83 | 18.9 |
| 1969 | 2,334,443 | 32,915 | 26,229 | 6,686 | 14.0 | 11.2 | 2.8 | 1.88 | 17.7 |
| 1970 | 2,351,903 | 34,333 | 26,546 | 7,787 | 14.6 | 11.3 | 3.3 | 2.01 | 17.7 |
| 1971 | 2,366,424 | 35,239 | 26,275 | 8,964 | 14.8 | 11.1 | 3.7 | 2.04 | 15.9 |
| 1972 | 2,386,353 | 35,007 | 27,296 | 7,711 | 14.6 | 11.4 | 3.2 | 2.03 | 16.0 |
| 1973 | 2,404,995 | 34,008 | 28,139 | 5,869 | 14.1 | 11.6 | 2.5 | 1.96 | 15.8 |
| 1974 | 2,426,642 | 34,920 | 28,143 | 6,777 | 14.3 | 11.5 | 2.8 | 2.00 | 18.4 |
| 1975 | 2,447,730 | 34,810 | 30,042 | 4,768 | 14.2 | 12.2 | 2.0 | 1.96 | 20.3 |
| 1976 | 2,464,529 | 34,644 | 30,373 | 4,271 | 14.0 | 12.3 | 1.7 | 1.93 | 20.1 |
| 1977 | 2,477,449 | 34,240 | 30,869 | 3,371 | 13.8 | 12.4 | 1.4 | 1.88 | 18.3 |
| 1978 | 2,492,697 | 34,258 | 31,261 | 2,997 | 13.7 | 12.5 | 1.2 | 1.86 | 18.1 |
| 1979 | 2,503,145 | 34,683 | 32,162 | 2,521 | 13.8 | 12.8 | 1.0 | 1.87 | 18.3 |
| 1980 | 2,508,761 | 35,534 | 32,100 | 3,434 | 14.1 | 12.8 | 1.3 | 1.90 | 15.3 |
| 1981 | 2,514,640 | 35,732 | 32,090 | 3,642 | 14.2 | 12.7 | 1.5 | 1.90 | 16.0 |
| 1982 | 2,524,202 | 37,477 | 31,234 | 6,243 | 14.8 | 12.3 | 2.5 | 1.98 | 13.9 |
| 1983 | 2,537,958 | 40,572 | 32,330 | 8,242 | 15.9 | 12.7 | 3.2 | 2.13 | 15.9 |
| 1984 | 2,554,063 | 40,847 | 33,406 | 7,441 | 15.9 | 13.0 | 2.9 | 2.15 | 12.9 |
| 1985 | 2,570,030 | 39,751 | 34,166 | 5,585 | 15.4 | 13.2 | 2.2 | 2.09 | 13.0 |
| 1986 | 2,587,716 | 41,960 | 31,328 | 10,632 | 16.1 | 12.0 | 4.1 | 2.21 | 12.8 |
| 1987 | 2,612,068 | 42,135 | 32,150 | 9,985 | 16.0 | 12.2 | 3.8 | 2.21 | 11.3 |
| 1988 | 2,641,097 | 41,275 | 32,421 | 8,854 | 15.6 | 12.2 | 3.4 | 2.16 | 11.0 | 66.3 | 75.0 |
| 1989 | 2,665,770 | 38,922 | 32,584 | 6,338 | 14.6 | 12.2 | 2.4 | 2.04 | 11.3 | 65.3 | 75.2 |
| 1990 | 2,668,140 | 37,918 | 34,812 | 3,106 | 14.2 | 13.1 | 1.1 | 2.00 | 13.7 | 64.2 | 74.6 |
| 1991 | 2,658,161 | 34,633 | 34,749 | -116 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 0.0 | 1.85 | 15.7 | 63.8 | 74.8 |
| 1992 | 2,643,000 | 31,569 | 35,420 | -3,851 | 12.1 | 13.5 | -1.4 | 1.74 | 17.6 | 63.3 | 74.8 |
| 1993 | 2,585,675 | 26,759 | 39,197 | -12,438 | 10.4 | 15.3 | -4.9 | 1.52 | 16.2 | 61.6 | 73.8 |
| 1994 | 2,540,904 | 24,256 | 41,757 | -17,501 | 9.6 | 16.6 | -7.0 | 1.41 | 15.7 | 60.7 | 72.9 |
| 1995 | 2,500,580 | 21,595 | 38,931 | -17,336 | 8.7 | 15.7 | -7.0 | 1.27 | 18.8 | 60.8 | 73.1 |
| 1996 | 2,469,531 | 19,782 | 34,320 | -14,538 | 8.1 | 14.0 | -5.9 | 1.18 | 15.9 | 63.9 | 75.6 |
| 1997 | 2,444,912 | 18,830 | 33,533 | -14,703 | 7.7 | 13.8 | -6.1 | 1.13 | 15.3 | 64.2 | 75.9 |
| 1998 | 2,420,789 | 18,410 | 34,200 | -15,790 | 7.6 | 14.2 | -6.6 | 1.11 | 15.0 | 64.1 | 75.5 |
| 1999 | 2,399,248 | 19,396 | 32,844 | -13,448 | 8.1 | 13.7 | -5.6 | 1.18 | 11.3 | 64.9 | 76.2 |
| 2000 | 2,381,715 | 20,302 | 32,205 | -11,903 | 8.6 | 13.6 | -5.0 | 1.24 | 10.3 | 64.8 | 76.0 |
| 2001 | 2,353,384 | 19,726 | 32,991 | -13,265 | 8.4 | 14.1 | -5.7 | 1.22 | 11.0 | 64.5 | 75.7 |
| 2002 | 2,320,956 | 20,127 | 32,498 | -12,371 | 8.7 | 14.1 | -5.4 | 1.25 | 9.8 | 64.7 | 76.1 |
| 2003 | 2,299,390 | 21,151 | 32,437 | -11,286 | 9.2 | 14.2 | -5.0 | 1.32 | 9.4 | 65.6 | 76.0 |
| 2004 | 2,276,520 | 20,551 | 32,024 | -11,473 | 9.1 | 14.2 | -5.1 | 1.29 | 9.3 | 65.9 | 76.3 |
| 2005 | 2,249,724 | 21,879 | 32,777 | -10,898 | 9.8 | 14.6 | -4.8 | 1.38 | 7.7 | 65.2 | 76.5 |
| 2006 | 2,227,874 | 22,871 | 33,098 | -10,227 | 10.3 | 14.9 | -4.6 | 1.46 | 7.4 | 65.2 | 76.3 |
| 2007 | 2,208,840 | 23,958 | 33,042 | -9,084 | 10.9 | 15.0 | -4.1 | 1.54 | 8.5 | 65.3 | 76.2 |
| 2008 | 2,191,810 | 24,397 | 31,006 | -6,609 | 11.2 | 14.2 | -3.0 | 1.59 | 6.6 | 66.7 | 77.7 |
| 2009 | 2,162,834 | 22,044 | 29,897 | -7,853 | 10.3 | 14.0 | -3.7 | 1.47 | 7.6 | 67.7 | 77.8 |
| 2010 | 2,120,504 | 19,781 | 30,040 | -10,259 | 9.4 | 14.3 | -4.9 | 1.36 | 5.6 | 68.1 | 78.1 |
| 2011 | 2,074,605 | 18,825 | 28,540 | -9,715 | 9.1 | 13.9 | -4.8 | 1.34 | 6.6 | 68.7 | 78.7 |
| 2012 | 2,044,813 | 19,897 | 29,025 | -9,128 | 9.8 | 14.3 | -4.5 | 1.45 | 6.3 | 69.1 | 78.9 |
| 2013 | 2,023,825 | 20,596 | 28,691 | -8,095 | 10.2 | 14.3 | -4.1 | 1.53 | 4.4 | 69.5 | 79.0 |
| 2014 | 2,001,468 | 21,746 | 28,466 | -6,720 | 10.9 | 14.3 | -3.4 | 1.65 | 3.8 | 69.1 | 79.3 |
| 2015 | 1,986,096 | 21,979 | 28,478 | -6,499 | 11.1 | 14.4 | -3.3 | 1.71 | 4.1 | 69.7 | 79.3 |
| 2016 | 1,968,957 | 21,968 | 28,580 | -6,612 | 11.2 | 14.6 | -3.4 | 1.74 | 3.7 | 69.8 | 79.4 |
| 2017 | 1,950,116 | 20,828 | 28,757 | -7,929 | 10.7 | 14.8 | -4.1 | 1.70 | 4.1 | 69.8 | 79.6 |
| 2018 | 1,934,379 | 19,314 | 28,820 | -9,506 | 10.0 | 15.0 | -5.0 | 1.61 | 3.2 | 70.0 | 79.6 |
| 2019 | 1,919,968 | 18,786 | 27,719 | -8,933 | 9.8 | 14.5 | -4.7 | 1.61 | 3.4 | 70.8 | 79.9 |
| 2020p | 1,907,675 | 17,376 | 28,537 | −11,161 | 9.1 | 14.9 | -5.8 | | | | |
| 2021 | 1,893,700 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Religión

Según las estimaciones realizadas en el 2011, la población de Letonia por religión corresponde a: Luteranismo (34.3%), catolicismo (25.1%), Cristianos ortodoxos (19.4%), otros cristianos (1.2%) y otros/ninguno (20.0%).

## Idiomas

Censo de las lenguas utilizadas en los hogares de Letonia, 2011
Letón
62.1 %
Ruso
37.2 %
Otros
0.7 % :
En el censo del 2011, 1,164,894 personas en el país describieron que su principal idioma era el Letón (62.1%), mientras que 698757 respondieron que su principal lengua era el Ruso, representando un 37.2% del total de la población. El letón como segunda lengua fue hablada por un 20.8% de la población, y 43,7% respondieron que su segundo idioma era el Ruso. Según el censo del 2000, un total de 71 % de la población etnicamente letona dijo que hablaba ruso, y 52 % de aquellos de etnia rusa podían hablar Letón.

## Inmigración

Principales grupos nacionales en Letonia :
| Posición | Nacionalidad | Población (2019) |
| 1 | Rusia | 42,243 |
| 2 | Lituania | 2,790 |
| 3 | Ucrania | 2,413 |
| 4 | Bielorrusia | 1,630 |
| 5 | Estonia | 611 |
| 6 | Alemania | 304 |
| 7 | Israel | 201 |
| 8 | Armenia | 188 |
| 9 | Polonia | 176 |
| 10 | Estados Unidos | 171 |
| 11 | Kazajistán | 169 |
| 12 | Reino Unido | 151 |
| 13 | Moldavia | 134 |
| 14 | China | 128 |
| 15 | Azerbaiyán | 118 |
| 16 | Uzbekistán | 115 |
| 17 | Dinamarca | 96 |
| 18 | Georgia | 88 |
| 19 | Suecia | 86 |
| 20 | Italia | 82 |