Analytics, Demography, Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Society

Mihails Hazans.

Hazans explained that, according to his study, approximately 200,000 residents have left Latvia over the past ten years. Official statistics, however, mention only 33,000 emigrants. The number of people of reproductive age is also significantly smaller – by 80,000, therefore a demographic disaster is looming, writes LETA.

The professor pointed out that emigration will continue for three or four years at least. The study shows that around ten percent of Latvian residents aged 18 to 65 are planning to leave the country. Therefore Latvia will soon lack people and require immigrants.

Hazans explained that around 80,000 persons have left Latvia and emigrated to Great Britain over the past few years, 28,000-34,000 – to Ireland, 11,000-13,000 – to the Nordic countries, with the largest diaspora in Norway.

The fact that official statistics show imprecise data distorts future plans, for example, official plans regarding medical services, the number of pupils, etc. Latvia's gross domestic product per capita is also imprecise and significantly higher than the official figure.

The professor points out that the composition of emigrants has changed over the past several years. During the crisis, the emigrants were mostly unemployed and without higher education. At the moment, one-third of them are people with higher education. They choose to leave Latvia for various reasons. For example, they are dissatisfied with the current processes in the country, want better future for their children, do not believe in Latvia's social insurance system, and so on.

Hazans believes that, if a special program was adopted, it would be possible to return around 50,000 people to Latvia, however, the country should have a specific offer to these people for this to happen.