Migration process in small towns of Latvia
Maris Berzins
PhD student
University of Latvia
Introduction
The aim of the paper is to characterize the
emerging social demographic changes. The
research emphasizes the migration processes
in small towns
Process of migration is important in shaping
the
economic
life,
infrastructure
and
providing eligible living conditions for each
territory, either in scale of small towns
Data and research methods

Population Census data 1989, 2000

Demographic statistical data

Survey data from of the Project “The
Geographic Mobility of the Labour Force”

Quantitative data analyses

Interviews with experts
Resident population in Latvia
2 700 000
Demographic
changes in Latvia
2 668 140
2 600 000
2 500 000
2 400 000
2 306 434
2 300 000
2 200 000
2 100 000
Population change components
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
10 000
0
-10 000
-0.4%
-20 000
-0.6%
-0.6%
-1.0% -1.0%
-30 000
-0.9%
-0.7% -0.7% -0.8%
-1.2%
-40 000
-1.6%
-1.7%
-50 000
-60 000
-2.2%
-70 000
Natural increase
Net migration
-0.5% -0.6% -0.5%
Population changes in Latvia
Settlement system in Latvia
Population changes by settlement
system
%
1990/1995
1995/2000
2000/2005
1990/2005
10
7.0
5
capital city - Rīga
-8.7
0
-4.9
-2.8
-4.0
-2.0 -2.0
-2.2
-4.6
-3.2
-14.8 -11.6 -8.0
major cities
towns - district centres
-5
-3.8
-3.0
-4.8
-5.0
-6.3
-10
-4.5
-4.0
-3.2
medium sized towns
-7.1
-9.3
small towns
-9.5
-11.6
-10.9
-15
rural settlements
-14.2
Latvia
-20
-20.9
-25
Internal migration

Depopulation is ongoing in Latvia, with population
numbers shrinking not just because of negative net
migrations, but also of negative natural growth

Over the last years, between 30,000 and 50,000 people in
Latvia have been involved in internal migration each year.
This reflects socio-economic processes in the country,
including the consequences of uneven territorial
development in the country

There are regional aspects to the distribution of residents
across the territory and to the process of migration. Over
the last few years, there has been a distinct concentration
of people in the agglomeration of Rīga
70 000
50 000
1998
1.3%
31 413
1997
1.3%
31 782
1996
Amount and
main flows of
internal
migration
1.5%
34 989
1995
1.5%
36 983
38 729
1.6%
39 219
1.6%
39 365
30 000
1.6%
39 266
40 000
1.6%
2.4%
54 437
60 000
2.6%
60 491
62 829
2.7%
2001
2002
20 000
10 000
0
1999
2000
2003
2004
2005
Flows of internal migration
32.6%
urban - urban
17 992
27.6%
rural - urban
15 222
Flows:
Average data
2003-2006
26.3%
urban - rural
14 520
13.5%
rural - rural
7 434
0
2 000
4 000
6 000
8 000
10 000 12 000 14 000 16 000 18 000 20 000
8
5.9%
6
capital city - Rīga
4
major cities
2
0.3%
towns - district centres
0.4%
medium sized towns
0
-2
small towns
-0.2%
-1.1%
rural settlements
-4
-5.3%
-6
Net
migration in
Latvia,
2003-2006
Net migration, %
8
6.2%
6
Rīga region
4
Pierīga region
Vidzeme region
1.8%
2
Kurzeme region
Zemgale region
0
Latgale region
-2
-4
-1.1%
-1.5%
-3.1%
Net migration, %
-2.5%
Small towns in Latvia
Net migration of population in small
towns by region,
2003-2006
4500
4000
statistical regions
3500
number
3000
Rīga region
Pierīga region
2500
Vidzeme region
2000
Kurzeme region
Zemgale region
1500
Latgale region
1000
500
0
-500
Pierīga region
Vidzeme region
Latgale region
small towns
Zemgale region
Kurzeme region
Net migration of population in small
towns by another levels of settlement
system, 2003-2006
2000
1500
1000
number
capital city - Rīga
major cities
500
towns - district centres
medium sized towns
rural settlements
0
-500
-1000
net migration
Main features of internal migration in
Latvia concerning with small towns
Migrant flows over the last years show that most migrants
in Latvia’s regions, except Riga city, moved within the
borders of the relevant region
Those who migrated to capital city Rīga most often came
from the capital metropolitan area (32%), while those who
migrated to the small towns of metropolitan area mostly
came from Rīga itself (65%)
These are not new trends – the proportion of inter-regional
migration has been declining, while migration involving
Rīga and its metropolitan area is on the rise.
Survey of population
working-age
21%
22%
main reasons for
moving
19%
28%
10%
11%
37%
Family reasons
Work
Studies
Next place of residence will be better
Purchase or construction of property
29%
6%
17%
Family reasons
Work
Studies
Next place of residence will be better
Purchase or construction of property
Conclusions

Approximately half of today’s small towns own their urban
status on the soviet period and the process of
industrialisation as a part of a planned national economy. It
promoted rapid growth of inhabitants into small towns

Today the migration processes are connected to the
restructuring of the economy, social economic processes,
administrative territorial reform and everyday expectation
of people

There are regional differences in small town group itself.
More attractive for migrants are small towns in capital
surroundings

Small towns attract rural inhabitants as well residents from
capital city. Net migration in peripheral areas do not
compensate natural decrease of inhabitants in small towns
Thank You