List of cities and towns in Latvia

Cities and towns in Latvia

There are 10 cities (Latvian: valstspilsēta, "state city", pl. valstspilsētas) and 71 towns (Latvian: novada pilsēta, "municipality town", pl. novada pilsētas) in Latvia.

By Latvian law, towns are settlements that are centers of culture and commerce with a well-developed architectural infrastructure and street grid, and have at least 2,000 residents. A settlement can still be designated a town if it has fewer residents, but fulfills all other requirements (or has been a historic town).

To become a city, a town must typically have at least 25,000 residents. Additionally, cities should have a well-developed commercial district, transport, public utilities, social infrastructure, and be a significant center of culture. However, these requirements may be disregarded if there is sufficient population.[1]

In 2020, an agreement was reached in Latvian parliament, Saeima, to rename the previous nine "republic" cities with the new title of "state city" (valstspilsēta). It was at this time that a tenth state city, Ogre (formerly a town), was added to the list.[2]

The 7 largest state cities have their own local governance independent of any municipalities, whereas the smallest 3 (Jēkabpils, Ogre and Valmiera) belong to their wider corresponding municipalities.[3]

## State cities[edit]

Riga Daugavpils Liepāja Jelgava Jūrmala Ventspils Rēzekne City  | Population (2013)[4] | Population (2019)[5] | Population(2023)[6]

|
|
|

Daugavpils pronunciationⓘ | 93,312  | 82,604  | 79,299
Jelgava pronunciationⓘ | 59,511  | 55,972  | 55,384
Jēkabpils pronunciationⓘ | 24,635  | 22,076  | 21,179
Jūrmala pronunciationⓘ | 50,840  | 49,325  | 50,842
Liepāja pronunciationⓘ | 76,731  | 68,945  | 67,335
Ogre pronunciationⓘ | 26,167  | 24,768  | 22,767
Rēzekne pronunciationⓘ | 32,328  | 27,820  | 26,805
Rīga pronunciationⓘ | 658,640  | 632,614  | 614,987
Valmiera pronunciationⓘ | 25,130  | 23,125  | 22,408
Ventspils pronunciationⓘ | 38,750  | 34,377  | 33,053

## Towns[edit]

Town  | Population (2010)[4] | Population (2018)[5] | Population(2023)[6] | Municipality[1]

|
|
|
|

Ādaži | 6,173  | 6,898  | 7,403  | Ādaži Municipality
Ainaži pronunciationⓘ | 1,008  | 787  | 611  | Limbaži Municipality
Aizkraukle pronunciationⓘ | 8,709  | 7,489  | 6,850  | Aizkraukle Municipality
Aizpute pronunciationⓘ | 5,104  | 4,443  | 3,852  | South Kurzeme Municipality
Aknīste pronunciationⓘ | 1,224  | 1,078  | 937  | Jēkabpils Municipality
Aloja pronunciationⓘ | 1,353  | 1,197  | 1,046  | Limbaži Municipality
Alūksne pronunciationⓘ | 8,900  | 7,555  | 6,171  | Alūksne Municipality
Ape pronunciationⓘ | 1,083  | 907  | 785  | Smiltene Municipality
Auce pronunciationⓘ | 3,076  | 2,640  | 2,151  | Dobele Municipality
Baldone pronunciationⓘ | 2,399  | 3,966  | 3,708  | Ķekava Municipality
Baloži pronunciationⓘ | 5,665  | 6,529  | 6,874  | Ķekava Municipality
Balvi pronunciationⓘ | 7,906  | 6,696  | 5,623  | Balvi Municipality
Bauska pronunciationⓘ | 10,060  | 8,988  | 9,792  | Bauska Municipality
Brocēni pronunciationⓘ | 3,411  | 3,117  | 2,821  | Saldus Municipality
Cēsis pronunciationⓘ | 18,021  | 16,888  | 14,588  | Cēsis Municipality
Cesvaine pronunciationⓘ | 1,668  | 1,443  | 1,212  | Madona Municipality
Dagda pronunciationⓘ | 2,502  | 2,108  | 1,826  | Krāslava Municipality
Dobele pronunciationⓘ | 11,152  | 9,702  | 8,492  | Dobele Municipality
Durbe pronunciationⓘ | 620  | 542  | 492  | South Kurzeme Municipality
Grobiņa pronunciationⓘ | 4,218  | 3,861  | 3,551  | South Kurzeme Municipality
Gulbene pronunciationⓘ | 8,807  | 7,779  | 6,801  | Gulbene Municipality
Iecava (pronunciationⓘ) | 5,921  | 5,481  | 5,365  | Bauska Municipality
Ikšķile pronunciationⓘ | 4,052  | 7,359  | 7,433  | Ogre Municipality
Ilūkste pronunciationⓘ | 2,856  | 2,502  | 2,157  | Augšdaugava Municipality
Jaunjelgava pronunciationⓘ | 2,246  | 1,999  | 1,742  | Aizkraukle Municipality
Kandava pronunciationⓘ | 4,225  | 3,831  | 3,256  | Tukums Municipality
Kārsava pronunciationⓘ | 2,420  | 2,105  | 1,834  | Ludza Municipality
Koknese pronunciationⓘ | 2,710  | 2,511  | 2,448  | Aizkraukle Municipality
Krāslava pronunciationⓘ | 10,160  | 8,653  | 6,967  | Krāslava Municipality
Kuldīga pronunciationⓘ | 12,755  | 11,275  | 9,921  | Kuldīga Municipality
Ķegums pronunciationⓘ | 2,487  | 2,271  | 2,052  | Ogre Municipality
Ķekava | 8,048  | 8,103  | 5,118  | Ķekava Municipality
Lielvārde pronunciationⓘ | 6,837  | 6,369  | 5,814  | Ogre Municipality
Līgatne pronunciationⓘ | 1,239  | 1,094  | 1,009  | Cēsis Municipality
Limbaži pronunciationⓘ | 8,501  | 7,498  | 6,571  | Limbaži Municipality
Līvāni pronunciationⓘ | 8,934  | 7,939  | 6,871  | Līvāni Municipality
Lubāna pronunciationⓘ | 1,873  | 1,667  | 1,434  | Madona Municipality
Ludza pronunciationⓘ | 9,575  | 8,387  | 7,530  | Ludza Municipality
Madona pronunciationⓘ | 8,734  | 7,646  | 6,645  | Madona Municipality
Mazsalaca pronunciationⓘ | 1,474  | 1,264  | 1,082  | Valmiera Municipality
Mārupe | 7,754  | 21,229  | 15,828  | Mārupe Municipality
Olaine pronunciationⓘ | 12,667  | 11,342  | 10,084  | Olaine Municipality
Pāvilosta pronunciationⓘ | 1,134  | 980  | 804  | South Kurzeme Municipality
Piltene pronunciationⓘ | 1,053  | 904  | 863  | Ventspils Municipality
Pļaviņas pronunciationⓘ | 3,692  | 3,248  | 2,830  | Aizkraukle Municipality
Preiļi pronunciationⓘ | 7,970  | 6,817  | 5,879  | Preiļi Municipality
Priekule pronunciationⓘ | 2,441  | 2,091  | 1,785  | South Kurzeme Municipality
Rūjiena pronunciationⓘ | 3,377  | 2,912  | 2,649  | Valmiera Municipality
Sabile pronunciationⓘ | 1,404  | 1,552  | 1,242  | Talsi Municipality
Salacgrīva pronunciationⓘ | 3,281  | 2,823  | 2,489  | Limbaži Municipality
Salaspils pronunciationⓘ | 18,159  | 18,698  | 17,702  | Salaspils Municipality
Saldus pronunciationⓘ | 12,306  | 10,869  | 9,481  | Saldus Municipality
Saulkrasti pronunciationⓘ | 3,299  | 3,176  | 3,118  | Saulkrasti Municipality
Seda pronunciationⓘ | 1,547  | 1,248  | 1,112  | Valmiera Municipality
Sigulda pronunciationⓘ | 11,168  | 11,191  | 14,428  | Sigulda Municipality
Skrunda pronunciationⓘ | 2,468  | 2,118  | 1,826  | Kuldīga Municipality
Smiltene pronunciationⓘ | 5,763  | 5,349  | 5,160  | Smiltene Municipality
Staicele pronunciationⓘ | 1,152  | 951  | 790  | Limbaži Municipality
Stende pronunciationⓘ | 1,868  | 1,743  | 1,544  | Talsi Municipality
Strenči pronunciationⓘ | 1,404  | 1,140  | 953  | Valmiera Municipality
Subate pronunciationⓘ | 749  | 663  | 501  | Augšdaugava Municipality
Talsi pronunciationⓘ | 11,201  | 10,070  | 8,653  | Talsi Municipality
Tukums pronunciationⓘ | 19,961  | 18,414  | 16,320  | Tukums Municipality
Valdemārpils pronunciationⓘ | 1,396  | 1,343  | 1,106  | Talsi Municipality
Valka pronunciationⓘ | 6,047  | 5,181  | 4,498  | Valka Municipality
Vangaži pronunciationⓘ | 3,999  | 3,649  | 3,237  | Ropaži Municipality
Varakļāni pronunciationⓘ | 2,106  | 1,897  | 1,670  | Varakļāni Municipality
Viesīte pronunciationⓘ | 1,902  | 1,615  | 1,485  | Jēkabpils Municipality
Viļaka pronunciationⓘ | 1,525  | 1,364  | 1,193  | Balvi Municipality
Viļāni pronunciationⓘ | 3,468  | 3,035  | 2,729  | Rēzekne Municipality
Zilupe pronunciationⓘ | 1,746  | 1,511  | 1,451  | Ludza Municipality

## See also[edit]

* Administrative divisions of Latvia
* Districts of Latvia
* Cultural regions of Latvia
* List of former cities of Latvia
* List of the most populated municipalities in the Nordic countries

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b Law On Administrative Territories and Populated Areas
2. ^ "Vienojas par desmit valstspilsētām". LA.LV (in Latvian). Retrieved 2023-10-07.
3. ^ "Levits izsludina Administratīvi teritoriālās reformas likumu". Sabiedrība un politika (in Latvian). 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
4. ^ a b "Latvijas iedzīvotāju skaits pašvaldībās" (PDF). Centrālās statistikas pārvaldes datubāzes (in Latvian). Retrieved 2019-10-25.
5. ^ a b "Iedzīvotāju skaits un tā izmaiņas statistiskajos reģionos, republikas pilsētās, novadu pilsētās un novados". Centrālās statistikas pārvaldes datubāzes (in Latvian). Retrieved 2019-06-16.
6. ^ a b "Population in regions, cities, municipalities, towns, rural territories, neighbourhoods and densely populated areas by ethnicity". National Statistical System of Latvia. Retrieved 8 July 2023.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cities in Latvia.

* Vietas.lv\- Map and information of Cities and Districts
* MillionMetersAroundLatvia.Com\- Map, information and photos of Cities
* Map at archive.today (archived 2012-12-04)
* Searchable map

* v
* t
* e

Defunct counties and districts of Latvia

Former counties
(dissolved before 1949)|

* Abrenes apriņķis‎
* Aizputes apriņķis‎
* Bauskas apriņķis‎
* Cēsu apriņķis‎
* Daugavpils apriņķis
* Dobeles apriņķis‎
* Grobiņas apriņķis‎
* Ilūkstes apriņķis‎
* Jaunjelgavas apriņķis‎
* Kuldīgas apriņķis‎
* Ludzas apriņķis‎
* Rēzeknes apriņķis
* Rīgas apriņķis‎
* Talsu apriņķis
* Tukuma apriņķis
* Valkas apriņķis
* Valmieras apriņķis
* Ventspils apriņķis‎

Former districts
(dissolved 2009)|

* Aizkraukle District
* Alūksne District
* Balvi District
* Bauska District
* Cēsis District
* Daugavpils District
* Dobele District
* Gulbene District
* Jēkabpils District
* Jelgava District
* Krāslava District
* Kuldīga District
* Liepāja District
* Limbaži District
* Ludza District
* Madona District
* Ogre District
* Preiļi District
* Rēzekne District
* Riga District
* Saldus District
* Talsi District
* Tukums District
* Valka District
* Valmiera District
* Ventspils District

* v
* t
* e

Towns with town rights in Latvia

* Ainaži
* Aizkraukle
* Aizpute
* Aknīste
* Aloja
* Alūksne
* Ape
* Auce
* Ādaži
* Baldone
* Baloži
* Balvi
* Bauska
* Brocēni
* Cēsis
* Cesvaine
* Dagda
* Dobele
* Durbe
* Grobiņa
* Gulbene
* Iecava
* Ikšķile
* Ilūkste
* Jaunjelgava
* Jēkabpils
* Kandava
* Kārsava
* Koknese
* Krāslava
* Kuldīga
* Ķegums
* Ķekava
* Lielvārde
* Līgatne
* Limbaži
* Līvāni
* Lubāna
* Ludza
* Madona
* Mazsalaca
* Mārupe
* Ogre
* Olaine
* Pāvilosta
* Piltene
* Pļaviņas
* Preiļi
* Priekule
* Rūjiena
* Sabile
* Salacgrīva
* Salaspils
* Saldus
* Saulkrasti
* Seda
* Sigulda
* Skrunda
* Smiltene
* Staicele
* Stende
* Strenči
* Subate
* Talsi
* Tukums
* Valdemārpils
* Valka
* Valmiera
* Vangaži
* Varakļāni
* Viesīte
* Viļaka
* Viļāni
* Zilupe

* v
* t
* e

List of places in Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

Dependencies and
other entities|

* Åland
* Faroe Islands
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Svalbard

* v
* t
* e

Lists of cities in Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

Dependencies and
other entities|

* Gibraltar

* v
* t
* e

List of towns in Europe

Sovereign states|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
*   * Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Monaco
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom

States with limited
recognition|

* Abkhazia
* Kosovo
* Northern Cyprus
* South Ossetia
* Transnistria

Dependencies and
other entities|

* Åland
* Faroe Islands
* Gibraltar
* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey
* Svalbard

*[pl.]: plural form
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template