Latvia
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Latvia (LV)
ECRML
Signed
(UNSIGNED)
Ratified
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In Force
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FCNM
Signed
1995
Ratified
2005
In Force
2005
Country Description
Latvia regularly conducts national language censuses, with the last one taking place in 2022. According to the last census, 89% of the population of Latvia can either speak or understand Latvian, meaning approximately 1 679 789 people. Latvia has not signed the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML).
There is no official national data on the number of Sign Language users in Latvia; the number of deaf Sign Language users is estimated to be around 2 000.
Pan-National Official Language(s)
This category only includes languages that are official throughout the whole country (with the exception of Belgium) - languages that are e.g. regionally 'co-official' are not listed here but can be identified in the categories below wherever a relevant legal document is listed. A future update could include lists of co-official languages, as well.
To increase their visibility, recognised Sign Languages are always listed as official languages even if they are not yet technically official. The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on 'Italian').
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Latvian
Baltic
|
Latviešu valoda | Whole country | 1998 | DECISION ON THE STATUS OF THE LATVIAN LANGUAGE / LĒMUMS PAR LATVIEŠU VALODAS STATUSU | Approx. 1 679 789 | Speak or understand | 2022 | 1 (National) | |||
|
Latvian Sign Language (LSL)
Sign Language
|
Latviešu zīmju valoda | Whole country | 1999 | Official Language Law / Valsts valodas likums | Approx. 2 000 (not a census) | Deaf Sign Language Users | 2026 (Website accessed) | 5 (Developing) |
ECRML-Recognised Languages
This includes languages recognised under the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML). The data on legal recognition was aggregated from legal documents and official sources. Wherever possible, the national number was taken from a national census or recent study/official estimate – sources are listed. The endangerment level is adopted from Ethnologue and further estimates of endangerment can be found on the individual language profile (e.g. by clicking on 'Czech').
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level | ECRML level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| / | ||||||||||||
Non-ECRML Languages – Source Overview
Languages marked with ✓ appear in that source.
Languages listed in multiple sources may have differing data – see the detail tables below.
| Language | Ethnologue | ELP |
|---|---|---|
| Balkan Romani | ✓ | |
| Baltic Romani | ✓ | ✓ |
| Carpathian Romani | ✓ | |
| Eastern Yiddish | ✓ | |
| English | ✓ | |
| French | ✓ | |
| German | ✓ | |
| Krevinian | ✓ | |
| Latgalian | ✓ | |
| Liv / Livonian | ✓ | ✓ |
| Russian | ✓ | |
| Sinte Romani | ✓ | |
| Vlax Romani | ✓ | |
| Võro | ✓ | |
| Zemgalian | ✓ |
Non-ECRML Languages (Ethnologue)
Languages listed with an 'established status' in Ethnologue. The data on legal recognition, national number, and endangerment level was taken from Ethnologue, reflecting its current state and gaps of knowledge.
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Baltic Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Romani | Scattered: western Latvia; Riga | / | / | / | 5 640 | Users | 2021 | 5* (Developing) | ||
|
Eastern Yiddish
Germanic
|
Yidish | Scattered | / | / | / | 830 | Users | 2021 | 8a (Moribund) | ||
|
English
Germanic
|
English | / | / | / | / | 863 000 | Users | 2012 | 4 (Educational) | ||
|
French
Romance
|
Français | / | / | / | / | 20 200 | Users | 2022 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
German
Germanic
|
Deutsch | / | / | / | / | 212 540 | Users | 2021 | 5* (Dispersed) | ||
|
Krevinian
Uralic
|
Krieviņu | Bauskas province: Bauske | / | / | / | No known L1 speakers | / | / | 10 (Extinct) | ||
|
Latgalian
Baltic
|
Latgalīšu volūda | Aglona, Baltinava, Balvi, Cibla, Dagda, Daugavpils, Kārsava, Kraslava, Livāni, Ludza, Preili, Riebiņi, Rugāji, Varakļāni, Vārkava, Viļaka, and Viļāni municipalities; Rezekne city; generally east of the Balvi–Pechory (Russia) highway | / | / | / | 200 000 | Users | 2009 | 5* (Developing) | ||
|
Liv / Livonian
Uralic
|
Līvõ kēļ | Dundaga and Ventspils municipalities: 12 coastal villages; narrow strip along Baltic coast; Riga city | / | / | / | 20, no known L1 speakers | Users | 2013 | 9 (Dormant) | ||
|
Russian
Slavic
|
Russkiy | Major cities | / | / | / | 2 151 000 | Users | 2021 | 3 (Wider communication) | ||
|
Võro
Uralic
|
Võro kiilʼ | Aluksnes municipality: north, along Estonian border | / | / | / | / | / | / | 6b* (Threatened) | ||
|
Zemgalian
Baltic
|
Zemgalian | Bauskas, Jelgava, Jurmala, Ķekava, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Riga, and Ropaži municipalities | / | / | / | No known L1 speakers | / | / | 10 (Extinct) |
Non-ECRML Languages (Endangered Languages Project)
Languages listed in the Endangered Languages Project (ELP). The data on legal recognition, national number, and endangerment level was taken from ELP, reflecting its current state and gaps of knowledge.
| Language | Endonym | Geographic Area | Source | Legal Recognition | Legal Document | Source | National Number | Bases for Calculation | Estimation Date | Source | Endangerment Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Balkan Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Balkaniko Romanes | / | / | / | / | 709 570 (international) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | At risk | ||
|
Baltic Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Roma | / | / | / | / | 58 460 (international) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | Vulnerable | ||
|
Carpathian Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Central Romani | / | / | / | / | 472 470 (international) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | At risk | ||
|
Liv / Livonian
Uralic
|
Līvõ kēļ | / | / | / | / | 1 (international) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | Awakening | ||
|
Sinte Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Romanes | / | / | / | / | 318 920 (international) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | At risk | ||
|
Vlax Romani
Indo-Aryan
|
Romani shib | / | / | / | / | 885 970 (international) | Speakers | 2026 (Website accessed) | At risk |
Recognised Minorities
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