Four political groups in Latvia have agreed on the programme of a new coalition government and the distribution of ministerial portfolios, LSM reports. The United List’s MP, Andris Kulbergs, will serve as prime minister, and the party alliance will also hold the posts of ministers of finance, justice, and regional development. Outgoing Prime Minister Evika…
Latvia’s population has dropped at the highest rate in the entire EU over the last 20 years, according to Eurostat, LSM reported. Latvia’s population declined by 17% in 2005-2025. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s population decreased by 14%, whereas Estonia’s population only declined by 1% over the same period. The population totalled 2.89 million people in Lithuania, 1.86…
Lithuanian parties are discussing the possibility of signing a long-term national accord on demographic policy, following a proposal from Mindaugas Sinkevicius, chairman of the ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), LRT reported. Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the opposition Homeland Union, welcomed the proposal, while Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, leader of the opposition Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS),…
The Baltic States are likely to see a more than 2% decline in GDP per year due to poor mental health over 2025-2050, according to a new report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), ERR reports. The projected drop in GDP in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will be the highest of all…
Nearly a half (48.2%) of Latvians felt in good or very good health in 2025, which was up from 35.1% in 2005, according to the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. The survey data showed that 43.7% of Latvian residents aged 16 years and older rated their health as good and 4.5% as very good….
As many as 15% of Lithuanians have given a monetary bribe or other form of compensation for medical services in recent years, according to a Baltijos Tyrimai poll for LRT. Meanwhile, around 75% of respondents said that they had not bribed medical staff. Another 9% said that they had not visited a medical facility at…
Lithuanian teenagers continue to smoke and drink less, according to a new European school survey, LRT reports. Also, cannabis use among minors in Lithuania is now lowest in 20 years. At the same time, the misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medications, especially sedatives and sleeping pills, among teenagers has increased markedly. Also, electronic cigarettes remain…
An influenza epidemic has begun in Latvia, the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) announced on 8 December 2025, LETA reports. According to data from the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL), the share of positive samples for influenza has risen sharply to 18.1%, which exceeds the epidemic threshold of 10%. SPKC reminded that vaccination…
An overwhelming majority of Latvians are worried about their life in retirement, according to a Norstat poll for insurance company ERGO, LSM reports. The survey showed that 68% of Latvian residents were anxious about retirement, including 74% of women and 62% of men. The main causes for concern were lack of money (67%), health issues…