What Language Do They Speak in Latvia?

Official language of Latvia Latvian

Facts last checked 9 October 2026.

The official language of Latvia is Latvian.

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Languages of Latvia at a glance

Official language	Latvian
Number of official languages	1
Countries on this site where Latvian is official	1
People (demonym)	Latvian
Capital	Riga
Internet domain	.lv

Languages of neighbouring countries

Belarus	Russian, Belarusian
Estonia	Estonian
Lithuania	Lithuanian
Russia	Russian

Latvia in context

Latvia covers 64,559 km², making it the 122nd largest of the 196 countries on this site.
Its population density of about 28 people per km² ranks 155th of 196 (1st = most crowded).
It shares a land border with 4 countries: Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia.
With 1,829,000 people, Latvia holds about 1.7% of the population of Northern Europe.
Traffic drives on the right, and calendars start the week on Monday.
Latvia is a member state of the United Nations.

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Useful phrases for visitors to Latvia

Everyday Latvian phrases you will hear and use in Latvia:

English	Latvian
Hello	Sveiki
Thank you	Paldies
Please	Lūdzu
Goodbye	Uz redzēšanos
Yes	Jā
No	Nē

Spellings can vary by region, and some languages use different forms for formal or informal speech. Even a simple greeting in the local language is usually appreciated.

Languages in Latvia — FAQ