"As in much of former Soviet Eastern Europe, Latvia's low birthrates have been exacerbated by a decadeslong exodus of young people for higher-paying jobs in the West and a reluctance to accept immigrants from outside Europe. The result is a nation whose population is falling even faster than those of other countries, like Japan and Italy, where birthrates are lower.
Since joining the European Union, with its open borders and freedom to work anywhere in the bloc, in 2004, Latvia has lost 17% of its population.
Only neighboring Lithuania has lost more.
The working-age population has fallen 23% over the period.
Last year, Latvia recorded its lowest number of births in a century and the sharpest population drop in the EU, at 0.8%. This first half of 2021 was worse, with twice as many deaths as births.
Now, this nation of less than two million peopleis trying to do something that has historically proven all but impossible: Turn around a demographic slide. This year, the government has adopted new policies aimed at boosting the birthrate and enticing expatriates back, but has so far declined to encourage immigration from outside the EU.
"It's a very, very serious problem," Imants Paradnieks, an adviser to the prime minister on demographic issues, said of the falling population. "Latvia is the country of the Latvian people. We want it to remain the country of the Latvian people 100 years from now."
In January, the government adopted a new plan for working with the diaspora, which now numbers roughly 300,000, according to the foreign ministry.
The plan provides funds for encouraging expatriates to invest in Latvian businesses and more than 1 million euros a year, equivalent to $1.2 million, for Latvian language programs abroad, part of an effort to make them feel more connected and, perhaps, draw them back. Money is also allocated for the government to make personalized offers -- including help finding work or housing -- to families considering returning.
The exodus has slowed, but getting expatriates to return -- and to stay -- has been difficult. Even last year during the pandemic, more Latvians left the country than came home.
The departure of young people is taking a toll: Latvia has among the lowest per capita numbers of doctors and nurses in the EU. By 2027, it will lose nearly 90,000 more working-age people, according to the central statistics office, which projects the country will need thousands more medical workers, engineers and craftsmen.
But Latvia remains resistant to immigration from outside the EU.
During the Cold War, the Soviet government sent thousands of migrants into the Baltic states, partly with the goal of making them more Russian. That experience left scars, government officials said.
"As a small country, having in our memory 50 years of occupation, we're always a little afraid of foreigners coming in," said Elita Gavele, the ambassador to the Latvian diaspora. "It's better to be the Latvian state, with the Latvian language."
Imants Paradnieks, an adviser to the prime minister on demographic issues, sees growing Latvian families as the solution. This year, the legislature nearly doubled the state's monthly per child stipend. Families with more children also get discounts on public transit, housing stipends and access to special academic scholarships. Mr. Paradnieks said the percentage of families with at least three children is increasing." [1]
1. World News: Depopulation Hits Latvia Economy Hard --- Industrialized nations struggle as birthrates decline, workers leave; Riga seeks a reversal
Lovett, Ian. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 14 Sep 2021: A.10.
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