Latvia · Europe
How many people die in Latvia every day?
In Latvia, about 79 people die every day, roughly one death every 18 minutes. That is about 29,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of everyone who dies worldwide and the 127th highest total of 194 countries. Life expectancy is 75.1 years and the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease. See every death on earth as it happens on the live death counter.
Deaths per day
79
Deaths per year
29,000
Life expectancy
75.1 years
Population
1,830,211
Death rate
15.8 per 1,000
Top cause of death
Cardiovascular disease
Compared to the World Average
Life expectancy
Latvia
75.1
World avg
72.8
+2.3 yrs
Death rate (per 1,000)
Latvia
15.8
World avg
7.7
Deaths in Latvia by time period
| Per hour | 3.3 |
| Per day | 79 |
| Per week | 556 |
| Per month | 2,417 |
| Per year | 29,000 |
What people die of in Latvia
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Health Estimates, the single biggest cause of death in Latvia in 2023 was heart disease (ischaemic), which accounted for 24.6% of all deaths, about 19 a day. It was followed by stroke and hypertensive heart disease.
Deaths from diabetes have more than doubled since 2000, from about 211 to 493 a year. Deaths from heart disease (ischaemic) have fallen by 33% since 2000, from about 10,327 to 6,916 a year.
WHO counts single causes, so heart disease and stroke appear as separate rows. Grouped together as cardiovascular disease, the category in the summary above, they are the largest killer.
| # | Cause | Deaths (2023) | Per day | Share | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart disease (ischaemic) | 6,916 | 19 | 24.6% | -33% |
| 2 | Stroke | 4,596 | 13 | 16.4% | -33% |
| 3 | Hypertensive heart disease | 1,463 | 4.0 | 5.2% | n/a |
| 4 | Lung cancer | 988 | 2.7 | 3.5% | -7% |
| 5 | Cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, endocarditis | 927 | 2.5 | 3.3% | +52% |
| 6 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer | 703 | 1.9 | 2.5% | +8% |
| 7 | Alzheimer's and other dementias | 614 | 1.7 | 2.2% | n/a |
| 8 | Pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections | 608 | 1.7 | 2.2% | +46% |
| 9 | Diabetes | 493 | 1.4 | 1.8% | +134% |
| 10 | Prostate cancer | 470 | 1.3 | 1.7% | +87% |
Deaths in Latvia since 2000
WHO estimates that about 28,074 people died in Latvia in 2023, 13% fewer than in 2000. Totals rise as populations grow and age, even when health improves. WHO’s modelled estimates can differ from the headline figures above, which come from a different source.
| 2000 | 32,366 deaths |
| 2010 | 30,151 deaths |
| 2019 | 27,563 deaths |
| 2023 | 28,074 deaths |
Life expectancy in Latvia since 1950
A baby born in Latvia in 1950 could expect to live about 64.6 years. By 2023 that had risen to 76.2, a gain of 11.6 years. See how this compares worldwide on our life expectancy by country page.
| 1950 | 64.6 years |
| 1980 | 69.1 years |
| 2000 | 70.2 years |
| 2010 | 73 years |
| 2019 | 75.6 years |
| 2023 | 76.2 years |
Latvia compared with similar countries in Europe
Among the 36 countries in Europe on this site, Latvia ranks 29th for life expectancy. Here is how it compares with the countries closest to it in population.
| Country | Deaths per day | Life expectancy | Top cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Latvia | 79 | 75.1 | Cardiovascular disease |
| North Macedonia | 60 | 75.7 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Slovenia | 60 | 81.3 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Estonia | 44 | 78.6 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Cyprus | 23 | 81 | Cardiovascular disease |
| Lithuania | 115 | 75.1 | Cardiovascular disease |
Sources: WHO Global Health Estimates 2023 (deaths by cause and totals); UN World Population Prospects via Our World in Data (life expectancy). Figures are modelled estimates and are rounded.
Frequently asked questions
How many people die in Latvia every day?
In Latvia, about 79 people die every day, or roughly one death every 18 minutes. That adds up to about 29,000 deaths a year, less than 0.1% of all deaths worldwide.
What is the leading cause of death in Latvia?
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Latvia. Heart disease and stroke are the biggest killers in most countries, driven largely by high blood pressure, smoking, diet and inactivity. Counting single causes, WHO's estimates put heart disease (ischaemic) first in 2023, with 24.6% of deaths.
What is the life expectancy in Latvia?
Life expectancy at birth in Latvia is 75.1 years, 2.3 years above the world average of 72.8. That ranks 76th of 194 countries.
Is the death rate in Latvia high?
Latvia records about 15.8 deaths per 1,000 people each year, above the world average of 7.7. Crude death rates are higher in countries with older populations, so a high rate does not always mean poor health care.