CONFERENCEGeography of emigration in Latvia
Baiba Svane
University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences
Janis Kleperis
University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences
Elina Apsite-Berina
University of Latvia, Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences
DOI: 10.22364/fg.15.28
Keywords: migration, European Economic Area, regions, Latvia
Abstract
Since the year 2004, more than 10% of the population of Latvia has emigrated (CSP, 2015). Mobility-promoting policies of the European Economic Area (EEA) and labour markets open to migrant workers made it possible for a large part of the Latvian population to choose another EEA member state as a place of residence. A study of geographic trends in Latvian population emigration investigated migration flows from Latvia to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Sweden and Norway. Data used were collected through an online survey service in 2012 and 2014. The geographic distribution of respondents’ place of residence in Latvia before migration is closely linked to economic development in the country. The results of the 2012 survey show that the greatest number of respondents resided in Rīga or Vidzeme before migrating to another country (21 and 22%, respectively) and the main reasons for leaving were the need for higher income and the desire to escape economic instability. By contrast, the 2014 data revealed that the majority of respondents, 24% and 20%, were from Kurzeme and Vidzeme, and that motivation has changed to low prospects in the local labour market and the wish to earn more within a chosen profession.