LV
Republic of Latvia
Latvia
Summary
Official Name
Republic of Latvia
International Conventions
CDE (2009), CPPDCE (2007), CSICH (2005), FCPNM (2005), ICCPR (1992), UNCRPD (2010), UNDRIP (2007)
Population
1,881,000
Principal Languages
Standard Latvian
Literacy Rate
100% (2018 UNESCO)
General References
Campbell and King 2011, Kibrik 1991
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Latvia is 11. All are living languages. Of these, 5 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 5 are developing, 1 is in trouble, and 2 are dying. Also listed are 11 unestablished languages and 1 macrolanguage.
Languages
- Armenian, Western hyw
- Users: 1,680 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Armenian
- Azerbaijani, North azj
- Users: 2,430 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Azerbaijani
- Belarusian bel
- Users: 61,600 in Latvia (2018). Ethnic population: 78,800 (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Chuvash chv
- Users: 1,340 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Bolgar
- English eng
- Users: 914,000 in Latvia (European Commission 2012), L2 users. Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Angļu Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
- Estonian, Standard ekk
- Users: 2,180 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic, Finnic
- French fra
- Users: 21,600 in Latvia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
- Georgian kat
- Users: 1,000 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kartvelian, Georgian
- German, Standard deu
- Users: 214,790 in Latvia, all users. L1 users: 2,790 in Latvia (2020). L2 users: 212,000 (2018 Eurostat). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
- Latgalian ltg
- Aglona, Baltinava, Balvi, Cibla, Dagda, Daugavpils, Kārsava, Kraslava, Livāni, Ludza, Preili, Riebiņi, Rugāji, Varakļāni, Vārkava, Viļaka, and Viļāni municipalities; Rezekne City; generally east of the Balvi–Pechory (Russia) highway. Users: 200,000 in Latvia (2009 J. Eisaks). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Latgaliešu Autonym: Latgališu Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
- Latvian lav
- Users: Population total all languages: 1,734,540. Status:
- Latvian Sign Language lsl
- Scattered. Users: 2,000 (2021 EUD). Approximately 0.1%. Another estimate: 9,900 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Official Language Law, Section 3(3), 1999-09-12), Ensures development and use for communication with people of impaired hearing. Alternate Names: LZV, Latviešu Zīmju Valoda Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
- Latvian, Standard lvs
- Widespread. Users: 1,832,000 in Latvia, all users. L1 users: 1,370,000 in Latvia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 462,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,997,500 (as L1: 1,535,500; as L2: 462,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1998, Constitution, Article 4). Autonym: Latviešu valoda, Latviski Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
- Lithuanian lit
- Users: 23,100 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
- Liv liv
- Dundaga and Ventspils municipalities: 12 coastal villages; narrow strip along Baltic coast; Riga city. Users: No known L1 speakers. Last speaker, Grizelda Kristina, died in 2013 (2013 D. Charter). Ethnic population: 200. Status: 9 (Dormant). Alternate Names: Livonian Autonym: Livõ kel Classification: Uralic, Finnic
- Polish pol
- Users: 40,400 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
- Romani, Baltic rml
- Scattered: western Latvia; Riga. Users: 6,700 in Latvia (2018). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Balt Romani, Balt Slavic Romani, Baltic Slavic Romani, Romani Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
- Romanian ron
- Users: 3,350 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
- Russian rus
- Major cities. Users: 1,775,000 in Latvia, all users. L1 users: 485,000 in Latvia (2018 World Factbook). L2 users: 1,290,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Krievu Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Tatar tat
- Users: 2,850 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Western, Uralian
- Ukrainian ukr
- Users: 42,300 in Latvia (2018). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
- Võro vro
- Aluksnes municipality: north, along Estonian border. Status: 6b* (Threatened). Alternate Names: Võro kiil Classification: Uralic, Finnic
- Yiddish, Eastern ydd
- Scattered. Users: 2,000 in Latvia (2017). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Judeo-German Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, Yiddish
Languages by Status
Latvian, Standard
[lvs] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1998, Constitution, Article 4). 1,832,000 in Latvia, all users. L1 users: 1,370,000 in Latvia (European Commission 2012). L2 users: 462,000 (European Commission 2012). Total users in all countries: 1,997,500 (as L1: 1,535,500; as L2: 462,000).
English
[eng] 4 (Educational). 914,000 in Latvia (European Commission 2012), L2 users.
German, Standard
[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 214,790 in Latvia, all users. L1 users: 2,790 in Latvia (2020). L2 users: 212,000 (2018 Eurostat).
French
[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 21,600 in Latvia (Beck et al 2018), L2 users.
Latvian Sign Language
[lsl] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (1999, Official Language Law, Section 3(3), 1999-09-12), Ensures development and use for communication with people of impaired hearing. 2,000 (2021 EUD). Approximately 0.1%. Another estimate: 9,900 (2014 IMB).
Latgalian
[ltg] 5* (Developing). 200,000 in Latvia (2009 J. Eisaks).
Romani, Baltic
[rml] 5* (Developing). 6,700 in Latvia (2018).
Võro
[vro] 6b* (Threatened).
Yiddish, Eastern
[ydd] 8a (Moribund). 2,000 in Latvia (2017).
Liv
[liv] 9 (Dormant). No known L1 speakers. Last speaker, Grizelda Kristina, died in 2013 (2013 D. Charter). Ethnic population: 200.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Language Vitality Profile
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Language Status Profile
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