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Coordinates:56°56′56″N24°6′23″E/ 56.94889°N 24.10639°E/56.94889; 24.10639
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This article is about the Latvian capital. For other uses, seeRiga (disambiguation).

Riga
Rīga(Latvian)
Reiga(Latgalian)
Rīgõ(Livonian)
Capital city andstate city
Skyline of Riga from Daugava
Riga City Hall
Riga Cathedral
House of the Blackheads
Latvian National Opera
National Library of Latvia
Albert Street8
Flag of Riga
Flag
Coat of arms of Riga
Coat of arms
Official logo of Riga
Global brandmark
Riga highlighted in red inside of Latvia
Riga highlighted in red inside of Latvia
Riga is located in Latvia
Riga
Riga
Location within Latvia
Riga is located in Baltic states
Riga
Riga
Location within the Baltics
Riga is located in Europe
Riga
Riga
Location within Europe
Coordinates:56°56′56″N24°6′23″E/ 56.94889°N 24.10639°E/56.94889; 24.10639
CountryLatvia
Government
[2]
• TypeCity Council
• MayorVilnis Ķirsis[1]
Area
[3]
• Capital city andstate city304 km2(117 sq mi)
• Land253.05 km2(97.70 sq mi)
• Water50.95 km2(19.67 sq mi) 15.8%
• Metro
3,359 km2(1,297 sq mi)
Population
(2024)[5]
• Capital city andstate city605,273
• Density2,000/km2(5,200/sq mi)
•Urban
917,351[4]
•Metro
[6]
870,000
• Metro density260/km2(670/sq mi)
•Demonym
Rigan (Rīdzinieks)
GDP
[7][8]
• Capital city andstate city17,647,619,000 Euro (2021)
• Per capita28,943 Euro (2021)
Time zoneUTC+2(EET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+3(EEST)
Calling codes66 and 67
City budget€1.26 billion[9]
HDI(2021)0.929[10]–very high
Websiteriga.lv
Map
Official nameHistoric Centre of Riga
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, i
Designated1997
Reference no.[11]
UNESCO regionEurope

Riga(/ˈriːɡə/REE-gə)[a]is the capital, theprimate,and thelargest cityofLatvia.Home to 605,273 inhabitants, the city accounts for a third of Latvia's total population. The population ofRiga metropolitan area,which stretches beyond the city limits, is estimated at 860,142 (as of 2023). The city lies on theGulf of Rigaat the mouth of theDaugavariver where it meets theBaltic Sea.Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2(118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3–33 ft)above sea level[12]on a flat and sandy plain.[12]

Riga was founded in 1201, and is a formerHanseatic Leaguemember. Riga's historical centre is aUNESCO World Heritage Site,noted for itsArt Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture.[13]Riga was theEuropean Capital of Culturein 2014, along withUmeåin Sweden. Riga hosted the2006 NATO Summit,theEurovision Song Contest 2003,the2013 World Women's Curling Championship,and theIIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in 2006,2021,and2023.It is home to theEuropean Union's office ofEuropean Regulators for Electronic Communications(BEREC). In 2017, it was named as theEuropean Region of Gastronomy.

In 2019, Riga received over 1.4 million foreign visitors.[14]The city is served byRiga International Airport,the largest and busiest airport in the Baltic States. Riga is a member ofEurocities,[15]theUnion of the Baltic Cities(UBC),[16]and Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU).[17]

Etymology

[edit]

The precise origin of the name is unknown, however there are numerous and speculative theories for the origin of the nameRiga:

  • It is an adapted word, borrowing from theLivonianringameaning loop, which refers to the ancient natural harbor formed by the tributary loop of theDaugava River.[18][19]
  • It could be derived from Riege, the German name for the River Rīdzene, a former tributary of the Daugava.[20]
  • Bishop Albertclaimed credit from his campaign to conquer and convert the local populace, as coming from the Latinrigata( "irrigated" ), symbolising an "irrigation of dry pagan souls by Christianity".[21]

However, the most reliably documented explanation is the affirmation by German historian Dionysius Fabricius (1610) that Riga's name comes from its already established role in trade:[22]"Riga obtained its name from the buildings or warehouses found in great number along the banks of the Duna, which the Livs in their own language are accustomed to call Riae".[23][b]The "j" in Latvianrījahardened to a "g" in German. English geographerRichard Hakluyt(1589) corroborates this account, calling Riga asRie,as pronounced in Old Latvian.[24]This is further supported by the fact that Riga is calledRiiain Estonian (a language closely related toLivonian).

History

[edit]
Main article:History of Riga
For a chronological guide, seeTimeline of Riga.
Historical affiliations

Terra Mariana(condominiumofArchbishops of RigaandLivonian Order) 1201–1561
Imperial Free City1561–1582
Poland–Lithuania1582–1629
Swedish Empire1629–1721
Russian Empire1721–1917
German Empire1917–1918
LatviaRepublic of Latvia1918–1940
Latvian SSR1940–1941
Nazi Germany1941–1944
Latvian Soviet Socialist RepublicLatvian SSR1944–1990
LatviaRepublic of Latvia1990–present

Founding

[edit]

The riverDaugavahas been atrade routesince antiquity, part of theVikings'Dvina–Dnieper navigation routeto Byzantium.[25]A shelterednatural harbor15 km (9.3 mi) upriver from the mouth of the Daugava—the site of today's Riga—has been recorded, asDuna Urbs,as early as the 2nd century.[25]It was settled by theLivs,aFinnictribe.

Thebuilding of the Brotherhood of Blackheadsis one of the most iconic buildings of Old Riga (Vecrīga).

Riga began to develop as a centre ofViking trade during the early Middle Ages.[25] Riga's inhabitants engaged mainly in fishing,animal husbandry,and trading, later developing crafts, including bone, wood, amber, and iron.[25]

TheLivonian Chronicle of Henrytestifies to Riga having long been a trading centre by the 12th century, referring to it asportus antiquus(ancient port), and describes dwellings and warehouses used to store mostly flax, and hides.[25]German traders began visiting Riga, establishing a nearby outpost in 1158.

Along with German traders the monkMeinhard of Segeberg[26]arrived to convert the Livonian pagans to Christianity.CatholicandOrthodox Christianityhad already arrived in Latvia more than a century earlier, and many Latvians had been baptized.[25][26]Meinhard settled among the Livs, building a castle and church at Uexküll (now known asIkšķile), upstream from Riga, and established his bishopric there.[26]The Livs, however, continued to practicepaganismand Meinhard died in Uexküll in 1196, having failed in his mission.[27]In 1198, theBishop Bertholdarrived with a contingent ofcrusaders[27]and commenced a campaign of forcedChristianization.[25][26]Berthold died soon afterwards and his forces were defeated.[27]

The Church mobilized to avenge this defeat.Pope Innocent IIIissued a bull declaring a crusade against theLivonians.[27]Bishop Albertwas proclaimedBishop of Livoniaby his uncleHartwig of Uthlede,Prince-Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburgin 1199. Albert landed in Riga in 1200[25][27]with 23 ships[28]and 500 Westphalian crusaders.[29]In 1201, he transferred the seat of the Livonian bishopric from Uexküll to Riga, extorting agreement to do this from the elders of Riga by force.[25]

Under Bishop Albert

[edit]

The year 1201 also marked the first arrival of German merchants in Novgorod, via the Dvina.[30]To defend territory[31]and trade, Albert established theOrder of Livonian Brothers of the Swordin 1202, which was open to nobles and merchants.[30]

The Christianisation of the Livs continued. In 1207, Albert started to fortify the town.[30][32]King Philipinvested Albert with Livonia as a fief[33]and principality of theHoly Roman Empire.[25]To promote a permanent military presence, territorial ownership was divided between the Church and theOrder,with the Church taking Riga and two-thirds of all lands conquered and granting theOrdera third.[34]Until then, it had been customary for crusaders to serve for a year and then return home.[34]

Albert had ensured Riga's commercial future by obtaining papal bulls which decreed that all German merchants had to carry on their Baltic trade through Riga.[34]In 1211, Riga minted its first coinage,[25]and Albert laid the cornerstone for theRiga Dom.[35]Riga was not yet secure as an alliance of tribes failed to take Riga.[34]In 1212, Albert led a campaign to compelPolotskto grant German merchants free river passage.[30]Polotsk conceded Kukenois (Koknese) andJersikato Albert, also ending the Livs' tribute to Polotsk.[36]

Riga's merchant citizenry chafed and sought greater autonomy from the Church. In 1221, they acquired the right to independently self-administer Riga[31]and adopted a city constitution.[37]

That same year Albert was compelled to recognise Danish rule over lands they had conquered in Estonia and Livonia.[38]Albert had sought the aid ofKing Valdemar of Denmarkto protect Riga and Livonian lands against Liv insurrection when reinforcements could not reach Riga. The Danes landed in Livonia, built a fortress at Reval (Tallinn) and set about conquering Estonian and Livonian lands. The Germans attempted, but failed, to assassinate Valdemar.[39]Albert was able to reach an accommodation with them a year later, however, and in 1222 Valdemar returned all Livonian lands and possessions to Albert's control.[40]

Albert's difficulties with Riga's citizenry continued; with papal intervention, a settlement was reached in 1225 whereby they no longer had to pay tax to the Bishop of Riga,[41]and Riga's citizens acquired the right to elect their magistrates and town councillors.[41]In 1226, Albert consecrated the Dom Cathedral,[25]builtSt. James's Church,[25](now a cathedral) and founded a parochial school at the Church of St. George.[26]

In 1227, Albert conquered Oesel[42]and the city of Riga concluded a treaty with thePrincipality of Smolenskgiving Polotsk to Riga.[43]

Albert died in January 1229.[44]He failed in his aspiration to be anointed archbishop[33]but the German hegemony he established over the Livonia would last for seven centuries.[34]

Hanseatic League

[edit]

In 1282, Riga became a member of theHanseatic League.The Hansa was instrumental in giving Riga economic and political stability, thus providing the city with a strong foundation which endured the political conflagrations that were to come, down to modern times.

Holy Roman Empire, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Swedish and Russian Empires

[edit]
Riga in the 16th century
Riga in 1650. Drawing byJohann Christoph Brotze.
Map if Riga (around 1710)

As the influence of the Hanseatic League waned, Riga became the object of foreign military, political, religious and economic aspirations. Riga accepted theReformationin 1522, ending the power of the archbishops. In 1524,iconoclaststargeted a statue of theVirgin Maryin the cathedral to make a statement against religious icons. It was accused of being a witch, and given atrial by waterin theDaugavariver. The statue floated, so it was denounced as a witch and burnt at Kubsberg.[45]With the demise of theLivonian Order(1561) during theLivonian War,Riga for twenty years had the status of afree imperial cityof theHoly Roman Empirebefore it came under the influence of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealthby theTreaty of Drohiczyn,which ended the war for Riga in 1581. In 1621, during thePolish–Swedish War (1621–1625),Riga and the outlying fortress ofDaugavgrīvacame under the rule ofGustavus Adolphus,King of Sweden,who intervened in theThirty Years' Warnot only for political and economic gain but also in favour of GermanLutheranProtestantism.During theRusso-Swedish War (1656–1658),Riga withstood a siege by Russian forces.

Riga remained one of the largest cities under the Swedish crown until 1710,[46]a period during which the city retained a great deal of autonomous self-government. In July 1701, during the opening phase of theGreat Northern War,theCrossing of the Dünatook place nearby, resulting in a victory for kingCharles XII of Sweden.Between November 1709 and June 1710, however, the Russians underTsarPeter the Greatbesieged and captured Riga,which was at the timestruck by a plague.Along with the other Livonian towns and gentry,Riga capitulated to Russia,but largely retained their privileges. Riga was made the capital of theGovernorate of Riga (later, Livonia).Sweden's northern dominancehad ended, and Russia'semergence as the strongest Northern powerwas formalised through theTreaty of Nystadin 1721. At the beginning of the 20th century Riga was the largest[dubious–discuss]timber export port in the Russian Empire and ranked the 3rd[when?]according to the external trade volume.[47][48]

During these many centuries of war and changes of power in the Baltic, and despite demographic changes, theBaltic Germansin Riga had maintained a dominant position. By 1867, Riga's population was 42.9% German.[49]Riga employed German as itsofficial languageof administration until the installation of Russian in 1891 as the official language in theBaltic provinces,as part of the policy ofRussificationof the non-Russian-speaking territories of the Russian Empire, includingCongress Poland,Finland and the Baltics, undertaken byTsar Alexander III.More and more Latvians started moving to the city during the mid-19th century. The rise of a Latvianbourgeoisiemade Riga a centre of theLatvian National Awakeningwith the founding of the Riga Latvian Association in 1868 and the organisation of the first national song festival in 1873. The nationalist movement of theNeo-Latvianswas followed by the socialistNew Currentduring the city's rapid industrialisation, culminating in the1905 Revolutionled by theLatvian Social Democratic Workers' Party.

World War I

[edit]
Baltische Post(written withlong s) was a German language newspaper in Riga during the early 20th century.
German troops entering Riga during World War I

The 20th century broughtWorld War Iand the impact of theRussian Revolutionof 1917 to Riga. As a result of thebattle of Jugla,theGerman armymarched into Riga on 3 September 1917.[50]On 3 March 1918, theTreaty of Brest-Litovskwas signed, giving theBaltic countriesto Germany. Because of thearmistice with Germanyof 11 November 1918, Germany had to renounce that treaty, as did Russia, leaving Latvia and the other Baltic States in a position to claim independence. Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, thus declared its independence on 18 November 1918. Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia shifted their focus from Russia to the countries of Western Europe. The United Kingdom and Germany replaced Russia as Latvia's major trade partners. The majority of the Baltic Germanswere resettled in late 1939,prior to the occupation of Estonia and Latvia by the Soviet Union in June 1940.

World War II and Soviet era

[edit]
DamagedHouse of the BlackheadsandSt. Peter's Churchduring World War II

DuringWorld War II,Latvia was occupied by theSoviet Unionin June 1940 and then was occupied byNazi Germany in 1941–1944.On 17 June 1940, the Soviet forces invaded Latvia occupying bridges, post/telephone, telegraph, and broadcasting offices. Three days later, Latvian presidentKārlis Ulmaniswas forced to approve a pro-Soviet government which had taken office. On 14–15 July, rigged elections were held in Latvia and the other Baltic states, The ballots held the following instructions: "Only the list of theLatvian Working People's Blocmust be deposited in the ballot box. The ballot must be deposited without any changes. "The alleged voter activity index was 97.6%. Most notably, the complete election results were published in Moscow 12 hours before the election closed. Soviet electoral documents found later substantiated that the results were completely fabricated. The Soviet authorities, having regained control over Riga and Latvia imposed a regime of terror, opening the headquarters of theKGB,massive deportations started. Hundreds of men were arrested, including leaders of the former Latvian government. The most notorious deportation, theJune deportationtook place on 13 and 14 June 1941, estimated at 15,600 men, women, and children, and including 20% of Latvia's last legal government. Similar deportations were repeated after the end of World War II. The building of the KGB located at 61Brīvības iela,known as 'the corner house', is now a museum. Stalin's deportations also included thousands of Latvian Jews. The mass deportation totalled 131,500 across the Baltics.

During the Nazi occupation, theJewish communitywas forced into theRiga Ghettoand aNazi concentration campwas constructed inKaiserwald.On 25 October 1941, the Nazis relocated all Jews from Riga and the vicinity to the ghetto. Most of Latvia's Jews (about 24,000) were killed on 30 November and 8 December 1941 in theRumbula massacre.[51]By the end of the war, the remainingBaltic Germanswereexpelled to Germany.

Soldiers of theSovietRed Armyin front of theFreedom Monumentin Riga in 1944

The Soviet Red Army reconquered Riga on 13 October 1944. In the following years the massive influx of labourers, administrators, military personnel, and their dependents from Russia and other Soviet republics started.Microdistrictsof the large multi-storied housing blocks were built to house immigrant workers.

By the end of World War II,Riga's historical centrewas heavily damaged from constant bombing. After the war, huge efforts were made to reconstruct and renovate most of the famous buildings that had been part of the skyline of the city before the war. Such buildings were, amongst others,St. Peter's Churchwhich lost its wooden tower after a fire caused by theWehrmacht(renovated in 1954). Another example is theHouse of the Blackheads,completely destroyed, its ruins subsequently demolished; afacsimilewas constructed in 1995.

In 1989, the percentage of Latvians in Riga had fallen to 36.5%.[52]

21st century

[edit]
Flower laying ceremony at theFreedom Monumentin 2012

In 2004, the arrival oflow-cost airlinesresulted in cheaper flights from other European cities such as London and Berlin, and consequently a substantial increase in numbers of tourists.[53]

On 21 November 2013, theroof of a supermarket collapsedinZolitūde,one of the neighbourhoods of the city, possibly as a result of the weight of materials used in the construction of a garden on the roof. Fifty-four people were killed. Latvian PresidentAndris Bērziņšdescribed the disaster as "a large-scale murder of many defenceless people".[54]

Modern highrises of Riga

Riga was theEuropean Capital of Culturein 2014.[55]During Latvia'sPresidency of the Council of the European Unionin 2015, the 4thEastern PartnershipSummit took place in Riga.[56]

Following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine,theSaeimavoted to suspend the functioning of a section of an agreement between Latvia and Russia regarding the preservation of memorial structures on 12 May,[57]in the next day theRiga City Councilalso voted to demolish theMonument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders.[58]On 20 May, a rally called "Getting Rid of Soviet Heritage" took place in Riga to call for removing Soviet monuments in Latvia, it was attended by approximately 5,000 people.[59]The demolition began 22 August 2022 and on 25 August 2022, the obelisk was toppled.[60][61][62]In 2022, after theRussian invasion of Ukraine,the street on which the Embassy of the Russian Federation is located was renamed "Independent Ukraine Street."[63][64]

Geography

[edit]
See also:Neighbourhoods in RigaandList of tourist attractions in Riga

Riga is one of thelargestcityin the threeBaltic states:(Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia).[65][citation needed][66]Riga is home to approximately one tenth of the three Baltic countries' combined population.[67]

Administrative divisions

[edit]
Main article:Administrative divisions of Riga

Riga's administrative divisions consist of six administrative entities:Central,KurzemeandNortherndistricts and theLatgale,VidzemeandZemgalesuburbs. Three entities were established on 1 September 1941, and the other three were established in October 1969.[68]There are no official lower-level administrative units, but the Riga City Council Development Agency is working on a plan, which officially makes Riga consist of 58 neighbourhoods.[69]The current names were confirmed on 28 December 1990.[70]

Panorama over Riga fromSt. Peter's Church

Climate

[edit]

The climate of Riga ishumid continental(KöppenDfb).[71]The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is −2.1°C(28°F) but temperatures as low as −20 to −25 °C (−4 to −13 °F) can be observed almost every year on the coldest days. The proximity of the sea causes frequent autumn rains and fogs. Continuous snow cover may last eighty days. The summers in Riga are mild and rainy with an average temperature of 18 °C (64 °F), while the temperature on the hottest days can exceed 30 °C (86 °F).

Climate data for Riga (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1885–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 10.2
(50.4) 		13.6
(56.5) 		21.7
(71.1) 		27.9
(82.2) 		30.5
(86.9) 		34.0
(93.2) 		34.5
(94.1) 		33.9
(93.0) 		29.4
(84.9) 		23.4
(74.1) 		17.2
(63.0) 		11.8
(53.2) 		34.5
(94.1)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 5.9
(42.6) 		6.1
(43.0) 		12.7
(54.9) 		21.5
(70.7) 		26.3
(79.3) 		28.4
(83.1) 		30.1
(86.2) 		29.4
(84.9) 		23.9
(75.0) 		17.3
(63.1) 		10.9
(51.6) 		6.7
(44.1) 		31.4
(88.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −0.1
(31.8) 		0.3
(32.5) 		4.8
(40.6) 		11.9
(53.4) 		17.8
(64.0) 		21.3
(70.3) 		23.8
(74.8) 		22.7
(72.9) 		17.3
(63.1) 		10.5
(50.9) 		4.8
(40.6) 		1.4
(34.5) 		11.4
(52.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.1
(28.2) 		−2.0
(28.4) 		1.5
(34.7) 		7.4
(45.3) 		13.0
(55.4) 		16.7
(62.1) 		19.3
(66.7) 		18.3
(64.9) 		13.4
(56.1) 		7.5
(45.5) 		3.0
(37.4) 		−0.3
(31.5) 		8.0
(46.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −4.5
(23.9) 		−4.6
(23.7) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		2.9
(37.2) 		8.2
(46.8) 		12.4
(54.3) 		14.9
(58.8) 		14.1
(57.4) 		9.8
(49.6) 		4.9
(40.8) 		1.1
(34.0) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		4.6
(40.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F) −16.4
(2.5) 		−15.8
(3.6) 		−10.4
(13.3) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		0.2
(32.4) 		5.3
(41.5) 		9.3
(48.7) 		8.0
(46.4) 		3.0
(37.4) 		−2.4
(27.7) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−11.4
(11.5) 		−20.3
(−4.5)
Record low °C (°F) −33.7
(−28.7) 		−34.9
(−30.8) 		−30.3
(−22.5) 		−13.1
(8.4) 		−5.5
(22.1) 		−2.3
(27.9) 		4.0
(39.2) 		0.0
(32.0) 		−4.1
(24.6) 		−9.5
(14.9) 		−20.5
(−4.9) 		−31.9
(−25.4) 		−34.9
(−30.8)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 46.5
(1.83) 		40.1
(1.58) 		34.1
(1.34) 		35.0
(1.38) 		47.5
(1.87) 		65.0
(2.56) 		79.5
(3.13) 		77.9
(3.07) 		67.1
(2.64) 		75.6
(2.98) 		56.3
(2.22) 		50.2
(1.98) 		674.8
(26.58)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 25.0
(9.8) 		23.6
(9.3) 		15.7
(6.2) 		5.2
(2.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		1.2
(0.5) 		7.0
(2.8) 		22.0
(8.7) 		99.7
(39.3)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0mm) 11 9 8 7 8 10 9 10 9 12 11 11 115
Averagerelative humidity(%) 85.9 82.4 76.0 68.2 66.3 69.1 71.0 73.2 78.5 83.1 87.2 87.4 77.4
Mean monthlysunshine hours 36.6 64.2 141.2 203.6 286.7 282.2 291.2 250.4 166.7 95.5 36.1 24.4 1,878.8
Averageultraviolet index 0 1 2 3 5 6 5 5 3 1 0 0 3
Source 1:Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency(temperature, precipitation and sunshine)[72][73]
Source 2:NOAA(precipitation days, humidity 1991–2020),[74]Weather Atlas,[75]and World Weather Online (snowfall)[76]
Coastal temperature data for Riga (Daugavgrīva)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average sea temperature °C (°F) 1.0
(33.80) 		0.7
(33.26) 		0.5
(32.90) 		3.0
(37.40) 		9.1
(48.38) 		15.5
(59.90) 		19.6
(67.28) 		19.4
(66.92) 		16.3
(61.34) 		11.3
(52.34) 		7.4
(45.32) 		4.3
(39.74) 		9.0
(48.21)
Source 1: Seatemperature.org[77]

Government

[edit]
Main article:Riga City Council
Riga City Council

The head of the city government in Riga is the mayor, or officially the Chairman of the Riga City Council. The mayor is elected by the city council. He or she is assisted by one or more Vice Mayors (deputy mayors). The current mayor isVilnis Ķirsis,who was elected on 17 August 2023 fromNew Unity,with support from "Coalition for Cooperation", consisting ofNew Unity,National Alliance/Latvian Regional Alliance (NA/LRA),Code for Riga,Honor to server RigaandFor Latvia's Developmentfactions.

The city council is a democratically elected institution and is the final decision-making authority in the city. The Council consists of 60 members or deputies who are elected every four years. The Presidium of the Riga City Council consists of the Chairman of the Riga City Council and the representatives delegated by the political parties or party blocks elected to the City Council. From February to October 2020, the offices of the Mayor and Vice Mayors were suspended and the council itself had been dissolved and replaced by an interim administration of representatives from threegovernmentalministries until snapelectionswere held in 2020.

Demographics

[edit]
Riga population pyramid in 2022
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1897282,230—
1920185,137−34.4%
1925337,699+82.4%
1930377,917+11.9%
1935385,063+1.9%
1959580,423+50.7%
1970731,831+26.1%
1979835,475+14.2%
1989915,106+9.5%
2000764,329−16.5%
2011658,640−13.8%
2021614,618−6.7%
2024605,273−1.5%
Source: pop-stat.mashke.org[78]

With 605,270 inhabitants in 2024 as according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, Riga was one of the largest cities in theBaltic states,though its population has decreased from just over 900,000 in 1991[79]and the population ofVilniushas just outnumbered that of Riga. Notable causes include emigration andlow birth rates.According to the 2022 data, ethnic Latvians made up 47.4% of the population of Riga.Russiansformed 35.7%,Belarusians3.6%,Ukrainians3.5%,Poles1.7%, other ethnicities consisted 8.2%. By comparison, 63.0% of Latvia's total population was ethnically Latvian, 24.2% Russian, 3.1% Belarusian, 2.2% Ukrainian, 1.9% Polish, 1.1% are Lithuanian and the rest of other origins.

Upon therestoration of Latvia's independence in 1991,Soviet-eraimmigrants (and any of their offspring born before 1991) were not automatically granted Latvian citizenship because they had migrated to the territory of Latvia during the years ofSoviet occupation.The proportion of ethnic Latvians in Riga increased from 36.5% in 1989 to 47.4% in 2022. In contrast, the percentage of Russians fell from 47.3% to 35.7% in the same time period. In 2022 citizens of Latvia made up 79.0%,non-citizens15.3% and citizens of other countries 5.6% of the population of Riga.

Economy

[edit]

Riga is one of the key economic and financial centres of theBaltic states.Roughly half of all the jobs in Latvia are in Riga and the city generates more than 50% of Latvia's GDP as well as around half of Latvia's exports. The biggest exporters are in wood products, IT, food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transport and metallurgy.[80]Riga Port is one of the largest in the Baltics. It handled a record 34 million tons of cargo in 2011[81]and has potential for future growth with new port developments on Krievu Sala.[82]Tourism is also a large industry in Riga and after a slowdown during theglobal economic recessions of the late 2000s,grew 22% in 2011 alone.[83]

Riga was intended to become the global financial centre in the former Soviet Union.One bank,which provided high levels of secrecy for its customers, promoted itself as "We are closer than Switzerland!" (Russian:«Мы ближе, чем Швейцария!»).[84][85][86][c]On 28 July 1995, twenty Latvian banks with assistance of persons from theParis Stock Exchangeorganised theRiga Stock Exchangewhich was the first Latvian stock exchange in Riga.[88]

  • Bank of Latvia
    Bank of Latvia
  • Riga Stock Exchange early 20th century. Now the Art Museum Riga Bourse.
    Riga Stock Exchange early 20th century. Now the Art Museum Riga Bourse.

Culture

[edit]
TheLatvian National Opera

Theatres

[edit]
  • TheLatvian National Operawas founded in 1918. The repertoire of the theatre embraces all opera masterpieces. The Latvian National Opera is famous not only for its operas, but for its ballet troupe as well.[89]
  • TheLatvian National Theatrewas founded in 1919. The Latvian National Theatre preserves the traditions ofLatviandrama school. It is one of the biggest theatres in Latvia.[90]
  • TheMikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatreis the oldest professional drama theatre in Latvia, established in 1883. The repertoire of the theatre includes classical plays and experimental performances of Russian and other foreign playwrights.
  • TheDaile Theatrewas opened for the first time in 1920. It is one of the most successful theatres in Latvia and is distinguished by its frequent productions of modern foreign plays.[91]
  • Latvian State Puppet Theatre was founded in 1944 and presents shows for children and adults.[92]
  • TheNew Riga Theatrewas opened in 1992.

Mežaparks Great Bandstand

[edit]
The Mežaparks Great Bandstand
Main article:Mežaparks Great Bandstand

The Mežaparks Great Bandstand (Latvian: Mežaparka Lielā estrāde) is a open-air bandstand inMežaparks park.The Bandstand is the place where theLatvian Song and Dance Festival,one of the largest amateur choral and dancing events in the world and part ofUNESCOMasterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity[93]list, takes places every five years.

World Choir Games

[edit]

Riga hosted the biannual 2014World Choir Gamesfrom 9 to 19 July 2014 which coincided with the city being namedEuropean Capital of Culturefor 2014.[94][95]The event, organised by the choral foundation,Interkultur,takes place at various host cities every two years and was originally known as the "Choir Olympics".[96]The event regularly sees over 15,000 choristers in over 300 choirs from over 60 nations compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in over 20 categories. The competition is further divided into a Champions Competition and an Open Competition to allow choirs from all backgrounds to enter.[94]Choral workshops and festivals are also witnessed in the host cities and are usually open to the public.[97]

Architecture

[edit]
Riga Castle

Theradio and TV towerof Riga is the tallest structure in Latvia and the Baltic States, and one of the tallest in the European Union, reaching 368.5 m (1,209 ft). Riga centre also has many great examples of Gothic revival architecture, such as theKalpaka Boulevard Library,and a bevy ofArt Nouveauarchitecture, as well as a medieval old town.[98]

Art Nouveau

[edit]
Main article:Art Nouveau architecture in Riga

Riga has one of the largest collections ofArt Nouveaubuildings in the world, with at least 800 buildings.[98]This is due to the fact that at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, when Art Nouveau was at the height of its popularity, Riga experienced an unprecedented financial and demographic boom.[99]In the period from 1857 its population grew from 282,000 (256,200 in Riga itself and another 26,200 inhabitants beyond the city limits in thepatrimonial districtand military town ofUst-Dvinsk) to 472,100 in 1913.[100][101]The middle class of Riga used their acquired wealth to build imposing apartment blocks outside the formercity walls.Local architects, mostly graduates ofRiga Technical University,adopted current European movements and in particular Art Nouveau.[102]Between 1910 and 1913, between 300 and 500 new buildings were built each year in Riga, many of them in Art Nouveau style and most of them outside the old town.[102]

  • Alberta iela 13
    Alberta iela13
  • Alberta iela 2a
    Alberta iela 2a
  • Staircase of Alberta ielā 12
    Staircase of Alberta ielā 12
  • Aleksandra Čaka iela 26
    Aleksandra Čaka iela 26
  • Riga Art Nouveau Museum
    Riga Art Nouveau Museum
  • Strēlnieku iela 4a
    Strēlnieku iela 4a
  • meistaru iela 10 relief
    meistaru iela 10 relief
  • Strelnieku iela relief
    Strelnieku iela relief

Sports

[edit]

Riga has a richbasketballhistory. In 1937, as the defending champions, in hosted thesecond editionof theEuroBaskettournament. In the 1950s,Rīgas ASKbecame the best club in the Soviet Union and also in Europe, winning the first three editions of theEuropean Cup for Men's Champions Clubsfrom 1958 to 1960.[103]

In 1960, ASK was not the only team from Riga to take the European crown.TTT Rigaclinched their first title in theEuropean Cup for Women's Champion Clubs,turning Riga into the capital city of European basketball because for the first and, to date, only time in the history of European basketball, clubs from the same city were concurrent European men's and women's club champions.[104]

In 2015, Riga was one of the hosts forEuroBasket 2015and will host for the third time in2025.

Sports clubs

[edit]
Arena Riga,home to multiple sports clubs of Riga
Dissolved Football Clubs
  • Skonto FC– Skonto FC was a football club established in 1991. The club won fourteen successiveLatvian Higher Leaguetitles. For a long time it provided the core of theLatvian national football team.Following financial problems, the club was demoted to the Latvian First League in 2016 and went bankrupt in December of that year and subsequently dissolved.
  • JFK Olimps– JFK Olimps played in the top division of Latvian football. The club was founded in 2005 and dissolved in 2012. According to a study from January 2011, the club was the youngest team in Europe, with an average age of 19.02 years.

Sports facilities

[edit]
Skonto Stadium

Sports events

[edit]
Further information:2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships

Transport

[edit]
One of the several trolleybus types in Riga
AŠkoda 15 Ttram in Riga
Riga is a large hub in thePassenger Trainnetwork: commuter train frequency in 2016.

Riga, with its central geographic position and concentration of population, has always been the infrastructural hub of Latvia. Severalnational roadsbegin in Riga, andEuropean route E22crosses Riga from the east and west, while theVia Balticacrosses Riga from the south and north.

As a city situated by a river, Riga also has several bridges. The oldest-standing bridge is theRailway Bridge,which is also the only railroad-carrying bridge in Riga. TheStone Bridge(Akmens tilts) connectsOld RigaandPārdaugava;theIsland Bridge(Salu tilts) connectsMaskavas Forštateand Pārdaugava viaZaķusala;and theShroud Bridge(Vanšu tilts) connects Old Riga and Pārdaugava viaĶīpsala.In 2008, the first stage of the newSouthern Bridge(Dienvidu tilts) route across the Daugava was completed, and was opened to traffic on 17 November.[107]

The Southern Bridge was the biggest[dubious–discuss]construction project in the Baltic states in 20 years, and its purpose was to reducetraffic congestionin the city centre.[108][109]Another major construction project is the planned Riga Northerntransport corridor;[110]its first segment detailed project was completed in 2015.[111]

TheFreeport of Rigafacilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Sea ferries connectRiga Passenger TerminaltoStockholmoperated byTallink.[112] Riga has one active airport that serves commercial airlines—theRiga International Airport(RIX), built in 1973. It is the primary hub ofAirBalticand a base forRyanAir.[113]Renovation and modernisation of the airport was completed in 2001, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the city. In 2006, a new terminal extension was opened. Extension of the runway was completed in October 2008, and the airport is now able to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A340, Boeing 747, 757, 767 and 777. Another terminal extension is under construction as of 2014.[114]The annual number of passengers has grown from 310,000 in 1993 to 4.7 million in 2014, making Riga International Airport the largest in the Baltic States. A new multi-modal hub is planned around the airport with aRail Balticastation and airport city development planned.[115][116]

The former international airport of Riga,Spilve Airport,located 5 km (3 mi) from Riga city centre, is used for small aircraft, pilot training and recreational aviation. Riga was also home to a military air base during theCold War—Rumbula Air Base.

Public transport in the city is provided byRīgas Satiksmewhich operates a large number of trams, buses andtrolleybuseson an extensive network of routes across the city. In addition, up until 2012 many private owners operatedminibusservices, after which the City Council established the unified transport companyRīgas mikroautobusu satiksme,establishing a monopoly over the service.

Riga International Coach Terminalprovides domestic and international connections bycoach.

As the population of Riga city started to approach 1 million people in the 1980s, the city became eligible (under the Soviet standards of the time) for the construction of a subway systemRiga Metro,which would have been paid for by the Soviet government. However, the population decline and shortage of funding following Latvian independence put an end to this plan.

Riga is connected to the rest of Latvia bydomestic trainsoperated by the national carrierPassenger Train,whose headquarters are in Riga. The main railway station is theRiga Central Station.It has stops for public transport along the streets Satekles iela, 13. janvāra iela Marijas iela, and Merķeļa iela. There are alsointernational rail servicesto Russia andBelarus,and plans to revive passenger rail traffic withEstonia.International overnight service is with Latvia Express trains (Latvian:Latvijas Ekspresis). ATEN-Tproject calledRail Balticaenvisages building ahigh-speed railwayline via Riga connectingTallinntoWarsawusingstandard gauge,[117]expected to be put into operation in 2024.[118]Latvian Railways(Latvian:Latvijas dzelzceļšorLDz) operates the Latvian Rail History Museum in Riga.

Universities

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]

Public service

[edit]
Isaiah Berlin,1983
Sergei Eisenstein,early 1920s
Elīna Garanča,2012
Johann Gottfried Herder,painted in 1785
Baroness von Krüdenerand her son Paul, painted in 1786
Vera Mukhina,1937
Jeļena Ostapenko,2022
Wilhelm Ostwald,1913
Mikhail Tal,1962

The Arts

[edit]

Science

[edit]

Sport

[edit]

Twin towns – sister cities

[edit]
See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Latvia

Riga istwinnedwith:[123]

Riga also cooperates with:

See also

[edit]

Other capitals of the Baltic states

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Latvian:Rīga,[ˈriːɡa]ⓘ,Livonian:Rīgõ,Russian:Рига[ˈrʲigə]
  2. ^Latin original: "Riga nomen sortita est suum ab aedificiis vel horreis quorum a litus Dunae magna fuit copia, quas livones sua lingua Rias vocare soliti".
  3. ^Richard L. Palmer, president of Cachet International, Inc., was theCIAstation chiefat theUnited States Embassy in Moscowfrom 1992 to 1994.[86][87]

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Bibliography

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See also:Bibliography of the history of Riga
  • Grava, Sigurd. "The Urban Heritage of the Soviet Regime The Case of Riga, Latvia".Journal of the American Planning Association59.1 (1993): 9–30.
  • Kropotkin, Peter Alexeivitch;Bealby, John Thomas (1911)."Riga".InChisholm, Hugh(ed.).Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 337.
  • Šolks, Guntis, Gita Dejus, and Krists Legzdiņš. "Transformation of Historic Industrial Areas in Riga".Book of Proceedings.(2012)online.
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