This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Poles in Latvia
Total population
51,548 (2011 census)
Languages
Russian (57,7% in 2000), Polish, Latvian
Religion
Roman Catholicism
Related ethnic groups
Poles, Latvians, Lithuanians, Latgalians

The Polish minority in Latvia numbers about 51,548 and (according to the Latvian data from 2011) forms 2.3% of the population of Latvia. Poles are concentrated in the former Inflanty Voivodeship region, with about 18,000 in Daugavpils (Dyneburg) and 17,000 in Riga. People of Polish ethnicity have lived on the territory of modern Latvia since the 16th century. In modern Latvia their citizenship status vary: non-citizens of Latvia, as citizens of Poland, or as citizens of Latvia.

Demography

Population with Polish ethnic affiliations [1][2]
Census year 1897 1920 1930 1935 1959 1970 1979 1989 1996
est. 		2000 2005
est. 		2008
est. 		2011
est.
Population 65,056 52,244 59,400 48,637 59,800 63,000 62,700 60,416 63,400 59,505 56,511 54,024 51,548
Percentage 3.4% 3.3% 3.1% 2.6% 2.9% 2.7% 2.5% 2.3% 2.6% 2.5% 2.5% 2.4% 2.3%
Percentage of ethnic Poles, novadi (municipalities) level divisions of Latvia (2010)
Percentage of ethnic Poles, district level divisions of Latvia (2008)
Ethnic Poles distribution, 1st level divisions of Latvia (2008) (cities population of respective districts included)
Percentage of ethnic Poles in Daugavpils district (2006)
Ethnic Poles distribution in Latvia [3]
Census year 1989
census 		2000
census 		2005
est. 		2008
est.
population % population % population % population %
Aizkraukle District 590 1.3 608 1.4 572 1.4 537 1.3
Alūksne District 99 0.3 84 0.3 73 0.3 71 0.3
Balvi District 102 0.3 101 0.3 85 0.3 87 0.3
Bauska District 840 1.5 827 1.6 774 1.5 740 1.5
Cēsis District 704 1.1 640 1.0 594 1.0 575 1.0
Daugavpils District 5,294 11.2 5,068 11.9 4,912 12.1 4,609 11.9
Daugavpils city 16,338 13.1 17,209 14.9 16,395 14.9 15,606 14.7
Dobele District 759 1.7 649 1.6 579 1.5 545 1.4
Gulbene District 222 0.7 227 0.8 208 0.8 194 0.7
Jēkabpils District 1,309 2.1 1,368 2.4 1,269 2.4 1,203 2.3
Jelgava District 926 2.4 856 2.3 845 2.3 810 2.2
Jelgava city 1,274 1.7 1,312 2.1 1,336 2.0 1,307 2.0
Jūrmala city 905 1.5 932 1.7 937 1.7 926 1.7
Krāslava District 2,499 6.0 2,441 6.6 2,286 6.6 2,169 6.6
Kuldīga District 252 0.6 205 0.5 185 0.5 180 0.5
Liepāja District 276 0.5 197 0.4 188 0.4 183 0.4
Liepāja city 1,298 1.1 1,120 1.3 1,054 1.2 1,001 1.2
Limbaži District 325 0.8 343 0.9 304 0.8 277 0.7
Ludza District 362 0.9 376 1.1 350 1.1 316 1.0
Madona District 442 0.9 388 0.8 338 0.8 311 0.7
Ogre District 975 1.5 894 1.4 858 1.4 837 1.3
Preiļi District 888 1.9 791 1.9 704 1.8 664 1.8
Rēzekne District 597 1.4 533 1.2 522 1.3 499 1.3
Rēzekne city 1,166 2.7 1,056 2.7 1,002 2.7 928 2.6
Riga District 2,533 1.7 2,685 1.9 2,637 1.7 2,734 1.6
Riga city 16,653 1.8 15,980 2.1 15,094 2.1 14,456 2.0
Saldus District 296 0.7 240 0.6 202 0.5 194 0.5
Talsi District 364 0.7 329 0.7 306 0.6 286 0.6
Tukums District 601 1.0 555 1.0 518 0.9 484 0.9
Valka District 328 0.9 295 0.9 251 0.8 228 0.7
Valmiera District 586 0.9 594 1.0 533 0.9 507 0.9
Ventspils District 97 0.6 77 0.5 73 0.5 68 0.5
Ventspils city 516 1.0 525 1.2 527 1.2 492 1.1

Mixed marriages are common for the ethnic Poles in Latvia: per cent distribution of males with spouse of different ethnicity was 89%, of females with spouse of different ethnicity was 90% (1990–2007)[4]

Polish organizations in Latvia

Polish Cultural Center in Daugavpils
Józef Piłsudski Daugavpils Polish state gymnasium

The largest Polish organization in Latvia is Association of Poles in Latvia (Związek Polaków na Łotwie).[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ LR Centrālā statistikas pārvalde[permanent dead link] Accessed 2008-10-09
  2. ^ Ēriks Jēkabsons “Poles in Latvia”. The State Historical Archive of Latvia, 1999 Accessed 2008-10-09
  3. ^ LR Centrālā statistikas pārvalde[permanent dead link] Accessed 2008-10-09
  4. ^ LR Centrālā statistikas pārvalde[permanent dead link] Accessed 2008-10-09

External links


Polish diaspora and Polish minorities
Ethnic groups in Latvia
More
Categories