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Planning regions of Latvia

File:Planning regions after 2021 reform.jpg

Latvia is divided into five planning regions ({{langx|lv|Latvijas plānošanas reģioni}}): Kurzeme, Latgale, Riga, Vidzeme, and Zemgale. They are equivalence to the five statistical regions in Latvia{{cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/328252-par-latvijas-republikas-statistiskajiem-regioniem-un-tajos-ietilpstosajam-administrativajam-vienibam |title=Par Latvijas Republikas statistiskajiem reģioniem un tajos ietilpstošajām administratīvajām vienībām |publisher=Latvijas Vēstnesis |language=lv |access-date=9 December 2024}} ({{langx|lv|Latvijas statistiskie reģioni}}). The boundaries of these regions correspond to the borders of Latvia's municipalities. However, the planning regions are not considered administrative territorial divisions, as they are not mentioned in the law governing Latvia's administrative territorial structure.{{cite web|url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/315654-administrativo-teritoriju-un-apdzivoto-vietu-likums |title=Administratīvo teritoriju un apdzīvoto vietu likums |publisher=Latvijas Vēstnesis |language=lv |date=2020-06-23 |access-date=2024-12-10}}

Following the 2021 reform, certain areas of the Riga Region were incorporated into the Kurzeme and Vidzeme regions. Notably, the statistical regions of Latvia align with the planning regions.{{cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/328252-par-latvijas-republikas-statistiskajiem-regioniem-un-tajos-ietilpstosajam-administrativajam-vienibam |title=Par Latvijas Republikas statistiskajiem reģioniem un tajos ietilpstošajām administratīvajām vienībām |publisher=Latvijas Vēstnesis |language=lv |access-date=9 December 2024}}

List

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!Regions

Largest cityPopulation{{Cite web|url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE031/|title=Population by ethnicity in regions, State cities and municipalities at the beginning of year 2012 - 2023|website=Oficiālās statistikas portāls}}Area (km2)Density (per km2)
Riga Planning RegionRigastyle="text-align:right"|860,1423,158272.37
Kurzeme Planning RegionLiepājastyle="text-align:right"|276,31716,04617.22
Vidzeme Planning RegionValmierastyle="text-align:right"|276,44919,77013.98
Latgale Planning RegionDaugavpilsstyle="text-align:right"|245,05314,54916.84
Zemgale Planning RegionJelgavastyle="text-align:right"|225,04710,73320.97
LatviaRigastyle="text-align:right"|1,883,00864,25629.30

History

Regional institutions began formation 1997 according to municipal initiatives on the planning of common development. Following legislation on regional development, the five planning regions were created according to the 5 May 2009 decision no. 391 of the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers: "Decisions on Territories of the Planning Regions.{{cite web|url=http://www.raplm.gov.lv/pub/index.php?id=52 |title=Plānošanas reģioni |language=lv |publisher=Ministry of Regional Development and Local-governments |access-date=2010-01-10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.raplm.gov.lv/uploads/filedir/5pielikums_MKNot_par%20pr%20teritorijam_391.doc |title=Noteikumi par plānošanas reģionu teritorijām |language=lv |publisher=Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia |date=2009-05-05 |access-date=2010-01-10}}

Statistical regions were established according to the main principles set out in the Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS){{cite web|title=Nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS)|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/nuts_nomenclature/introduction|publisher=Eurostat}} (hereinafter NUTS Regulation), further amended. This NUTS Regulation directly concerns all Member States of the European Union and from 1 May 2004 it is also binding upon Latvia.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

The statistical regions of Latvia are not administrative regions, as they have been formed for statistical purposes. Therefore, they are not mentioned in the law that determines the administrative divisions of Latvia.{{cite web|url=http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=185993 |title=Administratīvo teritoriju un apdzīvoto vietu likums |publisher=likumi.lv |language=Latvian |date=2008-12-18 |accessdate=2011-12-15}}

NUTS Regulation was established to divide economic territory of EU{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Glossary:Economic_territory|title=Eurostat: Glossary |publisher=Eurostat}} into similar territorial units for the purpose of collection, compilation and dissemination of harmonised regional statistics in the EU. Shortly before accession to EU, Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and representatives of the planning regions came to an agreement about the structure of statistical regions (order No.271 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 28 April 2004 "On the Statistical Regions of the Republic of Latvia and Administrative Units Therein", further amended.)

Statistical regions of Latvia were approved by Regulation (EC) No 1888/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2005 amending Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) by reason of the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to the European Union.

The four statistical regions Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme and Zemgale aligned with the planning regions of Latvia{{cite web|url=http://www.varam.gov.lv/lat/darbibas_veidi/reg_att/pl_reg/?doc=13637|title=Plānošanas reģioni |language=Latvian |publisher=Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development|accessdate=2012-02-28}} (Regulation No.391 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 5 May 2009 "On the territories of the Planning Regions.", further amended),{{cite web |title=Noteikumi par plānošanas reģionu teritorijām|url=http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=191670&from=off|publisher=likumi.lv |language=Latvian |date=2009-05-05 |accessdate=2011-04-02}} but Rīga and Pierīga statistical regions comprise the territory of the Rīga planning region. After new planning regions were introduced in 2021, the borders no longer align.

; Planning regions before 2021

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!Regions

Largest cityAreaPopulation(per km²){{cite web | url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRE/IRE031 | title=Population by ethnicity in regions, cities and municipalities at the beginning of year (After administrative-territorial reform in 2021) 2021 - 2022 }}
RigaRigastyle="text-align:right"|10,132 km²style="text-align:right" |989,525(98/km²)
KurzemeLiepājastyle="text-align:right"|13,596 km²style="text-align:right" |233,229(17/km²)
LatgaleDaugavpilsstyle="text-align:right"|14,549 km²style="text-align:right" |247,220(17/km²)
ZemgaleJelgavastyle="text-align:right"|10,733 km²style="text-align:right" |225,017(21/km²)
VidzemeValmierastyle="text-align:right"|15,246 km²style="text-align:right" |180,766(12/km²)
LatviaRigastyle="text-align:right"|64,256 km²style="text-align:right"|1,875,757 || (29/km²)

The 2021 reformed territories of the planning region are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations of 22 June 2021 No. 418: "Rules on the Territories of the Planning Region".{{Cite web|url=https://www.varam.gov.lv/lv/planosanas-regioni|title=Plānošanas reģioni | Vides aizsardzības un reģionālās attīstības ministrija|website=www.varam.gov.lv}}

The structure of Statistical Regions is approved by order No. 911 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 7 December 2021 "On the Statistical Regions of the Republic of Latvia and Administrative Units Therein", further amended.{{cite web |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/328252-par-latvijas-republikas-statistiskajiem-regioniem-un-tajos-ietilpstosajam-administrativajam-vienibam |title=Par Latvijas Republikas statistiskajiem reģioniem un tajos ietilpstošajām administratīvajām vienībām |publisher=Latvijas Vēstnesis |language=lv |access-date=9 December 2024}}

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! NUTS Code!! Regions!! Largest City!! Area!! Population* – (per km²) !! GDP (billion €) !! GDP per capita (€){{cite web|url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__VEK__IK__IKR/IKR010/|title=Gross domestic product by region and city (at current prices) 2000–2022|work=stat.gov.lv}}

LV006RīgaRīgastyle="text-align:right"|304 km2style="text-align:right"|632,614 - (2,081/km2)style="text-align:right"|19.261style="text-align:right"|31,600
LV007PierīgaJūrmalastyle="text-align:right"|10,134  km2style="text-align:right"|370,589 – (37/km2)|
LV003KurzemeLiepājastyle="text-align:right"|13,606  km2style="text-align:right"|240,113 – (18/km2)style="text-align:right"|3.764style="text-align:right"|13,600
LV005LatgaleDaugavpilsstyle="text-align:right"|14,550 km2style="text-align:right"|260,226 – (18/km2)style="text-align:right"|2.404style="text-align:right"|9,700
LV009ZemgaleJelgavastyle="text-align:right"|10,732 km2style="text-align:right"|230,331 – (21/km2)style="text-align:right"|2.904style="text-align:right"|12,900
LV008VidzemeValmierastyle="text-align:right"|15,245  km2style="text-align:right"|186,095 – (12/km2)style="text-align:right"|3.291style="text-align:right"|11,900
LV00LatvijaRīgastyle="text-align:right"|64,572 km2style="text-align:right"|1,919,968 – (30/km2)style="text-align:right"|36.104style="text-align:right"|19,100
colspan="7"| * Data as of 30 December 2021, GDP data as of 2022

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.raplm.gov.lv/pub/index.php Ministry of Regional Development and Local-governments]
  • [http://www.csb.gov.lv/en Central statistical Bureau of Latvia]
  • [http://www.varam.gov.lv/eng Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development]

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Category:Subdivisions of Latvia

Category:Latvia geography-related lists