Riga (/ˈriːɡə/ⓘREE-gə)[a] is the capital, theprimate, and thelargest city ofLatvia. 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 Riga at the mouth of theDaugava river 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]
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 theLithuanianringą ('ring'), which refers to the looping shape of 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 Albert claimed 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 Latvianrīja hardened 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 calledRiia in Estonian (a language closely related toLivonian).
TheLivonian Chronicle of Henry testifies 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.Catholic andOrthodox Christianity had 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 practicepaganism and Meinhard died in Uexküll in 1196, having failed in his mission.[27] In 1198, theBishop Berthold arrived with a contingent ofcrusaders[27] and commenced a campaign of forcedChristianization.[25][26] Berthold died soon afterwards and his forces were defeated.[27]
Document with the seals of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and the city of Riga, 1226
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 Sword in 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 Philip invested 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 theOrder a 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 compelPolotsk to grant German merchants free river passage.[30] Polotsk conceded Kukenois (Koknese) andJersika to 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 Denmark to 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 Smolensk giving 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]
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
During these many centuries of war and changes of power in the Baltic, and despite demographic changes, theBaltic Germans in Riga had maintained a dominant position. By 1867, Riga's population was 42.9% German.[49] Riga employed German as itsofficial language of administration until the installation of Russian in 1891 as the official language in theBaltic provinces, as part of the policy ofRussification of 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 Latvianbourgeoisie made Riga a centre of theLatvian National Awakening with the founding of the Riga Latvian Association in 1868 and the organisation of the first national song festival in 1873. In 1897, Riga was the sixth largest city in the Russian Empire.[50] The nationalist movement of theNeo-Latvians was followed by the socialistNew Current during the city's rapid industrialisation, culminating in the1905 Revolution led by theLatvian Social Democratic Workers' Party.
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 I and the impact of theRussian Revolution of 1917 to Riga. As a result of thebattle of Jugla, theGerman army marched into Riga on 3 September 1917.[51] On 3 March 1918, theTreaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, giving theBaltic countries to Germany. Because of thearmistice with Germany of 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.
DuringWorld War II, Latvia was occupied by theSoviet Union in 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 Ulmanis was 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 Bloc must 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 deportation took 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.
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.Microdistricts of the large multi-storied housing blocks were built to house immigrant workers.
By the end of World War II,Riga's historical centre was 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 Church which 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; afacsimile was constructed in 1995.
In 1989, the percentage of Latvians in Riga had fallen to 36.5%.[53]
In 2004, the arrival oflow-cost airlines resulted in cheaper flights from other European cities such as London and Berlin, and consequently a substantial increase in numbers of tourists.[54]
On 21 November 2013, theroof of a supermarket collapsed inZolitūde, 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 Bērziņš described the disaster as "a large-scale murder of many defenceless people".[55]
Following the2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, theSaeima voted to suspend the functioning of a section of an agreement between Latvia and Russia regarding the preservation of memorial structures on 12 May,[58] in the next day theRiga City Council also voted to demolish theMonument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders.[59] 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.[60] The demolition began 22 August 2022 and on 25 August 2022, the obelisk was toppled.[61][62][63] In 2022, after theRussian invasion of Ukraine, the street on which the Embassy of the Russian Federation is located was renamed "Independent Ukraine Street."[64][65]
Riga is one of thelargestcity in the threeBaltic states: (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia).[66][citation needed][67] Riga is home to approximately one tenth of the three Baltic countries' combined population.[68]
Riga's administrative divisions consist of six administrative entities:Central,Kurzeme andNorthern districts and theLatgale,Vidzeme andZemgale suburbs. Three entities were established on 1 September 1941, and the other three were established in October 1969.[69] 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 of58 neighbourhoods.[70] The current names were confirmed on 28 December 1990.[71]
The climate of Riga ishumid continental (KöppenDfb).[72] 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)
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 threegovernmental ministries until snapelections were held in 2020.
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[80] and the population ofVilnius has 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.Russians formed 35.7%,Belarusians 3.6%,Ukrainians 3.5%,Poles 1.7%, 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-era immigrants (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-citizens 15.3% and citizens of other countries 5.6% of the population of Riga.
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.[81] Riga Port is one of the largest in the Baltics. It handled a record 34 million tons of cargo in 2011[82] and has potential for future growth with new port developments on Krievu Sala.[83] 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.[84]
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!»).[85][86][87][c] On 28 July 1995, twenty Latvian banks with assistance of persons from theParis Stock Exchange organised theRiga Stock Exchange which was the first Latvian stock exchange in Riga.[89]
Bank of Latvia
Riga Stock Exchange early 20th century. Now the Art Museum Riga Bourse.
TheLatvian National Opera was 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.[90]
TheLatvian National Theatre was founded in 1919. The Latvian National Theatre preserves the traditions ofLatvian drama school. It is one of the biggest theatres in Latvia.[91]
TheMikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre is 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 Theatre was 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.[92]
Latvian State Puppet Theatre was founded in 1944 and presents shows for children and adults.[93]
Riga hosted the biannual 2014World Choir Games from 9 to 19 July 2014 which coincided with the city being namedEuropean Capital of Culture for 2014.[95][96] 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".[97] 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.[95] Choral workshops and festivals are also witnessed in the host cities and are usually open to the public.[98]
Theradio and TV tower of 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 Nouveau architecture, as well as a medieval old town.[99]
Riga has one of the largest collections ofArt Nouveau buildings in the world, with at least 800 buildings.[99] 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.[100] 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 district and military town ofUst-Dvinsk) to 472,100 in 1913.[101][102] 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.[103] 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.[103]
In 1960, ASK was not the only team from Riga to take the European crown.TTT Riga clinched 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.[105]
In 2015, Riga was one of the hosts forEuroBasket 2015 and will host for the third time in2025.
Xiaomi Arena, home to multiple sports clubs of Riga
Basketball
BK VEF Rīga – a professional basketball team that is a three-timeLatvian champion. VEF also participates in high-level international competition such asEurocup
Riga FC – Riga Football Club, commonly referred to as Riga FC, were established in 2015 after a merger of two Riga based teams – FC Caramba Riga and Dinamo Rīga. In 2018 they became champions of theVirslīga Latvian Higher League for the first time.
RFS – FK Rīgas Futbola Skola, known as RFS are based on the Riga Football School (RFS) academy, established in 1962.
JDFS Alberts – Jura Docenko Futbola Skola Alberts, commonly referred to as JDFS Alberts was founded as a football school in 2008 and subsequently became a professional Latvian football league team.
Skonto FC – Skonto FC was a football club established in 1991. The club won fourteen successiveLatvian Higher League titles. 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.
Skonto Stadium – a football stadium, built in 2000. It is the main stadium used for games of theLatvian national football team and the home stadium of Riga FC. The stadium was previously the home stadium of Skonto FC prior to the team's dissolution.
One of the several trolleybus types in RigaAŠkoda 15 T tram in RigaRiga is a large hub in thePassenger Train network: commuter train frequency in 2016.
Riga, with its central geographic position and concentration of population, has always been the infrastructural hub of Latvia. Severalnational roads begin in Riga, andEuropean route E22 crosses Riga from the east and west, while theVia Baltica crosses 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 Riga andPārdaugava; theIsland Bridge (Salu tilts) connectsMaskavas Forštate and 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.[108]
The Southern Bridge was the biggest[dubious –discuss] construction project in the Baltic states in 20 years, and its purpose was to reducetraffic congestion in the city centre.[109][110] Another major construction project is the planned Riga Northerntransport corridor;[111] its first segment detailed project was completed in 2015.[112]
TheFreeport of Riga facilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Sea ferries connectRiga Passenger Terminal toStockholm operated byTallink.[113]Riga has one active airport that serves commercial airlines—theRiga International Airport (RIX), built in 1973. It is the primary hub ofAirBaltic and a base forRyanAir.[114] 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[update].[115] 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 Baltica station and airport city development planned.[116][117]
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 Satiksme which operates a large number of trams, buses andtrolleybuses on an extensive network of routes across the city. In addition, up until 2012 many private owners operatedminibus services, after which the City Council established the unified transport companyRīgas mikroautobusu satiksme, establishing a monopoly over the service.
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 trains operated 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 services to Russia andBelarus, and plans to revive passenger rail traffic withEstonia. International overnight service is with Latvia Express trains (Latvian:Latvijas Ekspresis). ATEN-T project calledRail Baltica envisages building ahigh-speed railway line via Riga connectingTallinn toWarsaw usingstandard gauge,[118] expected to be put into operation in 2024.[119]Latvian Railways (Latvian:Latvijas dzelzceļš orLDz) operates the Latvian Rail History Museum in Riga.
^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".
^ab"Riga Municipality Portal". Copyright 2003–2009, www.riga.lv/LV/Channels/ Riga Municipality. Archived fromthe original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved27 July 2009.
^abMoeller et al. History of the Christian Church. MacMillan & Co. 1893.
^abcdePalmieri, A.Catholic Origin of Latvia, ed. Cororan, J.A. et al.The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Volume XLVI, January–October 1921. Philadelphia.
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