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Riga
Rīga
City
From top, left to right: the Freedom Monument, the Riga City Council building, the House of the Blackheads, Livonian Square, and the Latvian National Opera
From top, left to right: the Freedom Monument, the Riga City Council building, the House of the Blackheads, Livonian Square, and the Latvian National Opera
Flag of Riga
Flag		 Coat of arms of Riga
Coat of arms
Country  Latvia
Area (2002)
 • City 324 km2 (125 sq mi)
 • Land 275.5 km2 (106.4 sq mi)
 • Water 48.60 km2 (18.76 sq mi)  15.8%
 • Metro 7,292.8 km2 (2,815.8 sq mi)
Population (2018)
 • City 615,369
 • Density 1,899.3/km2 (4,919/sq mi)
 • Urban 939,325
 • Metro 1,070,000
 • Metro density 146.7/km2 (380/sq mi)
 • Demonym Rīdzinieki
Ethnicity (2019)
 • Latvians 47.1%
 • Russians 36.4%
 • Belarusians 3.7%
 • Ukrainians 3.4%
 • Poles 1.8%
 • Lithuanians 0.8%
 • Romanies 0.1%
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Calling codes 66 and 67
GDP(nominal) 2016
 - Total €13.5 billion($27 billion, PPP)
 - Per capita €21,000($42,500, PPP)
HDI (2017) 0.878 – very high
Website www.riga.lv
Historic Centre of Riga
UNESCO World Heritage site
The Old Town of Riga
The old town of Riga
Criteria Cultural: i, ii
Reference 852
Inscription 1997 (21st Session)
Area 438.3 ha
Buffer zone 1,574.2 ha


Riga is the capital of Latvia and is home to 632,614 inhabitants (2019), which is a third of Latvia's population. Being significantly larger than other cities of Latvia, Riga is the country's primate city. It is also the largest city in the three Baltic states and is home to one tenth of the three Baltic states' combined population. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river where it meets the Baltic Sea. Riga's territory covers 307.17 km2 (118.60 sq mi) and lies 1–10 m (3 ft 3 in–32 ft 10 in) above sea level, on a flat and sandy plain.

Riga was founded in 1201 and is a former Hanseatic League member. Riga's historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its Art Nouveau/Jugendstil architecture and 19th century wooden architecture. Riga was the European Capital of Culture during 2014, along with Umeå in Sweden. Riga hosted the 2006 NATO Summit, the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, the 2006 IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships and the 2013 World Women's Curling Championship. It is home to the European Union's office of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).

In 2016, Riga received over 1.4 million visitors. The city is served by Riga International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the Baltic states. Riga is a member of Eurocities, the Union of the Baltic Cities (UBC) and Union of Capitals of the European Union (UCEU).

History

Riga was founded in 1201. Since 1918 Riga has been the capital city of Latvia.

People

Most of the people are Latvian (45%) and 40% are Russian.

Images for kids

  • Riga SPOT 1024

    Riga as seen on SPOT satellite imagery

  • Daugava za Vanšu tilts (9)

    Right bank of the Daugava

  • Old Riga Buildings

    The building of the Brotherhood of Blackheads is one of the most iconic buildings of Old Riga (Vecrīga)

  • Panorama of Riga, 1572

    Riga in the 16th century

  • Riga 1650

    Riga in 1650. The inscription reads: Prospect der Stadt Riga ums Jahr 1650 (View at the City of Riga in 1650). Drawing by Johann Christoph Brotze

  • German troops riga 1916

    German troops entering Riga during World War I.

  • German officers riga ww1

    High-ranking German officers and Kaiser Wilhelm II in Riga after its fall, 3 September 1917.

  • Edificios en la Plaza del Mercado, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 02

    The Old Town of Riga

  • 25. trolejbuss Krišjāņa Valdemāra ielas un Kalpaka bulvāra krustojumā

    One of the several Trolleybus types in Riga

  • Riga, Škoda 15T

    A Škoda 15 T tram in Riga

  • Riga - City Hall

    Riga City Council

  • Riga iedvesmas pilseta

    The logo for the city of Riga, designed for its 800th anniversary (it means Riga: City of inspiration).

  • Skonto Stadions

    Skonto Stadium

  • Purvciems, Vidzemes priekšpilsēta, Rīga, Latvia - panoramio - Dmitrij M (5)

    Soviet era buildings in Purvciems

  • Purvciems (1)

    Buildings in Purvciems

  • Zolitude paula lejina playground

    Playground in Zolitūde

  • Buildings in Ziepniekkalns

    Buildings in Ziepniekkalns

  • Kengaraga mikrorajons

    Soviet apartment towers in Ķengarags

  • Stone monument in Riga - Steindenkmal in Riga (28634731644)

    Soviet era, Red Latvian Riflemen monument, Riga

  • Latvias Banka

    Bank of Latvia

  • Riga stock exchange

    Riga Stock Exchange early 20th century. Now The Art Museum Riga Bourse

  • 2006 09 14-17 RigaFortress054

    Riga Castle

  • Edificio modernista en Strelnieku Iela 4a, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 02

    Stockholm School of Economics in Riga

  • Svenskporten Riga

    Swedish Gate

  • Riga-Livenplatz03

    Līvu Square

  • Riga-freedom-monument

    Freedom Monument

  • Freedom Monument Riga Apex

    Top of Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia.

  • Freedom Monument Riga Base

    Base of Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia

  • Latvijas Nacionālais mākslas muzejs

    Latvian National Museum of Art

  • Riga makslas akademija academy of art

    Latvian Academy of Art

  • Riga face au dome

    Art Museum Riga Bourse

  • TV tower seen from Latvian Academy of Sciences

    The radio and TV tower

  • National Library of Latvia in Riga

    National Library of Latvia

  • Alberta ielā 1 20120728-2

    Alberta iela 1

  • Immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7575664960)

    Alberta iela 2a

  • Alberta ielā 4 20120728-01

    Alberta iela 4

  • Immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7582914046)

    Alberta iela 8

  • Immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7561269256)

    Alberta iela 12

  • Escalier dun immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7561907794)

    Alberta iela 12 staircase

  • Escalier dun immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7561908596)

    Alberta iela 12 staircase detail

  • Riga-Art Noveau detail-2005

    Strēlnieku iela

  • Elizabetes ielā 10a 20120728-5

    Elizabetes iela 10a balcony

  • Immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7558514582)

    Elizabetes iela 10b detail

  • Elizabetes ielā 13 20120728-1

    Elizabetes iela 13

  • Elizabetes ielā 23 20120728-7

    Elizabetes iela 23

  • Edificio en Gertrudes iela, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01

    Ģertrūdes iela

  • Jauniela 25 29 01

    Jauniela 25

  • Immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7573886286)

    Brīvības iela 99

  • Immeuble art nouveau (Riga) (7570526856)

    Smilšu iela 8 detail

  • Kaleju 23 01

    Kalēju iela 22

  • Opera Nacional, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 15

    Latvian National Opera

  • Latvian National Theatre

    Latvian National Theatre

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