Riga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Riga Rīga  (Latvian) Reiga  (Latgalian) Rīgõ  (Livonian)
Capital city and state city
Skyline of Riga from Daugava Riga City Hall Riga Cathedral House of the Blackheads Latvian National Opera National Library of Latvia Albert Street 8
Flag Coat of arms Global brandmark
Riga highlighted in red inside of Latvia
Riga Location in Latvia Show map of Latvia Riga Location in Baltic states Show map of Baltic states Riga Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Latvia
Government
• Type	City Council
Area
• Capital city and state city	Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). km2 (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi)
• Land	Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). km2 (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi)
• Water	{{expr:Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).-Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).}} km2 (Formatting error: invalid input when rounding sq mi)  15.8%
• Metro	3,359 km2 (1,297 sq mi)
Population  (2024)
• Capital city and state city	605,273
• Urban	917,351
• Metro	870,000
• Metro density	259.0/km2 (671/sq mi)
• Demonym	Rigan (Rīdzinieks)
GDP
• Capital city and state city	17,647,619,000 Euro (2021)
• Per capita	28,943 Euro (2021)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Calling codes	66 and 67
City budget	€1.26 billion
HDI (2021)	0.929 – very high
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Historic Centre of Riga
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	ii, i
Designated:	1997
UNESCO region:	Europe

Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. It is home to over 605,000 people, which is about one-third of Latvia's total population. The city sits on the Gulf of Riga where the Daugava River flows into the Baltic Sea. Riga covers about 307 square kilometers and is mostly flat, lying just above sea level.

Riga was founded in 1201 and was once a member of the Hanseatic League, a powerful group of trading cities. Its historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its beautiful Art Nouveau buildings and 19th-century wooden houses. Riga was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2014. It has also hosted big events like the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 and several Ice Hockey World Championships. Riga is also home to an important European Union office for electronic communications.

In 2019, more than 1.4 million tourists visited Riga. The city is served by Riga International Airport, the busiest airport in the Baltic states. Riga is part of several important city networks, including Eurocities.

What's in a Name?

The exact origin of the name Riga is not fully known, but there are a few ideas:

• Some think it comes from the Livonian word ringa, meaning "loop." This might refer to the natural harbor formed by a bend in the Daugava River.
• Another idea is that it comes from Riege, the German name for the Rīdzene River, which used to flow into the Daugava.
• Bishop Albert, who founded the city, once said the name came from the Latin word rigata, meaning "irrigated." He used this to symbolize bringing Christianity to the local people.

However, the most accepted idea comes from a German historian named Dionysius Fabricius (1610). He said Riga got its name from the many warehouses along the Daugava River, which the local Liv people called Riae. The "j" sound in the Latvian word rīja changed to a "g" sound in German. This idea is supported because the city is called Riia in Estonian, a language related to Livonian.

A Look Back: Riga's History

Swedish Empire 1629–1721
Russian Empire 1721–1917
Republic of Latvia 1918–1940
 Latvian SSR 1940–1941
Nazi Germany 1941–1944
 Latvian SSR 1944–1990
Republic of Latvia 1990–present

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How Riga Was Founded

The Daugava River has been an important trade route for a very long time. Even in ancient times, it was part of a route used by Vikings to reach Byzantium. A safe natural harbor, located 15 kilometers upriver from the Daugava's mouth, was known as Duna Urbs as early as the 2nd century. This area was first settled by the Livs, a local tribe.

Riga started to grow as a trading center during the early Middle Ages, especially during the Viking Age. The people living there mostly fished, raised animals, and traded. Later, they also became skilled in crafts like working with bone, wood, amber, and iron.

By the 12th century, Riga was already a busy trading hub. German traders began visiting Riga and set up a small outpost in 1158.

Around this time, a monk named Meinhard came to convert the Livonian people to Christianity. He built a castle and church upstream from Riga. However, the Livs continued their traditional beliefs, and Meinhard's mission was not successful.

In 1198, Bishop Berthold arrived with crusaders to force Christianity on the Livonians. He died soon after, and his forces were defeated. To get revenge, Pope Innocent III called for a new crusade. Bishop Albert was named Bishop of Livonia in 1199. He arrived in Riga in 1200 with 23 ships and 500 crusaders. In 1201, he moved the bishop's main church from Uexküll to Riga, forcing the local elders to agree.

The House of the Blackheads is one of the most famous buildings in Old Riga (Vecrīga).

Bishop Albert's Influence

In 1201, German merchants also started arriving in Novgorod through the Dvina River. To protect the new territory and trade, Albert created the Order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword in 1202. This group was open to nobles and merchants.

Albert began to fortify Riga in 1207. He made sure Riga would be important for trade by getting special permission from the Pope. This meant all German merchants had to trade through Riga when doing business in the Baltic region. In 1211, Riga started making its own coins, and Albert began building the Riga Dom.

Riga's merchants wanted more independence from the Church. In 1221, they gained the right to govern Riga themselves and created their own city rules.

Albert died in January 1229. He didn't become an archbishop, but the German influence he established in Livonia lasted for 700 years.

Joining the Hanseatic League

In 1282, Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League. This powerful trading group helped Riga become economically and politically stable. This strong foundation helped the city survive many conflicts over the centuries.

Changes in Power

Riga in the 16th century

Riga in 1650. Drawing by Johann Christoph Brotze.

As the Hanseatic League became less powerful, other countries wanted to control Riga. In 1522, Riga accepted the Reformation, which ended the power of the archbishops. For twenty years, Riga was a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire.

Then, in 1582, Riga came under the control of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1621, during a war, Riga came under the rule of Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden. Riga remained one of the largest cities under Swedish rule until 1710, keeping much of its self-government.

However, between 1709 and 1710, Russian forces led by Peter the Great captured Riga. The city was also suffering from a terrible plague at the time. Riga became part of the Russian Empire in 1721. By the early 1900s, Riga was a major port for timber export in the Russian Empire.

Even with many wars and changes in power, the Baltic Germans living in Riga kept a strong position. By 1867, almost half of Riga's population was German. However, more and more Latvians moved to the city in the mid-19th century. Riga became a center for the Latvian National Awakening, a movement to promote Latvian culture and identity.

World War I and Independence

German troops entering Riga during World War I

The 20th century brought World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917. German troops entered Riga in September 1917. In March 1918, a treaty was signed that gave the Baltic countries to Germany. However, after the war ended in November 1918, Germany had to give up this treaty. This allowed Latvia, with Riga as its capital, to declare its independence on November 18, 1918.

Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia focused more on trade with Western European countries like the United Kingdom and Germany. Many Baltic Germans moved away in late 1939, before the Soviet Union took over Latvia in June 1940.

World War II and Soviet Rule

Damaged House of the Blackheads and St. Peter's Church during World War II

During World War II, the Soviet Union occupied Latvia in June 1940. Then, Nazi Germany occupied it from 1941 to 1944. Soviet forces took over Riga again on October 13, 1944. After the war, many workers and officials from Russia and other Soviet republics moved to Riga. Large apartment buildings were built to house these new residents.

Riga's historic center was badly damaged during World War II due to bombing. After the war, many efforts were made to rebuild famous buildings. For example, St. Peter's Church lost its wooden tower but was rebuilt. The House of the Blackheads was completely destroyed and later rebuilt in 1995 to look like the original.

By 1989, the number of Latvians in Riga had dropped to 36.5% of the population.

Soldiers of the Soviet Red Army in front of the Freedom Monument in Riga in 1944

Riga in the 21st Century

Flower laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument in 2012

In 2004, cheaper flights from other European cities led to a big increase in tourists visiting Riga.

Modern highrises of Riga

Riga was the European Capital of Culture in 2014. In 2022, a rally called for removing Soviet monuments in Latvia. The demolition of the main obelisk was completed in August 2022.

Riga's Location and Layout

Riga is the largest city in the three Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia). About one-tenth of the combined population of these three countries lives in Riga.

City Districts

Riga is divided into six main administrative areas:

• Central District (3 km²)
• Kurzeme District (79 km²)
• Zemgale Suburb (41 km²)
• Northern District (77 km²)
• Vidzeme Suburb (57 km²)
• Latgale Suburb (50 km²)

These divisions were set up in 1941 and 1969. While there are no official smaller units, Riga is considered to have 58 neighborhoods.

Panorama over Riga from St. Peter's Church

Weather in Riga

Riga has a humid continental climate. The coldest months are January and February, with average temperatures around -2.1°C. It can get as cold as -20°C to -25°C almost every year. Being close to the sea means Riga often has rain and fog in autumn. Snow can cover the ground for about eighty days. Summers are mild and rainy, with an average temperature of 18°C, but on the hottest days, it can go above 30°C.

People of Riga

In 2024, Riga had 605,270 people, making it one of the largest cities in the Baltic states. However, its population has decreased from over 900,000 in 1991. This is mainly due to people moving away and lower birth rates.

According to 2022 data, ethnic Latvians make up 47.4% of Riga's population. Russians are the second largest group at 35.7%. Other groups include Belarusians (3.6%), Ukrainians (3.5%), and Poles (1.7%).

When Latvia regained its independence in 1991, people who had moved to Latvia during the Soviet era were not automatically given Latvian citizenship. The percentage of ethnic Latvians in Riga has increased from 36.5% in 1989 to 47.4% in 2022. At the same time, the percentage of Russians decreased from 47.3% to 35.7%. In 2022, 79.0% of Riga's population were citizens of Latvia, while 15.3% were non-citizens and 5.6% were citizens of other countries.

Riga's Economy

Riga is a very important economic and financial center in the Baltic states. About half of all jobs in Latvia are in Riga, and the city produces more than 50% of Latvia's total economic output. It also accounts for about half of Latvia's exports.

The main export industries in Riga include wood products, IT, food and drink manufacturing, medicines, transport, and metalworking. The Freeport of Riga is one of the largest ports in the Baltics. It handled a record 34 million tons of cargo in 2011.

Tourism is also a big industry in Riga. After a slowdown during the global economic problems of the late 2000s, tourism grew by 22% in 2011 alone.

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  Bank of Latvia

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  Riga Stock Exchange in the early 20th century. Today, it is the Art Museum Riga Bourse.

Culture in Riga

The Latvian National Opera

Theatres

• The Latvian National Opera started in 1918. It performs many famous operas and is also known for its ballet.
• The Latvian National Theatre was founded in 1919. It keeps the traditions of Latvian drama alive and is one of the biggest theaters in Latvia.
• The Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre is the oldest professional drama theater in Latvia, founded in 1883. It shows classic plays and new experimental works.
• The Daile Theatre opened in 1920. It is a very successful theater in Latvia, often showing modern plays from other countries.
• Latvian State Puppet Theatre was founded in 1944 and has shows for both children and adults.
• The New Riga Theatre opened in 1992.

Mežaparks Great Bandstand

The Mežaparks Great Bandstand

The Mežaparks Great Bandstand is a large outdoor stage in Mežaparks park. This is where the Latvian Song and Dance Festival takes place every five years. This festival is one of the largest amateur singing and dancing events in the world and is recognized by UNESCO.

World Choir Games

Riga hosted the World Choir Games in 2014. This event, held every two years, brings together over 15,000 singers from more than 300 choirs from over 60 countries. Choirs compete for medals in many categories. The event also includes workshops and festivals open to the public.

Riga's Architecture

Riga Castle

The radio and TV tower in Riga is the tallest structure in Latvia and the Baltic States. It reaches 368.5 meters high. Riga's city center also has many beautiful examples of Gothic revival architecture, like the Kalpaka Boulevard Library. It is especially famous for its many Art Nouveau buildings and its medieval old town.

Art Nouveau Style

Riga has one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world, with at least 800 of them. This is because Riga grew very quickly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Art Nouveau was very popular. The city's population grew from 282,000 in 1857 to 472,100 in 1913.

The growing middle class in Riga used their wealth to build impressive apartment buildings outside the old city walls. Local architects, many of whom studied at Riga Technical University, adopted the popular European Art Nouveau style. Between 1910 and 1913, 300 to 500 new buildings were built each year in Riga, many of them in the Art Nouveau style and mostly outside the old town.

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  Alberta iela 13

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  Alberta iela 2a

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  Staircase of Alberta ielā 12

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  Aleksandra Čaka iela 26

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  Riga Art Nouveau Museum

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  Strēlnieku iela 4a

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  meistaru iela 10 relief

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  Strelnieku iela relief

Sports in Riga

Riga has a long and interesting history in basketball. In 1937, it hosted the second EuroBasket tournament. In the 1950s, Rīgas ASK became the best club in the Soviet Union and in Europe, winning the first three European Cups for Men's Champions Clubs from 1958 to 1960.

In 1960, TTT Riga also won their first title in the European Cup for Women's Champion Clubs. This made Riga the capital of European basketball, as clubs from the same city won both the men's and women's European titles for the first time ever.

Riga was one of the host cities for EuroBasket 2015 and will host it again in 2025.

Sports Clubs

Arena Riga, home to many sports clubs in Riga

• Basketball
  • BK VEF Rīga – A professional basketball team that has won the Latvian championship three times. They also play in international competitions like Eurocup.
  • Barons LMT – A men's basketball team that has won the Latvian championship twice and the FIBA EuroCup in 2008.
  • TTT Riga – A women's basketball team that won eighteen FIBA EuroLeague Women titles between 1960 and 1982.
• Ice Hockey
  • Dinamo Riga – A professional ice hockey club started in 2008. They played in the Kontinental Hockey League until 2022.
  • HK Riga – A junior hockey club that plays in the Minor Hockey League.
• Football
  • Riga FC – Started in 2015 from a merger of two Riga teams. They won the Virslīga Latvian Higher League for the first time in 2018.
  • RFS – Based on the Riga Football School (RFS) academy, which started in 1962.
  • FS Metta-LU – Founded in 2006. They play their home games at Daugava Stadium.
  • JDFS Alberts – Started as a football school in 2008 and later became a professional team.
  • Riga United FC
  • FC New Project

Sports Facilities

Skonto Stadium

• Arena Riga – A large arena built in 2006 for the 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. It can hold up to 14,500 people and hosts ice hockey, basketball, and volleyball events.
• Skonto Stadium – A football stadium built in 2000. It is the main stadium for the Latvia national football team and the home stadium for Riga FC.
• Daugava Stadium – A stadium built in 1958, used for both football and athletics.
• Biķernieki Complex Sports Base – Latvia's main complex for motorsport.

Sports Events

• EuroBasket 1937
• 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
• Riga Marathon
• 2013 World Women's Curling Championship
• EuroBasket 2015
• 2021 IIHF World Championship

Getting Around Riga

One of the many trolleybus types in Riga

A Škoda 15 T tram in Riga

Riga is a big hub in the Passenger Train network, showing commuter train frequency in 2016.

Riga is a central hub for transportation in Latvia. Many national roads start in Riga, and the European route E22 and Via Baltica highways pass through the city.

Riga has several bridges over the Daugava River. The oldest is the Railway Bridge, which is the only one that carries trains. Other important bridges include the Stone Bridge, the Island Bridge, and the Shroud Bridge. In 2008, the first part of the new Southern Bridge was finished to help reduce traffic in the city center.

The Freeport of Riga handles cargo and passenger ships. Sea ferries connect Riga Passenger Terminal to Stockholm.

Riga has one active airport for commercial flights, the Riga International Airport (RIX), built in 1973. It is the main base for AirBaltic and a base for RyanAir. The airport was renovated in 2001 for the city's 800th anniversary. It is the largest airport in the Baltic States, with 4.7 million passengers in 2014. A new transport hub is planned around the airport, including a Rail Baltica station.

Public transport in Riga is run by Rīgas Satiksme. They operate many trams, buses, and trolleybuses throughout the city. The Riga International Coach Terminal offers bus connections within Latvia and to other countries.

A project called Rail Baltica plans to build a high-speed railway line through Riga, connecting Tallinn to Warsaw. This line is expected to open in 2024. The Latvian Railways also operates the Latvian Rail History Museum in Riga.

Universities in Riga

Famous People from Riga

Isaiah Berlin, 1983

Sergei Eisenstein, early 1920s

Elīna Garanča, 2012

Johann Gottfried Herder, painted in 1785

Baroness von Krüdener and her son Paul, painted in 1786

Vera Mukhina, 1937

Jeļena Ostapenko, 2022

Wilhelm Ostwald, 1913

Mikhail Tal, 1962

Many notable people were born in Riga or have strong connections to the city:

• Thinkers and Leaders
  • Sir Isaiah Berlin (1909–1997), a British thinker and historian of ideas.
  • Valdis Dombrovskis (born 1971), a Latvian politician and EU Commissioner.
  • Juris Hartmanis (1928–2022), a Latvian-American computer scientist who won the Turing Award.
  • Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), a German philosopher and poet.
  • Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932), a Baltic German chemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909.

• Artists and Performers
  • Mikhail Baryshnikov (born 1948), a famous ballet dancer and actor.
  • Sergei Eisenstein (1898–1948), a Soviet Russian film director known for Battleship Potemkin.
  • Elīna Garanča (born 1976), a Latvian opera singer.
  • Mariss Jansons (1943–2019), a Latvian conductor.
  • Raimonds Pauls (born 1936), a Latvian composer and piano player.
  • Vera Mukhina (1889–1953), a Soviet sculptor.

• Sports Stars
  • Helmuts Balderis (born 1952), a former Latvian ice hockey player.
  • Dāvis Bertāns (born 1992), a professional basketball player.
  • Andris Biedriņš (born 1986), a former basketball player.
  • Zemgus Girgensons (born 1994), an ice hockey player who was the highest-drafted Latvian in the NHL.
  • Jeļena Ostapenko (born 1997), a women's tennis player who won the French Open in 2017.
  • Sandis Ozoliņš (born 1972), an ice hockey player who won the Stanley Cup.
  • Mikhail Tal (1936–1992), a Soviet-Latvian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion.

Sister Cities

Riga is twinned with many cities around the world, meaning they have special friendly relationships:

Riga also works closely with:

• Brisbane, Australia
• Seattle, United States

See also

In Spanish: Riga para niños