Minority groups in the largest cities of Latvia

Abstract

Spatial segregation of minority ethnic groups is a returning issue in public and political debates across many parts of the world. The degree of spatial concentration and segregation of ethnic minorities in European cities is well documented. However, despite Latvia's diverse migration history and relatively high minority population, particularly in the largest cities, these issues have received scant attention. This study examines the residential patterns of minority ethnic groups, presenting data on the levels and dynamics of urban residential segregation. The study includes five ethnic minorities: Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and other ethnicities. We adopted a widely used methodology to examine changes in ethnic residential segregation between 2000 and 2019. The information comes from the 2000 census and the population register. We are confident in stating that overall ethnic residential segregation levels do not appear to be increasing. However, there are some differences not only between ethnic groups in the same city, but also between similar groups in different cities. Furthermore, demographic change reinforces both minority representation in established residential patterns and ethnic segregation in urban Latvia as a whole. Certain characteristics of the Latvian context, such as the dominance of owner-occupied dwellings and relatively low residential mobility, may explain the findings.