Human Rights in Latvia - Participation, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Digits

Participation, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Digits

In the local elections of 2009, 79.7% of elected councillors indicated their ethnicity as ethnic Latvians, 65.5% were male. In the parliamentary elections of 2010, 81 of 100 elected MPs were males, 76 indicated their ethnicity as ethnic Latvians. For comparison, in the beginning of 2010 ethnic Latvians were 59.4% of the population (and 71.8% among citizens) and women — 53.9%.

As of September, 2012, minimum consumer basket was 175.88 LVL (approx. 250 EUR), the minimal salary being 200 LVL) before tax-paying and the minimal age pension — 49.5 LVL. Average calculated age pension in August 2012 was 190.76 LVL. Average salary after tax-paying in June, 2012, was 347 LVL, varying from 247 LVL in Latgale till 392 LVL in Riga.

Unemployment rate in the end of September, 2012, was 11.0% according to State Employment Agency, varying between 7.3% in Riga region and 21.6% in Latgale. Ethnic minorities and persons not indicating ethnicity composed 46.2% of the unemployed in the end of August 2012.

Life expectancy at birth was estimated as 72.93 years in 2012. In 2011, there were 6.3 outpatient visits to physicians per capita, 58.8 hospital beds and 39.1 physicians per 10 000 population.

Pre-school education and nine-years basic education are compulsory. Secondary education (forms 10-12) is free in public schools. However, according to Ombudsman, the constitutional principle of free education is violated by practice of parents having to buy textbooks. According to 2000 census, 13.9% of those aged 15 and older and giving answers on own education have had obtained higher education. In 2011, 94.6% of basic school (9 years) graduates had continued their studies, as well as 63.6% of secondary school graduates had done.