More and more Latvian residents feel like foreigners in their own country - according to a study.
Only 61% of Latvian residents feel that society accepts them. Over three years the figure dropped by 7%. These are the data from the company's Cohesion Radar 2026.
The gap between the language groups is particularly noticeable. Among young people aged 18-30, 46% of Latvians and 41% of Russian speakers acknowledge the existence of equal opportunities in society. In the older group (50-75 years old) - 39% compared to 17%.
The difference is even greater in the assessment of freedom of political opinions: among elderly Latvians this figure is 53%, among Russian speakers - only 17%.
At the same time, young people are generally more optimistic about the future, including Russian-speaking people. But Russian-speaking young and old residents alike hardly feel accepted. At the same time, the ethnic tension is increasing: it is noticed by 57% (in 2023 - 52%), and it is intensifying, according to the respondents, as a result of disappointment with politics and a decrease in trust in democratic institutions.