Riga
25508
225874064
2008-07-15T20:22:21Z
Polaron
511164
cite needed
{{Otheruses}}
{{Latvian Cities
|name=Rīga
|Coa=Coat of Arms of Riga.svg
|Flag=Riga flag.gif
|Image=Riga silhouette.jpg
|Caption= Riga old town silhouette at the horizon.
|citysince=1225
|location_map=Latvia-Riga city.png
|n1=56
|n2=58
|e1=24
|e2=8
|othernames= {{lang-et|Riia}}; {{lang-fi|Riika}}; {{lang-lt|Ryga}}; {{lang-ru|Рига}}; {{lang-pl|Ryga}}
|Mayor=[[Jānis Birks]]
|nrofmembers=
|area=307.17
|Water=48.50
|Metropolitan=
|Rural=
|Elevation=
|population=727578
|popmetropolitan=1148003{{fact}} <!-- 2003 -->
|density=2382
|densmetropolitan=
|postcode=LV-10(01-84)
|callcode=67
|webpage= http://www.riga.lv
}}
'''Riga''' ({{lang-lv|Rīga}}, {{IPA2|riːga}}, {{audio|Rigapronunc.ogg|pronunciation}}) the [[capital]] of [[Latvia]], is situated on the [[Baltic Sea]] coast on the mouth of the river [[Daugava]]. Riga is the largest city in the [[Baltic countries|Baltic states]].
The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], and the city is particularly notable for its extensive [[Art Nouveau]] ([[Jugendstil]]) architecture, which UNESCO considers to be unparalleled anywhere in the world <ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/852.pdf] Unesco evaluation Page 67</ref>
==History==
{{main|History of Riga}}
[[Image:Riga.gif|thumb|150px|left|The Rīga skyline in the mid-16th century, <u>Cosmographia Universalis</u>]]
Riga is located at the site of an ancient settlement of the [[Livonian people|Livonians]], an ancient [[Finnic]] tribe, at the junction of the [[Daugava]] and the Riga River, at one point forming a natural harbor called the Riga Lake, neither of which exist today <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ceroi.net/reports/riga/latviski/pamatlietas/teritorija.htm|title=Teritorija un administratīvās robežas vēsturiskā skatījumā|language=Latvian|accessdate=2007-08-02|publisher=Cities Environmental Reports on the Internet}}</ref>. It is believed that the name of the river gave Riga its name. <ref>[http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/History_of_Riga/Stories/Udeni/Ridzina.htm Riga municipality portal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
The modern founding of Riga is regarded by historians to have begun with the arrival of German traders, mercenaries and religious [[crusade]]rs in the second half of the 12th century, attracted by a sparsely populated region, potential new markets and by the [[missionary]] opportunities to [[religious conversion|convert]] the local population to [[Christianity]]. German merchants established an outpost for trading with the [[Balts]] near the [[livonian people|Liv]] settlement at Riga in 1158. The [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] monk Meinhard built a monastery there [[ca.]] 1190.
[[Albert of Buxhoeveden|Bishop Albert]] was proclaimed Bishop of [[Livonia]] by his uncle Hartwig, [[Archbishopric of Bremen|Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg]] in 1199. He landed in Riga in 1201 with 23 ships and more than 1500 armed crusaders, making Riga his bishopric. He established the Order of [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] (later a branch of the [[Teutonic Knights]]) and granted Riga city rights in that same year.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}<!-- Riga was granted city rights in 1225 -->
Riga served as a gateway to trade with the Baltic tribes and with [[Russia]]. In 1282 Riga became a member of the [[Hanseatic League]]. The Hansa was instrumental in giving Riga economic and political stability, thus providing the city with a strong foundation which endured the political conflagrations that were to come, down to modern times.
As the influence of the Hansa waned, Riga became the object of foreign military, political, religious and economic aspirations. Riga accepted the [[Reformation]] in 1522, ending the power of the archbishops. In 1524, a venerated statue of the Virgin Mary in the Cathedral was denounced as a witch, and given a [[trial by water]] in the [[Daugava]] or Dvina River. The statue floated, so it was denounced as a witch and burnt at Kubsberg<ref name="fn_1">{{cite book|first=Diarmaid|last=MacCulloch|authorlink=Diarmaid MacCulloch|year=2003|title=[[The Reformation: A History]]|publisher=Penguin|isbn=0-670-03296-4}}</ref>. With the demise of the [[Teutonic Knights]] in 1561, Riga for twenty years had the status of a Free Imperial City, then in 1581, Riga came under the influence of the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. In 1621 Riga and the outlying fortress of [[Daugavgriva]] came under the rule of [[Gustavus Adolphus]], King of Sweden, who intervened in the [[Thirty Years' War]] not only for political and economic gain but also in favor of German [[Lutheran]] Protestantism. During the [[Russo-Swedish War, 1656-1658]], Riga withstood a siege by Russians. Riga remained the largest city in Sweden until 1710 during a period in which the city retained a great deal of self-government autonomy. In that year, in the course of [[Great Northern War]], [[Russia]] under [[Tsar]] [[Peter I of Russia|Peter the Great]] invaded Riga. Sweden's northern dominance ended, and Russia's emergence as the strongest Northern power was formalized through the [[Treaty of Nystad]] in 1721. Riga was annexed by Russia and became an industrialized port city of the Russian empire, where it remained until [[World War I]]. By 1900, Riga was the third largest city in Russia after [[Moscow]] and [[Saint Petersburg]] in terms of numbers of industrial workers.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
[[Image:Riga 1650.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Riga in 1650. The inscription reads: ''Prospect der Stadt Riga ums Jahr 1650'' (View at the City of Riga in the year 1650). Drawing by [[Johann Christoph Brotze]]]]
During these many centuries of war and changes of power in the Baltic, the [[Baltic Germans]] in Riga remained in their dominant position despite demographic changes. Riga employed [[German language|German]] as its official language of administration until the [[Russification|imposition]] of [[Russian language]] in 1891 as the official language in the Baltic provinces. Latvians began to supplant Germans as the largest ethnic group in the city in the mid-19th century. The rise of a Latvian [[bourgeoisie]] made Riga a center of the [[Latvian National Awakening]] with the founding of the Riga Latvian Association in 1868 and the organization of the first national song festival in 1873. The nationalist movement of the [[Young Latvians]] was followed by the socialist [[New Current]] during the city's rapid industrialization, culminating in the [[Russian Revolution of 1905|1905 Revolution]] led by the [[Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party]].
The 20th century brought [[World War I]] and the impact of the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]] to Riga. The German army marched into Riga in 1917. In 1918 the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] was signed giving the [[Baltic countries]] to Germany. Because of the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|Armistice with Germany]] of [[November 11]], [[1918]], Germany had to renounce that treaty, as did Russia, leaving Latvia and the other Baltic States in a position to claim independence. Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, thus declared its independence on [[November 18]], [[1918]].
[[Image:Riga old.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A view of Riga on a postcard. circa 1900.]]
Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia shifted their focus from Russia to the countries of [[Western Europe]]. The [[United Kingdom]] and [[Germany]] replaced Russia as Latvia's major trade partners.
During the [[World War II]], Latvia was occupied first by the [[Soviet Union]] in 1941 and then by the [[Occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany in 1941-1944]]. The [[Baltic Germans]] were forcibly repatriated to Germany. The city's Jewish community was forced into a ghetto in the Maskavas neighbourhood, and concentration camps were constructed in [[Kaiserwald]] and at the [[Salaspils]] city.
In 1945 Latvia was once again occupied by the Red Army. As a result of the war Latvia lost approximately one-third of its population.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Forced industrialization and planned{{Fact|date=April 2008}} large-scale immigration of large numbers of non-Latvians from other Soviet republics into Riga, particularly Russians, changed the demographic composition of Riga.
The policy of economic reform, introduced in 1986 as [[Perestroika]], led to disolution of the Soviet Union and restoration of independent Latvia in 1991. Latvia formally joined the [[United Nations]] as an independent country on [[September 17]], [[1991]]. In 2004 Latvia joined both [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]].
In 2004, the arrival of [[low-cost carrier|low-cost airlines]] resulted in cheaper flights from other European cities such as London and Berlin and consequently a substantial increase in numbers of tourists. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4633647.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Latvia prepares for a tourist invasion|first=Jonathan|last=Charles|accessdate=2007-08-02|date=2005-06-30}}</ref>
==Geography==
{{Infobox World Heritage Site
| Name = Historic Centre of Riga
| infoboxwidth = 250px
| Image = [[Image:Riga dom.jpg|230px|The Old Town of Riga]]
| Image_caption = The old Town of Riga is one of many World Heritage Sites in Europe
| State_Party = {{LAT}}
| Type = Cultural
| Criteria = i, ii
| ID = 852
| Region = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe and North America]]
| Year = 1997
}}
===Cityscape===
* The [[Riga Cathedral|Dom Cathedral]], the largest church in the [[Baltic states]]. Built in the 13th century, it was modified several times in its history. It has a magnificent [[Organ (music)|organ]] that dates from 1844.
* [[Riga Castle]] (''Rīgas Pils''), which houses the Museum of Latvian History and the Museum of Foreign Art.
* [[Saint Peter's Church, Riga]], with its {{convert|123|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high tower.
* St. John's Church, a small 13th-century chapel, behind Saint Peter's Church.
* The Powder Tower (''Pulvertornis''), the only tower that remains from the original city walls. The Latvian Museum of War is located inside.
* Wooden architecture.
* Ethnographic Open-Air Museum ([http://www.muzejs.lv ''Brīvdabas Muzejs'')], houses, farm buildings, and church representing rural life going back hundreds of years. Situated along Jugla Lake (''Juglas Ezers'').
* The Occupation Museum of Latvia, which documents the seizure and occupation of Latvia by different forces from 1940 to 1991.
* Art Nouveau architecture on Central Riga streets such as Alberta and Elizabetes Iela.
* [[Riga Radio and TV Tower]] - the third highest tower in Europe.
* Motor Museum (''Motormuzejs'') - collection of retro motorcycles and automobiles, including some of the first motorcycles and remants of the Soviet era, for example, Brezhnev's and Stalin's armored limousines with waxworks of these political figures. Located in [[Mežciems]].
* [[Riga Zoo]] and [[Mežaparks]] (Forest Park) with a Ferris wheel.
* Domina Shopping Centre - the largest shopping centre in the Baltic states (located in the North-West side of [[Purvciems]]).
* Riga Circus - the only permanently situatated circus in the Baltic States.
* "Lido" Atputas Centers (Recreation Centre) - restaurant, beer garden, amusement park and gift shop about 10 minutes from the city center.
===Neighbourhoods===
{{splitsection|Neighbourhoods of Riga}}
[[Image:Riga Powder Tower.JPG|thumb|200px|right|The Powder Tower of Riga]]
[[Image:Riga street.jpg|thumb|right|Left-bank Riga is distinguished by its green streets and large parks.]]
The city of Riga consists of six administrative regions, four of which are named after regions of [[Latvia]] - [[Kurzeme]] district, [[Latgale]] suburb, [[Vidzeme]] suburb, [[Zemgale]] suburb. There is also a Central District and a Northern district. Residents, however, divide Riga into residential neighbourhoods called ''micro regions.'' Unlike the city centre, they are mostly residential although they are equipped with commercial sectors. These neighbourhoods include:
*[[Āgenskalns]] - Left bank, old neighbourhood, mainly built in late 19th - early 20th century.
*[[Andrejsala]] - An emerging art, culture and entertainment district, located within former territory of the industrial port.
*[[Beberbeķi]] - A neighbourhood consisting mainly of private houses, it lies on the western edge of the city. Swampy forest ''Mukupurvs'' and [[Riga Airport]] noise area divides it from the rest of the city.
*[[Bolderāja]] - Left bank, Northernmost neighbourhood. 18th century fort bilt by [[Peter the Great]] is one of the oldest buildings in this part of the city.
*[[Čiekurkalns]] - Right bank, old neighbourhood.
*[[Dārzciems]] - Right bank, mainly consists of one- or two-story private houses.
*[[Dreiliņi]] - A newly built neighbourhood in the eastern part of the city.
*[[Dzirciems]] - Left bank, South of Iļģuciems.
*[[Iļģuciems]] - Left bank, North of Āgenskalns.
*[[Imanta]] - Left bank, newly-built neighbourhood.
*[[Jugla]] - Right bank, large neighbourhood, lies just West of lake Juglas.
*[[Ķengarags]] - Right bank, South-East of city center. One of the most inhabited neighbourhoods in town.
*[[Ķīpsala]] - island located just West of the Old Town. Home to The Press Office and Exhibition Hall.
*[[Maskavas Forštate]] - located South of the city centre.
*[[Mežaparks]] - Right bank, consists largely of private houses. Notable for its large forest-like park and the city zoo.
*[[Mežciems]] - Right bank, just East of large Biķernieku forest.
*[[Pārdaugava]] - Not really a neighbourhood by itself, but the name is frequently used when talking about Left bank, particularly Āgenskalns and Torņakalns.
*[[Pleskodāle]] - A neighbourhood consisting mostly of private houses on the west side of the city. It borders Zolitūde and Šampēteris neighbourhoods.
*[[Pļavnieki]] - Right bank, one of the town's most inhabited neighbourhoods.
*[[Purvciems]] - Right bank.
*[[Sarkandaugava]] - Right bank, East of the small river with the same name.
*[[Šampēteris]] - An old neighbourhood on the best bank of Daugava, with many houses built in the first part of 20th century still surviving.
*[[Šmerlis]] - Right bank, more of a forest than a neighbourhood, it is home to Riga's Cinema Studio.
*[[Torņakalns]] - Left bank, old neighbourhood known for the Māras pond.
*[[Vecmīlgrāvis]] - Right bank, cut off the mainland by a small river, Mīlgrāvis.
*[[Vecrīga]] - Old Town.
*[[Ziepniekkalns]] - Left bank, consists both of old and new buildings.
*[[Zolitūde]] - Left bank, another newly-built neighbourhood, just South of Imanta.
Some common factors in these place names are "vec" meaning old [vecs], "kalns" meaning hill, "ciems" meaning village, "sala" meaning island and "mež" meaning forest [mežs].
{{wide image|Rigapanorama.JPG|2000px|Panorama over Riga from [[Latvian Academy of Sciences]]}}
===Climate===
The climate of Riga is maritime and temperate, but the winters can be extreme due to the northern location. The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is -6°C but can frequently drop as low as -25°C. Due to the proximity of the sea autumn rains and fogs are frequent. Continuous snow cover may last eighty days. The summers in Riga are very warm and humid, with an average temperature of 18°C, the peak often goes as high as 36°C.
<br clear=all><!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather
|metric_first= Yes
|single_line= Yes
|location = Riga
|Jan_Hi_°C = -1.9 |Jan_REC_Hi_°C = 10.2
|Feb_Hi_°C = -1.5 |Feb_REC_Hi_°C = 13.5
|Mar_Hi_°C = 2.8 |Mar_REC_Hi_°C = 20.5
|Apr_Hi_°C = 9.8 |Apr_REC_Hi_°C = 27.9
|May_Hi_°C = 16.3 |May_REC_Hi_°C = 30.1
|Jun_Hi_°C = 21.2 |Jun_REC_Hi_°C = 32.5
|Jul_Hi_°C = 23.7 |Jul_REC_Hi_°C = 36.1
|Aug_Hi_°C = 21.0 |Aug_REC_Hi_°C = 33.6
|Sep_Hi_°C = 17.4 |Sep_REC_Hi_°C = 29.3
|Oct_Hi_°C = 10.5 |Oct_REC_Hi_°C = 23.4
|Nov_Hi_°C = 4.1 |Nov_REC_Hi_°C = 17.2
|Dec_Hi_°C = 0.4 |Dec_REC_Hi_°C = 11.5
|Year_Hi_°C = 10.0 |Year_REC_Hi_°C = 36.1
|Jan_Lo_°C = -7.3 |Jan_REC_Lo_°C = -33.7
|Feb_Lo_°C = -7.3 |Feb_REC_Lo_°C = -34.9
|Mar_Lo_°C = -4.3 |Mar_REC_Lo_°C = -23.3
|Apr_Lo_°C = 1.1 |Apr_REC_Lo_°C = -11.4
|May_Lo_°C = 6.0 |May_REC_Lo_°C = -5.3
|Jun_Lo_°C = 10.1 |Jun_REC_Lo_°C = -1.2
|Jul_Lo_°C = 12.3 |Jul_REC_Lo_°C = 4.0
|Aug_Lo_°C = 11.9 |Aug_REC_Lo_°C = 0.0
|Sep_Lo_°C = 8.1 |Sep_REC_Lo_°C = -4.1
|Oct_Lo_°C = 4.1 |Oct_REC_Lo_°C = -8.7
|Nov_Lo_°C = -0.3 |Nov_REC_Lo_°C = -19.0
|Dec_Lo_°C = -4.3 |Dec_REC_Lo_°C = -31.9
|Year_Lo_°C = 2.5 |Year_REC_Lo_°C = -34.9
<!--**** use mm or cm but not both! ****-->
|Jan_Precip_cm = |Jan_Precip_mm = 33
|Feb_Precip_cm = |Feb_Precip_mm = 25
|Mar_Precip_cm = |Mar_Precip_mm = 31
|Apr_Precip_cm = |Apr_Precip_mm = 39
|May_Precip_cm = |May_Precip_mm = 43
|Jun_Precip_cm = |Jun_Precip_mm = 61
|Jul_Precip_cm = |Jul_Precip_mm = 79
|Aug_Precip_cm = |Aug_Precip_mm = 79
|Sep_Precip_cm = |Sep_Precip_mm = 76
|Oct_Precip_cm = |Oct_Precip_mm = 60
|Nov_Precip_cm = |Nov_Precip_mm = 61
|Dec_Precip_cm = |Dec_Precip_mm = 49
|Year_Precip_cm = |Year_Precip_mm = 636
|source = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name="pogoda">{{cite web
| url = http://pogoda.ru.net/climate/26422.htm | title = Pogoda.ru.net| accessmonthday = September 8| accessyear = 2007
| publisher = | language = Russian}}</ref>
|accessdate = 8.09.2007
<!--|source2 = <ref name= >{{cite web
| url = | title = | accessmonthday = | accessyear =
| publisher = | language = }}</ref>-->
|accessdate2 = -->
}}<!--Infobox ends-->
==Economy==
Business and leisure travel to Riga has increased significantly in recent years due to improved infrastructure. Most tourists travel to Riga by air via [[Riga International Airport]], the largest airport in the [[Baltic states]], which was renovated and modernized in 2001 on the occasion of Riga's 800th anniversary. In the near future, the face of Riga will undergo notable changes. The construction of a new landmark — the Latvian National Library building — is beginning in the autumn of 2007 and is due to be built by 2010.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.gaismaspils.lv/gp/index.php?l=en&m=attistiba&s=LNB_Ekas_Buvnieciba
|title=About the construction of the Castle of Light
|publisher=Latvian National Library
|accessdate=2007-08-21
}}</ref> Currently discussions are underway in Riga council about the development of the central areas on the left bank of the Daugava. The major dispute surrounds plans to build skyscrapers in Ķīpsala.{{Fact|date=August 2007}} The construction of 3 buildings in Ķīpsala has already started — the Da Vinci complex (25 floors) and two [[high-rise]]s called Z-Towers (30 floors).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=102008
|title=Da Vinci project info
|accessdate=2007-08-21
|publisher=Emporis Buildings
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.vertikalapasaule.lv/eng/project/description/
|title=Z-Towers project description
|publisher=Vertikala Pasaule
|accessdate=2007-08-21
}}</ref> Almost all important Latvian financial institutions are located in Riga, including the [[Bank of Latvia]], which is Latvia's central bank. Foreign commercial trade through Riga has been on the increase in recent years and received new impetus on [[May 1]], [[2004]] when Latvia became a member of the [[European Union]]. Riga accounts for about half of the total industrial output of Latvia, focusing on the financial sector, public utilities, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, wood processing, printing and publishing, textiles and furniture, and communications equipment manufacturing. More than 50% of Latvian companies are registered in Riga region.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lursoft.lv/stat/ur_stat_075.html|title=Lursoft IT statistics on dynamics of registering of companies in regions of Latvia|accessdate=2007-09-25
}}</ref> The port of Riga is an important cargo shipping center. It is the main all-weather port in the Baltic and is expected to grow in the next few years due to increased trade with other ex-Soviet states and China. <ref>[http://riga.usembassy.gov/EN/site/R/rep20060912 Report on the Free Port of Riga<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== Infrastructure ==
Riga has one airport, [[Riga International Airport]], that serves commercial airlines. Air traffic at the airport has doubled between 1993 and 2004. Baltic sea ferries connect Riga to [[Stockholm]], [[Kiel]] and [[Lübeck]]. Riga was also home to two air bases during the [[Cold War]]: [[Rumbula (air base)|Rumbula]] and [[Spilve]]. <Ref>www.russianairfields.com/doc/russianairfields.pdf</ref> Riga as a city-port is a major transportation hub and is the center of the local road and [[railway]] system. In 2008, the first stage of the new Southern Bridge route across the Daugava will be completed.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.rdpad.lv/en/south_bridge/
|title=About the South Bridge
|publisher=[[Riga City Council]]
|accessdate=2007-08-21
}}</ref> The Southern Bridge is currently the biggest construction project in Baltic States in 20 years, and will help to reduce traffic jams and the amount of traffic in the city centre.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.dienvidutilts.lv/index.php?lang_id=2
|title=Southern Bridge project homepage
|accessdate=2007-08-21
}}</ref> Another big construction project is the planned Riga Northern Transport Corridor,<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ziemelukoridors.lv/pages/main.php?l=en&tema=1
|title=About the Northern Corridor
|accessdate=2007-08-21
}}</ref> which is scheduled to start in 2010.
Public transportation in the city is provided by [[Rīgas Satiksme]] which operates a large fleet of [[trams]], [[buses]] and [[trolleybuses]] on an extensive network of routes across the city. In addition, many private owners operate [[minibus]] services. Riga is connected to the rest of Latvia by trains operated by the national railway company [[Pasažieru Vilciens]], whose headquarters are in Riga. There are also international rail links to [[Russia]] and [[Estonia]] ([[Valga,_Estonia|Valga]]).
==Demographics==
{|
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1767 || align="right" | 19,500
|-
| 1800 || align="right" | 29,500
|-
| 1840 || align="right" | 60,000
|-
| 1867 || align="right" | 102,600
|-
| 1881 || align="right" | 169,300
|-
| 1897 || align="right" | 282,200
|-
| 1913 || align="right" | 517,500
|-
| 1920 || align="right" |¹185,100
|-
| 1930 || align="right" | 377,900
|-
| 1940 || align="right" | 353,800
|-
|}
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1941 || align="right" | 335,200
|-
| 1945 || align="right" |²228,200
|-
| 1950 || align="right" | 482,300
|-
| 1955 || align="right" | 566,900
|-
| 1959 || align="right" | 580,400
|-
| 1965 || align="right" | 665,200
|-
| 1970 || align="right" | 731,800
|-
| 1975 || align="right" | 795,600
|-
| 1979 || align="right" | 835,500
|-
| 1987 || align="right" | 900,300
|-
|}
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1990 || align="right" | 909,135
|-
| 1991 || align="right" | 900,455
|-
| 1992 || align="right" | 889,741
|-
| 1993 || align="right" | 863,657
|-
| 1994 || align="right" | 843,552
|-
| 1995 || align="right" | 824,988
|-
| 1996 || align="right" | 810,172
|-
| 1997 || align="right" | 797,947
|-
| 1998 || align="right" | 786,612
|-
| 1999 || align="right" | 776,008
|-
|}
| valign="top" |
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 2000 || align="right" | 764,329
|-
| 2001 || align="right" | 756,627
|-
| 2002 || align="right" | 747,157
|-
| 2003 || align="right" | 739,232
|-
| 2004 || align="right" | 735,241
|-
| 2005 || align="right" | 731,762
|-
| 2006 || align="right" | 727,578
|-
| 2007 || align="right" | 722,485
|}
|}
With 722,485 inhabitants in 2007, Riga is the largest city in the [[Baltic States]], though its population has decreased since 1991. <Ref>{{cite web|title=RESIDENT POPULATION BY REGION, CITY AND DISTRICT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR|url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=04-05a&ti=4%2D5%2E+RESIDENT+POPULATION+BY+REGION%2C+CITY+AND+DISTRICT+AT+THE+BEGINNING+OF+THE+YEAR+++&path=../DATABASEEN/Iedzsoc/Annual%20statistical%20data/04.%20Population/&lang=1}}</ref> Notable causes include out-migration and low fertility rates. Some have estimated that the population may fall by as much as 50% by 2050.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles/display.cfm?ID=375|title=Latvia Looks West, But Legacy of Soviets Remains|first=Timothy|last=Heleniak|accessdate=2007-08-02|publisher=University of Maryland|year=2006|month=February}}</ref> According to the 2007 data, native Latvians make up 42.3% of the population of Riga, with the percentage of Russians at 42.1%, Belarusians at 4.4%, Ukrainians at 3.9%, Poles at 2.0%, and others at 4.3%.<ref name="figures">{{cite web|url=http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/Riga_in_numbers/default.htm|title=Riga in Figures|accessdate=2007-08-02|publisher=Riga City Council}}</ref> By comparison, 59% of Latvia's inhabitants are native [[Latvians]], 28.5% are [[Russians]], 3.8% are [[Belarusians]], 2.5% are [[Ukrainians]], 2.4% are [[Poles|Polish]], 1.4% are [[Lithuanians]] and the remaining 2.4% are accounted for by other nationalities (2006).<ref name="figures"/> Upon restoration of Latvian independence in 1991, Soviet-era migrants (and any of their offspring born before 1991) were not automatically granted Latvian citizenship. Some have emigrated; this partially accounts for the recent decline in Riga's population. As a result of this repatriation of some Soviet-era migrants, the proportion of Latvians in Riga has increased from 36.5% in 1989 to 42.3% in 2007. In contrast the percentage of Russians has fallen from 47.3% to 42.1% in the same time period. Latvians overtook Russians as the largest ethnic group in 2006. <ref>{{cite web|title=RESIDENT POPULATION BY ETHNICITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR|url=http://data.csb.gov.lv/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=04-17a&ti=4%2D17%2E+RESIDENT+POPULATION+BY+ETHNICITY+AT+THE+BEGINNING+OF+THE+YEAR+++&path=../DATABASEEN/Iedzsoc/Annual%20statistical%20data/04.%20Population/&lang=1}}</ref>
==Sister cities==
[[Image:Riga, hodiny.jpg|thumb|right|150 px|The clock presented to Riga by its sister city Kobe. It shows time in both cities]]
Riga maintains [[sister city]] relationships with the following cities:<ref><!-- For all cities in the table, exept for those not listed, but attributed to other sources.-->{{cite web | url=http://www.riga.lv/LV/Channels/Riga_Municipality/Links/SadraudzibasPilsetas.htm | title=Rīgas sadraudzības pilsētas | publisher=Riga city council|accessdate = 2008-04-29}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} [[Aalborg]], [[Denmark]]
| {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} [[Almati]], [[Kazakhstan]]
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Amsterdam]], [[The Netherlands]]
| {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} [[Astana]], [[Kazakhstan]]
|-
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China|China]]
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Bordeaux]], [[France]]
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Bremen (city)|Bremen]], [[Germany]]
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]], [[Australia]]
|-
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Calais]], [[France]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[United States|USA]]
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Florence]], [[Italy]]
| {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kobe]], [[Japan]]
| {{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Minsk]], [[Belarus]]
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Moscow]], [[Russia]]
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Norrköping]], [[Sweden]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Pori]], [[Finland]]
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], [[United States|USA]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.providenceri.com/press/sister_city.html | title=Mayor Announces Sister City - Meeting (7/30/2003) | publisher=Providence, RI, Office of the Mayor|accessdate = 2007-01-17}}</ref>
| {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Rostock]], [[Germany]]
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russia]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Chile}} [[Santiago, Chile|Santiago]], [[Chile]]
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Slough]], [[United Kingdom|UK]]<ref>''British Latvian Trade'' – the magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce in Latvia<BR>[http://www.bccl.lv/userfiles/e_magazines/BLT_autumn-draft.pdf Autumn / Winter 2007 – page 10, column 2] (accessed 11 February 2008)</ref>
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]]
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Suzhou]], [[People's Republic of China|China]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Taiwan}} [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]]
| {{flagicon|Estonia}} [[Tallinn]], [[Estonia]]
| {{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Vilnius]], [[Lithuania]]
| {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]
|}
==See also==
*[[Rīgas Satiksme]]
*[[Riga City Council]]
*[[Archbishops of Riga]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons|Riga}}
*[http://www.citariga.lv/EN/index.php Sights of Riga on the portal Other Riga]
*[http://www.vecriga.info/section/?lang=en Virtual tour of old Riga]
*[http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/default.htm Riga Municipality portal]
*{{Wikitravel|Riga}}
*[http://www.latviaphoto.com/rigamaps/map_greater_riga_100x2400.jpg Map of Greater Riga]
*[http://rigadailyphoto.blogspot.com Riga Daily Photo]
*[http://www.latvians.com/en/Reading/RigaNatlEncy/riga1897.php Riga]—entry (article and engraving) from <u>The National Encyclopedia: A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge</u>, circa 1900
*[http://www.latvians.com/en/Reading/Riga19thC/envelope-Riga19th.php?./Picts/riga-01.jpg "Riga/Рига" photo album], circa 1910
*[http://www.latvians.com/en/Reading/CornPorts/cornports-01-homepage.php "Foreign Corn Ports-Riga"]—<u>The Illustrated London News</u>, news article with engraved illustrations, published 1847
* [http://www.schickert.info/riga Images from Riga ]
{{Hanseatic League}}
{{Riga's neighbourhoods}}
{{List of Latvian's district}}
{{Capital cities of the European Union}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Latvia}}
[[Category:Riga| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
[[Category:Port cities in Latvia]]
[[Category:Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Latvia]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the European Union]]
[[Category:Cities in Latvia]]
{{Link FA|no}}
[[af:Riga]]
[[am:ሪጋ]]
[[ar:ريغا]]
[[roa-rup:Riga]]
[[frp:Riga]]
[[az:Riqa]]
[[bn:রিগা]]
[[be:Горад Рыга]]
[[be-x-old:Рыґа]]
[[bs:Riga]]
[[br:Riga]]
[[bg:Рига]]
[[ca:Riga]]
[[cv:Рига]]
[[cs:Riga]]
[[cy:Riga]]
[[da:Riga]]
[[de:Riga]]
[[et:Riia]]
[[el:Ρίγα]]
[[es:Riga]]
[[eo:Rigo]]
[[eu:Riga]]
[[fo:Riga]]
[[fr:Rīga]]
[[ga:Ríge]]
[[gv:Riga]]
[[gd:Riga]]
[[gl:Riga]]
[[ko:리가]]
[[hy:Ռիգա]]
[[hr:Riga]]
[[io:Riga]]
[[id:Riga]]
[[os:Ригæ]]
[[is:Ríga]]
[[it:Riga (Lettonia)]]
[[he:ריגה]]
[[ka:რიგა]]
[[kw:Rīga]]
[[ky:Рига]]
[[sw:Riga]]
[[ht:Riga]]
[[la:Riga]]
[[lv:Rīga]]
[[lb:Riga]]
[[lt:Ryga]]
[[lij:Rigg-a]]
[[hu:Riga]]
[[mk:Рига]]
[[mr:रिगा]]
[[nl:Riga]]
[[ja:リガ]]
[[no:Riga]]
[[nn:Riga]]
[[nov:Riga]]
[[oc:Riga]]
[[pms:Riga]]
[[nds:Riga]]
[[pl:Ryga]]
[[pt:Riga]]
[[ro:Riga]]
[[qu:Riga]]
[[ru:Рига]]
[[se:Riga]]
[[sq:Riga]]
[[simple:Riga]]
[[sk:Riga]]
[[sl:Riga]]
[[sr:Рига]]
[[sh:Riga]]
[[fi:Riika]]
[[sv:Riga]]
[[tl:Riga]]
[[th:ริกา]]
[[vi:Riga]]
[[tg:Рига]]
[[tr:Riga]]
[[uk:Рига]]
[[vec:Riga]]
[[vo:Rīga]]
[[yi:ריגע]]
[[bat-smg:Rīga]]
[[zh:里加]]