Total population: 1.86 million
Total children under the age of 18: 334 000
Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. Latvia was part of the Soviet Union for 45 years but has been a democratic unitary parliamentary republic since 1991. Russians remain the most prominent minority in the country, accounting for almost a quarter of the population.
The situation of children in Latvia
More than 5000 children (5160 in 2025) are in alternative care and over 600 of them (606 in 2025) live in institutions. Most of the children who are taken into institutional care have parents who, for various reasons, are unable to look after them. Economic hardships have forced some parents to move abroad in search of work. The children are left in the care of neighbours, relatives, or older siblings who cannot look after them.
Children who are at risk of losing parental care are also at risk of being victims of other offenses against children, such as cruelty and abuse, theft, sexual exploitation, and rape. For children of minorities, like the Roma, children with disabilities, or those living in rural areas, it is more difficult to get access to health and education facilities.
Although in the last decade Latvia has significantly reduced the use of institutional care, the number of foster families has decreased over the last several years, and the number of children in institutions is growing again. Latvia has introduced stricter regulations and procedures around international adoption, which has reduced the number of children adopted abroad and contributed to ongoing challenges in finding permanent families for older children and sibling groups. In contrast, younger children are typically placed in families more quickly and with greater ease.
Latvian Christian Alliance for Orphans
Latvian Christian Alliance for Orphans (Latvijas Kristīgā alliance bāreņiem or LKAB) is a member of CAFO. Contact for Latvia: info@palidzibareniem.lv
Other Information about Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and Family Care in Latvia
Better Care Network Information on Family-Based Care in Latvia
More information for prayer at Operation World