180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Highly RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Recommended
Riga has Europe's finest streetful of Art Nouveau and a central market housed in old Zeppelin hangars, and that's before the beach: Jūrmala's white sand is twenty minutes away. Castles and river valleys fill the Gauja beyond. Latvia is safe, free and cheap by Baltic-neighbour standards. LGBT+ acceptance trails the west, so a little awareness helps outside the capital.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Latvia: 2.8
Ranked 90th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
2.78 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a low rate by world standards.
Lower than 53% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Latvia: 1.6
Ranked 31st most peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 87% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 1.558.
Up 5 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Latvia: 8.5
Ranked 24th freest country in the world.
Freer than 85% of the 165 countries measured — 8.51 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.16; doing business and owning property, 7.60.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Latvia: 4.6
Ranked 78th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 59% of the 197 countries scored — 46 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 58 out of 100, everyday attitudes 35.