POPULATION 2,366,515
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 26.4 percent
ROMAN CATHOLIC 17.3 percent
ORTHODOX 8.7 percent
JEWISH 0.02 percent
OTHER, INCLUDING UNAFFILIATED, 47.58 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

The Republic of Latvia, one of the smallest countries of the world, is located in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea. At various times throughout its history, the country has been subject to the control of its neighbors, particularly Germany, Sweden, and Poland to the west and Russia to the east, all of which have influenced its religious history. In 1918, at the end of World War I, Latvia became independent. In 1940 it was occupied by the Soviet Union under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. Independence was restored in 1991.

Latvia has several Christian faiths, including Evangelical Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, and various free churches. There also are several legally registered nontraditional religions, including Islam, Vaisnava (Hare Krishna), Buddhism, Latvian paganism, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Mormonism. According to Latvian legislation, members of...