Moving to Latvia from Rwanda

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Rwanda to Latvia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Rwanda to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 80°F in Kigali, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Rwanda to Latvia, based on official data.

Moved in 2021
1

people moved from Rwanda to Latvia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Latvia?

Top countries of origin for Latvia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Rwanda to Latvia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
LV
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
LV
9.8

Rwanda generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
LV
33.8

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
LV
3.6t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though Latvia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.3
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
LV
1.1%

Latvia performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
LV
$37,800

Latvia performs significantly better than Rwanda across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
LV
4.8

Latvia performs significantly better than Rwanda across all family life metrics.

Data: Rwanda Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

Riga Rain: 24.9 in/yr (633 mm)
50° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Riga
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Riga
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Rwanda and Latvia. To live, work, or study long-term in Latvia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Latvia's immigration authority.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Latvia

Visa Required
Rwanda passport holders need a visa to enter Latvia.
Latvia passport

Latvia passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa on Arrival
Latvia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Rwanda.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Latvia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Latvia has 26.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Latvia safe for expats?

Rwanda generally does better on safety, though Latvia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Latvia is 3.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Latvia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in Latvia compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW LV
Population 13,173,730 1,842,226
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Euro (€)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +250 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112