Moving to Latvia from Somalia

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Somalia to Latvia? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Somalia to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 86°F in Mogadishu, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Somalia to Latvia.

Living there in 2020
3 ↓ 40% vs 2015

people born in Somalia live in Latvia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Latvia?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Somalia.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SO
20.2
LV
9.8

Latvia performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SO
$52
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SO
0.2
LV
33.8

Somalia 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

SO
64.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SO
0.0t
LV
3.6t

Somalia 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

SO
0.7
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SO
24.5%
LV
1.1%

Latvia performs significantly better than Somalia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SO
19.0%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SO
$1,500
LV
$37,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SO
55.7 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SO
86.5
LV
4.8

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

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Mogadishu Rain: 18.7 in/yr (474 mm)
86° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Mogadishu Riga
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/24°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 88°/76°F (31°/25°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 84°/73°F (29°/23°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 87°/75°F (30°/24°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Mogadishu Riga
Jan 86°/73°F (30.1°/23.0°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.1°/23.2°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 87°/76°F (30.7°/24.7°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 90°/78°F (32.0°/25.5°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 88°/76°F (31.1°/24.7°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 85°/74°F (29.5°/23.6°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 83°/73°F (28.5°/23.0°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 85°/74°F (29.2°/23.2°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 86°/76°F (30.1°/24.2°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 87°/75°F (30.5°/24.1°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Somalia 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.

Somalia passport

Somalia passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Somalia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Latvia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Somalia.

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?

Connectivity is usually fine (Latvia: 26.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Latvia offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Latvia safe for expats?

Latvia performs significantly better than Somalia across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Somalia?

Somalia 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 0.2 in Somalia. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Somalia: 27).

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 86°F in Mogadishu. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Mogadishu gets 18.7 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Somalia, the official languages are Arabic and Somali.

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At a Glance

SO LV
Population 12,386,248 1,842,226
Currency Somali Shilling (SOS) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic, Somali Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +252 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112