Moving to Latvia from Syria

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Syria to Latvia, and you’d need to navigate life in Latvian. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Riga averages 50°F vs 78°F in Damascus, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

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

Moved in 2021
2

people moved from Syria 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

The numbers behind daily life in Latvia compared to Syria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SY
2.1
LV
3.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SY
29.9
LV
9.8

Syria 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

SY
$122
LV
$3,034
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SY
11.9
LV
33.8

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SY
83.0
LV
40.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SY
1.3t
LV
3.6t

Syria 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

SY
7.3
LV
26.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SY
124.4%
LV
1.1%

Latvia performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SY
13.5%
LV
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SY
$2,900
LV
$37,800

Latvia generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SY
74.3 yrs
LV
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SY
15.9
LV
4.8

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

Data: Ministry of Finance, Syria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Damascus Riga
Jan–Mar 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) 31°/20°F (0°/-7°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) 60°/42°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) 67°/51°F (20°/11°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) 41°/31°F (5°/0°C)
View all months
Month Damascus Riga
Jan 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) 28°/18°F (-2.3°/-7.8°C)
Feb 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) 29°/18°F (-1.7°/-7.6°C)
Mar 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) 37°/24°F (2.7°/-4.7°C)
Apr 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.0°C)
May 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) 61°/43°F (16.2°/5.9°C)
Jun 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) 68°/50°F (20.1°/10.0°C)
Jul 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.7°/12.3°C)
Aug 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Sep 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) 61°/46°F (16.3°/8.0°C)
Oct 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) 51°/39°F (10.4°/4.0°C)
Nov 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) 39°/31°F (3.9°/-0.5°C)
Dec 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) 33°/24°F (0.3°/-4.4°C)

Data: Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria 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.

Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Latvia

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

Latvia passport holder visiting Syria

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

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?

Syria 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 2.1 in Syria.

How is healthcare in Latvia compared to Syria?

Latvia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 33.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Latvia, compared to 11.9 in Syria. Latvia scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).

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

The average high temperature in Riga is 50°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. Riga receives around 24.9 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.

What language do they speak in Latvia?

The official language in Latvia is Latvian. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SY LV
Population 21,563,800 1,842,226
Currency Syrian Pound (SYP) Euro (€)
Languages Arabic Latvian
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +963 +371
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112