Latviešu
РусскийIn Latvia, foreign languages are not simply a school subject – they are a long-term investment in a child’s future. So, which languages are studied most often, and how do they influence career prospects in the Latvian context?
Languages in Latvia’s schools
According to data from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (Eurostat) for 2023, English remains by far the most widely studied foreign language in Latvia’s general education schools.
| Language | Pupils (2023) |
|---|---|
| English | 214,820 |
| Russian | 85,534 |
| German | 39,419 |
| French | 6,341 |
| Spanish | 2,852 |
| Italian | 152 |
Interesting fact: Latvia is among the top five EU countries (alongside Greece and Estonia) in terms of the share of primary school pupils learning two or more languages – as many as 37%. This points to a strong interest in multilingualism from an early age.
Italian occupies a niche position in Latvia, but continues to attract steady interest. It is considered one of the most beautiful and melodic European languages and is associated with music, culture and gastronomy. Parents sometimes choose it for their children as a “third foreign language” specifically as a way of enriching their cultural knowledge and broadening their horizons. Although demand for Italian on the labour market is considerably lower than for English, Russian or German, it can provide an additional competitive advantage in tourism, the arts, design, culinary fields and international cultural projects.
Languages on the job market
On the Latvian labour market, preference is given to candidates who speak several key languages:
- Latvian – essential,
- English – necessary for international companies and the IT sector,
- Russian – still widely in demand, particularly in services, logistics, construction and real estate, as well as in communication.
Employers generally regard German or Scandinavian language skills as a competitive advantage when applying for positions in international companies.
Where languages actually work
This is also clearly reflected in the current structure of vacancies on CV.lv: at the time of our research, there were around 2,300 vacancies, with particularly large categories:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Sales | 453 |
| IT | 375 |
| Technical sciences | 339 |
| Procurement / supply | 331 |
| Manufacturing | 314 |
| Management | 314 |
| Finance / accounting | 308 |
| Construction / real estate | 307 |
Examples of demand for foreign-language skills:
- IT and engineering: professionals are needed who can participate in international projects and read technical documentation in English.
- Services and transport: frequent interaction with clients from Russian-speaking and European markets makes knowledge of both Russian and English highly valuable.
Niche languages and combinations
French / Spanish / Italian – demand is not as high, but there are niches where these languages are required and where international companies offer relevant positions. For example: customer support, shared service centres, sales, export, account management, tourism, international operations.
A combination of two foreign languages is often required: English + Russian, English + German, English + French, English + Spanish.
What to choose
In summary, we can conclude that English, Russian and German are the languages with the greatest practical impact. English remains universal, Russian is needed in regional and service contexts, while German strengthens competitiveness. Being bilingual (English + another language) already at school level provides an excellent foundation. Adding Italian or French, meanwhile, offers cultural enrichment and an advantage in certain industries.
For practical parenting tips, see how to help your child learn a foreign language and when and how to start. Younger learners can begin in Lingua KIDs.