Latvia: Brain Drain I ARTE.tv Documentary

Latvia has lost 13% of its population in the last 20 years. Due to the pandemic, there's been an upsurge in the number of young people deciding to return home. Brexit is also fuelling the trend: a third of the Latvian diaspora currently still live in Great Britain. But after a shrinking population for so long, is it too late to turn the tide?
Latvia: Brain Drain
🗓 Available until the 08/06/2051
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[@artetvdocumentary]

WATCH next: Kabul: Rehab Hell - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIm9f36getF7mbc

[@ArnoldBru]

There's so much beautiful architecture and land in Latvia. Sad that it wasn't shown in this film.

[@Maaruks]

I left Latvia in 2008. People are forced to leave because of unemployment and low wages. They wanted me to work there (accenture in Riga) for 300 LVL per month. You cant survive in Riga on 300 a month.

[@bitter_truth8646]

What's the average salary in Latvia? And what's the cost of living?

[@roombussr5676]

As a latvian residing in england, i honestly prefer my home back in latvia, england in my opinion is just miserable.

[@australianpatriot]

coz u broke as hell, we livin large in londonia

[@tomsy3406]

facts

[@tomsy3406]

@@danielb2135 I’m Latvian and I sound british as fuck nobody ever knows I’m Latvian so idk what you’re taking about.

[@spicynoodles28]

@@danielb2135why tribal?

[@spicynoodles28]

@@danielb2135why would they have to know another language if they live in Latvia (the official language in Latvia is latvian)

[@conklindavison7127]

i agree why they want leave, but bring your skills back and invest in your Country! It's a beautiful country!

[@Rblock777]

People started to emigrate from Latvia because of the governments bank fraud that involved Parex bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. They together stole all savings from a lot of Latvian people and after that they declared a national economical crisis after which they raised taxes that hasnt been lowered back to normal to this day.

[@Rblock777]

For more info about this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3PMinaGm66KfKM

[@REGameFly]

Same in Lithuania. I think the money was returned ofcourse. Just took some time

[@Rblock777]

@@REGameFly It happened 11 years ago and only now they found someone to blame, but no money has been returned till this day

[@sunnybgbg]

Hi, I'm really sorry for Latvia. Riga is really so nice and calm city, I adored it ! People are nice and friendly, food is amazing ! In Bulgaria it was exactly the same, but Latvia is really doing better

[@didzisstalidzans5232]

With those eng subtitles its so good to learn francais 👌

[@ThatGuy_404]

Ngl this is very depressing, my culture, my people, and our history might disappear around my life time.

[@kraanz]

Taisies dziivot akmens muuzhu? =D

[@gamergod7434]

Have hope, no black humour, just faith in your beautiful country. It is the strongest thing

[@REGameFly]

Have some babies maaan

[@REGameFly]

Get that mandatory army service for women and the birth rates will jump up

[@hyoii3312]

@@REGameFly How would that work? Make babies so you don't have to go to army?

[@mxweng]

I will be visiting Latvia within 20 days while the Russia invasion of Ukraine continues. The reasons I will never consider move to Latvia: 1. Cold winter. 2. Language barrier. 3. Low wages. My current monthly wage is well over 5000 Euro as a medical lab technician; I don't think I can I will earn even half of it in Latvia. 4. Latvian ladies are tallest on earth and I am not as tall as average Latvian man.

[@stariyczedun]

Medical lab technician salary would smth like 1300 EUR before tax, mb 1500 at most. I wouldn't be surprised to see numbers like 1000 or even 700 before tax even. Renting a not a Soviet quality 1 bedroom apt in Riga would cost you 350-500 EUR / month + utilities. As you see numbers are not exactly good.

[@REGameFly]

If you have enough money to buy a house before moving maybe ok. Salaries keep up jumping so we'll see

[@iggyblitz8739]

Yes but the summer is better than the UK, the costs are much lower and it's less expensive overall, not all women are super tall, many people can speak at least basic English ( even more so with the younger generation), and you could learn a new language, Latvian is one of the oldest languages in Europe.

[@Maaruks]

@@stariyczedun where do you live? Germany?

[@stariyczedun]

@@Maaruks Riga, Latvia

[@liberalstudiesmaterials899]

Why are they leaving Latvia?

[@magicreadingsmagicreadings2239]

Lots of Latvians return home from Ireland probably the weather everything is too expensive and the lifestyle! There is more people who wants to return they can’t because their children who don’t speak Latvian for this reason they have to stay! By the way, the French language is so gorgeous !

[@rolandsarins7151]

1.3 million sound for me perfect! Here always can pull it true most capable and smartest! Lettish problem is only one - they are not made to live in large population and cities! When my folk will finally understand that then everything will be just fine! Urbanisation is just not for us!

[@stariyczedun]

Innovations and value are created in population centres. Just having bunch of disconnected lauki and setas won't cut it. Unless what you strive for is a third world country with quickly ageing population. Currently more than 70% of Latvia GDP is generated in Riga agglomeration. More than half of Latvian population lives there. Everything else shrinks at a fast pace.

[@rolandsarins7151]

@@stariyczedunwe had more successful model before your folk came - so there is nothing to compare for you.

[@jpthiran]

corruption destroys any country and thats the case of Latvian!...Estonia is a much more law following nation and its much more sucessful!...simple and clear - no need to find extraordinary reasons!...as long as there is corruption in Latvia, thecountry will remain poor and people will flee the country!...and with that the country will become more poor, feeding into poverty spiral...

[@iggyblitz8739]

Yes but Latvia has a corruption watchdog now and it can be reported, it will improve.

[@MrsPaulaTorres]

That was some rubbish ending, purposely negative. Latvia is going to be just fine, Latvians aren’t interested in mixing United Nations in their country, and nobody cares to implement anything French in the country either 😂 but nice try at it. Don’t come back. Leave Latvia for Latvians.

[@iggyblitz8739]

True, although nothing wrong with some smart well chosen immigration and incentives for those from other European countries to come and start up businesses for economic prosperity.

[@sydneylaroche8276]

all of Europe would be declining if it wasn't for non EU migration if were being totally honest. The post socialist part of Europe has always been apprehensive about Asian and African migrants, but in the future, I don't think EU countries will have any other choice unless they want a rapidly shrinking country full of old people

[@seiwarriors]

Unfortunately they will not accept those ethnicities although they will be more prone to Asians depending which ones. All the inclusivity is just a farce, deep down a lot of Eastern European will discriminate.

[@clincpb8903]

Immigration and particularly Asian and African migrants destroy the safety of countries, their coming in millions is not sustainable.

[@REGameFly]

Would be interesting seeing Indians speaking Latvian as Latvia and Lithuania are IndoEuropean languages

[@iggyblitz8739]

They still have a choice, they don't want mass immigration to over - run such a small population. and become ruined like Sweden with all the problems they are having, the key is smart limited immigration with people that fit into the culture and have some value to offer, however I also feel as Latvia improves it's economy it will gradually be on the same economic level as other European countries in time, then more Latvians can stay and will return.