Which ethnic groups live in Latvia?

Latvia is a multiethnic country with a diverse demographic composition. The primary ethnic groups residing in the nation include:

• Latvians: They constitute approximately three-fifths of the current population.1
• Russians: This group accounts for about one-fourth of the population.1
• Other groups: There are smaller communities of Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, and Lithuanians.1

Historically, the ethnic landscape was different; prior to the Soviet occupation in 1940, ethnic Latvians made up about three-fourths of the population. Additionally, Latvia formerly held a significant Jewish population, which was decimated during the occupations of World War II due to deportations and the Holocaust.1

The Latvian people are a prominent division of the Balts, an ancient group of peoples with a long history in the region.2