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Latvia

Latvia

Spain

Spain

Multidimensional Comparison

Normalized 0-100 Scale

How is this calculated?

  • Economy (GDP): World Bank Data. Based on GDP per capita (PPP) which adjusts for the local cost of living. Normalized against a baseline of $80,000 (100 pts).
  • Safety (Low Crime): World Bank Data. Inverted homicide rates. 0 homicides = 100 pts. 25+ homicides = 0 pts.
  • Happiness Index: WHR Score (0-10) multiplied by 10.
  • Healthcare, Digital & Business: These use their native 0-100 indexes directly (UHC Index, Internet %, Heritage Freedom).

Economy & Labor

Insights based on World Bank & Heritage Data

Latvia

The economy of Latvia currently enjoys an inflation rate of 1.27%, with an unemployment rate standing at 6.57%. With a score of 71.60 on the Overall Economic Freedom Score, Latvia demonstrates its commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment, highlighted by high scores in property rights (88.80) and trade freedom (79.40). However, financial freedom faces challenges with a lower score of 60.00, indicating areas where improvements could enhance the overall economic climate.

Spain

The current economic landscape in Spain presents a mixed picture characterized by moderate inflation at 2.7700%, an unemployment rate of 10.3800%, and a relatively balanced overall Economic Freedom Score of 66.8000, reflecting strengths in business freedom (82.6000) and monetary freedom (78.2000). The property rights are robust with a score of 88.0000, while judicial effectiveness stands at 74.3000, bolstering investor confidence. However, financial freedom remains lower at 60.0000, highlighting areas for improvement in the financial sector's openness and regulation.

LatviaLatvia
Metric
SpainSpain
$43,394.3GDP per Capita (PPP)$57,965.3
6.6%Unemployment Rate10.4%
1.3%Inflation Rate2.8%
34GINI Inequality33.4
9.9%Education Spending (GDP)9.9%

Quality of Life & Health

Insights based on WHO & World Bank Data

Latvia

Latvia offers a healthcare system with 33.5 medical doctors per 10k people, contributing to a life expectancy of 73.2 years. While the country faces challenges such as an 22.3% adult obesity rate, it maintains relatively low out-of-pocket health expenditure, suggesting a well-regulated healthcare system.

Spain

Spain boasts a life expectancy of 82.7 years, reflecting its robust healthcare system. With 44.3 medical doctors per 10,000 people, the country ensures widespread access to quality healthcare services. While data on out-of-pocket health expenditure is not available, the prevalence of adult obesity stands at 15.3%, highlighting a balanced approach to health and lifestyle.

LatviaLatvia
Metric
SpainSpain
6.4Happiness Index6.5
73.2Life Expectancy82.7
77UHC Health Index84
11.6Air Quality (PM2.5)9.6
2.5Homicides (per 100k)0.7

Demographics

Insights based on World Bank Data

Latvia

In Latvia, the population is predominantly female at 53.64%, with an urbanization rate of 68.48%, indicating a significant proportion lives in cities. The country exhibits balanced gender representation in its political sphere, with women constituting 32% of parliamentarians. Education is valued, with 9.92% of GDP allocated to education spending, fostering a literate populace amid an overall English proficiency score of 599 on the EF scale. Despite these advancements, Latvia faces demographic challenges, including a GINI index of 34, suggesting moderate income inequality, and a high percentage (21.74%) of its population aged over 65 years, reflecting an aging society, while net migration has been negative over the past five years, with -7330 people leaving the country.

Spain

In Spain, the population is evenly split between males (49.1%) and females (50.9%), reflecting a balanced gender distribution. With 95.76% of individuals online, internet usage is high, underscoring digital integration. The country's education spending at 9.88% of GDP contributes to a relatively equitable society with a GINI index of 33.4, indicating moderate income inequality. Additionally, women hold 44.2857% of parliamentary seats and over 60% of the population resides in urban areas, highlighting Spain's modern demographic trends.

LatviaLatvia
Metric
SpainSpain
1,866,124Total Population48,848,840
68.5%Urban Population80.3%
21.7%Population 65+21.2%
-7,330Net Migration (5y)96,630
92.7%Internet Users95.8%
599English (EF EPI)540

Economic Freedom

LatviaLatvia
Metric
SpainSpain
71.6Overall Economic Freedom66.8
88.8Property Rights88
70.9Judicial Effectiveness74.3
67.7Government Integrity64.2
70.9Tax Burden Score58.2
42.7Government Spending37.3
80.8Fiscal Health57.3
80.7Business Freedom82.6
60.5Labor Freedom61.7
76.3Monetary Freedom78.2
79.4Trade Freedom79.4
80Investment Freedom60
60Financial Freedom60

Digital Freedom & Remote Work

Latvia

Latvia exhibits minimal direct internet censorship, with low anomaly rates for WhatsApp (1.38%), Telegram (0.43%), and Tor (0.34%), suggesting reliable access to encrypted communication tools critical for remote work. VPNs are not explicitly banned, and the 0.00% VPN anomaly rate aligns with no apparent government-level blocking, though OONI notes anomalies could reflect test server issues rather than actual restrictions. Overall, Latvia maintains a relatively open digital environment, with no significant interference detected in key remote work platforms like Slack or GitHub over the reported period.

Spain

Spain exhibits low to moderate internet censorship, with minimal anomalies in WhatsApp (0.32%) and Telegram (0.47%), suggesting unrestricted access to major communication tools critical for remote work. While VPNs remain legal and widely available, OONI data shows a 100% anomaly rate for VPN protocols, likely reflecting test server issues rather than government-enforced blocks. Overall, communication platforms like Slack or GitHub appear reliable, though sporadic network interference could affect Tor users.

Month-by-Month Climate Profile

Latvia

Latvia boasts a humid continental climate, characterized by warm summers and cold winters, with the hottest period of the year occurring from June to August, when average high temperatures soar to over 21 degrees Celsius, while the rainiest months, July and August, see an average of 15 to 16 rainy days. In contrast, the winter months, from December to February, are the coldest and snowiest, with average low temperatures plummeting to below -4 degrees Celsius, making spring, from April to May, and autumn, from September to October, the best seasons to relocate or visit, with mild temperatures and fewer rainy days. For expats and digital nomads seeking comfortable weather, the spring season is particularly ideal, with average high temperatures ranging from 11 to 17 degrees Celsius, making it perfect for exploring Latvia's stunning landscapes and vibrant culture without the harsh winter chill or sweltering summer heat.

Spain

Spain boasts a Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm summers and mild winters, with the hottest period of the year unfolding from June to August, when average maximum temperatures soar to over 29 degrees Celsius, while the rainiest months, with over 13 rainy days, occur from March to May and November, marking the spring and autumn seasons. The summer months, particularly July and August, are not only the hottest but also the driest, with only 4 rainy days on average, whereas the spring and autumn months are generally wetter, making the shoulder season, from September to November, an ideal time to relocate or visit, as the weather is pleasantly warm and sunny, with average maximum temperatures ranging from 21 to 27 degrees Celsius. For digital nomads and expats seeking comfortable weather, the best season to visit or relocate to Spain is during the spring, from April to June, or the autumn, from September to November, when the temperatures are mild, and the crowds are smaller, making it perfect for exploring the country's vibrant culture, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes.

Average High Temperature (°C)

MonthLatviaSpain
Jan0° / -4°14 rain days10° / 1°11 rain days
Feb1° / -5°10 rain days13° / 3°9 rain days
Mar6° / -1°11 rain days16° / 5°13 rain days
Apr11° / 3°11 rain days19° / 8°15 rain days
May17° / 7°10 rain days24° / 12°12 rain days
Jun22° / 13°12 rain days30° / 16°9 rain days
Jul23° / 15°16 rain days34° / 20°4 rain days
Aug22° / 14°15 rain days33° / 20°4 rain days
Sep18° / 11°11 rain days27° / 15°9 rain days
Oct11° / 6°15 rain days22° / 11°11 rain days
Nov5° / 2°13 rain days14° / 6°14 rain days
Dec2° / -2°15 rain days12° / 3°11 rain days

Top Expat Origins

Latvia

BelarusBelarus
27,803
UkraineUkraine
16,917
LithuaniaLithuania
8,779
KazakhstanKazakhstan
3,090

Spain

MoroccoMorocco
355,176
RomaniaRomania
313,051
ColombiaColombia
264,676
EcuadorEcuador
230,437

Still deciding?

Neither Latvia nor Spain feeling like the perfect match? See how Latvia stacks up against a global hotspot like Portugal.