Valmierans most satisfied with life in their city / Article

Nearly 97% of residents in Latvia’s nine largest cities are satisfied with where they live, according to a recent survey by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB). Valmiera reported the highest satisfaction rate at 99.5%, while Jelgava and Daugavpils saw the most significant increases in positive responses since 2022.

Satisfaction with City Life Remains High

The Quality of Life 2025 survey found that 96.8% of residents across the nine cities expressed satisfaction with their place of residence. Satisfaction levels have remained consistently high since the previous survey in 2022. Jelgava experienced a 1.9 percentage point increase in satisfied residents, and Daugavpils saw a 1.5 percentage point rise. Conversely, Jūrmala recorded a 2.7 percentage point decrease, and Rēzekne saw a 2.0 percentage point decline.

Safety and Family Friendliness

Liepāja was identified as the safest city for walking alone at night, with 78.5% of residents feeling secure, exceeding the State cities average of 66.2% by 12.3 percentage points. Valmiera (77.7%) and Ogre (74.8%) also reported high levels of resident safety. Confidence in the police is also strong, with Jūrmala reporting the highest share at 82.6%.

Valmiera (97.8%) and Liepāja (97.0%) are considered the most suitable cities for households with young children. Daugavpils follows closely at 93.5%, marking a 6.9 percentage point increase since 2022. Overall, 92.2% of residents view their city as a good place to raise a family, with those *in* families with young children reporting even higher satisfaction at 95.3%.

Inclusivity and Housing

A significant majority of residents – 74.5% – believe their city is inclusive for people from racial or ethnic minority groups, a figure that rises to 78.7% among respondents belonging to those groups. 71.5% of residents consider their city welcoming to immigrants, with 69.1% of immigrants themselves agreeing.

Liepāja (85.2%), Valmiera (83.5%), and Jelgava (72.2%) recorded the highest shares of positive responses regarding inclusivity for immigrants. 81.4% of residents believe their city is a good place to live for people with disabilities, while 72.2% of respondents with disabilities share this view.

Valmiera is particularly well-regarded as a place to live in old age, with almost all respondents (95%) expressing a positive view. Liepāja and Ogre also received similarly high ratings. Regarding housing, Daugavpils residents most often report ease in finding affordable housing (43.5%), followed by Ogre (26.3%), while Valmiera reports the lowest share (10.3%). The availability of good housing at a reasonable price has increased in most State cities compared to 2022.