In 2025, the number of students from Latvia, Romania, and Estonia increased in Russian universities, reported the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.
According to the statistics from the ministry, in 2025 the number of students from Latvia increased to 615 compared to 605 in 2024, from Estonia to 380 compared to 363 in 2024. Additionally, in 2025, the number of students from Norway, Romania, Switzerland, and Cyprus also increased in the country.
In May 2025, it was reported that since the beginning of the year, nearly 900 citizens from EU countries had come to Russia for education, with half of them being residents of the Baltic states.
In the first quarter of 2025, 883 people from the EU crossed the Russian border, with the most students coming from Latvia (278 people), Estonia (133), and Lithuania (56). Students from other EU countries also came to study in Russia: Bulgaria (89), Italy (60), Germany (59), as well as Slovakia (40), France (32), and Greece (28).
And Russians are going to study in Latvia
In turn, the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science has recounted foreign students in Latvian higher education institutions.
Last year, 12,343 representatives from foreign countries studied in Latvian universities, accounting for 16% of the total number. Almost three-quarters — 73.5% of them — belong to so-called "third countries" that are not part of the EU.
By country of origin, India currently leads with 28%, followed by Uzbekistan (11%), Sweden (8%), Ukraine (5%), Sri Lanka (5%), Germany (5%), Finland (5%), Turkey (4%), Azerbaijan (4%), and Russia (3%).
Yes, according to the statistics, despite everything, the Russian Federation is among the top ten countries most interested in Latvian education! Although with a declining trend.
