Latvia Lags Behind the OECD Average in Most Health Indicators

The health system indicators in Latvia are below the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in most assessed criteria, according to the review "Health at a Glance 2025: Latvia" prepared by the organization.

According to the review, Latvia spends $3,411 on healthcare per capita, which is approximately €3,100. This is significantly less than the OECD average of $5,967, or about €5,400. Healthcare spending in Latvia accounts for 7.6% of gross domestic product, while the OECD average is 9.3%.

In Latvia, 2.6% of total healthcare expenditures are directed towards prevention, which is lower than the OECD average of 3.4%. Mandatory pre-financing mechanisms in Latvia cover only 60% of healthcare expenses, while in OECD countries, this figure is 75%, indicating a relatively high burden of out-of-pocket payments for patients.

As noted in the review, 8.4% of Latvia's residents have unmet healthcare needs, compared to 3.4% on average in OECD countries. Only 54% of Latvians are satisfied with the accessibility and quality of medical care, while the OECD average is 64%.

Health indicators in Latvia are uneven. Coverage for childhood vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis reaches 97%, exceeding the OECD average. At the same time, only 36% of women participate in breast cancer screening, while the OECD average is 55%.

The review also notes that the 30-day mortality rate after acute myocardial infarction in Latvia is 13.5%, and after a stroke, it is 17.3%, while the OECD averages for these indicators are 6.5% and 7.7%, respectively.

Latvia has 3.4 practicing physicians per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the OECD average of 3.9, and 4.2 practicing nurses per 1,000 residents, while the OECD average is 9.2.

In turn, the number of hospital beds in Latvia is 5 beds per 1,000 residents, which is close to the OECD average of 4.2. The number of diagnostic equipment - computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography machines - in Latvia is 65 per 1 million residents, exceeding the OECD average of 51. The share of generic drugs in the pharmaceutical market in Latvia by volume is 77%, while the OECD average is 56%.

The report uses the latest available comparable official OECD statistical data, mostly from 2023, in some cases from 2022 or 2024, as well as trends over several years. The review was prepared in November 2025.