Survey: 11% of residents in Latvia have no monthly medical expenses 0 12

Such a response in the survey was more often given by men and young people — residents aged 19 to 29, however, 6% of residents over 60 also indicated that they manage without monthly medical expenses.

The survey also showed that residents of rural areas spend more than 100 euros a month on health more often — 22%, while among urban residents, this amount exceeds about 15%.

The amount from 201 to 400 euros for medical expenses was most often reported by residents with the lowest household income — 13%. The authors of the survey suggest that these may be unemployed residents with more serious health problems, who receive assistance with medical expenses from relatives or the state.

The overwhelming majority — 73% of residents — spend up to 100 euros a month on medicine, according to the survey data. Although this amount is the most common across all population groups, it was slightly more frequently reported by respondents aged 40 to 49 and those living as a couple.

Since monthly expenses of up to 100 euros were reported almost equally often by low-income groups, there is a possibility that for some people this amount is insufficient for quality and comprehensive medical care, noted Ginta Zemgale, head of customer experience at Citadele Bank in the Baltic countries.

She explained that young people may not have a need for regular medical expenses, as health is usually good at that age. In turn, men in Latvia do not get sick less often — they simply deny the need for medications or other medical assistance more often than women.

"However, other indicators from the survey suggest that the majority of society, which indicated that it does not spend on health, likely lacks the means to do so — this includes some pensioners, as well as unemployed and self-employed individuals," Zemgale noted.

The bank conducted the survey of residents in collaboration with the research agency Norstat Latvija in January 2026, surveying online more than 1,000 residents of Latvia aged 18 to 74.