Latvia faces preschool capacity imbalance amid declining birth rates

In Latvia, a mismatch with kindergarten places persists amid an overall decline in birth rates, regional media report.

In Riga, the number of preschoolers has decreased by 1,500 in just the past few months. This demographic crisis is leading to the closure of educational institutions: according to the Latvian Parliament's Committee on State Administration, 3–4 private kindergartens close each year.

However, the situation in the country is uneven. While demand for places in the capital is declining along with the number of children, other regions of Latvia still face a shortage of preschool places.