Mining by country

Mining in Latvia

Mining in Latvia: the public figures we hold so far. The World Bank puts mineral rents close to zero (2021) and ores and metals at 1.7% of merchandise exports (2025). No world production share, mine or listed company project is recorded here yet.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals1.7%of merchandise exports, 2025.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+1.07above 84% of countries
  • Political stability+0.81above 72% of countries
  • Regulatory quality+1.02above 85% of countries
  • Control of corruption+0.77above 76% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Latvia at a glance

Mining jobs3,2002019. Mining and quarrying employment, 2019.Source: USGS
Mining law
Law on Subterranean Depths (1996). June 1996, amended repeatedly to 2019; overseen by the State Environmental Service. Source: USGS

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Latvia

What the ground holds. peat, dolomite, gypsum, limestone, sand and gravel, cement and crushed stone. Source: USGS

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Mining elsewhere in Europe

RussiaSpainSwedenGermanyNorwayPolandAustriaPortugalFranceUkraine

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from Latvia and its minerals

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.