According to a survey conducted in July 2026 by Citadele Bank and the research agency Norstat, 66% of Latvian residents feel confident in their ability to manage their personal budget over the next three months. Despite rising prices and ongoing geopolitical challenges, Latvia ranks as the most confident among the Baltic states regarding personal financial stability, even though one in four residents reports a worsening financial situation.
Baltic Financial Sentiment and Recent Changes
The survey evaluated personal financial changes across Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia over the preceding three months by polling more than 1,000 people aged 18 to 74 online in each country. In Latvia, according to Citadele Bank data, the financial situation for 60% of residents remained unchanged. Meanwhile, 16% reported an improvement—comprising 3% who saw significant gains and 13% with slight improvements—while 25% stated their situation worsened, split between 18% slightly and 7% significantly.
Comparative data highlights differences across the region. In contrast, Estonia showed a more pessimistic outlook, where 33% of residents experienced a deterioration in personal finances—the highest figure in the Baltics—and 17% reported an improvement.
Future Outlook Across the Region
Looking ahead to the next three months, Latvian residents lead the Baltic region in budget confidence. Among respondents in Latvia, 16% feel very confident and 50% feel fairly confident in keeping their budgets under control, totaling 66%. A neutral stance was reported by 22%, and 12% expressed a lack of confidence. However, roughly one in three Latvian residents maintains a cautious or pessimistic outlook regarding near-term financial stability.
Neighboring countries show similar caution for the upcoming quarter. In Lithuania, 60% of residents feel confident in managing their personal finances, while Estonia registers as the most cautious country in the region, with 58% expressing confidence in their financial situation.
Did You Know? The survey gathered insights from more than 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 74 in each of the three Baltic countries during July 2026.
Expert Insight: While general adaptability to household budgeting remains high across the region, a substantial segment—ranging from 34% to 42% of residents across the Baltics—remains neutral or unconfident, indicating that broad economic vulnerability persists despite short-term confidence.
Pathways to Financial Security
Data from the survey reveal that between 34% and 42% of individuals across the Baltic states either feel neutral about their finances or lack confidence entirely. Survey findings indicate that it remains too early to speak of complete financial security across the region. To reduce these financial concerns, the data point toward the targeted creation of a financial safety cushion through regular savings from monthly disposable income as a primary priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Latvian residents feel confident about managing their personal budget?
According to Citadele Bank, 66% of Latvian residents feel confident about their ability to manage their personal budget over the next three months.
How did Estonia’s financial outlook compare to the rest of the Baltics?
Estonia recorded the most pessimistic outlook in the region, with 33% of residents experiencing a deterioration in personal finances and 58% feeling confident about their financial situation over the next three months.
Who conducted the regional survey and when?
The survey was conducted in July 2026 by Citadele Bank in cooperation with the research agency Norstat, surveying over 1,000 people aged 18 to 74 online in each Baltic state.
How do you plan to adjust your household budget to build a financial safety cushion this year?