The 14th Saeima of Latvia is predominantly composed of middle-aged, highly educated individuals with prior political or administrative experience, according to a report by Providus researcher Liga Stafecka. The study indicates that the parliament lacks diversity in gender, age, and professional background when compared to the broader Latvian population.
What is the demographic profile of the Saeima?
The average age of deputies in the 14th Saeima is 48 years. The largest demographic group consists of politicians aged 51 to 60, who occupy approximately one-third of the seats.
Younger representation is minimal. Among the 100 parliamentarians, only five are aged between 21 and 30 years.
Education levels among members are high. The report states that 90 out of 100 deputies hold higher education degrees, with 50% holding a master’s degree and 11 deputies holding doctoral degrees.
Did You Know? Only five of the 100 parliamentarians in the 14th Saeima are aged between 21 and 30 years.
Why is there a gender and professional imbalance?
A significant gender gap exists within the legislature. Although women make up about 55% of Latvia’s adult population, they hold only 30% of the seats in the Saeima.
Stafecka attributes this imbalance to party practices regarding candidate lists. Women are often placed in less favorable positions on these lists, which reduces their election chances, though some parties do place women in top positions.
Professional backgrounds are also highly homogeneous. More than 80% of parliamentarians previously worked as managers, high-level specialists, or in administration. Representatives of technical specialties and working professions are rarely found in the parliament.
How does political experience affect candidate selection?
The pool of potential deputies appears limited. About 25% of the current Saeima members are considered professional politicians, and more than half held political or politically appointed positions prior to their election.
The study shows that working in local governments remains a primary path to parliament. This is where many future deputies gain their first political experience and build name recognition among voters.
Expert Insight: The disconnect between the Saeima’s composition and Latvia’s actual demographics, particularly regarding gender and professional background, could potentially undermine the perceived legitimacy of political institutions if diversity in candidate selection isn’t addressed.
How does low engagement impact trust in institutions?
Political engagement among the public remains low. In 2025, approximately 24,000 people were members of political parties, which represents only 1.6% of citizens eligible to vote.
This lack of engagement may affect trust in political institutions. Currently, about 28% of residents trust the Saeima, while trust in political parties is even lower.
To address these gaps, the report suggests that expanding the circle of party members and increasing candidate diversity could help the parliament better reflect the composition of Latvian society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average age of deputies in the 14th Saeima?
The average age of the deputies is 48 years.
How many deputies hold a master’s degree?
Half of the parliamentarians hold a master’s degree.
What percentage of the adult population in Latvia are women?
Women make up about 55% of the adult population of Latvia.
Do you believe the current makeup of the Saeima accurately represents your community?
