Laws in Latvia
How Latvia is classified on 35 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Passive only Active euthanasia is illegal, but doctors may refuse further treatment.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no FGM-specific law; only general criminal provisions could apply.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
Daily Life
- Drinking in Public
- Varies by region Public drinking is nationally legal but banned in several major cities.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Smoking is banned in all enclosed public places, workplaces, and many outdoor areas nationwide.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 21.
- Homeschooling
- Legal with conditions Homeschooling is legal only under conditions such as approval, registration or inspection.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Phasing out A fur-farming ban is enacted but still being phased in.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Latvia bans cosmetic animal testing and imports of tested products under EU law.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 15.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Civil unions Same-sex couples can enter a civil union or registered partnership, but not marry.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal and regulated with mandatory registration and health checks, though procuring is illegal.
- Pornography
- Illegal Latvia criminalizes the handling and demonstration of pornographic material on a significant scale.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Limited (step-child / single) Joint adoption is not open to same-sex couples; step-child or single-person adoption is.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 19+ Minimum age to buy tobacco: 20.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.