Administrative divisions of Latvia before 2009

Subdivisions of Latvia

On 1 July 2009, the 26 districts of Latvia (Latvian: rajoni, sg. rajons), introduced in 1949 by the Soviet occupation authorities to supersede counties (apriņķi, sg. apriņķis, e.g. Rīgas apriņķis) of the Republic of Latvia, were divided into 77 cities (Latvian: pilsētas, sg. pilsēta), 10 amalgamated municipalities (Latvian: novadi, sg. novads), 24 rural territories (Latvian: lauku teritorijas, sg. lauku teritorija) and 475 parishes (Latvian: pagasti, sg. pagasts).

The previous administrative reform had been enacted in 1990 upon the restoration of the independence of Latvia, when parishes, which had been abolished from 1945 to 1949 during the Soviet occupation in favour of village councils (ciemu padomes, sg. ciema padome), were restored. The first-level administrative units of Latvia during its interwar independence – counties (apriņķi, sg. apriņķis, e.g. Riga county) were not reintroduced, although they were initially planned to be introduced in the 2009 reform.[1]

The new divisions were in force from 2009 to 2021, when they were superseded by the 2021 reform (see Administrative divisions of Latvia).

See also

References

  1. ^ "Administrative division of Latvia after Reform Act 2008". www.ambermarks.com. Retrieved 2026-01-05.