More than 51,000 people in Latvia have already cast ballots in the first two days of early voting in local government and European Parliament elections, according to the Central Election Commission in Rīga.

Early voting—meant for those who will not be able to visit their local polling station on election day—continues with limited hours for one more day on June 5.

So far the greatest number of early ballots, a total of 19,601, has been recorded in Rīga, according to election commission data. Vidzeme province had the second highest number of early voters, 12,177, followed by Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.

On election day, June 6, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 950 stations around Latvia. Races for the mayor of Rīga and for eight seats in the European Parliament are among those that are drawing attention in this election.

A total of 17 political parties have fielded 186 candidates in the European Parliament election. Among them are a number of dual citizens or former members of the exile community. Elections for the European Parliament are being held in all 27 member states of the European Union.

Latvian citizens abroad may vote by absentee ballot. Ballots had to be requested by May 7 and must be returned to Rīga by no later than 10 p.m. June 6, when counting starts.

Provisional results of local government elections will be reported overnight after polls close, the Central Election Commission has announced. Results of the Latvian vote for the European Parliament will not be announced in Rīga until 11 p.m. June 7 after the last polling stations close in Italy and Poland.

The Central Election Commmission will report voting results on the Web site www.velesanas2009.cvk.lv.

It would be like taking a city such as Ludza and erasing it from the map: The population of Latvia slipped by 9,600 inhabitants last year, according to demographic data collected by the Central Statistical Bureau in Rīga.

Latvia’s total population stood at 2.261 million at the start of 2009, down 0.4 percent from a year earlier, the bureau reported May 13.

While deaths dropped from 2007 to 2008 and births continued to increase, the net population loss was still about 7,100, the bureau reported. A total of 3,465 people immigrated to Latvia last year, but during the same period a little more than 6,000 emigrated, resulting in another 2,500 in lost population.

Latvia’s highest population, according to its census, was 2.66 million in 1989.

In other data reported by the Central Statistical Bureau:

• After registering an increase in 2007, the number of marriages dropped last year. In 2006, a total of 12,544 marriages were recorded, climbing to 15,486 in 2007, but dropping to 12,946 last year.
• The average age of men and women entering into their first marriage continues to creep up. Last year, the average age of men when they first married was 28.8, compared to 28.5 in 2007. For women, the average age last year was 26.7, compared to 26.4 in 2007.
• The number of divorces last year totaled 6,214, compared to 7,403 in 2007 and 6,342 in 2006.
• For those observers concerned that not enough children are being born to replenish the population, reported as the birth rate coefficient, the bureau had a little bit of good news. The coefficient continues to increase and stood at 1.45 children last year, up from 1.41 children in 2007. However, according to the statistical bureau, for the population to be replenished the birth rate coefficient needs to be at about 2.1 to 2.2 children.
• Latvians will be living longer, but women more so than men. The estimated median longevity for male children born in 2008 is 67.2 years, but females could expect to live to age 77.9. According to the bureau, men who reached age 60 last year could live another 16 years, but women could last for 22 more.

The next full census in Latvia is scheduled in 2011.

Housing prices in Latvia have dropped by half during the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2008, according to a new survey by Global Property Guide.

That’s the steepest decline among the 32 countries in the survey, the results of which were announced June 1.

“Latvia is in surprisingly deep trouble,” according to the survey. “Average apartment prices in Rīga declined an astonishing 50 percent over a year earlier, to EUR 747 per square meter, with a 30 percent drop during the quarter.”

On Jan. 1, 2008, the average price of a standard apartment in Latvia stood at EUR 1,405 per square meter, according to Rīga-based Arco Real Estate.

The Philippines-based Global Property Guide blamed a number of factors for the loss of property values around the world: “personal consumption expenditure decreased, consumer confidence remained low, credit remained tight and the unemployment rate worsened.”

Latvia landed in last place in the survey. Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, was second to last with a 35 percent drop.

The real estate markets in only five countries showed improvement over last year, according to the Global Property Guide. Switzerland led the pack with a 4.31 percent increase in housing prices, followed by Thailand, Austria, Israel and the market in Shanghai, China.

Apartment prices in Latvia continued to decline during April, albeit at a slower pace, dropping 5.7 percent from March, according to Arco Real Estate. The average price of a standard apartment dropped to EUR 572 per square meter.

Arco also noted a 30 percent decrease in the number of apartments being advertised for sale.

The real estate market, according to a statement by Arco board member Māris Laukalējs, has begun to stagnate.