Latvia
EDRIX Score
5.88
Tier
Specialized Contender
EDRIX Pillar Scores (normalized 0–10)
Raw metrics
The underlying values before min-max normalization across the EU27.
| GitHub developers (per-capita index) | 4.48 |
| Linux share on desktops and laptops | 3.40% |
| Sovereign browser share (Firefox + Opera) | 15.90% |
| Domain sovereignty rating — all (national TLD) | 0.459 |
| Domain sovereignty rating — public sector | 0.667 |
Latvia scores 5.89, anchored by exceptional developer density per capita (4.48 — top-5 in EU27) which translates to DR_DEV_ECO 7.25. Other pillars are mid-range — private-sector hosting at 0.48, modest grassroots.
Strengths
- Top-5 developer density in the EU — 4.48 per-capita index, behind only Netherlands, Estonia, Cyprus, and Finland.
- Public Sector Health at 6.67 — Latvian official domains are predominantly EU-hosted.
- Mid-strong sovereign browser share — 15.90% Firefox + Opera.
Weaknesses
- Linux desktop share of 3.40% — slightly below the EU27 mean.
- Private-sector raw rating of 0.48 — Latvian businesses rely more on non-EU hosting than the EU27 median.
Outlook
Latvia's developer density is the structural asset. The interesting question is whether that talent can be channelled into domestic hosting and tooling. Currently the country exports developers more than it builds domestic infrastructure.
Historical context
2020 baseline
In 2020, Latvia was in the "emerging" tier, with a pragmatic, procurement-focused OSS policy and a strategy of embedding its security in wider Euro-Atlantic frameworks.
2024 progression
Latvia's approach has been shaped by a focus on fair procurement. Key policies like the 2017 Cabinet of Ministers Regulation ensure that software for digital public services is licensed as OSS. The Latvian Open Technology Association (LATA) remains an influential advocate.
Historical reference
OSOR Fact Sheet (PDF, 2024) — the country-level Open Source policy report used by the retired Public Policy pillar in EDRIX 1.0.