According to statistics from the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, the gender ratio in Latvia differs by 18%, the largest gap in the world.
The soil and climate of this small Baltic nation may be more conducive to the survival and growth of female fetuses and infants.
Like Russia, the reason for the gender imbalance in Latvia is the brutal Second World War. Because the Baltic coast was the region where German troops invaded earliest and retreated latest within the former Soviet Union, the gender ratio in Latvia is more skewed than in other former Soviet republics.
The shortage of men in Latvia means that the biggest concern for young women here is marriage.
Latvian women possess both the beauty of Russian women and the elegance of Western European women, and they are generally highly educated, which should make them lucky individuals pursued and admired by many good men.
However, with more women than men, they are forced to lower their standards for choosing a partner repeatedly, and they are satisfied if they can find a decent man—knowing that many of their sisters face the possibility of remaining single.
In recent years, many Latvian women have hoped to find their ideal partners abroad, which has led to a booming business for "dating websites" and "international marriage agencies."
However, reports of Latvian women being deceived by the internet and illegal marriage agencies into being forced into the sex industry are not uncommon. The government of the country therefore repeatedly reminds its women: pursuing happiness is right, but keep your eyes open.
