Context
The chart above shows the evolution of street network disconnectedness of the most connected and most disconnected cities in Latvia, for both new street additions (left) and the aggregate street network (right).
Latvia in context: Street-network sprawl of new development
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Latvia rose steadily. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Latvia, we can consider two of its most populous regions: Riga and Latgale. Out of the two regions, Latgale does not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Latgale followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Latvia fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2006-2020, street construction in Latvia was the 37th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Latvia has become more disconnected. Latvia ranked 51st in 1975, 34th in 1976-1990, 44th in 1991-2005 and 37th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Latvia is Riga, with a population of 567000 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Riga as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.02, which is well-connected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Riga rose steadily.
Latvia in context: Aggregate street-network sprawl
As of 2020, the city with the most disconnected street network in Latvia is Daugavpils with an SNDi of 2.03, which is well-connected. Conversely, the most connected city is Riga with an SNDi of 2.02, which is well-connected. See these two cities’ trends in the above graph, or dive deeper into each: Riga, Daugavpils.
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Latvia rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Latvia, we can consider two of its most populous regions: Riga and Latgale. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Latvia follow the same country trend.
To date, Latvia is the 35th-most disconnected out of the 179 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has risen; relative to other countries in the world, the street network in Latvia has become more disconnected. Latvia ranked 51st in 1975, 42nd in 1976-1990, 38th in 1991-2005 and 35th in 2006-2020.
The largest city in Latvia is Riga, with a population of 567000 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Riga as of 2020, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 2.02, which is well-connected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Riga rose steadily.