Latvia
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 42% plant-based · 75.7 yr life expectancy · UHC 77/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 263 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (263/100k) leads and is high, reflecting a post-Soviet meat-, fat-, and bread-heavy diet, high alcohol, and smoking. Health spending is modest for the EU.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Reduce animal fat and processed meat and raise vegetable and whole-grain intake.
- Address alcohol and smoking, major contributors to the high CVD burden.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 263 CVD deaths per 100k · 42% plant-based diet