Latvian language - one of three baltiycky languages, preserved to our days (along with the Lithuanian language and the language Latgalian). Latvian - the only official state language of the Republic and Latvia, as well as from 1 May 2004, one of the 23 official languages of the European Union. Number of holders of Latvian as their mother is small - about 1.4 million people, or about 60% of the population of Latvia, the Latvian language in varying degrees, also owns a significant number of residents in the Russian-speaking residents, as well as a small number of Latvian immigrants and their descendants in other countries ( Russia, U.S., Sweden, Canada, Germany, Lithuania, Estonia, etc.) Thus, the numbers speak the Latvian language in the world is about 2,3-2,5 million. Since the end of XX century, the number of holders of Latvian has been declining steadily because of the gradual assimilation of Latvians abroad and unfavorable demographic structure of population of Latvia.