RURAL SETTLEMENT PLANNING IN LATVIA: CRITERIA, PROCESSES, CHANGES OVER TIME

The aim of the study is to evaluate the main aspects of rural settlement planning in the Republic of Latvia. The object of research is rural settlements, specifically - villages. The article analyzes the development of rural settlements in Latvia. Types of classification of settlements, their official classification and changes over time are evaluated. The study found that the population is decreasing in the entire territory of Latvia, with the exception municipalities around the state capital Riga. This process also affects the structure of rural settlements in the counties, the number of villages and their role as development centers decreases. As part of the study, an analysis of the location and development of rural settlements in the Ventspils municipality, which is located in the north-west of Latvia, in the Kurzeme planning region, was carried out. According to the data of the State Land Service, the number of villages in the Kurzeme planning region decreased by 56, from 456 villages in 2016 to 400 villages in 2024. Among them, the number of villages in Ventspils municipality decreased by 38 during this period - from 92 villages to 54 villages.