The +371 country code is for Latvia, a Baltic state of about 1.9 million people wedged between Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. The capital, Riga, sits on the Daugava River near the Baltic coast and holds roughly a third of the country's population. Latvia joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro in 2014.
Latvia's phone system is straightforward. The country dropped trunk prefixes and geographic area codes in the early 2000s, switching to a flat 8-digit numbering plan. Every Latvian phone number is exactly 8 digits after the +371 country code, whether it is a mobile in Riga or a landline in Liepāja.
Quick answer: Dial +371 followed by exactly 8 digits. Mobile numbers start with 2 and landline numbers start with 6. There is no trunk prefix. Dial the number exactly as listed, no matter where you are calling from.
How to call Latvia: quick reference
Latvia uses no trunk prefix and no area codes. The number you see is the number you dial. Add +371 (or your country's exit code + 371) before the 8-digit local number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +371 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-371-[local number] |
| UK | 00-371-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-371-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-371-[local number] |
| France | 00-371-[local number] |
Understanding Latvia phone numbers
All Latvian phone numbers are exactly 8 digits after the country code. There are no area codes and no trunk prefix. The first digit tells you the number type.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 2 and are 8 digits. The format is 2X XXX XXX. Examples: +371 2612 3456, +371 2912 3456. All three major carriers use the 2x range, so you cannot tell the carrier from the number alone.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 6 and are 8 digits. The format is 6X XXX XXX. Riga landlines generally start with 67, while other cities use different second digits (63 for Liepāja, 64 for some regional areas, 65 for Ventspils/Kuldīga). Examples: +371 6712 3456 (Riga), +371 6312 3456 (Liepāja).
Number type summary
| Starts with | Type | Digits |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mobile | 8 |
| 6 | Landline | 8 |
| 800 | Toll-free | 8 |
| 900 | Premium rate | 8 |
Mobile carriers in Latvia
Latvia has three mobile operators. All three provide 4G coverage across most of the country, with 5G available in Riga and a few larger cities.
LMT (Latvijas Mobilais Telefons)
The largest carrier, majority-owned by the Latvian state through Tet (formerly Lattelecom). LMT has the widest coverage, including rural areas and highways. It operates Latvia's most extensive 5G network. Most business customers and government agencies use LMT.
Tele2 Latvia
The second-largest operator, owned by Swedish Tele2 AB. Tele2 competes aggressively on price and is popular with younger users and prepaid customers. Coverage is good in cities and towns but slightly thinner in remote rural areas compared to LMT.
Bite Latvia
The third operator, part of the Lithuanian Providence group. Bite positions itself in the mid-range market. Coverage is solid in urban areas. Bite also offers bundled home internet and TV packages, particularly in Riga.
Don't confuse +371 with nearby codes
Latvia's +371 is sandwiched between its Baltic neighbors in the numbering sequence. One wrong digit and you are calling a different country.
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +370 | Lithuania | One digit off, Baltic neighbor to the south |
| +372 | Estonia | One digit off, Baltic neighbor to the north |
| +373 | Moldova | Two digits off, Eastern European |
| +375 | Belarus | Shares a land border with Latvia's southeast |
The +370/+371/+372 sequence (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) is the main trouble spot. All three are Baltic states, all three are in the EU, and people routinely mix them up. Belarus (+375) also comes up because it borders Latvia and has a Latvian-speaking minority near the border. Double-check that last digit before dialing.
Time zone considerations
Latvia uses Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) in winter and Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3) from late March to late October. Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania all share the same time zone.
| Your location | Time difference | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (ET) | +7 hours | 8:00-11:00 AM ET (3:00-6:00 PM in Latvia) |
| US West Coast (PT) | +10 hours | 7:00-9:00 AM PT (5:00-7:00 PM in Latvia) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | +2 hours | 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM GMT |
| Australia (AEST) | -8 hours | 4:00-8:00 PM AEST (8:00 AM - 12:00 PM in Latvia) |
| Germany (CET) | +1 hour | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM CET |
For US callers, mornings are the only realistic window. By the time it is noon in New York, it is already 7 PM in Riga. Calling other Baltic states or Scandinavian contacts on the same trip is easy since the time zones are close.
Communication in Latvia
Business hours and etiquette
Business hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Latvians tend to be reserved and formal on first contact. Phone conversations go straight to the point without much small talk. Expect people to use their last names until you are on familiar terms. Meetings start on time, and calling outside business hours without prior arrangement is considered rude.
Language considerations
Latvian is the official language and the primary language for most of the population. About 25-30% of the population speaks Russian as a first language, concentrated in Riga, Daugavpils, and other eastern cities. English proficiency is high among younger Latvians and in the business sector. For personal calls, expect Latvian or Russian depending on the household. Government automated systems usually offer Latvian, with Russian or English as secondary options.
Network quality
Latvia has good mobile infrastructure for its size. 4G covers over 98% of the population, and 5G is available in Riga. Internet speeds are well above the EU average, partly because Latvia leapfrogged older infrastructure with fiber-to-the-home rollouts. Call quality is reliable across the country. VoIP services work without restrictions. Even the rural Latgale region in the east has decent coverage, though you might hit dead spots on forest roads near the Russian border.
The Latvia diaspora
Latvia has lost a significant share of its population to emigration since EU accession in 2004. The country went from about 2.3 million to under 1.9 million, and a large chunk of that decline is people who moved abroad for work.
United Kingdom
The UK was the top destination during the 2004-2016 wave. Latvians settled primarily in London, Manchester, Birmingham, and smaller cities across England and Scotland. Many worked in construction, logistics, and food processing. Post-Brexit immigration rules slowed new arrivals, but tens of thousands of Latvians remain in the UK with settled status. Phone calls between the UK and Latvia are among the most common routes.
Ireland
Ireland attracted a large Latvian community after 2004, proportionally one of the biggest outside the UK. Dublin, Cork, and Limerick all have established Latvian groups with weekend schools and cultural events. Many came for construction and service-sector jobs during Ireland's boom years and stayed.
Germany
Germany became a major destination after 2011 when it opened its labor market to new EU states. Latvians in Germany tend to be in skilled trades and healthcare. Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich have growing communities.
United States and Canada
Older Latvian communities exist in the US (particularly in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York) and Canada (Toronto, Hamilton) dating to WWII-era refugees. These communities maintained Latvian language schools and churches through the Soviet period. Newer arrivals tend to be younger professionals in tech and finance.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile phone in Riga
Your contact's number is 2612 3456. From the US, dial +371 2612 3456. From a US landline, dial 011 371 2612 3456. From the UK, dial 00 371 2612 3456.
Calling a Riga office landline
The office number is 6712 3456. From the US, dial +371 6712 3456. From a US landline, dial 011 371 6712 3456. From Australia, dial 0011 371 6712 3456.
Calling a landline in Liepāja
A Liepāja number is 6312 3456. Dial it the same way: +371 6312 3456. There is no separate area code. The 63 at the start is part of the 8-digit number, not a prefix you add or remove.
Calling from inside Latvia
Within Latvia, dial the 8-digit number as-is. To call the mobile above, dial 2612 3456. To call the Riga office, dial 6712 3456. No prefix, no trunk code.
Common mistakes to avoid
Adding a 0 before the number
Latvia has no trunk prefix. If you dial +371 0 2612 3456, the call fails. This catches people from the UK, Germany, and other countries where you normally drop a leading 0 for international calls. Latvia does not use one at all.
Mixing up +370 (Lithuania) and +371 (Latvia)
Lithuania is +370, Latvia is +371. They share a border and both are Baltic EU members. If your call connects but the person answers in Lithuanian instead of Latvian (or Russian), check your dialing. The languages sound different enough that you will notice immediately.
Dialing only 7 digits instead of 8
All Latvian numbers are exactly 8 digits. If you have a number that looks like 7 digits, you are probably missing the first digit. Older records or business cards sometimes formatted Riga numbers with a leading 7 that people mistook for an area code and dropped. Dial all 8 digits.
Calling at the wrong time
Latvia is UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer). That is 7 hours ahead of New York and 10 ahead of Los Angeles. A 6 PM call from California hits Latvia at 4 AM. Use the time zone table above to find a reasonable overlap.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +371 code?
Latvia. The +371 country code belongs to Latvia, a Baltic state in Northern Europe between Estonia and Lithuania.
How many digits are in a Latvian phone number?
All Latvian phone numbers are exactly 8 digits after the +371 country code. Mobile numbers start with 2, landlines start with 6.
Does Latvia have area codes?
No. Latvia uses a flat 8-digit numbering system with no geographic area codes. The second digit of landline numbers (e.g., 67 for Riga, 63 for Liepāja) indicates the region, but it is part of the number itself, not a separate area code you dial.
Is there a trunk prefix for Latvia?
No. Latvia has no trunk prefix. Dial the 8-digit number exactly as given, whether calling domestically or internationally.
What languages are spoken when calling Latvia?
Latvian is the main language. Russian is widely spoken, especially in Riga and eastern Latvia. English is common among younger people and in business. Automated phone systems for banks and utilities usually offer Latvian and Russian.
For more dialing guides, see our complete country code directory. If you are calling other Baltic countries, check +372 Estonia or +370 Lithuania.