Latvia

A surge of Latvian immigration occurred after the Second World War, coming from displaced persons camps in Germany. From 1947 to 1952 around 19,700 Latvians migrated to Australia.

In the 2021 Census, 23,233 Australians self-identified as having Latvian ancestry.

Explore stories

Maira Kalnins, with pigtails, and her brother Inaro.

Maira Kalnins

7-year-old Maria Kalnins became the face of the Displaced Persons Program in Australia in 1949.

Otto and his son Karlies.

Otto Kampe

Otto Kampe, from Latvia, was the 250,000th refugee to arrive in Australia post-World War II.