Latvia is a diversified country. Centuries of occupation by Swedish, German, Polish or Russian make the country a real melting pot. Of the 2.25 million people, only 58.8% are real Latvians. With the Russification during the Soviet period - 1.5 million people displaced - it is not uncommon in some cities, that the majority of the population is Russian. In Riga, for example, there are 43% of Russians and 41% of Latvians.