As Latvia lacks the most important mineral resources, country's well-being is largely dependant on human resources. Therefore education becomes one of the most important branches of the national economy.

Riga is the largest centre of education and science in Latvia and since 1991 the City of Riga has invested extensively in the education sector in Riga. The City finances and provides for secondary education in 62 Latvian 68 Russian, Polish, Jewish, Estonian and other school (see also Table 8 ).

Starting from 1993 the number of students in higher education sector has gradually increased. This process is accompanied by the establishment of new educational institutions. Total enrolment in Riga's 179 schools and 16 state and private institutions of higher education in 2000 was more than 170,000 people.

The enrolment of students by field of study has also changed. Nowadays, responding to the general demand-supply pattern, students pay more attention to such subjects as commercial and business administration, computer science and engineering (see also Figure 22 and Figure 64).

Several institutions offer education in English and other foreign languages. Two of them, the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and Riga Graduate School of Law were established in co-operation with Swedish government. Other countries and companies, too, have contributed to the development of this sector - particularly active in Riga are the British Council, the Soros Foundation and the Goethe Institute.