Latvia joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 14 October 1991. Latvia provides its expertise to many areas of the UNESCO work, including in the areas of communication and information, science and cultural heritage.

The main areas of UNESCO's activities in Latvia are the preservation of cultural, natural, intangible and documentary cultural heritage, development and coordination of innovative cooperation networks, promotion of knowledge society and knowledge mobilization, promotion of access and quality of education by strengthening lifelong learning, inclusive education and sustainability principles and values.

The UNESCO work in Latvia is coordinated by the Latvian National Commission of UNESCO - www.unesco.lv.