The demographics of Estonia in the 21st century result from historical trends over more than a thousand years, as with most European countries, but have been disproportionately influenced by events in the second half of the 20th century. The Soviet occupation (1944–1991), extensive immigration from Russia and other parts of the former USSR, and the eventual restoration of independence of Estonia, have all had a major effect on Estonia's current ethnic makeup. The influx was largely due to the country's troubled demographics and continued need for labour. After its independence, Estonia continued to bring in the needed labour power from the same countries as it did during the Soviet times.
The languages spoken in Estonia largely reflect the composition of the indigenous and immigrant ethnic groups residing in Estonia, and thus have changed with historical trends affecting the ethnic makeup of the country. Similarly to other northern European peoples, religion plays a rather small part in the lives of most Estonians.
Overall, the quality-of-life indices for Estonia indicate a modern industrial state. The population declined annually from 1991 until 2016, except for a brief pause in 2010. Since 2016 immigration has exceeded emigration, making the overall population grow.
Population size and structure
According to the data of Statistics Estonia, on 1 January 2026, the population of Estonia was 1,360,745 persons. On 1 January 2025 the population of Estonia was 1,369,995 persons, on 1 January 2024 1,374,687 persons and on 1 January 2023 Estonia had a population of 1,365,884.
The population increased from 1,351,640 in January 1970 to 1,570,599 in January 1990. After 1990, Estonia lost about 15% of its population (230,000 people). The population decreased to 1,294,455 by December 2011, a figure lower than that recorded in 1970. 1,331,824 (2021 Population and Housing Census) 1,294,455 (2011 Population Count and Housing Census) 1,370,052 (2000 Population Count and Housing Census)
Decreasing population pressures are explained by a higher death than birth rate and periods of an excess of emigrants over immigrants.
Since 2015 the country has experienced population growth. The population mainly increased as a result of net immigration of European Union citizens. Citizens of Russia and Ukraine made up the bulk of non-EU immigration. The increase was detected through methodological changes in data collection. Initially a population decrease had been reported.
Structure of the population
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 630 081 699 398 1 329 479 100 0–4 36 496 34 282 70 778 5.32 5–9 36 943 35 192 72 135 5.43 10–14 38 862 36 812 75 674 5.69 15–19 32 557 31 056 63 613 4.78 20–24 32 304 30 481 62 785 4.72 25–29 41 090 37 598 78 688 5.92 30–34 53 536 47 937 101 473 7.63 35–39 49 887 46 058 95 945 7.22 40–44 47 106 44 160 91 266 6.86 45–49 46 552 45 084 91 636 6.89 50–54 41 680 42 995 84 675 6.37 55–59 41 167 45 436 86 603 6.51 60–64 38 495 47 293 85 788 6.45 65–69 32 536 45 680 78 216 5.88 70–74 24 568 39 996 64 564 4.86 75–79 16 040 31 412 47 452 3.57 80–84 12 326 30 478 42 804 3.22 85–89 5 683 17 620 23 303 1.75 90–94 1 960 7 968 9 928 0.75 95–99 278 1 724 2 002 0.15 100+ 15 136 151 0.01Age groupMaleFemaleTotalPercent 0–14 112 301 106 286 218 587 16.44 15–64 424 374 418 098 842 472 63.37 65+ 93 406 175 014 268 420 20.19
Between 1970 and 1990 the age structure of Estonia was rather stable with around 22% of the population in the age group 0–14 years, 66% between 15 and 65, while 12% were 65 years or older. Due to the low birth rates after 1990, the proportion of the population 0–14 years of age dropped to 15% in 2009, while the proportion of 65 years or older gradually increased to 17% in 2009. The proportion of the age group 15–64 also slightly increased to 68% in 2009.
Vital statistics
Vital statistics for the Governorate of Estonia The Governorate of Estonia comprised the northern part of present-day Estonia. The southern part was part of the Governorate of Livonia.
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000) 1900 428,00012,4878,2274,26029.219.210.0 1901 430,00012,7038,4284,27529.519.69.9 1902 434,00013,1017,7245,37730.217.812.4 1903 440,00012,7048,0044,70028.918.210.7 1904 446,00012,7538,2794,47428.618.610.0 1905 449,00011,9919,6942,29726.721.65.1 1906 452,00012,4178,8423,57527.419.57.9 1907 455,00012,3048,7303,57427.019.27.9 1908 459,00011,8618,4953,36625.818.57.3 1909 464,00011,9708,2973,67325.817.97.9 1910 466,00012,1938,2043,98926.217.68.6 1911 472,00011,7498,9762,77324.919.05.9 1912 480,00011,9008,4313,46924.817.67.2 1913 491,00011,6539,0892,56423.718.55.2 1914 506,00011,8549,2122,64223.418.25.2
Present Estonia Source: Statistics Estonia
From 1947 to 1989 the number of births was higher than the number of deaths, but from 1990 onwards the number of deaths outnumbered the number of births. The crude birth rate of 2011 was 10.96 (14,679 births) and the crude death rate of 2011 was 11.38 (15,244 deaths), making the rate of natural increase −0.42 (−565). For more detailed historic data, see the table below.
Notable events in Estonian demographics:
1914–1918 – World War I 1918–1920 – War of Independence 1940–1945 – World War II 1941–1953 – Soviet deportations 1991 – Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Average population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Crude migration change (per 1000) Total fertility rate Infant mortality rate19141,197,000 26,86520,8825,98322.417.45.0 −12.519151,188,00024,68021,8412,83920.818.42.4 −31.919161,154,00021,28225,429 4,14718.422.0 3.6 −25.919171,120,00018,33327,336 9,00316.424.4 8.0 −22.419181,086,00021,659 32,488 10,82919.929.9 10.0 −10.319191,064,00018,45628,800 10,34417.327.1 9.7 13.519201,068,00019,62521,363 1,73818.420.0 1.6 19.419211,087,00022,06717,1434,92420.315.84.5 9.319221,102,00022,25518,4013,85420.216.73.5 4.719231,111,00022,34716,6305,71720.115.05.1 −0.619241,116,00021,44116,9184,52319.215.24.1 −3.299.919251,117,00020,44516,6803,76518.314.93.4 −3.495.719261,117,00019,97718,0471,90017.916.21.7 −2.6101.819271,116,00019,70519,35650017.717.30.4 −0.4114.619281,116,00020,06417,7852,27918.015.92.0 −2.0103.619291,116,00019,11020,178 1,06817.118.1 1.0 1.0110.519301,116,00019,47116,6102,86117.414.92.6 −0.8100.119311,118,00019,50918,0771,43217.416.21.3 2.3102.819321,122,00019,74216,6413,10117.614.82.8 −1.096.819331,124,00018,20816,4721,73616.214.71.5 0.394.019341,126,00017,30515,8531,45215.414.11.3 1.491.119351,129,00017,89116,8641,02715.814.90.9 089.319361,130,00018,22217,59462816.115.60.6 0.389.219371,131,00018,19016,6141,57616.114.71.4 0.490.719381,133,00018,45316,4961,95716.314.61.7 −6.177.519391,128,00018,47517,1011,37416.415.21.2 −29.678.819401,096,00018,40719,024 61716.817.4 0.6 −46.883.719411,044,00019,57423,702 4,12818.822.7 4.0 −21.919421,017,00019,24220,276 1,03418.919.9 1.0 −9.891.819431,006,00016,00118,120 2,11915.918.0 2.1 −13.81944990,00015,18024,700 9,52015.324.9 9.6 −102.51945 879,00014,96820,708 5,74017.023.6 6.5 62.2124.81946928,00019,40819,969 56120.921.5 0.6 53.496.81947977,00022,72121,4921,22923.322.01.3 48.9121.419481,026,00021,77717,5494,22821.217.14.1 42.784.219491,074,00021,77016,7305,04020.315.64.7 20.482.419501,101,00020,27915,8174,46218.414.44.1 7.7 81.219511,114,00020,73015,3545,37618.613.74.8 6.076.219521,126,00021,11115,8175,29418.714.04.7 8.064.919531,138,00020,14614,4205,72617.712.75.0 4.752.219541,149,00020,90913,9816,92818.212.26.0 3.649.519551,160,00020,78613,6387,14817.9 11.86.2 3.351.619561,171,00019,66012,7486,91216.810.95.9 2.641.219571,181,00019,50913,0266,48316.511.05.5 3.840.119581,192,00019,59812,9716,62716.410.95.6 3.639.919591,203,00019,93813,1306,80816.510.95.7 5.131.719601,216,00020,18712,7387,44916.610.56.1 4.6 1.9531.119611,229,00020,23013,0367,19416.510.65.9 5.51.9728.019621,243,00019,95913,4956,46416.110.95.2 6.91.9525.219631,258,00019,27513,2516,02415.310.54.8 9.51.9126.019641,276,00019,62912,7546,87515.410.05.4 6.41.9425.419651,291,00018,90913,5205,38914.610.54.2 5.11.9020.319661,303,00018,62913,8004,82914.310.63.7 4.71.8520.019671,314,00018,67113,6994,97214.210.43.8 6.11.8619.219681,327,00019,78214,2255,55714.910.74.2 9.42.0318.019691,345,00020,78115,1505,63115.511.34.2 7.02.1116.719701,360,00021,55215,1866,36615.811.24.7 7.82.1617.719711,377,00022,11815,0387,08016.110.95.1 6.52.1917.519721,393,00021,75715,5206,23715.611.14.5 4.82.1415.919731,406,00021,23915,5735,66615.111.14.0 4.52.0715.919741,418,00021,46115,3936,06815.110.94.3 3.52.0717.619751,429,00021,36016,5724,78814.911.63.4 4.32.0418.219761,440,00021,80117,3514,45015.112.03.1 3.82.0617.519771,450,00021,97717,0944,88315.211.83.4 3.52.0617.519781,460,00021,84217,8124,03015.012.22.8 2.72.0216.519791,468,00021,87918,0623,81714.912.32.6 3.52.0118.319801,477,00022,20418,1994,00515.012.32.7 4.72.0217.119811,488,00022,93718,3494,58815.412.33.1 3.62.0717.019821,498,00023,12817,8935,23515.411.93.5 3.82.0817.219831,509,00024,15518,1905,96516.012.14.0 2.62.1616.119841,519,00024,23419,0865,14816.012.63.4 3.22.1713.619851,529,00023,63019,3434,28715.512.72.8 4.42.1214.119861,540,00024,10617,9866,12015.711.74.0 3.82.1715.919871,552,00025,08618,2796,80716.211.84.4 2.02.2616.019881,562,00025,06018,5516,50916.011.94.2 −0.42.2612.419891,568,00024,31818,5365,76215.511.83.7 −3.12.2214.819901,569,00022,30419,5312,77814.212.41.8 −6.92.0512.319911,561,00019,41319,715 30212.412.6 0.2 −17.71.8013.319921,533,00018,03820,126 2,08811.813.1 1.4 −24.01.7115.719931,494,00015,25321,286 6,03310.214.2 4.0 −16.71.4915.619941,463,00014,17622,212 8,0369.715.2 5.5 −12.31.4214.419951,437,00013,50920,828 7,3199.414.5 5.1 −9.51.3814.919961,416,00013,24219,020 5,7789.413.4 4.1 −7.21.3710.519971,400,00012,57718,572 5,9959.013.3 4.3 −5.71.3210.019981,386,000 12,16719,445 7,2788.814.0 5.3 −1.91.289.419991,376,00012,42518,447 6,0229.013.4 4.4 19.71.329.620001,397,00013,06718,403 5,3369.413.2 3.8 −2.61.358.420011,388,00012,632 18,516 5,8849.1 13.2 4.2 −2.31.318.820021,379,00013,001 18,355 5,3549.413.3 3.9 −1.91.365.720031,371,00013,03618,152 5,1169.513.2 3.7 −2.11.367.020041,363,00013,992 17,685 3,69310.313.0 2.7 −3.21.476.420051,355,00014,35017,316 2,96610.612.8 2.2 −3.71.525.420061,347,00014,87717,316 2,43911.012.9 1.8 −2.71.584.420071,341,00015,77517,409 1,63411.813.0 1.2 −1.81.695.020081,337,00016,02816,675 64712.012.5 0.5 −1.01.725.020091,335,00015,76316,081 31811.812.1 0.2 −2.01.703.620101,332,00015,82515,790 3511.911.9 0.0 −3.81.723.320111,327,00014,67915,244 56511.011.4 0.4 −2.61.612.520121,323,00014,05615,450 1,39410.611.7 1.1 −2.71.563.620131,318,00013,53115,244 1,71310.311.6 1.3 −1.71.522.120141,314,00013,55115,484 1,93310.311.8 1.5 1.51.542.720151,314,00013,907 15,243 1,33610.611.6 1.0 2.51.582.520161,316,00014,053 15,392 1,33910.711.7 1.0 1.81.602.320171,317,00013,784 15,543 1,75910.511.8 1.3 5.11.592.320181,322,00014,367 15,751 1,38410.911.9 1.0 4.81.671.620191,327,00014,09915,401 1,30210.611.6 1.0 2.51.661.620201,329,00013,20915,811 2,6029.911.9 2.0 3.51.581.420211,331,00013,27218,587 5,31510.014.0 4.0 17.51.612.220221,349,00011,64617,315 5,6698.612.8 4.2 19.81.412.220231,370,00010,94916,002 5,0538.011.7 3.7 19.21.311.720241,372,0009,69015,756 6,0667.111.5 4.45.81.181.520251,365,4009,24015,688 6,448 6.811.5 4.71.21.161.320261,360,700
According to Statistics Estonia, on 1 January 2026, the population of Estonia stood at 1,360,745. This is 9,250 persons fewer than at the same time the year before. Estonia's population decreased for the second year in a row. There were 9,240 births and 15,688 deaths last year – natural increase was negative -6,448 persons. Net migration was negative after several years – 15,212 persons immigrated to Estonia and 18,014 persons emigrated (−2,802 people).