View source for Demographics of Estonia

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{{Infobox place demographics|place=[[Estonia]]|image=File:Estonia Population Pyramid.svg|image_size=350|birth=7.06 births/1,000 population (2024)|size_of_population=1,362,954  (2026)|death=11.48 deaths/1,000 population (2024)|life=79.5 years (2024)|infant_mortality=1.50 deaths/1,000 live births|nation=[[Estonians|Estonian]]|major_ethnic=[[Estonians]] (68.2%)|minor_ethnic=[[Russians]] (20.9%)|official=[[Estonian language|Estonian]]|spoken=Estonian, [[Russian language|Russian]], English|age_0–14_years=16.35%|age_65_years=20.43%|growth=-0.5% (2026)|net_migration=+5.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021)|sr_under_15=1.05 male(s)/female|sr_65_years_over=0.54 male(s)/female|total_mf_ratio=0.91 male(s)/female (2021 census)|life_male=75.1 years|life_female=84.4 years|fertility=1.18 children born/woman (2024)|age_15-64_years=63.22%}}
[[File:Estonia 1950-2021.gif|thumb|300px|Estonia animated population pyramid]]
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 of the Baltic states|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |first=Jaak Valge ja Andres Aule {{!}} |date=2021-02-20 |title=Jaak Valge ja Andres Aule: sisseränne Eestisse, eriti eestlastele mõeldes |url=https://www.err.ee/1608114112/jaak-valge-ja-andres-aule-sisseranne-eestisse-eriti-eestlastele-moeldes |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=ERR |language=et}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Estonia: Impact of the war in Ukraine on labour migration – European Commission |url=https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/estonia-impact-war-ukraine-labour-migration-2024-01-15_en |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=home-affairs.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Languages of Estonia|languages spoken in Estonia]] largely reflect the composition of the indigenous and immigrant [[ethnic group]]s 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]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-14635021|title=Spirituality in Estonia – the world's 'least religious' country|last=Esslemont|first=Tom|date=2011-08-26|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/europe-moving-away-organized-religion|title=Europe is Moving Away from Organized Religion – World Religion News|last=Welch|first=Derek|date=2018-04-01|work=World Religion News|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref><!-- which may, to some extent, from 1944 to 1991]].--><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://discover-estonia.com/religion-in-estonia/|title=Religion in Estonia|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Population by sex and age group, 1 January"/> Since 2016 immigration has exceeded emigration, making the overall population grow.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://vana.stat.ee/277526 |title=Last year, immigration exceeded emigration for the first time after the restoration of independence in Estonia – Statistics Estonia |access-date=2016-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828183016/https://www.stat.ee/277526 |archive-date=2016-08-28 }}</ref>

{{Historical populations
| percentages = pagr
|footnote = Source:<ref name="census">{{cite web|url=http://vana.stat.ee/62931|title=PHC2011 – History of Population Censuses in Estonia|website=stat.ee|access-date=2021-01-23|archive-date=2021-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228130132/https://vana.stat.ee/62931|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="final21" />
|title       = Census population and growth rate
|1881|881455
|1897|958351
|1922|1107059
|1934|1126413
|1941|1017475
|1959|1196791
|1970|1356079
|1979|1464476
|1989|1565662
|2000|1370052
|2011|1294455
|2021|1331824
|2026|1362954
}}

== Population size and structure==
{{multiple image
 | direction = vertical
 | header    = Population decline in Estonia
 | width     = 320
 | image1    = Population of Estonia (1970-2010).png
 | caption1  = Population of Estonia (1970–2010). Data by [[Statistics Estonia]] (2010).<ref name="Population by sex and age group, 1 January">{{cite web
 |title=Population by sex and age group, 1 January
 |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__rahvaarv-ja-rahvastiku-koosseis/RV021
 |publisher=[[Statistics Estonia]]
 |access-date=2010-03-29
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520140949/http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=PO021&ti=POPULATION+BY+SEX+AND+AGE+GROUP%2C+1+JANUARY&path=..%2FI_Databas%2FPopulation%2F01Population_indicators_and_composition%2F04Population_figure_and_composition%2F&lang=1
 |archive-date=2019-05-20
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
 | image3    = Natural population increase of Estonia (1945-2008).png
 | caption3  = Natural population increase of Estonia from 1945–2008. Data is taken from [[Statistics Estonia]].<ref name="Births, deaths and natural increase">
{{cite web
 |title=Births, deaths and natural increase
 |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__demograafilised-pehinaitajad/RV030
 |publisher=[[Statistics Estonia]]
 |date=2009-05-12
 |access-date=2009-09-30
}}</ref>
* {{legend|#63aafe|Number of births}}
* {{legend|#dd2d32|Number of deaths}}
* {{legend|#1fb714|Natural population increase}}
 | image4   = External migration of Estonia (2000-2009).png
 | caption4 = External migration of Estonia from 2000–2009. Data is taken from [[Statistics Estonia]].<ref name="Migration">{{cite web
 |title=Migration by administrative unit/type of settlement, sex and type of migration
 |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikusundmused__ranne/RVR01
 |publisher=[[Statistics Estonia]]
 |date=2010-05-26
 |access-date=2010-08-23
 |archive-date=2021-01-29
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129094447/https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikusundmused__ranne/RVR01
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
* {{legend|#63aafe|Number of immigrants}}
* {{legend|#dd2d32|Number of emigrants}}
* {{legend|#1fb714|Total external migration}}
}}

According to the preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, on 1 January 2026, the population of Estonia was '''1,362,954''' '''persons'''.<ref name=":6" /> On 1 January 2025, the population of Estonia was '''1,369,995''' persons.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=1,369,995 people: Estonia's population declined {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://www.stat.ee/en/news/1369995-people-estonias-population-declined |access-date=2025-04-23 |website=Statistics Estonia |language=en}}</ref>  On 1 January 2024, the population was 1,374,687 persons<ref name="2024_0101">{{Cite web |title=Estonia's population is increasing due to Ukrainian immigration {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://www.stat.ee/en/news/estonias-population-increasing-due-ukrainian-immigration |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=www.stat.ee |language=en}}</ref>  and on 1 January 2023, the population was 1,365,884.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Extraordinary year for population statistics – births at record low, migration at record high {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://www.stat.ee/en/news/extraordinary-year-population-statistics-births-record-low-migration-record-high |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.stat.ee |language=en |archive-date=2023-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516062141/https://www.stat.ee/en/news/extraordinary-year-population-statistics-births-record-low-migration-record-high |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Population census: Estonia's population and the number of Estonians have grown {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://rahvaloendus.ee/en/uudised/rahvaloendus-eesti-rahvaarv-ja-eestlaste-arv-kasvanud |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=rahvaloendus.ee |language=en}}</ref>
* 1,294,455 ([[2011 Estonia Census|2011 Population Count and Housing Census]]) <ref>{{cite web|title=1,294,455 permanent residents enumerated in the census|url=http://vana.stat.ee/67162?parent_id=39113|work=12 December 2012|publisher=Statistics Estonia|access-date=16 January 2013|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205020730/https://vana.stat.ee/67162?parent_id=39113|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* 1,370,052 (2000 Population Count and Housing Census) <ref>{{cite web|title=General information|url=http://vana.stat.ee/26262|work=Update 10 January 2008|publisher=Statistics Estonia|access-date=16 January 2013|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205033456/https://vana.stat.ee/26262|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://bnn-news.com/estonian-population-growth-continues-in-2019-due-to-immigration-209512#:~:text=The%20factor%20behind%20population%20growth,for%20the%20past%20five%20years.| title = Estonian population growth continues in 2019 due to immigration| date = 17 January 2020}}</ref> The population mainly increased as a result of net immigration of European Union citizens.<ref>{{cite web|title=The population increase was influenced by external migration|url=https://vana.stat.ee/277564|work=4 May 2016|publisher=Statistics Estonia|access-date=14 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Citizens of Russia and Ukraine made up the bulk of non-EU immigration.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.err.ee/v/news/6fd202ac-0170-4919-a52d-f576a5525517/immigration-exceeds-emigration-in-estonia-for-first-time-since-reindependence|title=Immigration exceeds emigration in Estonia for first time since reindependence|date=23 May 2016|publisher=[[Eesti Rahvusringhääling|ERR]]|access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> The increase was detected through methodological changes in data collection. Initially a population decrease had been reported.<ref>{{cite web|title=The population of Estonia decreased last year|url=https://vana.stat.ee/277478|work=15 January 2016|publisher=Statistics Estonia|access-date=14 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{#chart:Estonia Total Population.chart}}
{{Chart|definition=Estonia population natural change.chart|data=Estonia population natural change.tab|Width=500}}

{{Chart|definition=Estonia total fertility rate.chart|data=Estonia total fertility rate.tab|Width=270}}

===Structure of the population===

{{Hidden begin 
|title= Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2021):<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics |url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/products/dyb/#statistics |access-date=2023-05-10 |website=unstats.un.org}}</ref>
|titlestyle = background:#EEBC35;
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="80pt"|Age group
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80pt"|Female
! width="80pt"|Total
! width="80pt"|%
|-
| align="right" | Total
| align="right" | 630 081
| align="right" | 699 398 
| align="right" | 1 329 479
| align="right" | 100
|-
| align="right" | 0–4
| align="right" | 36 496
| align="right" | 34 282
| align="right" | 70 778
| align="right" | 5.32
|-
| align="right" | 5–9
| align="right" | 36 943 
| align="right" | 35 192
| align="right" | 72 135
| align="right" | 5.43
|-
| align="right" | 10–14
| align="right" | 38 862
| align="right" | 36 812
| align="right" | 75 674 
| align="right" | 5.69
|-
| align="right" | 15–19
| align="right" | 32 557
| align="right" | 31 056
| align="right" | 63 613
| align="right" | 4.78
|-
| align="right" | 20–24
| align="right" | 32 304
| align="right" | 30 481 
| align="right" | 62 785
| align="right" | 4.72
|-
| align="right" | 25–29
| align="right" | 41 090
| align="right" | 37 598
| align="right" | 78 688
| align="right" | 5.92
|-
| align="right" | 30–34
| align="right" | 53 536
| align="right" | 47 937 
| align="right" | 101 473
| align="right" | 7.63
|-
| align="right" | 35–39
| align="right" | 49 887
| align="right" | 46 058
| align="right" | 95 945
| align="right" | 7.22
|-
| align="right" | 40–44
| align="right" | 47 106
| align="right" | 44 160
| align="right" | 91 266
| align="right" | 6.86
|-
| align="right" | 45–49
| align="right" | 46 552
| align="right" | 45 084
| align="right" | 91 636
| align="right" | 6.89
|-
| align="right" | 50–54
| align="right" | 41 680
| align="right" | 42 995
| align="right" | 84 675
| align="right" | 6.37
|-
| align="right" | 55–59
| align="right" | 41 167
| align="right" | 45 436
| align="right" | 86 603
| align="right" | 6.51
|-
| align="right" | 60–64
| align="right" | 38 495
| align="right" | 47 293
| align="right" | 85 788 
| align="right" | 6.45
|-
| align="right" | 65–69
| align="right" | 32 536
| align="right" | 45 680 
| align="right" | 78 216
| align="right" | 5.88
|-
| align="right" | 70–74
| align="right" | 24 568
| align="right" | 39 996
| align="right" | 64 564
| align="right" | 4.86
|-
| align="right" | 75–79
| align="right" | 16 040
| align="right" | 31 412
| align="right" | 47 452
| align="right" | 3.57
|-
| align="right" | 80–84
| align="right" | 12 326
| align="right" | 30 478
| align="right" | 42 804
| align="right" | 3.22
|-
| align="right" | 85–89
| align="right" | 5 683
| align="right" | 17 620
| align="right" | 23 303
| align="right" | 1.75
|-
| align="right" | 90–94
| align="right" | 1 960
| align="right" | 7 968
| align="right" | 9 928
| align="right" | 0.75
|-
| align="right" | 95–99
| align="right" | 278
| align="right" | 1 724
| align="right" | 2 002
| align="right" | 0.15
|-
| align="right" | 100+
| align="right" | 15
| align="right" | 136
| align="right" | 151
| align="right" | 0.01
|-
! width="50"|Age group 
! width="80pt"|Male
! width="80"|Female
! width="80"|Total
! width="50"|Percent
|-
| align="right" | 0–14
| align="right" | 112 301
| align="right" | 106 286
| align="right" | 218 587
| align="right" | 16.44
|-
| align="right" | 15–64
| align="right" | 424 374
| align="right" | 418 098
| align="right" | 842 472
| align="right" | 63.37
|-
| align="right" | 65+
| align="right" | 93 406
| align="right" | 175 014
| align="right" | 268 420
| align="right" | 20.19
|-
|}
{{Hidden end}}

[[File:Age structure of Estonia (1970-2010).png|thumb|320px|Age structure of Estonia from 1970 to 2010. Data is taken from [[Statistics Estonia]].<ref name="Population by sex and age group, 1 January"/>
{{legend|#63aafe|Age: 0–14}}
{{legend|#dd2d32|Age: 15–64}}
{{legend|#fff58c|Age: 65+}}]]
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.<ref name="Population by sex and age group, 1 January"/> 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 ==
{{multiple image
| height            = 200
| footer            = 
| image1            = Live births and deaths in Estonia.svg
| width1            = 200
| caption1          = Live births and deaths over time
| image2            = Crude birth rate and death rate in Estonia.svg
| width2            = 200
| caption2          = Crude birth rate and death rate over time
| header            = Births and deaths in Estonia over time
}}

[[File:Marriages and divorces in Estonia over time.svg|thumb|Marriages and divorces in Estonia over time]]

=== 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]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://istmat.info/node/21366|title=Статистический ежегодник Российской Империи (Издание ЦСК ) – Проект "Исторические Материалы"|website=Istmat.info|access-date=7 November 2017|archive-date=16 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216153942/http://istmat.info/node/21366|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{sticky-header}}{{sort under}}{{table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:right;" 
|-
!
! width="70pt"|Average population 
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1000)
|-
| 1900
| 428,000
|12,487||8,227||4,260
|29.2||19.2||10.0
|-
| 1901
| 430,000
|12,703||8,428||4,275
|29.5||19.6||9.9
|-
| 1902
| 434,000
|13,101||7,724||5,377
|30.2||17.8||12.4
|-
| 1903
| 440,000
|12,704||8,004||4,700
|28.9||18.2||10.7
|-
| 1904
| 446,000
|12,753||8,279||4,474
|28.6||18.6||10.0
|-
| 1905
| 449,000
|11,991||9,694||2,297
|26.7||21.6||5.1
|-
| 1906
| 452,000
|12,417||8,842||3,575
|27.4||19.5||7.9
|-
| 1907
| 455,000
|12,304||8,730||3,574
|27.0||19.2||7.9
|-
| 1908
| 459,000
|11,861||8,495||3,366
|25.8||18.5||7.3
|-
| 1909
| 464,000
|11,970||8,297||3,673
|25.8||17.9||7.9
|-
| 1910
| 466,000
|12,193||8,204||3,989
|26.2||17.6||8.6
|-
| 1911
| 472,000
|11,749||8,976||2,773
|24.9||19.0||5.9
|-
| 1912
| 480,000
|11,900||8,431||3,469
|24.8||17.6||7.2
|-
| 1913
| 491,000
|11,653||9,089||2,564
|23.7||18.5||5.2
|-
| 1914
| 506,000
|11,854||9,212||2,642
|23.4||18.2||5.2
|}

=== Present Estonia ===
Source: Statistics Estonia<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stat.ee/et|title=Home &#124; Statistikaamet|website=www.stat.ee}}</ref>
[[File:Live births by age group in Estonia.svg|thumb|Live births by age group in 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).<ref name="Births, deaths and natural increase"/> For more detailed historic data, see the table below.

Notable events in Estonian demographics:

* 1916-1918 – [[World War I]]
* 1940-1945 – [[World War II]]
* 1991 – [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union]]

{{sticky-header}}{{sort under}}{{table alignment}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under sticky-header-multi" style="text-align:right;"
|-
!
! width="70pt" | Average population 
! width="70pt" | Live births
! width="70pt" | Deaths
! width="70pt" | Natural change
! width="70pt" | Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt" | Crude death rate (per 1000)
! width="70pt" | Natural change (per 1000)
! width="70pt" | Crude migration change (per 1000)
! width="70pt" | Total fertility rate
! width="70pt" | Infant mortality rate
|-
|1914
|1,197,000
|style="color: blue"| 26,865
|20,882
|5,983
|22.4
|17.4
|5.0
| −12.5
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1915
|1,188,000
|24,680
|21,841
|2,839
|20.8
|18.4
|2.4
| −31.9
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1916
|1,154,000
|21,282
|25,429
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4,147
|18.4
|22.0
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}3.6
| −25.9
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1917
|1,120,000
|18,333
|27,336
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}9,003
|16.4
|24.4
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}8.0
| −22.4
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1918
|1,086,000
|21,659
|style="color: red" | 32,488
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}10,829
|19.9
|style="color: red" |29.9
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}10.0
| −10.3
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1919
|1,064,000
|18,456
|28,800
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}10,344
|17.3
|27.1
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}9.7
| 13.5
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1920
|1,068,000
|19,625
|21,363
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1,738
|18.4
|20.0
|align="right" style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.6
| 19.4
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1921
|1,087,000
|22,067
|17,143
|4,924
|20.3
|15.8
|4.5
| 9.3
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1922
|1,102,000
|22,255
|18,401
|3,854
|20.2
|16.7
|3.5
| 4.7
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1923
|1,111,000
|22,347
|16,630
|5,717
|20.1
|15.0
|5.1
| −0.6
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1924
|1,116,000
|21,441
|16,918
|4,523
|19.2
|15.2
|4.1
| −3.2
|style="color: blue" |
|99.9
|-
|1925
|1,117,000
|20,445
|16,680
|3,765
|18.3
|14.9
|3.4
| −3.4
|style="color: blue" |
|95.7
|-
|1926
|1,117,000
|19,977
|18,047
|1,900
|17.9
|16.2
|1.7
| −2.6
|style="color: blue" |
|101.8
|-
|1927
|1,116,000
|19,705
|19,356
|500
|17.7
|17.3
|0.4
| −0.4
|style="color: blue" |
|114.6
|-
|1928
|1,116,000
|20,064
|17,785
|2,279
|18.0
|15.9
|2.0
| −2.0
|style="color: blue" |
|103.6
|-
|1929
|1,116,000
|19,110
|20,178
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1,068
|17.1
|18.1
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.0
| 1.0
|style="color: blue" |
|110.5
|-
|1930
|1,116,000
|19,471
|16,610
|2,861
|17.4
|14.9
|2.6
| −0.8
|style="color: blue" |
|100.1
|-
|1931
|1,118,000
|19,509
|18,077
|1,432
|17.4
|16.2
|1.3
| 2.3
|style="color: blue" |
|102.8
|-
|1932
|1,122,000
|19,742
|16,641
|3,101
|17.6
|14.8
|2.8
| −1.0
|style="color: blue" |
|96.8
|-
|1933
|1,124,000
|18,208
|16,472
|1,736
|16.2
|14.7
|1.5
| 0.3
|style="color: blue" |
|94.0
|-
|1934
|1,126,000
|17,305
|15,853
|1,452
|15.4
|14.1
|1.3
| 1.4
|style="color: blue" |
|91.1
|-
|1935
|1,129,000
|17,891
|16,864
|1,027
|15.8
|14.9
|0.9
| 0
|style="color: blue" |
|89.3
|-
|1936
|1,130,000
|18,222
|17,594
|628
|16.1
|15.6
|0.6
| 0.3
|style="color: blue" |
|89.2
|-
|1937
|1,131,000
|18,190
|16,614
|1,576
|16.1
|14.7
|1.4
| 0.4
|style="color: blue" |
|90.7
|-
|1938
|1,133,000
|18,453
|16,496
|1,957
|16.3
|14.6
|1.7
| −6.1
|style="color: blue" |
|77.5
|-
|1939
|1,128,000
|18,475
|17,101
|1,374
|16.4
|15.2
|1.2
| −29.6
|style="color: blue" |
|78.8
|-
|1940
|1,096,000
|18,407
|19,024
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}617
|16.8
|17.4
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}0.6
| −46.8
|style="color: blue" |
|83.7
|-
|1941
|1,044,000
|19,574
|23,702
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4,128
|18.8
|22.7
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.0
| −21.9
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1942
|1,017,000
|19,242
|20,276
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1,034
|18.9
|19.9
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.0
| −9.8
|style="color: blue" |
|91.8
|-
|1943
|1,006,000
|16,001
|18,120
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2,119
|15.9
|18.0
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2.1
| −13.8
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1944
|990,000
|15,180
|24,700
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}9,520
|15.3
|24.9
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}9.6
| −102.5
|style="color: blue" |
|
|-
|1945
|style="color: red" | 879,000
|14,968
|20,708
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,740
|17.0
|23.6
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}6.5
| 62.2
|style="color: blue" |
|124.8
|-
|1946
|928,000
|19,408
|19,969
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}561
|20.9
|21.5
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}0.6
| 53.4
|style="color: blue" |
|96.8
|-
|1947
|977,000
|22,721
|21,492
|1,229
|style="color: blue" |23.3
|22.0
|1.3
| 48.9
|style="color: blue" |
|121.4
|-
|1948
|1,026,000
|21,777
|17,549
|4,228
|21.2
|17.1
|4.1
| 42.7
|style="color: blue" |
|84.2
|-
|1949
|1,074,000
|21,770
|16,730
|5,040
|20.3
|15.6
|4.7
| 20.4
|style="color: blue" |
|82.4
|-
|1950
|1,101,000
|20,279
|15,817
|4,462
|18.4
|14.4
|4.1
| 7.7
| 
|81.2
|-
|1951
|1,114,000
|20,730
|15,354
|5,376
|18.6
|13.7
|4.8
| 6.0
|
|76.2
|-
|1952
|1,126,000
|21,111
|15,817
|5,294
|18.7
|14.0
|4.7
| 8.0
|
|64.9
|-
|1953
|1,138,000
|20,146
|14,420
|5,726
|17.7
|12.7
|5.0
| 4.7
|
|52.2
|-
|1954
|1,149,000
|20,909
|13,981
|6,928
|18.2
|12.2
|6.0
| 3.6
|
|49.5
|-
|1955
|1,160,000
|20,786
|13,638
|7,148
|17.9
| 11.8
|style="color: blue" |6.2
| 3.3
|
|51.6
|-
|1956
|1,171,000
|19,660
|12,748
|6,912
|16.8
|10.9
|5.9
| 2.6
|
|41.2
|-
|1957
|1,181,000
|19,509
|13,026
|6,483
|16.5
|11.0
|5.5
| 3.8
|
|40.1
|-
|1958
|1,192,000
|19,598
|12,971
|6,627
|16.4
|10.9
|5.6
| 3.6
|
|39.9
|-
|1959
|1,203,000
|19,938
|13,130
|6,808
|16.5
|10.9
|5.7
| 5.1
|
|31.7
|-
|1960
|1,216,000
|20,187
|style="color: blue"|12,738
|style="color: blue"|7,449
|16.6
|10.5
|6.1
| 4.6
| 1.95
|31.1
|-
|1961
|1,229,000
|20,230
|13,036
|7,194
|16.5
|10.6
|5.9
| 5.5
|1.97
|28.0
|-
|1962
|1,243,000
|19,959
|13,495
|6,464
|16.1
|10.9
|5.2
| 6.9
|1.95
|25.2
|-
|1963
|1,258,000
|19,275
|13,251
|6,024
|15.3
|10.5
|4.8
| 9.5
|1.91
|26.0
|-
|1964
|1,276,000
|19,629
|12,754
|6,875
|15.4
|style="color: blue" |10.0
|5.4
| 6.4
|1.94
|25.4
|-
|1965
|1,291,000
|18,909
|13,520
|5,389
|14.6
|10.5
|4.2
| 5.1
|1.90
|20.3
|-
|1966
|1,303,000
|18,629
|13,800
|4,829
|14.3
|10.6
|3.7
| 4.7
|1.85
|20.0
|-
|1967
|1,314,000
|18,671
|13,699
|4,972
|14.2
|10.4
|3.8
| 6.1
|1.86
|19.2
|-
|1968
|1,327,000
|19,782
|14,225
|5,557
|14.9
|10.7
|4.2
| 9.4
|2.03
|18.0
|-
|1969
|1,345,000
|20,781
|15,150
|5,631
|15.5
|11.3
|4.2
| 7.0
|style="color: blue" |2.11
|16.7
|-
|1970
|1,360,000
|21,552
|15,186
|6,366
|15.8
|11.2
|4.7
| 7.8
|style="color: blue" |2.16
|17.7
|-
|1971
|1,377,000
|22,118
|15,038
|7,080
|16.1
|10.9
|5.1
| 6.5
|style="color: blue" |2.19
|17.5
|-
|1972
|1,393,000
|21,757
|15,520
|6,237
|15.6
|11.1
|4.5
| 4.8
|style="color: blue" |2.14
|15.9
|-
|1973
|1,406,000
|21,239
|15,573
|5,666
|15.1
|11.1
|4.0
| 4.5
|2.07
|15.9
|-
|1974
|1,418,000
|21,461
|15,393
|6,068
|15.1
|10.9
|4.3
| 3.5
|2.07
|17.6
|-
|1975
|1,429,000
|21,360
|16,572
|4,788
|14.9
|11.6
|3.4
| 4.3
|2.04
|18.2
|-
|1976
|1,440,000
|21,801
|17,351
|4,450
|15.1
|12.0
|3.1
| 3.8
|2.06
|17.5
|-
|1977
|1,450,000
|21,977
|17,094
|4,883
|15.2
|11.8
|3.4
| 3.5
|2.06
|17.5
|-
|1978
|1,460,000
|21,842
|17,812
|4,030
|15.0
|12.2
|2.8
| 2.7
|2.02
|16.5
|-
|1979
|1,468,000
|21,879
|18,062
|3,817
|14.9
|12.3
|2.6
| 3.5
|2.01
|18.3
|-
|1980
|1,477,000
|22,204
|18,199
|4,005
|15.0
|12.3
|2.7
| 4.7
|2.02
|17.1
|-
|1981
|1,488,000
|22,937
|18,349
|4,588
|15.4
|12.3
|3.1
| 3.6
|2.07
|17.0
|-
|1982
|1,498,000
|23,128
|17,893
|5,235
|15.4
|11.9
|3.5
| 3.8
|2.08
|17.2
|-
|1983
|1,509,000
|24,155
|18,190
|5,965
|16.0
|12.1
|4.0
| 2.6
|style="color: blue" |2.16
|16.1
|-
|1984
|1,519,000
|24,234
|19,086
|5,148
|16.0
|12.6
|3.4
| 3.2
|style="color: blue" |2.17
|13.6
|-
|1985
|1,529,000
|23,630
|19,343
|4,287
|15.5
|12.7
|2.8
| 4.4
|style="color: blue" |2.12
|14.1
|-
|1986
|1,540,000
|24,106
|17,986
|6,120
|15.7
|11.7
|4.0
| 3.8
|style="color: blue" |2.17
|15.9
|-
|1987
|1,552,000
|25,086
|18,279
|6,807
|16.2
|11.8
|4.4
| 2.0
|style="color: blue" |2.26
|16.0
|-
|1988
|1,562,000
|25,060
|18,551
|6,509
|16.0
|11.9
|4.2
| −0.4
|style="color: blue" |2.26
|12.4
|-
|1989
|1,568,000
|24,318
|18,536
|5,762
|15.5
|11.8
|3.7
| −3.1
|style="color: blue" |2.22
|14.8
|-
|1990
|style="color: blue"|1,569,000
|22,304
|19,531
|2,778
|14.2
|12.4
|1.8
| −6.9
|2.05
|12.3
|-
|1991
|1,561,000
|19,413
|19,715
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}302
|12.4
|12.6
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}0.2
| −17.7
|1.80
|13.3
|-
|1992
|1,533,000
|18,038
|20,126
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2,088
|11.8
|13.1
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.4
| −24.0
|1.71
|15.7
|-
|1993
|1,494,000
|15,253
|21,286
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}6,033
|10.2
|14.2
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.0
| −16.7
|1.49
|15.6
|-
|1994
|1,463,000
|14,176
|22,212
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}8,036
|9.7
|15.2
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5.5
| −12.3
|1.42
|14.4
|-
|1995
|1,437,000
|13,509
|20,828
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}7,319
|9.4
|14.5
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5.1
| −9.5
|1.38
|14.9
|-
|1996
|1,416,000
|13,242
|19,020
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,778
|9.4
|13.4
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.1
| −7.2
|1.37
|10.5
|-
|1997
|1,400,000
|12,577
|18,572
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,995
|9.0
|13.3
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.3
| −5.7
|1.32
|10.0
|-
|1998
|1,386,000
| 12,167
|19,445
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}7,278
|8.8
|14.0
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5.3
| −1.9
|1.28
|9.4
|-
|1999
|1,376,000
|12,425
|18,447
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}6,022
|9.0
|13.4
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.4
| 19.7
|1.32
|9.6
|-
|2000 
|1,397,000
|13,067||18,403||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,336
|9.4||13.2 ||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}3.8
| −2.6
|1.35
|8.4
|-
|2001
|1,388,000
|12,632 ||18,516||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,884
|9.1 ||13.2||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.2
| −2.3
|1.31
|8.8
|-
|2002
|1,379,000
|13,001 ||18,355||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,354
|9.4||13.3||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}3.9
| −1.9
|1.36
|5.7
|-
|2003
|1,371,000
|13,036||18,152||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,116
|9.5||13.2||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}3.7
| −2.1
|1.36
|7.0
|-
|2004
|1,363,000
|13,992|| 17,685|| style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}3,693
|10.3||13.0||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2.7
| −3.2
|1.47
|6.4
|-
|2005
|1,355,000
|14,350||17,316|| style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2,966
|10.6||12.8|| style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2.2
| −3.7
|1.52
|5.4
|-
|2006
|1,347,000
|14,877||17,316||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2,439
|11.0||12.9||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.8
| −2.7
|1.58
|4.4
|-
|2007
|1,341,000
|15,775||17,409||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1,634
|11.8||13.0||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.2
| −1.8
|1.69
|5.0
|-
|2008
|1,337,000
|16,028||16,675||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}647
|12.0||12.5||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}0.5
| −1.0
|1.72
|5.0
|-
|2009
|1,335,000
|15,763||16,081||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}318
|11.8||12.1||style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}0.2
| −2.0
|1.70
|3.6
|-
|2010
|1,332,000
|15,825||15,790|| 35
|11.9||11.9|| 0.0
| −3.8
|1.72
|3.3
|-
|2011
|1,327,000
|14,679||15,244||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}565
|11.0||11.4||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}0.4
| −2.6
|1.61
|2.5
|-
|2012
|1,323,000
|14,056||15,450||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1,394
|10.6||11.7||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1.1
| −2.7
|1.56
|3.6
|-
|2013
|1,318,000
|13,531||15,244||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1,713
|10.3||11.6||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1.3
| −1.7
|1.52
|2.1
|-
|2014
|1,314,000
|13,551||15,484||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1,933
|10.3||11.8||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1.5
| 1.5
|1.54
|2.7
|-
|2015
|1,314,000
|13,907 ||15,243 ||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1,336 
|10.6||11.6||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1.0
| 2.5
|1.58
|2.5
|-
|2016
|1,316,000
|14,053 ||15,392 ||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1,339
|10.7||11.7||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1.0
| 1.8
|1.60
|2.3
|-
|2017
|1,317,000
|13,784 ||15,543 ||style="color: red"| {{hyphen}}1,759
|10.5||11.8|| style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.3
| 5.1
|1.59
|2.3
|-
|2018
|1,322,000
|14,367 ||15,751 || style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1,384
|10.9||11.9|| style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.0
| 4.8
|1.67
|1.6
|-
|2019
|1,327,000
|14,099
|15,401
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1,302
|10.6
|11.6
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}1.0
| 2.5
|1.66
|1.6
|-
|2020
|1,329,000
|13,209
|15,811
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2,602
|9.9
|11.9
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}2.0
| 3.5
|1.58
|1.4
|-
|2021
|1,331,000
|13,272
|18,587
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,315
|10.0
|14.0
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.0
| 17.5
|1.61
|2.2
|-
|2022
|1,349,000
|11,646
|17,315
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,669
|8.6
|12.8
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.2
| 19.8
|1.41
|2.2
|-
|2023
|1,370,000 
|10,949
|16,002
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}5,053
|8.0
|11.7
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}3.7
| 19.2
|1.31
|1.7
|-
|2024
|1,372,000
|9,690
|15,756
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}6,066
|7.1
|11.5
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.4
|5.8
|1.18
|1.5
|-
|2025
|1,366,500
|style="color: red" |9,092
|15,427
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}6,335
|style="color: red" | 6.7
|11.3
|style="color: red" | {{hyphen}}4.6
|1.2
| style="color: red" |1.12(e)
|
|-
|2026
|1,363,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|}

According to the preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, on 1 January 2026, the population of Estonia was 1,362,954, which is 7,041 persons fewer than at the same time a year ago. In 2025, there were 9,092 births and 15,427 deaths. Based on preliminary data, net migration was negative again after several years  – according to registered migration data, 11,298 people arrived in the country and 12,004 people left (−706 people).<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Estonia's population decreased by 7,041 according to preliminary data {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://stat.ee/en/news/estonias-population-decreased-7041-according-preliminary-data |access-date=2026-01-14 |website=stat.ee |language=en}}</ref>

Year earlier, on 1 January 2025, the population of Estonia stood at 1,369,995. This is 4,692 persons less than year ago. There were 9,690 births and 15,756 deaths in Estonia last year. 18,634 persons immigrated to Estonia and 17,260 persons emigrated in 2024 – natural increase was negative (−6,066 people), while net migration was positive (+1,374 people).<ref name=":2" />

On 1 January 2024 1,374,687 persons lived in Estonia.<ref name="2024_0101" />  In 2023 natural increase was negative (−5,053 people), while net migration was positive (+13,856 people, 26,399 persons immigrated to Estonia and 12,543 persons emigrated from Estonia). On 1 January 2023 1,365,884 persons lived in Estonia,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />  at 1 January 2022 lived in Estonia 1,331,796 persons and at 1 January 2021 1,330,068 persons.<ref name="final21">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2022-05-12|title=Immigration offset the high number of deaths; the population increased|url=https://www.stat.ee/en/node/258675|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512105317/https://www.stat.ee/en/node/258675 |archive-date=2022-05-12 |access-date=|website=www.stat.ee|publisher=Statistics Estonia}}</ref>

===Current vital statistics===
The data is based on registrations of births and deaths.

{| class="wikitable"  style="text-align:center;"
|+
|-
! Period
! Live births
! Deaths
! Natural increase
|-
! January–February 2025
| 1,381
| 2,676
| –1,295
|-
! January–February 2026
| 1,360
| 2,877
| –1,517
|-
! Difference
| {{Decrease}} –21 (−1.52%)
| {{IncreaseNegative}} +201 (+7.51%)
| {{Decrease}} –222
|-
! colspan="4" style="text-align: center;" | Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Preliminary data of registration of births by month and county of the registration|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikusundmused__sunnid/RV061|publisher=Statistics Estonia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Preliminary data of registration of deaths by month and county of the registration|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikusundmused__surmad/RV04|publisher=Statistics Estonia}}</ref><ref name="sisemin">{{cite web|title=News|url=https://www.siseministeerium.ee/otsing?search_term=&f%5B0%5D=type%3Anews|publisher=Estonian Ministry of the Interior}}</ref>
|}

=== Total fertility rate ===
Between 1970 and 1990, the total fertility rate (TFR) was little over 2 children born per woman.<ref name="Main demographic indicators">{{cite web|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__demograafilised-pehinaitajad/RV033|title=Main demographic indicators|publisher=Statistics Estonia|access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref> A fast decrease of the TFR occurred after independence. In 1998 the lowest rate was recorded: 1.28 children born per [[Women in Estonia|woman]]. The TFR slightly recovered in the subsequent years. The TFR was 1.66 in 2008 and 1.52 in 2011.

=== Infant mortality rate ===
The infant mortality rate in Estonia has decreased considerably during the past decades. In 1970 the rate was 17.7 per 1,000 live births.<ref name="Main demographic indicators"/> The rate decreased to 17.1 in 1980, 12.3 in 1990 and 8.4 in 2000. The lowest infant mortality rate was recorded in 2011: 2.6.

=== Life expectancy at birth ===
[[File:Life_expectancy_in_Estonia.svg|thumb|Development of life expectancy in Estonia]]
Life expectancy in Estonia is lower than in most Western European countries. During the Soviet era life expectancy in males was between 64 and 66 years and in females between 73 and 75 years.<ref name="Main demographic indicators"/> After the independence, life expectancy decreased for a number of years. In 1994, the lowest life expectancy was recorded: 60.5 years in males and 72.8 in females. After 1994, in 30 years, life expectancy gradually increased to reach 75.1 years in males and 84.4 in females in 2024.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=RV045: Life expextancy by sex and age |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/pxweb/en/stat/stat__rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__demograafilised-pehinaitajad/RV045.px/ |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=PxWeb |language=en |publication-place=Statistical database of Statistics Estonia}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Period
!Life expectancy in<br />Years<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/DataQuery/|title=World Population Prospects – Population Division |publisher=United Nations|access-date=2018-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Estonia Life expectancy at birth |url=http://www.indexmundi.com/estonia/life_expectancy_at_birth.html |access-date=3 January 2013 |publisher=Index Mundi}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
|-
|1950–1955
|61.77
|-
|1955–1960
|{{increase}} 66.92
|-
|1960–1965
|{{increase}} 69.38
|-
|1965–1970
|{{increase}} 70.31
|-
|1970–1975
|{{decrease}} 70.27
|-
|1975–1980
|{{decrease}} 69.43
|-
|1980–1985
|{{decrease}} 69.32
|-
|1985–1990
|{{increase}} 70.34
|-
|1991–1995
|{{decrease}} 68.11
|-
|1996–2000
|{{increase}} 70.17
|-
|2001–2005
|{{increase}} 71.97
|-
|2006–2010
|{{increase}} 74.36
|-
|2011–2015
|{{increase}} 77.00
|-
|2016–2020
|{{increase}} 78.39
|-
|2021–2024
|{{increase}} 78.44
|-
|2024
|{{increase}} 79.46
|}

By data from Statistics Estonia, life expectancy at birth in 2024 was 75.1 years for males and 83.4 years for females, on average for all 79,5 years.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Life expectancy in Estonia is 79.5 years {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://stat.ee/en/news/life-expectancy-estonia-795-years |access-date=2025-05-29 |website=stat.ee |language=en}}</ref> 
In 1994, the life expectancy of Estonian residents was 66.5 years, whereas by 2024 it had increased by 13 years and reached 79.5 years. 2024 data show than Estonian residents have 58.7 healthy life years at birth. Men live disability-free for 56.8 years and women for 60.6 years.<ref name=":4" />

For comparison, life expectancy in Estonia is still below the European average, which was 81.4 years in 2023.<ref name=":4" />

== Ethnic groups ==
{{See also|Estonian Swedes|Baltic Germans|Russians in Estonia|Ukrainians in Estonia|Armenians in Estonia|Võros|Setos}}

'''Population of Estonia by ethnic groups 2022–2025''' <ref>{{cite web | url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__rahvaarv-ja-rahvastiku-koosseis/RV0222U/table/tableViewLayout2 | title=Rv0222U: Population by Sex, Ethnic Nationality and County, 1 January }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=RV067: POPULATION BY ETHNIC NATIONALITY AND SEX, 1 JANUARY |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__rahvaarv-ja-rahvastiku-koosseis/RV067 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=PxWeb |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
|+
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! colspan=2 | 2022
! colspan=2 | 2023
! colspan=2 | 2024
! colspan="2" |2025
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
!Number
! %
|-
| align=left | [[Estonians]]
| 919,693 ||{{percentage bar|width=70|69.06}}
| 925,892 ||{{percentage bar|width=70|67.79}}
| 931,993 ||{{percentage bar|width=70|67.80}}
|934,725
|{{percentage bar|width=70|68.23}}
|-
| align=left | [[Russians]]
| 315,242||{{percentage bar|width=70|23.67}}
| 306,801||{{percentage bar|width=70|22.46}}
| 296,268||{{percentage bar|width=70|21.55}}
|285,819
|{{percentage bar|width=70|20.86}}
|-
| align=left | [[Ukrainians]]
| 27,826||{{percentage bar|width=70|2.09}}
| 55,675||{{percentage bar|width=70|4.08}}
| 68,770||{{percentage bar|width=70|5.00}}
|73,597
|{{percentage bar|width=70|5.37}}
|-
| align=left | [[Belarusians]]
| 11,605||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.87}}
| 11,562||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.85}}
| 11,402||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.83}}
|11,089
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.81}}
|-
| align=left | [[Finns]]
| 8,543||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.64}}
| 8,518||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.62}}
| 8,344||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.61}}
|8,080
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.59}}
|-
| align=left | [[Latvians]]
| 3,827||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.29}}
| 4,094||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.30}}
| 4,232||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.31}}
|4,225
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.31}}
|-
| align=left | [[Germans]]
| 2,701||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.20}}
| 2,900||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.21}}
| 2,923||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.21}}
|2,954
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.22}}
|-
| align=left | [[Lithuanians]]
| 2,097||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.16}}
| 2,146||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.16}}
| 2,146||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.16}}
|2,095
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.15}}
|-
| align=left | [[Tatars]]
| 1,938||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.15}}
| 1,984||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.15}}
| 2,022||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.15}}
|2,023
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.15}}
|-
| align=left | [[Jews]]
| 1,852||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
| 1,939||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
| 2,013||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
|2,012
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.15}}
|-
|align=left | [[Polish people|Poles]]
| 1,845||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
| 1,915||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
| 1,882||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
|1,883
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
|-
| align=left | [[Armenians]]
| 1,666||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
| 1,755||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
| 1,804||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
|1,852
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
|-
| align=left | [[Azerbaijanis]]
| 1,546||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.12}}
| 1,688||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.12}}
| 1,775||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
|1,837
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
|-
| align=left |Other ethnic nationalities
| 24,703||{{percentage bar|width=70|1.85}}
| 28,237||{{percentage bar|width=7
0|2.07}}
| 30,433||{{percentage bar|width=70|2.21}}
|31,626
|{{percentage bar|width=70|2.31}}
|-
| align=left | Ethnic nationality unknown
| 6,712||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.50}}
| 10,778||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.79}}
| 8,680||{{percentage bar|width=70|0.63}}
|6,178
|{{percentage bar|width=70|0.45}}
|-
! align=left | Total
! colspan=2 | 1,331,796
! colspan=2 | 1,365,884
! colspan=2 | 1,374,687
! colspan="2" |1,369,995
|-
|}

[[File:Share of Estonians.png|thumbnail|420px|Share of ethnic Estonians by Estonian locality]]
Today, Estonia is an ethnically fairly diverse country, ranking 97th out of 239 countries and territories in 2001 study by Kok Kheng Yeoh.<ref name="TOWARDS AN INDEX OF ETHNIC FRACTIONALIZATION">{{cite web
 |title=TOWARDS AN INDEX OF ETHNIC FRACTIONALIZATION
 |url=http://cmsad.um.edu.my/images/fep/doc/2001%20Pdf/FEA-WP-2001-003.pdf
 |publisher=University of Malaya
 |date=2008-10-17
 |access-date=2010-10-11
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813185730/http://cmsad.um.edu.my/images/fep/doc/2001%20Pdf/FEA-WP-2001-003.pdf
 |archive-date=2011-08-13
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> In 2008, thirteen of Estonia's fifteen counties were over 80% ethnic Estonian. The counties with the highest percentage Estonians are [[Hiiu County]] (98.4%) and [[Saare County]] (98.3%).  However, in [[Harju County]] (which includes the national capital, [[Tallinn]]) and [[Ida-Viru County]], ethnic Estonians make up only 59.6% (55.0% in Tallinn) and 19.7% of the population, respectively.  In those two counties, [[Russians]] account for 32.4% (36.4% in Tallinn) and 71.2% of the population, respectively.  In the nation as a whole, Russians make up 23% of the total population.<ref name="Population by sex, ethnic nationality and county, 1 January">{{cite web
 |title=Population by sex, ethnic nationality and county, 1 January
 |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikunaitajad-ja-koosseis__rahvaarv-ja-rahvastiku-koosseis/RV069
 |publisher=[[Statistics Estonia]]
 |date=2008-10-17
 |access-date=2009-10-05
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201124514/http://pub.stat.ee/px-web.2001/Dialog/varval.asp?ma=PO0222&ti=POPULATION+BY+SEX%2C+ETHNIC+NATIONALITY+AND+COUNTY%2C+1+JANUARY&path=..%2FI_Databas%2FPopulation%2F01Population_indicators_and_composition%2F04Population_figure_and_composition%2F&lang=1
 |archive-date=2017-12-01
 }}</ref>

After gaining independence following World War I a population census was held in 1922 and 1934. At that time Estonians were still the predominant ethnic group, while all others constituted 12% of the population of Estonia.

Major Jewish communities were present in Estonia between 1918 and 1940 in [[Tallinn]], [[Pärnu]], [[Kilingi-Nõmme]], [[Narva]], [[Tartu]], [[Valga, Estonia|Valga]], and [[Võru]].<ref>
{{cite book |url=http://www.geschichteinchronologie.ch/eu/estland/EncJud_juden-in-Estland-ENGL.html |title=Encyclopaedia Judaica. Jews in Estonia |year=1971 |volume=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922205912/https://geschichteinchronologie.ch/eu/estland/EncJud_juden-in-Estland-ENGL.html |archive-date=2012-09-22}}</ref>

'''Population of Estonia by ethnic group 1897–2021'''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
|+
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! colspan=2 | census 1897<ref>{{cite web|url=http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus_lan_97_uezd_eng.php|title=Demoscope Weekly – Annex. Statistical indicators reference.|website=Demoscope.ru|access-date=7 November 2017}}</ref>
! colspan=2 | census 1922<sup>1</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 1934<sup>1</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 1959<sup>2</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 1970<sup>3</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 1979<sup>4</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 1989<sup>5</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 2000<sup>6</sup>
! colspan=2 | census 2011<ref name="pub.stat.ee">{{cite web|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvaloendus__rel2011__rahvastiku-demograafilised-ja-etno-kultuurilised-naitajad__rahvus-emakeel-ja-keelteoskus-murded|title=Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue and command of foreign languages. Dialects|website=pub.stat.ee}}</ref>
! colspan=2 | census 2021<ref name=PSENC2021>{{cite web|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvaloendus__rel2021__rahvastiku-demograafilised-ja-etno-kultuurilised-naitajad__rahvus-emakeel/RL21428/table/tableViewLayout2|title=Population by sex, ethnic nationality and county (2021)|website=stat.ee}}</ref>
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| align=left | [[Estonians]]
| 867,794||90.6
| 969,976||87.6
|{{font color|blue|992,520}} ||88.1
| 892,653||74.6
| 925,157||68.2
| 947,812||64.7
| 963,281||61.5
| 930,219||67.9
| 902,547||69.7
| 919,711||69.1
|-
| align=left | [[Russians]]
| 37,599||3.9
| 91,109||8.2
| 92,656||8.2
| 240,227||20.1
| 334,620||24.7
| 408,778||27.9
| 474,834||30.3
| 351,178||25.6
| 326,235||25.2
| 315,252||23.6
|-
| align=left | [[Ukrainians]]
| 504||0.1
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 92||0.0
| 15,769||1.3
| 28,086||2.1
| 36,044||2.5
| 48,271||3.1
| 29,012||2.1
| 22,573||1.7
| 27,828||2.1
|-
| align=left | [[Belarusians]]
| 272||0.0
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 10,930
| 0.9
| 18,732
| 1.4
| 23,461
| 1.6
| 27,711
| 1.8
| 17,241
| 1.3
| 12,579||1.0
| 11,606||0.9
|-
| align=left | [[Finns]]
| 362||0.0
| 401
| 0.0
| 1,088
| 0.1
| 16,699
| 1.4
| 18,537
| 1.4
| 17,753
| 1.2
| 16,622
| 1.1
| 11,837
| 0.9
| 7,589||0.6
| 8,543||0.6
|-
| align=left | [[Latvians]]
| 5,470||0.6
| 1,966
| 0.2
| 5,435
| 0.5
| 2,888
| 0.2
| 3,286
| 0.2
| 3,963
| 0.3
| 3,135
| 0.2
| 2,330
| 0.2
| 1,764||0.1
| 3,827||0.3
|-
| align=left | [[Germans]]
| 33,362||3.5
| 18,319
| 1.7
| 16,346
| 1.5
| 670
| 0.1
| 7,850
| 0.6
| 3,944
| 0.3
| 3,466
| 0.2
| 1,870
| 0.1
| 1,544||0.1
| 2,701||0.2
|-
| align=left | [[Lithuanians]]
| 44||0.0
| 436||0.0
| 253 
| 0.0
| 1,616
| 0.1
| 2,356
| 0.2
| 2,379
| 0.2
| 2,568
| 0.2
| 2,116
| 0.2
| 1,727||0.1
| 2,097||0.2
|-
| align=left | [[Tatars]]
| 36||0.0
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 166
| 0.0
| 1,534
| 0.1
| 2,204
| 0.2
| 3,195
| 0.2
| 4,058
| 0.3
| 2,582
| 0.2
| 1,993||0.2
| 1,938||0.1
|-
| align=left | [[Jews]]
| 3,837||0.4
| 4,566
| 0.4
| 4,434
| 0.4
| 5,433
| 0.5
| 5,282
| 0.4
| 4,954
| 0.3
| 4,613
| 0.3
| 2,145
| 0.2
| 1,973||0.2
| 1,852||0.1
|-
|align=left | [[Polish people|Poles]]
| 1,941||0.2
| 969
| 0.1
| 1,608
| 0.1
| 2,256
| 0.2
| 2,651
| 0.2
| 2,897
| 0.2
| 3,008
| 0.2
| 2,193
| 0.2
| 1,664||0.1
| 1,845||0.1
|-
| align=left | [[Swedes]]
| 6,083||0.6
| 7,850
| 0.7
| 7,641
| 0.7
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 435
| 0.0
| 254
| 0.0
| 297
| 0.0
| 300
| 0.0
| 380
| 0.0
| 811
|-
| align=left | [[Armenians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 1,428||0.1
| 1,666||0.1
|-
| align=left | [[Azerbaijanis]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 940 ||0.0
| 1,546||0.1
|-
| align=left | [[French people]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 117 ||0.0
| 1,275||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Italians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 230 || 0.0
| 1,181||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Hindus]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 90 ||0.0
| 1,165||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Englishmen]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 270 ||0.0
| 999||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Georgians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 490 || 0.0
| 946||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Spaniards]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 100 || 0.0
| 767||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Turkish people]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 86 || 0.0
| 763||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Moldovans|Moldavians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 511 || 0.0
| 730||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Romani people]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 482 || 0.0
| 676||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Americans]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 245||0.0
| 645||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Pakistanis]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 27||0.0
| 560||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Romanians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 91||0.0
| 517||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Arabs]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 80||0.0
| 489||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Brazilians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 29||0.0
| 460||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Chinese people|Chinese]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 90||0.0
| 427||0.0
|-
| align=left | [[Persians]]
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| colspan=2 align=center | —
| 23||0.0
| 426||0.0
|-
| align=left |Other
| 1,047||0.1
| 11,467
| 1.0
| 4,266
| 0.4
| 6,116
| 0.5
| 6,883
| 0.5
| 9,042
| 0.6
| 13,798
| 0.9
| 19,174
| 1.4
| 7,538||0.6
| 18,575||1.4
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! align=left | Total
! colspan=2 | 958,351
! colspan=2 | 1,107,059
! colspan=2 | 1,126,413
! colspan=2 | 1,196,791
! colspan=2 | 1,356,079
! colspan=2 | 1,464,476
! colspan=2 | 1,565,662
! colspan=2 | 1,370,052
! colspan=2 | 1,294,455
! colspan=2 | 1,331,824
|-
|}

As a result of the Soviet occupation from 1944 to 1991 and Soviet policies, the share of ethnic Estonians in the population resident within currently defined boundaries of [[Estonia]] dropped to 61.5% in 1989, compared to 88% in 1934.<ref name="Population of Estonia by population censuses">
{{cite book |url=http://www.stat.ee/dokumendid/26380 |title=Eesti rahvastik rahvaloenduste andmetel (Population of Estonia by population censuses) |publisher=Eesti Statistikaamet (Statistical Office of Estonia) |year=1996 |isbn=9985-826-44-2 |volume=2 |language=et, en |format=PDF |access-date=2009-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115140334/http://stat.ee/dokumendid/26380 |archive-date=2018-11-15}}</ref>  But in the decade following the restoration of independence, large scale emigration by ethnic Russians, as well as ethnic groups of other former Soviet countries, and the removal of the Russian military bases in 1994 caused the proportion of ethnic Estonians in Estonia to increase from 61.5% in 1989 to 68.7% in 2008.  In the same period the proportion of ethnic Russians decreased from 30.0% to 25.6%, the proportion of ethnic [[Ukrainians]] decreased from 3.1% to 2.1%, and the proportion of ethnic [[Belarusians]] decreased from 1.8% to 1.2%.<ref name="Population by sex, ethnic nationality and county, 1 January"/><ref name="Population of Estonia by population censuses"/>

[[File:Estonia ethnic makeup.png|thumb|1897–2011 Estonia ethnic makeup|320px]]

[[File:Citizenship of the Estonian population (2010-07-02).png|thumb|320px|right|Citizenship of the population of Estonia in 2010. Data is taken from [[Statistics Estonia]].<ref name="Citizenship">{{cite web
 |title=Citizenship
 |url=http://estonia.eu/about-estonia/society/citizenship.html
 |publisher=Estonia.eu
 |date=2010-07-02
 |access-date=2010-08-20
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601195852/http://estonia.eu/about-estonia/society/citizenship.html
 |archive-date=2012-06-01
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
{{legend|#63aafe|Estonian: 1,148,895}}
{{legend|#dd2d32|Russian: 95,939}}
{{legend|#fff58c|Others: 21,517}}
{{legend|#4ee257|Undetermined: 99,173}}]]
In 2008, the largest ethnic groups in Estonia were Estonians 68.7%, Russians 25.6%, Ukrainians 2.1%, Belarusians 1.2%, and [[Finns]] 0.8%.  These five groups made up 98.4% of Estonia's population.<ref name="Population by sex, ethnic nationality and county, 1 January"/>

The numbers had changed a little by the time of the 2021 census, when they were reported as Estonians 69.1%, Russians 23.6%, Ukrainians 2.1%, Belarusians 0.9%, and Finns 0.6%.<ref name=PSENC2021/><gallery mode="packed" caption="Population pyramids of ethnic groups within Estonia">
File:Estonians population pyramid in Estonia in 2021.svg|Estonians
File:Russian population pyramid in Estonia in 2021.svg|Russian
</gallery>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Newborns in Estonia according to ethnic group
! rowspan="2" |Ethnicity
! colspan="2" |1989<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=RV108: LIVE BIRTHS BY ETHNIC NATIONALITY OF PARENTS |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvastik__rahvastikusundmused__sunnid/RV108}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1996<ref name=":5" />
! colspan="2" |2001<ref name=":5" />
! colspan="2" |2006<ref name=":5" />
! colspan="2" |2011<ref name=":5" />
! colspan="2" |2016<ref name=":5" />
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name=":5" />
! colspan="2" |2024<ref name=":5" />
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|{{Flag icon|Estonia}} Estonian
|15,701
|64.6
|9,607
|72.5
|8,867
|70.2
|10,678
|71.8
|10,809
|73.6
|9,973
|71.0
|10,077
|75.9
|7,045
|72.7
|-
|{{Flag icon|Russia}} Russian
|6,539
|26.9
|2,938
|22.2
|3,172
|25.1
|3,583
|24.1
|3,438
|23.4
|3,612
|25.7
|2,553
|19.2
|1,615
|16.7
|-
|{{Flag icon|Ukraine}} Ukrainian
|856
|3.5
|250
|1.9
|235
|1.9
|215
|1.4
|142
|1.0
|186
|2.0
|186
|1.4
|487
|5.0
|-
|Other
|1,222
|5.0
|447
|3.4
|358
|2.8
|401
|2.7
|290
|2.0
|282
|1.3
|456
|3.4
|543
|5.6
|-
!Total
! colspan="2" |24,318
! colspan="2" |13,242
! colspan="2" |12,632
! colspan="2" |14,877
! colspan="2" |14,679
! colspan="2" |14,053
! colspan="2" |13,272
! colspan="2" |9,690
|}

== Immigration ==
As the cumulative negative natural growth was about 82,000 during 1991–2010, the remainder of the population decline of Estonia since 1990 (230,000 people in total) was caused by emigration (150,000 people or about 10% of the population of Estonia in 1990). Mainly ethnic [[Russians]], [[Ukrainians]] and [[Belarusians]] emigrated. Consequently, the proportion of these ethnic groups decreased as can be seen in the results of the 2000 census (see below). Data from 2000 to 2009 also shows that the number of emigrants is larger than the number of immigrants, but on a much lower lever than in the 1990s.<ref name="Migration"/>

===Estonia migration data, 2014–present===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
! Year !! Immigration !! Emigration !! Net Migration
|-
| 2014 || 3,904 || 4,637 || −733
|-
| 2015 || 15,413 || 13,003 || 2,410
|-
| 2016 || 14,822 || 13,792 || 1,030
|-
| 2017 || 17,616 || 12,358 || 5,258
|-
| 2018 || 17,547 || 10,476 || 7,071
|-
| 2019 || 18,172 || 12,801 || 5,371
|-
| 2020 || 16,209 || 12,427 || 3,782
|-
| 2021 || 19,524 || 12,481 || 7,043
|-
| 2022 || 49,414 || 9,657 || 39,757
|-
| 2023 || 26,399 || 12,543 || 13,856
|-
| 2024 || 18,634 || 17,260 || 1,374
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="text-align:right"
|+ Foreign-born population by census in 2000, 2011 and 2021
! rowspan="2" | Country of birth
! colspan="2" | 2000<ref name="datast8">{{cite web |date=2022-06-01 |title=Population by Country of Birth. Statistics Estonia; |url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvaloendus__rel_vordlus__pelisus-ja-ranne/RLV501 |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Population and housing censuses: comparative data; form RLV501}}</ref>
! colspan="2" | 2011<ref name="datast8"/>
! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="datast8" />
|-
! Number !! %
! Number !! %
! Number !! %
|-
|{{flag|Russia}}
|184,795 || {{percentage bar|width=50|13.49}}
|134,948 || {{percentage bar|width=50|10.43}}
|110,161 || {{percentage bar|width=50|8.27}}
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}}
|25,185 || {{percentage bar|width=50|1.84}}
|21,156 || {{percentage bar|width=50|1.63}}
|28,621 || {{percentage bar|width=50|2.15}}
|-
|{{flag|Belarus}}
|14,883 || {{percentage bar|width=50|1.09}}
|11,593 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.90}}
|10,326 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.78}}
|-
|{{flag|Latvia}}
|4,326 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.32}}
|3,859 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.30}}
|6,375 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.48}}
|-
|{{flag|Finland}}
|1,381 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.10}}
|2,173 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.17 }}
|6,130 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.46}}
|-
|{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
|3,841 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.28}}
|3,710 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.29}}
|3,802 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.29}}
|-
|{{flag|Germany}}
|978 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.07}}
|1,240 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.10}}
|2,536 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.19}}
|-
|{{flag|Lithuania}}
|2,101 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.15}}
|1,816 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.14}}
|2,014 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.15}}
|-
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|1,449 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.11}}
|1,450 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.11}}
|1,828 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.14}}
|-
|{{flag|Georgia}}
|1,586 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.12}}
|1,449 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.11}}
|1,794 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.13}}
|-
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|65 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.00}}
|475 ||{{percentage bar|width=50|0.04}}
|1,718 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.13}}
|-
|{{Flag|Moldova}}
|878 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.06}}
|801 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.06}}
|1,431 |||{{percentage bar|width=50|0.11}}
|-
|{{Flag|France}}
|89 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.01}}
|192 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.01}}
|1,315 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.10}}
|-
|{{Flag|India}}
|53 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.00}}
|101 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.01}}
|1,302 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.10}}
|-
|{{Flag|United States}}
|193 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.01}}
|565 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.04}}
|1,293 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.10}}
|-
|{{Flag|Italy}}
|27 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.00}}
|267 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.02}}
|1,188 || {{percentage bar |width=50|0.09}}
|-
|{{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
|1,091 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.08}}
|1,064 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.08}}
|1,165 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.09}}
|-
|{{Flag|Nigeria}}
|5 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.00}}
|13 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.00}}
|1,030 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.08}}
|-
|Other countries
|14,096 || {{percentage bar|width=50|1.03}}
|5,491 || {{percentage bar|width=50|0.42}}
|17,236 || {{percentage bar|width=50|1.29}}
|-
|Foreign-born total
|257,022 || {{percentage bar|width=50|18.76}}
|192,363 || {{percentage bar|width=50|14.86}}
|201,265 || {{percentage bar|width=50|15.11}}
|-
|{{flag|Estonia}}
|1,113,030 || {{percentage bar|width=50|81.24}}
|1,102,092 || {{percentage bar|width=50|85.14}}
|1,130,559 || {{percentage bar|width=50|84.89}}
|-
|Population total
|1,370,052 || {{percentage bar|width=50|100}}
|1,294,455 || {{percentage bar|width=50|100}}
|1,331,824 || {{percentage bar|width=50|100}}
|}
There were a total of 201,265 foreign-born people in Estonia at 31 December 2021, representing 15% of the population. 55% of them were born in Russia, and a total of 84% in a [[Post-Soviet states|Post-Soviet countries]].

In 2022, according to the data on registered migration (from the Population Register), 49,414 persons immigrated to Estonia and 9,657 persons emigrated from Estonia. Net migration was positive, 39,757 persons more staying than leaving Estonia. Both registered immigration and net migration were several times bigger than the average of recent years, due to the arrival of [[2022–2023 Ukrainian refugee crisis|war refugees from Ukraine]]. Based on citizenship, the largest number of immigrants settling in Estonia had Ukrainian citizenship (33,217).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |others=Preliminary data of population as of 1.1.2023 |title=The population of Estonia grew by 2%: immigration was the main contributor as births were at a record low {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://www.stat.ee/en/news/population-estonia-grew-2-immigration-was-main-contributor-births-were-record-low |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=www.stat.ee |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 2021, the population of Estonia decreased by 5,315 persons due to negative natural increase and increased by 7,043 persons as a result of positive net migration – 19,524 persons immigrated to Estonia and 12,481 persons emigrated from Estonia (In 2020: 16,209 persons immigrated and 12,427 persons emigrated). The destination countries for migration were Finland, Ukraine and Russia in both directions.<ref name="final21" />

== Languages ==
{{Main|Languages of Estonia}}

[[File:Estonia. Knowledge of languages.png|320px|thumb|Total knowledge (native + foreign) of different languages in Estonia, by age group, 2011]]
[[File:Population of Estonia and share of Estonians (years 1-2020).png|320px|thumb|Population of Estonia and share of Estonians (years 1–2020)]]
Many languages are spoken in Estonia, including [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (official), [[Võro language|Võro]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]], [[English language|English]], [[Finnish language|Finnish]], [[German language|German]] and others. According to the census of 2000, 109 languages were spoken natively in Estonia. By 2011, the number of languages spoken natively had increased to 157, mainly due to new immigrants. However, most of these languages were used only between relatives or compatriots, while only 30 languages were spoken on a daily basis in families.<ref>Mart Rannut. 
[https://www.sirp.ee/s1-artiklid/varamu/keeleaasta-2012/ "Keeleaasta 2012."] ''[[Sirp]]'', 1-24-2013. {{in lang|et}}</ref>

Estonian and Finnish are closely related, belonging to the same [[Finnic languages|Finnic]] branch of the [[Uralic languages|Uralic]] language family. The two languages are only partially [[mutually intelligible]], although learning to comprehend and speak each other's languages is fairly easy for native speakers. Estonian and Finnish are only distantly related to the [[Hungarian language]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Bakró-Nagy |first1= Marianne  |date= 2012 |title= The Uralic Languages |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/rbph_0035-0818_2012_num_90_3_8272 |journal= Revue belge de Philologie et d'Histoire |volume= 90 |issue= 3 |pages= 1001–10027 |doi= 10.3406/rbph.2012.8272|access-date= June 21, 2024}}</ref>

Written with the [[Latin script]], Estonian is the language of the Estonian people and the official language of the country. One-third of the standard vocabulary is derived from adding suffixes to root words. The oldest known examples of written Estonian originate in 13th century chronicles. During the [[Estonian SSR|Soviet era]], the [[Russian language]] was imposed in parallel to, and often instead of, Estonian in official use.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Population of Estonia by first language
|-
! rowspan="2" | Language
! colspan="2" | 2000 census<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvaloendus__rel2000__rahvus-emakeel-veerkeelte-oskus|title=Ethnic nationality. Mother tongue. Command of foreign languages|website=pub.stat.ee}}</ref>
! colspan="2" | 2011 census<ref name="pub.stat.ee"/>
! colspan="2" |2021 census <ref>{{Cite web |title=RLV431: POPULATION BY MOTHER TONGUE AND SEX (1979, 1989, 2000, 2011, 2021) |url=https://andmed.stat.ee:443/pxweb/en/stat/stat__rahvaloendus__rel_vordlus__rahvastiku-demograafilised-ja-etno-kultuurilised-naitajad/RLV431.px/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=PX-Web}}</ref>
|-
! Number !! %
! Number !! %
! Number !! %
|-
| [[Estonian language|Estonian]]
| 921,817 || {{percentage bar|width=70|67.28}}
| 887,216 || {{percentage bar|width=70|68.54}}
| 895,493 || {{percentage bar|width=70|67.23}}
|-
| [[Russian language|Russian]]
| 406,755 || {{percentage bar|width=70|29.69}}
| 383,118 || {{percentage bar|width=70|29.60}}
| 379,210 || {{percentage bar|width=70|28.47}}
|-
| [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]
| 12,299	 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.90}}
| 8,016 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.62}}
| 12,431 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.93}}
|-
| [[Finnish language|Finnish]]
| 4,932	 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.36}}
| 2,621 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.20}}
| 4,276 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.32}}
|-
| [[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]
| 5,197	 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.38}}
| 1,664 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
| 1,650 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.12}}
|-
| [[Latvian language|Latvian]]
| 1,389	 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.10}}
| 999 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.08}}
| 2,510 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.19}}
|-
| [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]]
| 1,198	 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.09}}
| 905 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.07}}
| 1,110 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.08}}
|-
| [[English language|English]]
| 248 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.02}}
| 878 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.07}}
| 3,879 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.29}}
|-
| [[Tatar language|Tatar]]
| 1,251	 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.09}}
| 806 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.06}}
| 645 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.05}}
|-
| [[Armenian language|Armenian]]
| 719 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.05}}
| 717 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.06}}
| 842 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.06}}
|-
| [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]
| 592 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.04}}
| 656 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.05}}
| 1,118 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.08}}
|-
| [[German language|German]]
| 557 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.04}}
| 522 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.04}}
| 1,834 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.14}}
|-
| [[Polish language|Polish]]
| 674 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.05}}
| 435 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.03}}
| 693 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.05}}
|-
| Other
| 3,235 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.24}}
| 2,891 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.22}}
| 17,957 || {{percentage bar|width=70|1.35}}
|-
| Unknown
| 9,189 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.67}}
| 1,723 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.13}}
| 8,176 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.61}}
|-
! Total
! colspan="2" | 1,370,052
! colspan="2" | 1,294,455
! colspan="2" | 1,331,824
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Population of Estonia by command of foreign languages (as not the first language)
! rowspan="2" | Language
! colspan="2" | 2000 census<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
! colspan="2" | 2011 census<ref name="pub.stat.ee"/>
! colspan="2" | 2021 census<ref name="pub.stat.ee"/>
|-
! Number !! %
! Number !! %
! Number !! %
|-
| [[English language|English]]
| 345,854 || {{percentage bar|width=70|25.2}}
| 495,420 || {{percentage bar|width=70|37.8}}
| 622,560 || {{percentage bar|width=70|46.7}}
|-
| [[Russian language|Russian]]
| 578,004 || {{percentage bar|width=70|42.1}}
| 545,537 || {{percentage bar|width=70|41.5}}
| 508,060 || {{percentage bar|width=70|38.1}}
|-
| [[Estonian language|Estonian]]
| 167,804 || {{percentage bar|width=70|12.2}}
| 177,286 || {{percentage bar|width=70|13.7}}
| 223,950 || {{percentage bar|width=70|16.8}}
|-
| [[Finnish language|Finnish]]
| 138,354 || {{percentage bar|width=70|10}}
| 167,315 || {{percentage bar|width=70|12.7}}
| 138,300 || {{percentage bar|width=70|10.4}}
|-
| [[German language|German]]
| 140,004 || {{percentage bar|width=70|10.2}}
| 130,191 || {{percentage bar|width=70|10.0}}
| 89,650 || {{percentage bar|width=70|6.7}}
|-
| [[French language|French]]
| 9,912 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.7}}
| 18,677 || {{percentage bar|width=70|1.4}}
| 18,540 || {{percentage bar|width=70|1.4}}
|-
| [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| 9,345 || {{percentage bar|width=70|0.6}}
| 13,990 || {{percentage bar|width=70|1.1}}
| 14,540 || {{percentage bar|width=70|1.1}}
|-
| Other
| 20,385 || {{percentage bar|width=70|1.5}}
| 39,761 || {{percentage bar|width=70|2.8}}
| 33,150 || {{percentage bar|width=70|2.5}}
|}

Census data show that in 2021 an estimated 76% of Estonia's population speak a foreign language. While 10 years ago the most widely spoken foreign language in Estonia was Russian, today it is English. [[Estonian language|Estonian]] is spoken by 84% of the population: 67% speak it as a mother tongue and 17% as a foreign language.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population census. More people speak dialects than in the previous census {{!}} Statistikaamet |url=https://www.stat.ee/en/news/population-census-more-people-speak-dialects-previous-census |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.stat.ee |language=en}}</ref>{{clear}}

== Religion ==
{{Update section|date=April 2025|reason=It is old dated new 2021 census released, see [https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvaloendus__rel2021__rahvastiku-demograafilised-ja-etno-kultuurilised-naitajad__usk/RL21454]}}{{Main|Religion in Estonia}}

{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Estonia (2011)<ref name=stat2011>{{cite web|url=https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat/rahvaloendus__rel2011__rahvastiku-demograafilised-ja-etno-kultuurilised-naitajad__usk/RL0451|title= POPULATION, 31. DECEMBER 2011 by Religion, Place of residence and Sex |date= 31 December 2011|access-date= 9 January 2014|publisher= [[Statistics Estonia]]}}</ref> 
<ref>{{cite web|url= https://vana.stat.ee/65352|title= PHC 2011: over a quarter of the population are affiliated with a particular religion|date= 29 April 2013|access-date= 9 January 2014|publisher= [[Statistics Estonia]]|archive-date= 31 January 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210131001234/https://vana.stat.ee/65352|url-status= dead}}</ref>
|label5 = [[Irreligion|Non-religious]]
|value5 = 54.14
|color5 = DarkGray
|label4 = Undeclared
|value4 = 8.55
|color4 = SlateGray
|label1 = [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodoxy]]
|value1 = 24.15
|color1 = DeepPink
|label2 = [[Lutheranism]]
|value2 = 9.91
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = Other religions
|value3 = 3.25
|color3 = YellowGreen
}}
[[File:Religious_share_in_Estonia.png|thumb|left|350px|Share of religious people in regions]]
[[File:Biggest religion in Estonia.png|thumb|left|350px|Plurality religion in regions]]
According to the [[Eurobarometer]] Poll in 2010,<ref name="Special Eurobarometer 393 ">''[http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf Biotechnology report 2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |date=December 15, 2010 }}'' p.383</ref> 18% of Estonian residents responded that "they believe there is a God", whereas 50% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 29% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". This, according to the survey, would have made [[Estonians]] the [[Irreligion|most non-religious people]] in the then 27-member [[European Union]]. A survey conducted in 2006–2008 by [[The Gallup Organization|Gallup]] showed that 14% of Estonians answered positively to the question: "Is religion an important part of your daily life?", which was the lowest among 143 countries polled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alabamians-Iranians-Common.aspx|title=What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common|date=February 9, 2009|publisher=[[The Gallup Organization|Gallup]]|first1=Steve|last1=Crabtree|first2=Brett|last2=Pelham|access-date=21 February 2010}}</ref>

In 2011, according to the census, 29.31% of the population considered themselves to be related to any religion:

* 16.15% [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christians]]
* 9.91% [[Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church|Lutheran Christians]]
* 0.41% [[Baptists]]
* 0.41% [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]]
* 0.36% [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
* 0.24% [[Old Believer]]s
* 0.17% [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]]
* 0.14% [[Islam|Muslims]]
* 0.11% [[Adventism|Adventist]]s
* 0.10% [[Methodist]]s
* 3.25% Other religions

Lutheranism is the dominant religion among ethnic Estonians. Eastern Orthodoxy is practiced mainly among the Russian-speaking community, but also by the [[Setos]] in south-eastern Estonia.  Ethnic Estonians in the islands of [[Kihnu]], [[Muhu]] and parts of [[Saaremaa]] are also majority Orthodox as a legacy of 19th century conversions from Lutheranism.

The organisation [[Maavalla Koda]] unites revival movements of pre-Christian Estonian beliefs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maavald.ee/eng/uudised.html?rubriik=50&id=363&op=lugu|title=Old estonian religions|access-date=3 January 2013|publisher=Maavalla Koda|author=Ahto Kaasik}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/world/europe/09iht-estonia.4.18535971.html | work=The New York Times | first=Ellen | last=Barry | date=2008-11-09 | title=Some Estonians return to pre-Christian animist traditions}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Estonization]]
* [[Baltic Germans]]
* [[Estonian Swedes]]
* [[Russians in Estonia]]
* [[Võros]]
* [[Aging of Europe]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Demographics of Estonia}}

{{Estonia topics|state=autocollapse}}
{{Demographics of Europe}}

[[Category:Demographics of Estonia| ]]