Population (national level) (demo_pop)

National Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Statistics Estonia


Eurostat metadata
Reference metadata
1. Contact
2. Metadata update
3. Statistical presentation
4. Unit of measure
5. Reference Period
6. Institutional Mandate
7. Confidentiality
8. Release policy
9. Frequency of dissemination
10. Accessibility and clarity
11. Quality management
12. Relevance
13. Accuracy
14. Timeliness and punctuality
15. Coherence and comparability
16. Cost and Burden
17. Data revision
18. Statistical processing
19. Comment
Related Metadata
Annexes (including footnotes)
 



For any question on data and metadata, please contact: Eurostat user support

Download


1. Contact Top
1.1. Contact organisation

Statistics Estonia
1.2. Contact organisation unit

Population and Social Statistics Department
1.5. Contact mail address

Statistics Estonia Population and Social Statistics Department

Tatari 51,

10134 Tallinn

ESTONIA


2. Metadata update Top
2.1. Metadata last certified 08/02/2024
2.2. Metadata last posted 08/02/2024
2.3. Metadata last update 09/02/2024


3. Statistical presentation Top
3.1. Data description

Data consists of information about population structure, live births, deaths, immigrants, emigrants of Estonia and acquisition and loss of citizenship of Estonia at the end of the reference year. 

Data and metadata are transmitted to Eurostat by the Member States in the framework of the Unified Demographic Data Collection which is in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 and their implementing regulations.

This Euro SDMX Metadata Structure is used for the purpose of quality reporting. The definition of the quality concepts and guidelines are described in the European Statistical System Handbook for Quality Reports.
3.2. Classification system

The regional breakdown of the Member States in the regional demographic tables is done under the most recent NUTS classification. There are agreements between Eurostat and Candidate countries as well as between Eurostat and EFTA countries, for which statistical regions have been coded in a way that resembles NUTS.

For more information on the versions in force, please see: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/nuts/.
3.3. Coverage - sector

Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
   
   
3.4.1 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics transmitted to Eurostat
  1.Usually Resident Population  2. Legal Residence Population 3. Registered Residence Population  4. Other
Population X      
Live births X      
Deaths X      
Immigrants X      
Emigrants X      
Acquisitions of citizenship     X  
Loss of citizenship     X  
Legally induced abortions X      
Late foetal deaths X      
Infant deaths X      
Marriages X      
Divorces X      

 

3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
Population                                                          

Usually resident population refers to all persons having their usual residence in Estonia.

Prior to 2016, population statistics were based on the population figure which was determined in a population census and revised in the intercensal period according to registered population changes – births, deaths and changes of residence (migration). Starting from the 2000 Population and Housing Census, estimated under-coverage has been added to the number of enumerated persons in population statistics.

Since 2016, Statistics Estonia has used the signs of life method to determine the usually resident population. The method is based on the idea that each potential inhabitant of Estonia is assigned an index which shows the person’s likelihood of being a permanent inhabitant of Estonia, i.e. a resident. The value of the index ranges between 0 and 1. The greater the index value, the more likely it is that a person is a resident of Estonia. A threshold is used to make the distinction between definite residents and definite non-residents: those whose index value is above the threshold are considered residents. In order to calculate the index, a wide range of Estonian administrative registers and sub-registers are used, including the Estonian Education Information System, the State Pension Insurance Register, the health insurance database, etc. Each register or sub-register gives a person one so-called sign of life. The signs of life are not equal; thus, each sign of life has been assigned a weight. For example, if a person permanently lives in a care home in Estonia, he/she is a definite resident, but an Estonian driving licence may be issued to a person who has come here for a shorter period as well. All persons whose index was 0 at the beginning of the year and 1 at the end of the year are recorded as persons having been born or immigrated to Estonia in the respective year. In the opposite situation, where a person’s index was 1 at the beginning of the year and 0 at the year end, the person is considered as having died or emigrated in the respective year. In order to distinguish emigration from births and deaths, register data are used and supplemented with the data of the Police and Border Guard Board. Internal migration events occur if the person’s place of residence at the beginning of the year differs from the residence at the end of the year (in the case of a death if the place of residence at the beginning of the year differs from the place of death, and in the case of a birth if the place of residence of the mother differs from the place of residence at the end of the year). More information: Implementation of the residency index in demographic statistics.

 

Place of residence is defined as the area or settlement where the person lives permanently or most of the time. Until 2015, place of residence was defined by the person’s statement or the population register (depending on the survey methodology), whereas starting from 2015, only the place of residence recorded in the population register was used, and from the reference year 2021 onwards, place of residence is defined using a methodology based on a wide range of administrative data sources. More information: Implementation of the partnership and location index in demographic statistics.

 

Birth, death, marriage and divorce statistics are based on the registered data regarding the births, deaths, marriages and divorces of the usual residents of Estonia.
Live births See Population.
Deaths See Population.
Immigrants See Population.
Emigrants See Population.
Acquisitions of citizenship The number of persons who acquired Estonian citizenship in the year 2016 increased due to the amendment to the Citizenship Act that entered into force at the beginning of 2016, pursuant to which a minor under 15 years of age who was born in Estonia after 1 January 2016 or who immediately after birth takes up permanent residence in Estonia together with their parents is automatically granted Estonian citizenship by naturalisation as of the moment of their birth if the minor and their parents are of undetermined citizenship and if the parents have lawfully resided in Estonia for at least 5 years by the moment of the child’s birth. In 2016, 207 children acquired Estonian citizenship for this reason. Under the same conditions, minors of undetermined citizenship who were born in the period from 2001–2015 were automatically granted Estonian citizenship by naturalisation after 1 January 2016. On this basis, 765 minors were recognised as Estonian citizens. Furthermore, during the year 2016, an additional 808 persons were granted Estonian citizenship (or restoration of citizenship) on the basis of an application for naturalisation.
Loss of citizenship Not available.
Legally induced abortions Not available.
Late foetal deaths Not available.
Infant deaths Not available.
Marriages Marriage statistics are based on the registered data regarding the marriages of the usual residents of Estonia.
Divorces Divorce statistics are based on the registered data regarding the divorces of the usual residents of Estonia.

 

3.4.3 Differences in statistical concepts and definitions between the statistics transmitted to Eurostat and those disseminated in the National Statistics Institute's website
Population

 Not available.
Live births

 Not available.
Deaths

 Not available.
Immigrants

 Not available.
Emigrants

 Not available.
Acquisitions of citizenship  Not available.
Loss of citizenship  Not available.
Legally induced abortions  Not available.
Late foetal deaths  Not available.
Infant deaths  Not available.
Marriages  Not available.
Divorces  Not available.
3.5. Statistical unit

Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
  Statistical population
Population

Usually resident population.
Live births

Usually resident population (mother). 
Deaths Usually resident population.
Immigrants Usually resident population.
Emigrants Usually resident population.
Acquisitions of citizenship Usually resident population.
Loss of citizenship Usually resident population.
Legally induced abortions Usually resident population.
Late foetal deaths Usually resident population.
Infant deaths Usually resident population.
Marriages Usually resident population (at least one partner needs to be a usual resident). 
Divorces Usually resident population (at least one partner needs to be a usual resident). 
3.7. Reference area

Reference area is the total area of Estonia. 

Population and vital events data are available at national as well as regional level (NUTS3). 
3.8. Coverage - Time

Population – since 1920s

Live births – since 1920s

Deaths – since 1920s

Immigrants – since 2000s

Emigrants - since 2000s

Acquisitions of citizenship – since 2000s

Legally induced abortions – since 1990s

Late foetal deaths – since 1990s

Infant deaths – since 1990s

Marriages – since 1920s, with more classification since 1990s

Divorces – since 1947
3.9. Base period

Not applicable.


4. Unit of measure Top

Data is collected at unit (person) level.


5. Reference Period Top

The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (end of 31 December). To conform to common practice, the usually resident population at the end of the year (31 December) will be disseminated as usually resident population on 1 January of the following year.
The reference period for vital and dual events data is the calendar year in which the events occurred.
The reference period for migration flow data is the calendar year in which the migration occurred.


6. Institutional Mandate Top
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements

National level:

Official Statistics Act

European level:

Regulation (EU) 1260/20131 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 205/20142

International migration statistics under Regulation (EC) 862/20073 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EC) 351/20104
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing

Not applicable.


7. Confidentiality Top
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

Not applicable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

Not applicable.


8. Release policy Top
8.1. Release calendar

Population and vital events statistics are published by Statistics Estonia. 

Population estimate is published in January.

Revised population indicators, including breakdowns such as place of residence, age, sex, education, citizenship and similar are published in May. 

Migration and emigration statistics of the preceding year are published in May. 

Births, deaths, marriages and divorce estimates are published monthly. The annual totals of the preceding year are published in May and June. 

For more details see the dissemination calendar for population statistics here. 

 

Data on citizenship acquisitions is released by Police and Border Guard Board every week. Data available here (in Estonian)

 

 
8.2. Release calendar access

Release calender is accessible through Statistic Estonia website: https://www.stat.ee/en/calendar
8.3. Release policy - user access

All users have been granted equal access to official statistics: dissemination dates of official statistics are announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and mass media) is provided access to official statistics before other users. Official statistics are first published in the statistical database.

If there is also a news release, it is published simultaneously with data in the statistical database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8:00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.


9. Frequency of dissemination Top

Population, vital events and migration statistics are published annually. 

In addition births, deaths, marriages and divorces estimates are published monthly. 

Data on citizenship acquisitions is released every week. 


10. Accessibility and clarity Top
10.1. Dissemination format - News release

The news release “Preliminary population, 1 January 202X” in January. The news release “Revised population, 1 January 202X” in May. The news releases can be viewed on the website https://www.stat.ee/en/news.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications

No publications.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database

Population Data are published under the heading “Population/ Population figure and composition” and Vital Events Data under the heading “Population/ Vital events” in the Statistical Database in https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access

The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 33, § 34, § 35, § 36, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.

Access to microdata and anonymisation of microdata are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes.

More information on the terms and conditions of microdata access here: https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/request-statistics/use-confidential-data-scientific-purposes 
10.5. Dissemination format - other

Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
  Documentation on methodology
Population

Tiit, E., & Vähi, M. (2017). Indexes in demographic statistics: a methodology using nonstandard information for solving critical problems. Papers On Anthropology, 26(1), 72. doi: 10.12697/poa.2017.26.1.06

Maasing, Ethel & Tiit, Ene-Margit & Vähi, Mare. (2017). Residency index – A tool for measuring the population size. Acta et Commentationes Universitatis Tartuensis de Mathematica. 21. 129. doi: 10.12697/ACUTM.2017.21.09

The methodological report of the signs of life approach used to determine the usually resident population: https://www.stat.ee/sites/default/files/2021-01/Implementation%20of%20the%20residency%20index%20in%20demographic%20statistics.pdf.

As of 2022 (reference year 2021), place of residence is defined using the methodology of the partnership and location index: https://www.stat.ee/sites/default/files/2022-05/Households%20and%20residences%20in%20registers.pdf.

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30101.
Live births

Until 1993 the birth statistics were based on the birth records of all births registered at the vital statistics offices of counties and local governments. Starting from the beginning of 1994, the data are derived from statistical accounting records of birth registration, which are filled in together with compiling the birth certificate. The basis for yearly processing of the birth data is the birth date of the child. Birth must be registered within one month after childbirth. Births about which the vital statistics office was notified in February of the next year or later, were by way of an exception accounted in the statistical processing under the data of the registration year.

If the child has been registered in Estonia, then the child’s place of residence is always the same as the mother’s place of residence. If the mother’s place of residence is outside of Estonia or is unknown, but the father’s place of residence is in Estonia and is known, then the child’s place of residence will be the father’s place of residence. If the place of residence of both parents is unknown, then the child’s place of residence is the place of the registration of the birth. Since 1994 the statistical birth forms are also completed by the foreign representations of Estonia. Of live births that are registered abroad, only the births in the case of which the mother’s place of residence is in Estonia are included in the total number of Estonian births.
The birth tables include data only on live births.

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30206.
Deaths

Until 1993 statistics on deaths were based on death records of all deaths registered at the vital statistics offices of local governments, and starting from 1994 – on statistical accounting forms of registering deaths which from 1996 were renamed medical death certificates. Medical death certificates also serve as basis for preparing death records. The processing of the data on deaths is based on the date of the death. Deaths, which are registered later than in January of the year following the year of death, will be added to the data of the registration year in the course of statistical processing. The deaths of Estonian citizens whose place of residence is abroad and whose death is registered abroad are excluded. Also deaths of foreign citizens who died in Estonia but whose place of residence is outside Estonia, are excluded. In case the place of residence of a dead person is unknown, the place where the death was registered is used as the last place of residence of the person concerned.
From 2008 the data of the Population Register and Estonian Causes of Death Registry are used.

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30205.
Immigrants

Migration statistics are based on the data of the Population Register and the Register of Residence and Work Permits. The places of residence of all persons at the beginning and at the end of the year are obtained from the Population Register. In the case of births, if possible, the mother’s place of residence recorded in the Population register is used as the child’s place of residence. In the case of external migration, the main data source for the prior or future country of residence is also the Population Register; if such information is missing from the Population Register, the data of the Register of Residence and Work Permits is used.
The 2000 Census showed that the registration of migration was incomplete. It was mainly caused by a voluntary registration of the place of residence from the beginning of the 1990s up to 2005. Since 2006, the quality of migration data has improved. Due to the improved quality of migration data, short-term migration has been removed from data starting from 2008 (in immigration, the persons who left Estonia after they had lived here for less than a year; and in emigration, the persons who moved back to Estonia after they had lived abroad for less than a year). In internal migration in 2000–2012, the places of departure and destination depended on changes of residence in the Population Register. Starting from 2013, the prior place of residence in migration statistics events could also be the place of residence recorded at the time of Census if the person had not changed the place of residence following the Census. If it becomes clear that the new and the prior place of residence are located in different administrative units, a migration event is created for the person.
In 2000–2016, internal migration was a definite event that happened when the change of place of residence took place across the border of a municipality or an urban settlement within it (city or town). Internal migration events were summed on higher hierarchy levels. For example, intra-county migration consisted of events both within the county and between counties.
Since 2015, migration is calculated using the rules for determining permanent residents (the residency index). More information on the residency index is available at: Implementation of the residency index in demographic statistics.

Calculating external migration

An immigration event occurs if a person's residency index is 0 at the beginning of the year and obtains the value 1 by the end of the year and it is not a birth event. An emigration event occurs if a person's residency index which at the beginning the year was 1 obtains the value 0 by the end of the year and it is not a death event.
In the case of immigration, it is also important to determine a person's place of residence in Estonia. If a person has not officially registered a migration event, his/her previous place of residence (based on the Population Register or census data) can be recorded as his/her place of residence. If a person does not have a registered place of residence at the beginning or end of the year of migration, he/she will be put on hold (so to say) for a year. This means that he/she will not be included among residents that year (he/she is not considered a permanent resident). If, in the following year, his/her residency index is once again 1, then the person is considered a permanent resident with an unknown place of residence. The new methodology does not require having information on the migrants’ previous country of residence: the country of origin can be unknown.

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30204.
Emigrants

Migration statistics are based on the data of the Population Register and the Register of Residence and Work Permits. The places of residence of all persons at the beginning and at the end of the year are obtained from the Population Register. In the case of births, if possible, the mother’s place of residence recorded in the Population register is used as the child’s place of residence. In the case of external migration, the main data source for the prior or future country of residence is also the Population Register; if such information is missing from the Population Register, the data of the Register of Residence and Work Permits is used.
The 2000 Census showed that the registration of migration was incomplete. It was mainly caused by a voluntary registration of the place of residence from the beginning of the 1990s up to 2005. Since 2006, the quality of migration data has improved. Due to the improved quality of migration data, short-term migration has been removed from data starting from 2008 (in immigration, the persons who left Estonia after they had lived here for less than a year; and in emigration, the persons who moved back to Estonia after they had lived abroad for less than a year). In internal migration in 2000–2012, the places of departure and destination depended on changes of residence in the Population Register. Starting from 2013, the prior place of residence in migration statistics events could also be the place of residence recorded at the time of Census if the person had not changed the place of residence following the Census. If it becomes clear that the new and the prior place of residence are located in different administrative units, a migration event is created for the person.
In 2000–2016, internal migration was a definite event that happened when the change of place of residence took place across the border of a municipality or an urban settlement within it (city or town). Internal migration events were summed on higher hierarchy levels. For example, intra-county migration consisted of events both within the county and between counties.
Since 2015, migration is calculated using the rules for determining permanent residents (the residency index). More information on the residency index is available at: Implementation of the residency index in demographic statistics.

Calculating external migration

An immigration event occurs if a person's residency index is 0 at the beginning of the year and obtains the value 1 by the end of the year and it is not a birth event. An emigration event occurs if a person's residency index which at the beginning the year was 1 obtains the value 0 by the end of the year and it is not a death event.
In the case of immigration, it is also important to determine a person's place of residence in Estonia. If a person has not officially registered a migration event, his/her previous place of residence (based on the Population Register or census data) can be recorded as his/her place of residence. If a person does not have a registered place of residence at the beginning or end of the year of migration, he/she will be put on hold (so to say) for a year. This means that he/she will not be included among residents that year (he/she is not considered a permanent resident). If, in the following year, his/her residency index is once again 1, then the person is considered a permanent resident with an unknown place of residence. The new methodology does not require having information on the migrants’ previous country of residence: the country of origin can be unknown.

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30204.
Acquisitions of citizenship https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/509082021001/consolide
Loss of citizenship https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/509082021001/consolide
Legally induced abortions

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30203.
Late foetal deaths

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30205.
Infant deaths

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30205.
Marriages

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30201.
Divorces

ESMS metadata can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/esms-metadata/30202.
Surface in km2 Not available.

 

Additional materials are available: https://www.stat.ee/en/find-statistics/methodology-and-quality/methodology.
10.7. Quality management - documentation

Not available.


11. Quality management Top
11.1. Quality assurance
   Quality assurance
Citizenship Yes.
Country of birth The country (in its current borders, if information is available) in which the mother peramanently lived in time of giving birth.
Country of birth of the mother The country (in its current borders, if information is available) in which the mother peramanently lived in time of giving birth.
Country of previous usual residence Yes.
Country of next usual residence Yes.
Deaths Yes.
Divorce Yes.
Emigrants Yes.
First-time marrying person Yes.
First-time registering partner Not available.
Foetal death Yes.
Foreign-born Yes.
Immigrants Yes.
Infant death Yes.
Late foetal death Yes.
Legally induced abortions Yes.
Level of development

Not available.
Live birth Yes.
Live birth order

Yes.
Marriage Yes.
Native born Yes.
Person contracting legal union for first-time Not available.
Regional Yes.
Registered partnership Not available.
Registered partnership legally dissolved Not available.
Separation Not available.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
11.2.1. Quality assessment: Type of duration of stay used when counting a person as a migrant according to Art. 2(b) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
  1. Actual duration of stay of at least 12 months 2. Intended duration of stay of at least 12 months 3. Actual and intended duration of stay of at least 12 months 4. Other. Please specify
Nationals Immigrants      X  
Emigrants      X  
EEA citizens Immigrants      X  
Emigrants      X  
Non EEA citizens Immigrants      X  
Emigrants      X  

 

11.2.2. Quality assessment of the definition of acquisitions of citizenship according to Art. 3(d) of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007
  1.Acquisitions of citizenship granted to persons having their usual residence in the territory of the Member State 2.Other. Please specify
Acquisitions of citizenship One of the condition for acquiring Estonian citizenship is, that prior to the date on which he or she submits the application for Estonian citizenship, have lived in Estonia for at least 8 years on the ground of a residence permit or by right of residence, of which at least 5 years on a permanent basis.  


12. Relevance Top
12.1. Relevance - User Needs

Users are public authorities, municipalities, media, researchers, individuals.

Nationally, the data are used in public planning, population forecasting, policy development (for example, family and pension policy), research, and public debate.

Internationally, the data are used by international organizations in analysis and research, in country comparisons, and in policy-making. The data are also used in international research and for private purposes.

Population data are also used widely as a foundation for many other statistics including statistics on labour market, education and income.

 
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction

Since 1996, Statistics Estonia has conducted reputation and user satisfaction surveys. All results are available on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section User surveys.
12.3. Completeness

All data requirements are met. Data is complete, it is based on administrative sources. All registered Vital Statistics data are collected.


13. Accuracy Top
13.1. Accuracy - overall
  Overall accuracy and special cases (Inclusion/exclusion of asylum seekers and refugees, persons living on unauthorised or irregular basis, international students, persons who do not register/deregister,...)
Population

Good quality. Based on administrative data sources; data is combined from a variety of available data sources (over 18 data sources in total), therefore the proportion of unknowns in breakdowns is relatively small. Unknowns are caused by missing data in currently available data sources and can potentially be improved when new data sources become available. 

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
Live births

Good quality. Based on administrative data from the Population Register and Estonian Medical Birth Registry, the proportion of unknowns in breakdowns is relatively small. Unknowns are caused by missing data in registers (especially when the child was born abroad). 

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
Deaths

Good quality. Based on administrative data from the Population Register and Estonian Causes of Death Registry, the proportion of unknowns in breakdowns is relatively small and caused by the missing information in the registers. 

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
Immigrants

Medium quality, late or non-registration problems. Data is based on population data and several administrative data sources. A significant proportion of data missing for country of origin and country of destination variables due to the lack of information in administrative data sources (especially for EU-internal migration). 

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
Emigrants

Medium quality, late or non-registration problems. Data is based on population data and several administrative data sources. A significant proportion of data missing for country of origin and country of destination variables due to the lack of information in administrative data sources (especially for EU-internal migration). 

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
Acquisitions of citizenship Very good quality. Based on Estonian Police and Border Guard Board data. 
Loss of citizenship Very good quality. Based on Estonian Police and Border Guard Board data. 
Legally induced abortions Very good quality. Based on Estonian Abortion Registry data. 
Late foetal deaths Very good quality. Based on Estonian Medical Birth Registry and Estonian Abortion Registry data. 
Infant deaths Very good quality. Based on Estonian Medical Birth Registry and Estonian Abortion Registry data. 
Marriages

Good quality. Based on Population Register data. The proportion of unknowns in breakdowns is relatively small and caused by missing information in the data (can be the case when the marriage was registered abroad or one of the partners is not a usual resident in Estonia). 

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
Divorces

Good quality. Based on administrative data sources (mainly Population Register). The proportion of unknowns in breakdowns is relatively small and caused by missing information in the data (can be the case when the divorce was registered abroad or one of the partners is not a usual resident in Estonia).  

Asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection are included.
13.2. Sampling error
  Sampling error
Population Not relevant.
Live births Not relevant.
Deaths Not relevant.
Immigrants Not relevant.
Emigrants Not relevant.
Acquisitions of citizenship Not relevant.
Loss of citizenship Not relevant.
Legally induced abortions Not relevant.
Late foetal deaths Not relevant.
Infant deaths Not relevant.
Marriages Not relevant.
Divorces Not relevant.
13.3. Non-sampling error
  Non-sampling error (coverage error, measurement error, non-response error, processing error, model assumption error)
Population Not relevant.
Live births Not relevant.
Deaths Not relevant.
Immigrants Not relevant.
Emigrants Not relevant.
Acquisitions of citizenship Not relevant.
Loss of citizenship Not relevant.
Legally induced abortions Not relevant.
Late foetal deaths Not relevant.
Infant deaths Not relevant.
Marriages Not relevant.
Divorces Not relevant.


14. Timeliness and punctuality Top
14.1. Timeliness

According to Article 4 (2) of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 205/2014, each year Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data at national and regional level as described in Annex II and related standard reference metadata (in the metadata structure definition defined for the Euro SDMX Metadata Structure) for the reference year within 12 months of the end of the reference year.

According to Article 3 (2) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, Statistics on international migration, usually resident population and acquisition of citizenship shall be supplied to the Commission (Eurostat) within 12 months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality

Data is generally transmitted on time.


15. Coherence and comparability Top
15.1. Comparability - geographical

The data are internationally comparable. Data are available in national and regional (NUTS 3) level.
15.2. Comparability - over time
  Comparability - over time
Population Overall data from 1919. Break in 1941-1949.
Live births From 1927. Since 1989 in electronic form.
Deaths From 1927. Since 1989 in electronic form.
Immigrants

For reference years 2000-2014 (Migrations Statistics):
Immigration is defined as a movement of a person who enters a country to establish his/her new place of usual residence in the territory of the country concerned for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident outside the country. (Persons originating from third countries are considered permanent residents of Estonia if they have a residence permit for at least 12 months. In the case of the citizens of the Republic of Estonia and those of the EU, there is no way of knowing how long they plan to reside in the country, but if they are residents of Estonia as at the end of the year, they are considered as part of the population of Estonia, regardless of how long they have stayed in the country.)

Since reference year 2015 (Migrations Statistics):

In 2016, Statistics Estonia carries out the demographic analysis based on a new method, using the originally developed residency index. The method is based on the idea that each potential inhabitant of Estonia is assigned an index which shows the person’s likelihood of being a permanent inhabitant of Estonia, i.e. a resident. The value of the index ranges between 0 and 1. The greater the index value, the more likely it is that a person is a resident of Estonia. A threshold is used to make the distinction between definite residents and definite non-residents: those whose index value is above the threshold are considered residents. In order to calculate the index, 18 Estonian administrative registers and sub-registers were used in 2020, including the Estonian Education Information System, the State Pension Insurance Register, the health insurance database, etc. Each register or sub-register gives a person one so-called sign of life. The signs of life are not equal; thus, each sign of life has been assigned a weight. For example, if a person permanently lives in a care home in Estonia, he/she is a definite resident, but an Estonian driving licence may be issued to a person who has come here for a shorter period as well.

All persons whose index was 0 at the beginning of the year and 1 at the end of the year are recorded as persons having been born or immigrated to Estonia in the respective year. In the opposite situation, where a person’s index was 1 at the beginning of the year and 0 at the year end, the person is considered as having died or emigrated in the respective year. In order to distinguish emigration from births and deaths, register data are used and supplemented with the data of the Police and Border Guard Board. Internal migration events occur if the person’s place of residence at the beginning of the year differs from the residence at the end of the year (in the case of a death, if the place of residence at the beginning of the year differs from the place of death, and in the case of a birth, if the place of birth differs from the place of residence at the end of the year). 

As of 2016, instead of the place of residence recorded in the census (census + changes of residence recorded in the Population Register after the census), the place of residence recorded in the Population Register is used in population statistics.

From the reference year 2021 onwards, place of residence is defined using a methodology based on a wide range of administrative data sources. More information: Implementation of the partnership and location index in demographic statistics.
Emigrants

For reference years 2000-2014 (Migrations Statistics):
Immigration is defined as a movement of a person who enters a country to establish his/her new place of usual residence in the territory of the country concerned for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least twelve months, having previously been usually resident outside the country. (Persons originating from third countries are considered permanent residents of Estonia if they have a residence permit for at least 12 months. In the case of the citizens of the Republic of Estonia and those of the EU, there is no way of knowing how long they plan to reside in the country, but if they are residents of Estonia as at the end of the year, they are considered as part of the population of Estonia, regardless of how long they have stayed in the country.)

Since reference year 2015 (Migrations Statistics): 

In 2016, Statistics Estonia carries out the demographic analysis based on a new method, using the originally developed residency index. The method is based on the idea that each potential inhabitant of Estonia is assigned an index which shows the person’s likelihood of being a permanent inhabitant of Estonia, i.e. a resident. The value of the index ranges between 0 and 1. The greater the index value, the more likely it is that a person is a resident of Estonia. A threshold is used to make the distinction between definite residents and definite non-residents: those whose index value is above the threshold are considered residents. In order to calculate the index, 18 Estonian administrative registers and sub-registers were used in 2020, including the Estonian Education Information System, the State Pension Insurance Register, the health insurance database, etc. Each register or sub-register gives a person one so-called sign of life. The signs of life are not equal; thus, each sign of life has been assigned a weight. For example, if a person permanently lives in a care home in Estonia, he/she is a definite resident, but an Estonian driving licence may be issued to a person who has come here for a shorter period as well.

All persons whose index was 0 at the beginning of the year and 1 at the end of the year are recorded as persons having been born or immigrated to Estonia in the respective year. In the opposite situation, where a person’s index was 1 at the beginning of the year and 0 at the year end, the person is considered as having died or emigrated in the respective year. In order to distinguish emigration from births and deaths, register data are used and supplemented with the data of the Police and Border Guard Board. Internal migration events occur if the person’s place of residence at the beginning of the year differs from the residence at the end of the year (in the case of a death, if the place of residence at the beginning of the year differs from the place of death, and in the case of a birth, if the place of birth differs from the place of residence at the end of the year). 
As of 2016, instead of the place of residence recorded in the census (census + changes of residence recorded in the Population Register after the census), the place of residence recorded in the Population Register is used in population statistics.

From the reference year 2021 onwards, place of residence is defined using a methodology based on a wide range of administrative data sources. More information: Implementation of the partnership and location index in demographic statistics.
Acquisitions of citizenship  From 2000. 
Loss of citizenship From 2000. 
Legally induced abortions From 1970. 
Late foetal deaths From 1989. 
Infant deaths From 1989. 
Marriages From 1927. 
Divorces From 1947. 
Surface in km2 Not available.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain

The same population is used in all domains.

As of 2016, Statistics Estonia calculates external migration (the transition of a person from a resident to a non-resident and vice versa) using the residency index (see also Implementation of the residency index in demographic statistics). 

Therefore those migration figures might differ from figures presented in other domains such as Labour Force Survey or in the survey on Income and Living Conditions. The figure also differs from the Residence Permits Statistics.
15.4. Coherence - internal

Statistics are consistent within the dataset. Coherence is based on the most current data available.


16. Cost and Burden Top

Population data are based on administrative sources, therefore there is no burden on the respondents.


17. Data revision Top
17.1. Data revision - policy

Comparison of data over time. Comparison of data on administrative units level.
17.2. Data revision - practice

Not applicable.


18. Statistical processing Top
18.1. Source data
  List of data sources
Population Census data, Population Register and other Estonian administrative registers (see full list here, p 7: Description of the 2021 register-based census methodology). 
Live births Population Register and Estonian Medical Birth Registry.
Deaths Population Register and Estonian Causes of Death Registry.
Immigrants Census, Population Register and other Estonian administrative registers and sub-registers.
Emigrants Census, Population Register and other Estonian administrative registers and sub-registers.
Acquisitions of citizenship Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
Loss of citizenship Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
Legally induced abortions Aggregated data from the Estonian Abortion Register.
Late foetal deaths Population Register and Estonian Causes of Death Registry.
Infant deaths Population Register and Estonian Causes of Death Registry.
Marriages Population Register.
Divorces Population Register and data on court-certified divorces from courts.
Surface in km2 Estonian Land Board.
18.2. Frequency of data collection

Monthly, annually.
18.3. Data collection

Vital events data are collected by municipalities and county vital statistics offices.
Details of the medical causes of death and details from the medical birth register are transmitted by the Institute for Health Development.

Administrative data are received via X-Road, an FTP-server and by e-mail.
18.4. Data validation

The data are compared with the data of previous periods.
18.5. Data compilation

The population is formed at person level, applying a specific method (residence index) to data in various registers. The residence index is used to find the probability of living in Estonia for each person. The features necessary to identify each person are found by using the different registers in a specific priority order.

In data processing, the data cleaning and validation is enforced. Mostly no record imputation and estimations are necessary because of a good quality of input data. 
18.6. Adjustment

By using methodology – residency index. See 3.4.2. Population.


19. Comment Top

Data are submitted in accordance with the requirements of Eurostat.


Related metadata Top


Annexes Top