Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Statistics Estonia Population and Social Statistics Department
Tatari 51,
10134 Tallinn
ESTONIA
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
1 December 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
1 December 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
6 February 2025
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.
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: Eurostat 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 during the reference year.
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.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
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.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
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.
6.1. 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.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not applicable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
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 April and 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.
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.
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.
10.1. 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 Stat 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 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
12.1. 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.
13.1. 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).
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.
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.
15.1. 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.
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.
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
Statisticsareconsistentwithinthedataset. Coherence is based on the most current data available.
Population data are based on administrative sources, therefore there is no burden on the respondents.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Comparison of data over time. Comparison of data on administrative units level.
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.
Data are submitted in accordance with the requirements of Eurostat.
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.
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 during the reference year.
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.
3.4.2 Statistical concepts and definitions used in the statistics disseminated in the National Statistical Institute's website
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.
Number of persons.
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).
Reference area is the total area of Estonia.
Population and vital events data are available at national as well as regional level (NUTS3).
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.
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).
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.
Data is collected at unit (person) level.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The data are internationally comparable. Data are available in national and regional (NUTS 3) level.
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.
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.
