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.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
3.2. Classification system
Not applicable.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Total usually resident population at country level.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The total usually resident population at country level.
According to Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics, article 2(c) and 2(d), ‘Usual residence’ means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage. The following persons alone shall be considered to be usual residents of a specific geographical area:
those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
Usual residence population includes all population groups who have enough signs of life during the reference year. This includes people without a permanent address (e.g. homeless), asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
Total usually resident population.
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at country level.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Not applicable.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on European demographic statistics.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 32, § 34, § 35, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The dissemination of data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in §§ 34 and 35 of the Official Statistics Act.
National-level data on usually resident population is available here: Statistical database
In addition, the population figures collected under the Article 4 of the Regulation (EU) 1260/2013 are published in Eurostat's online database in the table "Usually resident population on 1 January (demo_urespop)".
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.
Legal persons and organisations can use for research confidential data held by Statistics Estonia. The data can be used remotely in a research environment.
To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, EU Statistics Code of Practice and the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements provided for in § 7. „Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1. Nationals
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with national citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
2. EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with EEA citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
3. NON-EEA Citizens
Please indicate the type of duration of stay when counting a person with non-EEA foreign citizenship as an usual resident with a minimum duration of stay of 12 months according to Art. 2(d) of Reg. 1260/2013.
1. Actual
2. Intended
3. Actual and intended
4. Other. Please specify below:
No
No
Yes
No
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Data requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Data transmitted as requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Late or unregistered migration can result in misestimation of the usually resident population. To mitigate this, Statistics Estonia applies a statistical model based on the signs-of-life approach. Although the core methodology and parameters have been empirically validated, the model is continuously refined as new data become available.
Overall, population data are of high quality. They are compiled from more than 18 state registers and additional sources, which helps keep the share of missing values in breakdowns low. Most remaining gaps originate from incomplete source data and could be further reduced through improvements in the underlying inputs.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
The actual delivery date is established by the Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data are comparable with other countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Population statistics are available since 1919.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The total usually resident population is used across all statistical domains.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Data are consistent within the dataset and across all tables.
Population statistics are based on administrative sources, therefore there is no burden on the respondents.
In January, the preliminary population count as of 1 January is published, based on the previous year's initial data on births, deaths, and registered migration.
The updated population figure, calculated using the residency index methodology, is published in April. The preliminary population count is replaced with the revised one.
For other indicators, data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, or new or better data become available.
The updated outputs in the statistical database are labelled with the new publication date, and the details of the update are provided in the notes added to the data table.
18.1. Source data
Data sources for determining usually resident population:
Register of Residence and Work Permits
Estonian Education Information System
Employment Register
Social Services and Benefits Registry
National Defence Obligation Register
Traffic Register
E-File, information system for the expedited payment order procedure
Estonian Unemployment Information System
Health Insurance Information System
Estonian Medical Prescription Centre
Identity Documents Database
Prisoners’ Register
Population Register
State Personnel and Payroll Database
Database of Work Ability Assessment and Work Ability Allowance
European Social Fund
Register of Taxable Persons
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annualy.
18.3. Data collection
Administrative data are received via X-Road, an FTP-server, and by email.
Upon receipt of the data, pseudonymisation is performed immediately to ensure the security of data processing and the protection of personal data.
Subsequently, data checks and validation are performed to identify potential deficiencies or errors and to ensure the quality and reliability of the data.
For more information on data validation, see S.18.4 Data validation.
18.4. Data validation
Data are validated in two stages: first, the quality of input data is checked and then the output is assessed.
In the first stage, the quality of input data received from various sources (see S.18.1. Data sources) is assessed. This involves measuring the percentage of missing data for each topic to identify potential gaps. Qualitative controls are also applied to detect logical errors and ensure the data are consistent with expected patterns.
In the second stage, the compiled aggregate output statistics are validated. Topic-specific results are compared with data from previous periods to identify inconsistencies or unusual trends. Where possible, results are cross-referenced with survey-based data sources, such as the Labour Force Survey or the 2011 population census.
18.5. Data compilation
The population is formed at person level, applying a specific method (residency index) to data in various registers. The residency index is used to find the probability of residing in Estonia for each person. The features necessary to identify each person are found by using the different registers in a specific priority order.
18.6. Adjustment
Since 2016, the usual resident population has been determined using signs-of-life-based methodology called the residency index. 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.
Total usually resident population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.
31 August 2025
The total usually resident population at country level.
According to Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 on European demographic statistics, article 2(c) and 2(d), ‘Usual residence’ means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage. The following persons alone shall be considered to be usual residents of a specific geographical area:
those who have lived in their place of usual residence for a continuous period of at least 12 months before the reference time; or
those who arrived in their place of usual residence during the 12 months before the reference time with the intention of staying there for at least one year.
Usual residence population includes all population groups who have enough signs of life during the reference year. This includes people without a permanent address (e.g. homeless), asylum seekers, refugees and people under temporary protection.
Number of persons.
Total usually resident population.
Data are available at country level.
The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).
Late or unregistered migration can result in misestimation of the usually resident population. To mitigate this, Statistics Estonia applies a statistical model based on the signs-of-life approach. Although the core methodology and parameters have been empirically validated, the model is continuously refined as new data become available.
Overall, population data are of high quality. They are compiled from more than 18 state registers and additional sources, which helps keep the share of missing values in breakdowns low. Most remaining gaps originate from incomplete source data and could be further reduced through improvements in the underlying inputs.
Number of persons.
The population is formed at person level, applying a specific method (residency index) to data in various registers. The residency index is used to find the probability of residing in Estonia for each person. The features necessary to identify each person are found by using the different registers in a specific priority order.
Data sources for determining usually resident population:
Register of Residence and Work Permits
Estonian Education Information System
Employment Register
Social Services and Benefits Registry
National Defence Obligation Register
Traffic Register
E-File, information system for the expedited payment order procedure
Estonian Unemployment Information System
Health Insurance Information System
Estonian Medical Prescription Centre
Identity Documents Database
Prisoners’ Register
Population Register
State Personnel and Payroll Database
Database of Work Ability Assessment and Work Ability Allowance
European Social Fund
Register of Taxable Persons
Annual.
For the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council, Member States shall provide the Commission (Eurostat) with data on the total population at national level at the reference time, in accordance with Article 2 ( c ), within eight months of the end of the reference year.
