Statistics Estonia

Social Statistics and Analysis Department

Total usual residence population for the purposes of qualified majority voting in the Council.

Not applicable.

Total usual residence population at national level.

Population statistics are based on the population figure which has been determined using method called "residency index" that uses information from a wide range of databases to assess the likelihood of a person being in Estonia.

Residency index lies on Estonia's system of administrative registers, which employ shared identifiers and permit the correlation and consolidation of data from diverse registers. Given the contemporary context where individuals residing and laboring in Estonia invariably create traces of activity manifested as records within various databases, it becomes feasible to authenticate an individual's residency in the country. Additionally, connections between individuals and their respective locations can be ascertained on an annual basis.

Distinguishing between long-term residency or non-residency in Estonia is reasonably achievable by leveraging indicators referred to as "signs of life." These indicators pertain to an individual's activity recorded in various governmental registers. To facilitate this, a residency index has been devised. It is computed annually for each individual who either qualifies as a resident or has the potential to become one. The index value ranges from 0 to 1, signifying the yearly probability of an individual being an Estonian resident. The index calculation formula incorporates the individual's residency status from the preceding year, along with the collected signs of life from that same year.

The index is computed for all individuals who have been assigned an Estonian personal identification code or have featured in the foundational registers. This inclusive approach enables the tracking of individuals with transnational affiliations who have departed Estonia. Furthermore, it facilitates the identification of instances where these individuals might have re-entered the country. The index also provides insights into the movement patterns of trans-boundary commuters, revealing how they navigate between their native land and different countries. This aspect of the index was highlighted in a study conducted by Tiit, Vähi, and Kool in 2018.

Following international guidelines, the population encompasses individuals who, during the reference period, hold the status of permanent residents. This refers to individuals who have resided within the country for a minimum of one year, or those who have lived there for a shorter duration but have the intention to remain for at least a year. The population also includes individuals who have left the country within the past year but do not plan an extended stay abroad exceeding one year. However, individuals who have departed more than a year ago are not considered in the population.

Determining these conditions presents challenges within a register-based census, as it isn't feasible to directly inquire about individuals' intentions. Nonetheless, a broad assumption has been made: if a person registers their entry upon arriving in the country, it is inferred that they plan to stay for at least a year. Conversely, if an individual registers their departure, it is inferred that they intend to reside in another country for at least a year.

Number of persons.

Total usually resident population.

Data are available at national level of geographical detail.

Data are available from year 1919.

Not applicable.

Number of persons.

The reference date for population data is the end of the reference period (midnight of 31 December).

Regulation (EU) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 on European demographic statistics.

Not applicable.

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.

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.
The principles for treatment of confidential data can be found at https://www.stat.ee/en/statistics-estonia/data-protection-privacy-policy

Preliminary data on total population is published in January and final data in May. 

https://www.stat.ee/en/calendar

Not applicable.

Annual.

The news release “Preliminary population” is published in January, the news release “Revised population” in May. The news release can be viewed on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section News.

Not applicable.

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)".

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Please fill the information in the Annex File. 

Implementation of the residency index in demographic statistics: https://www.stat.ee/sites/default/files/2021-01/Implementation%20of%20the%20residency%20index%20in%20demographic%20statistics.pdf

Not applicable.

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.

Data requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.

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: https://www.stat.ee/en/statistics-estonia/about-us/user-surveys

Data transmitted as requested in Art. 4.1 of Reg. 1260/2013.

The general indexing principles have been established and model parameters have undergone empirical assessment. However, the methodology is still evolving, and new signs can be added, depending on new information (including big data) becoming available.

The accuracy of index-based estimates is assessed through the use of additional surveys, and estimation errors are presented along with the results. Adding new information (further signs of life) will result in the consistent improvement of the accuracy of index-based estimates.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

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.

The actual delivery date is established by the Regulation (EU) 1260/2013.

Data are comparable with other countries. 

Population data are available since 1919. 

Total usually resident population is used in all domains.

Data are consistent within the dataset and across all tables.

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

The data revision policy and notification of corrections are described in the section Principles of dissemination of official statistics of the website of Statistics Estonia: https://www.stat.ee/en/statistics-estonia/about-us/strategy/principles-dissemination-official-statistics

The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available.

Population Register and other Estonian administrative registers and sub-registers.

Annual.

Vital events data are collected by municipalities and county vital statistics offices. Administrative data are received via X-Road, an FTP-server and by e-mail.

Data from administrative sources are validate. Final data on population is always carefully analysed and checked mathematically and logically before publication. The data are compared with the data of previous periods. 

In data processing, the data cleaning and validation is enforced.

Not applicable. 

Data are submitted in accordance with the requirements of Eurostat.