In 2024, the total population of Estonia was 1.37 million people. Between 1993 and 2024, the figure dropped by 130,000 people, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. The total population is forecast to decline by 10,000 people from 2024 to 2030, fluctuating as it trends downward.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

Demographics data Estonia 2023 at municipality level - 150 attributes, including age, gender, marital status, employment, education, source of income, and more

In 1950, when Estonia's population was estimated at 1.1 million people, approximately 57 percent of the population was female, while 43 percent was male; this equated to a difference of more than 160,000 people. In the past century, as with many former-Soviet states, Estonia has consistently had one of the most disproportionate gender ratios in the world. The reason for this was due to the large number of men who were killed in wars during the first half of the twentieth century, which was particularly high across the Soviet Union, as well as a much higher life expectancy among women. The difference in the number of men and women in Estonia has gradually decreased over the past seven decades, but in 2020, there are still 70,000 more females than males, in a population of 1.3 million people; this equates to total shares of roughly 53 percent and 47 percent of the total population respectively.

Over the course of the long nineteenth century, Estonia's population almost tripled, from 0.33 million in 1800, to over one million at the outbreak of the First World War. Throughout this time, Estonia was a part of the Russian Empire, however Germany then annexed the region during the First World War; when the German army eventually retreated in 1918, Estonian forces prevented Russia from re-taking the area in the Estonian War of Independence, and an independent Estonian Republic was gradually established between 1918 and 1920. Relative to its size and population, Estonia developed into a prosperous and peaceful nation in the interwar period, and Estonian language and culture thrived, although political stability proved difficult for the Baltic state.

Estonia in WWII Estonia's independence was short lived, as the country was then annexed by the Soviet Union as part of the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Germany and the Soviets. The invasion was achieved with little-to-no conflict, as Estonia capitulated when faced with the vastly superior military and navy of the Soviet Union. Annexation became official in June 1940; a puppet, communist government was quickly established, and many military and political rivals were imprisoned or executed under Soviet control. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union the following year, they quickly took control of Estonia, but simply replaced the Soviet Union's rule with their own, and did not grant re-establish sovereignty as many Estonians had expected or hoped for. By the war's end, Estonia suffered approximately 83,000 deaths at the hands of the Soviet Union and Germany, with almost 50,000 of these civilian deaths, and the rest were fatalities of Estonian soldiers who were forced to fight in other nations' armies.

Post-war Estonia Following the war, Estonia remained under Soviet control, and between 1950 and 1990, the population of Estonia grew steadily, from 1.1 million to almost 1.6 million. In the wake of the Soviet Union's collapse, Estonia established a rapid, but peaceful independence in 1991; and the population dropped by roughly ten percent by the end of the century. This was mostly due to non-Estonians returning to their country or region of origin, although a wave of Estonian emigration soon followed. Estonia joined the European Union in 2004, and from 2000 until 2015, Estonia's population continued to fall, reaching just 1.3 million people in 2015. Recent years, however, have seen a reversal in this trend, with limited growth since 2015; although demographers predict that Estonia's population will drop below one million people in the next half-century. The past three decades have marked the longest continuous period in the past 800 years, where the region of Estonia was not under German, Polish, Russian or Scandinavian control.

The total population in Estonia was estimated at 1.4 million people in 2023, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Estonia Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Historical dataset showing total population for Estonia by year from 1950 to 2025.

Comprehensive demographic dataset for Estonia, Miami, FL, US including population statistics, household income, housing units, education levels, employment data, and transportation with year-over-year changes.

Population trends and statistics

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Estonia (POPTOTEEA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Estonia and population.

Estonia EE: Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data was reported at -1.200 % in 2050. This records a decrease from the previous number of -1.170 % for 2049. Estonia EE: Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging -0.880 % from Jun 1989 (Median) to 2050, with 62 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.160 % in 1989 and a record low of -3.130 % in 1992. Estonia EE: Population Projection: Mid Year: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by US Census Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Estonia – Table EE.US Census Bureau: Demographic Projection.

Estonia: Rural population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2024 is 29.98 percent, a decline from 30.19 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 38.30 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Estonia from 1960 to 2024 is 32.11 percent. The minimum value, 28.58 percent, was reached in 1989 while the maximum of 42.47 percent was recorded in 1960.

Estonia EE: Population: Total data was reported at 1,315,480.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,315,790.000 Person for 2016. Estonia EE: Population: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 1,387,135.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,569,174.000 Person in 1990 and a record low of 1,211,537.000 Person in 1960. Estonia EE: Population: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Estonia – Table EE.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The values shown are midyear estimates.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: disaggregating the population composition by gender will help a country in projecting its demand for social services on a gender basis.

Complete population data for Estonia showing how many people live in Estonia from 1960 to 2024

Actual value and historical data chart for Estonia Population Growth Annual Percent

Estonia: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 21.3 percent, an increase from 20.91 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 10.43 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Estonia from 1960 to 2024 is 14.42 percent. The minimum value, 10.71 percent, was reached in 1960 while the maximum of 21.3 percent was recorded in 2024.

Estonia - Population and employment - national accounts was 0.60% in September of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Estonia - Population and employment - national accounts - last updated from the EUROSTAT on November of 2025. Historically, Estonia - Population and employment - national accounts reached a record high of 4.40% in March of 2023 and a record low of -5.50% in March of 2009.

In 2020, the median age of the Estonian population was approximately 41.4 years. In 2100, it was expected to exceed 50.7 years. The median age is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population.

Monthly and long-term Estonia Population data: historical series and analyst forecasts curated by FocusEconomics.

Graph and download economic data for Population ages 65 and above for Estonia (SPPOP65UPTOZSEST) from 1960 to 2024 about Estonia, 65-years +, and population.

Key information about Estonia population

• The Estonia population reached 1.4 million people in Dec 2024, compared with the previously reported figure of 1.4 million people in Dec 2023
• The data reached an all-time high of 1.4 million people in Dec 1999 and a record low of 1.3 million people in Dec 2014

• In the latest reports, Estonia Unemployment Rate dropped to 7.1 % in Sep 2025
• Monthly earnings of the Estonia population was 2,468.7 USD in Sep 2025
• Estonia Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 67.2 % in Sep 2025