Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia
Estonia: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 465,167 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia is 465,167 people, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia peaked at 488,152 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 374,072 people, in 1950.
That places Estonia 150th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 374,072 people | — |
| 1955 | 380,459 people | +1.7% |
| 1960 | 386,859 people | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 394,070 people | +1.9% |
| 1970 | 401,089 people | +1.8% |
| 1975 | 407,941 people | +1.7% |
| 1980 | 416,179 people | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 443,316 people | +6.5% |
| 1990 | 487,242 people | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 472,098 people | -3.1% |
| 2000 | 483,044 people | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 487,495 people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 488,152 people | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 478,888 people | -1.9% |
| 2020 | 465,167 people | -2.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 377,266 people | 374,072 people | 380,459 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 390,464 people | 386,859 people | 394,070 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 404,515 people | 401,089 people | 407,941 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 429,748 people | 416,179 people | 443,316 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 479,670 people | 472,098 people | 487,242 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 485,270 people | 483,044 people | 487,495 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 483,520 people | 478,888 people | 488,152 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 465,167 people | 465,167 people | 465,167 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More population data for Estonia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6697 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.5636 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6697 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6551 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3052 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 19.31 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 30,706 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Total population (thousands), annual growth rate -0.9772 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Estonia was 465,167 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 488,152 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 374,072 people in 1950.
- How does Estonia rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Estonia ranks 150th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Estonia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.