Demographics of Estonia

Demographics of Estonia
Population	1,366,491 (2024)
Growth rate	+2.6% (2022)
Birth rate	8.63 births/1,000 population (2022)
Death rate	12.84 deaths/1,000 population (2022)
Life expectancy	78.8 years
• male	74.4 years
• female	82.8 years (2020)
Fertility rate	1.61 children born/woman (2021)
Infant mortality rate	2.20 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate	+5.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021)
Age structure
0–14 years	16.35%
15–64 years	63.22%
65 and over	20.43%
Sex ratio
Total	0.91 male(s)/female (2021 census)
Under 15	1.05 male(s)/female
65 and over	0.54 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality	Estonian
Major ethnic	Estonians (67.8%)
Minor ethnic	Russians (22.0%)
Language
Official	Estonian
Spoken	Estonian, Russian, English

The demographics of Estonia in the 21st century result from historical trends over more than a thousand years, as with most European countries, but have been disproportionately influenced by events in the second half of the 20th century. The Soviet occupation (1944–1991), extensive immigration from Russia and other parts of the former USSR, and the eventual restoration of independence of Estonia, have all had a major effect on Estonia's current ethnic makeup.^{[citation needed]}

Languages spoken in Estonia largely reflect the composition of the indigenous and immigrant ethnic groups residing in Estonia, and thus have changed with historical trends affecting the ethnic makeup of the country. Similarly to other northern European peoples, religion plays a rather small part in the lives of most Estonians.^[1][2][3]

Overall, the quality-of-life indices for Estonia indicate a modern industrial state. The population declined annually from 1991 until 2016, except for a brief pause in 2010.^[4] Since 2016 immigration has exceeded emigration, making the overall population grow.^[5]