Rural population growth in Estonia
Estonia: Rural population growth was -0.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Estonia, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
Estonia recorded -0.5% for rural population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 750.0% on the previous year and up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Estonia peaked at 1.0% in 1999 and was at its lowest, -1.8%, in 1961.
Estonia ranks 138th of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Estonia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -1.8% | — |
| 1962 | -1.8% | -1.7% |
| 1963 | -0.8% | -55.9% |
| 1964 | -0.5% | -35.2% |
| 1965 | -0.6% | +18.1% |
| 1966 | -0.5% | -11.7% |
| 1967 | -0.7% | +38.7% |
| 1968 | -0.6% | -16.7% |
| 1969 | -0.2% | -61.5% |
| 1970 | -0.4% | +87.8% |
| 1971 | 0.2% | -135.4% |
| 1972 | -0.5% | -422.4% |
| 1973 | -0.7% | +35.9% |
| 1974 | -0.7% | +4.1% |
| 1975 | -0.8% | +8.3% |
| 1976 | -0.9% | +12.6% |
| 1977 | -0.9% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | -0.9% | +4.9% |
| 1979 | -0.7% | -18.4% |
| 1980 | -0.6% | -12.9% |
| 1981 | -0.4% | -31.2% |
| 1982 | -0.3% | -28.7% |
| 1983 | -0.0% | -93.7% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | -1164.1% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | -7.9% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | +35.7% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +79.0% |
| 1988 | 0.4% | -24.6% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | -18.1% |
| 1990 | 0.6% | +115.2% |
| 1991 | 0.6% | -8.7% |
| 1992 | -0.4% | -165.0% |
| 1993 | -0.9% | +137.7% |
| 1994 | -0.4% | -59.6% |
| 1995 | -0.0% | -92.7% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -701.3% |
| 1997 | 0.3% | +67.5% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -54.4% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | +685.8% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -32.7% |
| 2001 | -0.7% | -202.4% |
| 2002 | -0.7% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | -0.7% | +3.0% |
| 2004 | -0.7% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | -0.7% | -0.3% |
| 2006 | -0.7% | +5.6% |
| 2007 | -0.6% | -15.4% |
| 2008 | -0.5% | -27.2% |
| 2009 | -0.4% | -13.0% |
| 2010 | -0.4% | +12.8% |
| 2011 | -0.5% | +19.0% |
| 2012 | -0.6% | +17.8% |
| 2013 | -0.8% | +21.9% |
| 2014 | -0.8% | +6.6% |
| 2015 | -0.6% | -25.1% |
| 2016 | -0.7% | +23.4% |
| 2017 | -0.7% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | -0.6% | -21.6% |
| 2019 | -0.6% | +3.8% |
| 2020 | -0.8% | +32.8% |
| 2021 | -0.9% | +9.9% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -132.5% |
| 2023 | 0.9% | +227.7% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | -91.7% |
| 2025 | -0.5% | -750.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -0.9% | -1.8% | -0.2% | 9 |
| 1970s | -0.6% | -0.9% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | -0.6% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1% | -0.9% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.5% | -0.7% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.6% | -0.8% | -0.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.1% | -0.9% | 0.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More agriculture & rural data for Estonia
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.64 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0165 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 566.81 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.5048 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.2928 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 1.65 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 1.65 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 6.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Estonia?
- Rural population growth in Estonia was -0.5% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.0% in 1999.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.8% in 1961.
- How does Estonia rank for rural population growth?
- Estonia ranks 138th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Estonia data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.