Estonia is a compact, free and digital country with distinct regional differences. Estonia is home to over 190 nationalities, with ethnic Estonians making up approximately 70% of the population.

Due to the country’s historical background and speedy development, Estonians are known to be highly adaptable and curious of the outside world. Most of the younger population speaks fluent English in addition to their native Estonian. Our population has grown 2,9% comparing to the time 10 years ago. Not only because of that but the parents in Estonia are given 435 days of fully paid maternity leave and 140 days of pregnancy leave, making it one of the most parent-friendly countries in the world.

There is plenty of air and space – with a population of 1.3 million, the capital with 450.000 people. Distances are short, population density is low. You have a Nature Reserve within 30 minute reach from any given location in Estonia.
According to the latest census in 2021: if you divide the mainland of Estonia into 1 square metre pieces, there no people living in more than 50% of these pieces. In 14 % of pieces less than 4 people live.

Distances are small even digitally – it takes 18 minutes to start a company online and 3 minutes to file a tax return. Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced countries globally, with 99% of state services available online. Anything from simple public transport tickets, taxi, car rental, museum tickets, food delivery is just a click away. 4G is available even in the remote forest!

In 2002, Estonia launched an electronic ID card that has been enthusiastically embraced by its population, who proudly describe to visitors the amount of time they save by not having to visit the bank or the doctor’s surgery, or engage with various government services in person. According to a World Bank report in 2015, 2.8 million hours were saved in this way in the previous year. 

Estonia has also extended its digital identity scheme to make it available to anyone in the world. So-called e-residency doesn’t make you a citizen of Estonia but it allows you to set up an Estonian (and therefore EU) company online and to access Estonian banking and payment processing services. Since the programme was launched at the end of 2014, more than 17 000 new e-residents have started around 1500 new companies.

(Materials used: visitestonia.ee; Tim Hulse / British Airways Business)

Music is important everywhere in Estonia. It probably lies in the strong tradition of gathering with thousands of Estonian choral singers in every few years. The first Song Celebration was held in 1869 in the city of Tartu which means that in 2019 it celebrated 150 years of history. The jubilee was the biggest ever – altogether 33.000 singers/instrumentalists and 62.000 ticket buyers at the final concert in Tallinn. We have 40.000 choral singers in Estonia which makes it the most popular group activity.

The ‘Singing Revolution’ grew out of pop music and protest movements: in 1988-1991, a series of mass demonstrations took place in Tallinn, with patriotic songs being sung by massed singers (the biggest gathering having almost 300.000 people which is ⅓ of the population). The Singing Revolution made it possible for people to demonstrate their views toward the Soviet Union in a peaceful way, and it helped to legitimise political decisions through which it was finally possible to restore Estonia’s national independence without any casualties or violence. Thanks to this it can be said that Estonia sang itself free.

Estonia has many different music communities which have been formed either as festivals, music clubs, creative groups etc. Estonia has many music festivals from “classical” until audiovisual composition, e.g., Tallinn Music Week, Viljandi Folk, Saaremaa Opera Festival, Jazzkaar, Pärnu Music Festival, Festival COMMUTE, Estonian Music Days etc. In 2021, Tallinn joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a city of music.

Estonian language

Some useful phrases:

Tere – Hello!

Nägemist / Head aega – Good bye!

Tšau (Ciao) – Informal and very common way between friends to say both Hi and Bye

Aitäh! / Tänan! – Thank you!

Terviseks! – Cheers!

Palun – Please

Jah – Yes

Ei – No

Teil on ilusad silmad – You have beautiful eyes

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