Share of population living in urban areas in Estonia
Estonia: Share of population living in urban areas was 65.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of population living in urban areas in Estonia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Estonia recorded 65.0% for share of population living in urban areas in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Estonia peaked at 71.8% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 63.3%, in 2010.
That places Estonia 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Estonia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 66.1% | — |
| 1955 | 67.4% | +2.0% |
| 1960 | 68.3% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 69.5% | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 70.5% | +1.5% |
| 1975 | 71.3% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 71.8% | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 70.9% | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 69.0% | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 67.5% | -2.1% |
| 2000 | 65.4% | -3.1% |
| 2005 | 64.0% | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 63.3% | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 63.6% | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 65.0% | +2.3% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 65.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 85% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 65.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 69.7%, 93% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 66.7% | 66.1% | 67.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 68.9% | 68.3% | 69.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 70.9% | 70.5% | 71.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 71.4% | 70.9% | 71.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 68.2% | 67.5% | 69.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 64.7% | 64.0% | 65.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 63.5% | 63.3% | 63.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 65.0% | 65.0% | 65.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More reference data data for Estonia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0827 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0328 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.2652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0363 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2652 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.2774 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.193 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1743 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.31 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.1975 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in Estonia?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Estonia was 65.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 71.8% in 1980.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 63.3% in 2010.
- How does Estonia rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Estonia ranks 161st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.