Tallinn's Artificial Growth Spurt Eases Off
Tallinn's official population only grew by 242 in June, many times fewer than in previous months, indicating that the post-free-transport rush is nearing its end.
From January 1, 2013, all officially registered Tallinn residents could enjoy the city's public transport for no cost, prompting many to change their official address.
In 2012, the city attracted 3,686 people and the population has grown by another 6,915 this year: 3,219 in January, 1,396 in February, 804 and 725 in March and April respectively and 529 in May, according to data from the Population Register.
Tallinn has a clear incentive in enticing people to register themselves as residents. Cities and municipalities receive an 11.4 percent cut of residents' income in Estonia, due to increase incrementally to 11.6 percent by 2014.
The new "arrivals" will start generating revenue for Tallinn next year.
Tallinn's peak population was in the late 1980s, when around 480,000 called the city home. Today 426,745 people are registered in Tallinn, with estimates from the Population and Housing Census putting the actual figure at just over 400,000.