Statistics Estonia: Most Municipalities Running Low
A total of 142 local government units have experienced a "rapid decrease" in population, as defined by Statistics Estonia on the basis of census data from 1989 to the present, and just 19 have experienced "rapid growth."
Statistics Estonia compared population trends between 1989-2000 and 2000-2011, dividing local governments into six groups according to the trends a local government's population has experienced, said a statement released by the agency.
The “rapid growth” group included cities and municipalities where population increased - both in the pre-2000 and post-2000 era. The 19 municipalities were led by Viimsi, an affluent suburb of Tallinn where the population has more than tripled since 1989.
“Slowing growth” group consisted of five municipalities where population grew but slowed down in the post-2000 period. An exampleis Audru in Pärnu County.
The third group “decrease turned to increase” had six municipalities, such as the Palupera in Valga County, with a decrease in growth in the 1989-2000 period and an increase in growth in the post-2000 period.
“Increase turned to decrease” - the fourth group - had 17 municipalities whose population rise has stopped in the first period and was slowly declining in the second period. The statistics agency brought Pärnu County's Surju as an example.
“Slowing decrease” is the fifth group defined by the agency. Both time periods experienced decreases in population, but the post-millennium era saw a slowdown in the decreasing numbers. A total of 37 Estonian municipalities are in this group. An example - Rakvere municipality.
The final group “Rapid decrease” is comprised of cities and municipalities where a decrease was recorded in both periods and the post-2000 records indicated a faster decrease than in the 1989-2000 period.
A total of 142 cities and municipalities fit into this category. The negative population trend is applicable to 63 percent of Estonia's municipalities.