Population shrank again in 2014, but remains over 1.3m
According to the initial estimates of Statistics Estonia, the population number of Estonia as at January 1 was 1,312,300, which is 3,600 persons less than at the same time a year ago.
The population decreased by 1,900 due to a negative natural increase (the number of deaths exceeded the number of births) and by 1,700 due to negative net migration (more persons emigrated from than immigrated to Estonia). In total, the population of Estonia decreased by 0.3% in 2014. In the last few years, the population decline has slowed down.
According to initial data, nearly 13,700 children were born in Estonia in 2014, which is a few hundred children more than in 2013. Considering that the number of women in childbearing age has decreased, there were more children born per woman in 2014 than the year before, according to preliminary estimates. There were 15,500 deaths in 2014.
In 2014, both immigration and emigration decreased. 2,900 persons immigrated to and 4,600 persons emigrated from Estonia in 2014. According to Statistics Estonia’s population projection, external migration will start to decrease in the next few years along with a fall in the number of persons most likely to migrate (20–39-year-olds). However, it is too early to say, based on the initial data, whether the indicators for 2014 mean a change in the current external migration trends.
Editor: S. Tambur