The decrease of population number slowed down

In 2008, the number of population decreased by about 600 persons, a year ago by 1,600 persons. Although the natural increase stayed negative, i.e. the number of deaths still exceeded the number of births, the number of births increased and the number of deaths decreased compared to the previous year. 16,233 live births and 16,827 deaths were registered in 2008, i.e. about 460 births more and over 580 deaths less than in the previous year. The number of marriages and divorces also decreased — 6,175 marriages were contracted and 3,511 marriages were divorced. Compared to the previous year, the number of marriages decreased by about 850 and the number of divorces by about 300.

Births, deaths and natural increase, 2000–2008

The number of population published by Statistics Estonia is based on the 2000 Population and Housing Census data and is complemented by the annual data on registered births and deaths. Since 2000 the migration data were not used in the estimation of the population because of their low quality. It was mainly caused by the voluntary registration of the place of residence from the beginning of the 1990s up to 2005. Since 2006 the quality of migration data has improved. Therefore, Statistics Estonia will publish in addition to the preliminary adjusted population number also the population number with migration for the years 2000–2007 on 22 April 2009. Statistics Estonia will continue publishing the population number with and without migration until the new population census. After the 2011 Population Census Statistics Estonia will switch to one unified population number. For the need to ensure consistent time series, Statistics Estonia will use until the 2011 Census in calculations of different indicators the population number without migration based on the currently applied methodology.

More detailed information about the methodology and quality of migration data can be found on the web site of Statistics Estonia Statistics-> Subject Areas -> Population -> Vital events. More detailed data on population number as of 1 January 2009 have been published in the Statistical Database.