Knowledge of the Estonian language has positive influence on the integration of Estonian immigrant population

Statistics Estonia conducted the immigrant population survey for the first time in 2008. Immigrant population was defined as the persons whose parents had been born in a foreign country and also the persons in case of whom the place of birth of only one parent, not born in Estonia, was known. The percentage of immigrant population among permanent residents of Estonia was 24% in 2008.

An important prerequisite of integration is whether immigrants consider Estonia as their home country and whether they feel as part of the Estonian society. The majority of immigrant population who lived in Estonia in 2008 considered Estonia as their home country and saw themselves as members of the Estonian society. 14% of the immigrant population did not feel as part of the Estonian society, 22% did not consider Estonia as their home country. At the same time, the given opinions were influenced by the fact whether the immigrant concerned had or did not have knowledge of the Estonian language.

17% of the immigrant population with knowledge of the Estonian language did not consider Estonia as their home country. Among the immigrants without knowledge of the Estonian language the respective percentage was 29%. Less than 10% of immigrants with knowledge of the Estonian language did not see themselves as a part of the Estonian society, while among immigrants without knowledge of the Estonian language the respective share was slightly over a fifth. Almost half of the immigrants with knowledge of the Estonian language completely agreed to the statement that they are part of the Estonian society, while among the immigrants without knowledge of the Estonian language less than one third completely agreed to the referred statement.

Cohesion of immigrant population in the Estonian society by knowledge of the Estonian language, 2008