Cultural Participation Survey

What kind of survey is it?

The Cultural Participation Survey collects information on the cultural interests, consumption of culture, and hobbies of Estonian residents. The aim of the survey is to provide objective statistics for the setting of cultural policy objectives in various domains of culture.

Who commissions the survey?

For the survey, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Culture. 

Why are the data needed?

The Cultural Participation Survey is the only major cultural survey in Estonia. The results of the survey reveal which fields of culture people are interested in, what their cultural hobbies are, and in which regions people are more culturally active. The results of the survey help the Ministry of Culture determine how many people are affected by cultural policy decisions and what the economic impact of these decisions might be. The data also show which cultural sectors need more support or should be more accessible.

How often is the survey conducted?

The survey is conducted every three years. The most recent survey was carried out in 2020/2021.

How are the participants selected?

The survey involves a sample of 10,000 inhabitants of Estonia. The survey population covers all Estonian residents aged 15 or over, excluding inhabitants of institutional households (children’s homes, care homes, cloisters, etc.). All estimates are calculated on the basis of the total population in the area concerned. The volumes of the total population and the subpopulations of persons are found on the basis of the population estimate calculated by Statistics Estonia.

The sample of the cultural participation survey is person-based. 10,000 permanent residents of Estonia aged 15 or over, selected by random sampling, are surveyed. The sampling of persons is carried out by geographically stratified systematic sampling procedure, i.e. independent subsamples are drawn separately from the non-overlapping subpopulations called strata.

Approximately 1% of the population is surveyed and the results are extended to the whole population. Each person in the survey represents about one hundred inhabitants of Estonia.

How are the data collected?

Before the survey starts, a notification is sent to all the people in the sample, explaining the purpose of the survey and how they will be contacted. The notification is sent to the sampled person at the email address indicated in the population register. If no email address is available, a letter is sent by post to the address in the population register.

In this survey, data are collected through

• an online questionnaire
• a phone interview (for best service, the call is recorded).

Where are the results published?

Data from the cultural participation survey are published in the statistical database under the heading Social life. The data are also available in the dedicated section on culture.

How are the participants thanked for their contribution?

Each quarter, two €50 COOP gift vouchers are raffled among all respondents. The winners are announced in October 2023 and January 2024. Statistics Estonia will contact the winners.

How can I make sure that it is a survey by Statistics Estonia?

This survey can be completed online at https://estat.stat.ee. The interview is conducted by a specially trained interviewer. The names of Statistics Estonia's interviewers can be checked here. An individual who has been included in a survey can ask for the interviewer's proof of employment. If you have any questions, please contact our customer support by phone at +372 625 9300 or by e-mail at klienditugi [at] stat.ee (klienditugi[at]stat[dot]ee).