Children

What is life like for children living in Estonia? How child-friendly is the Estonian society? Children’s well-being is an important discussion topic and the focus of many organisations, political forces and the media. For a better overview on the topic, it is necessary to collect data and study the situation and opportunities of children from various perspectives.

Statistics Estonia focuses on many areas of children’s lives, such as the environment they grow up in, their living conditions, poverty and social exclusion, the coping of households with children and population trends.

The statistics provide information, such as:

  • how many children are born in Estonia each year;
  • how many children live in Estonia;
  • what is the expenditure of households with children per member of household;
  • how many children are at risk of poverty or live in poverty.

The statistics provide important information on the situation of children in Estonia. Such data are needed for preparing laws relating to children and for measuring child well-being.

Number of children in Estonia 259,338
0.4%
2022
Expenditure of households with children per household member 4,765.1 euros
-8.1%
2020
Share of children in absolute poverty 1.3 %
2021
Share of children at risk of poverty 13.6 %
2021
Deaths of 0–17-year-olds per 100,000 children of the same age 25.8
25.6%
2021
Live births 11,646
-12.3%
2022
Equivalised annual disposable income of households with children 18,310.5 euros
22.1%
2021
Households with children whose dwelling is in good or very good condition 80.1 %
2020
Children in formal childcare 85.9 %
2022
Households with children | 2015–2022
Children's living conditions | 2013–2022
Children in deprived households by item of deprivation | 2021 – 2021
Unit: %
2021
Paying rent or utility bills in time 7.4
Adequately warm home 1.5
Unexpected expenses 24.3
Eating meat, fish or a protein equivalent every second day 1.4
Week holiday away from home 13.9
Car 3.3
Replacing furniture when worn out or damaged 11.9
Having at least two pairs of outdoor shoes in a good condition 2.1
Spending a small amount of money each week on him/herself 5.8
Participating regularly in a leisure activity that costs money 6.1
Getting together with friends or family for a drink or meal at least once a month 2.5
Having internet connection at home for personal use when needed ..
Replacing worn-out clothes with new ones 3.0