Relationship survey
What kind of survey is it?
The relationship survey reveals how Estonia's inhabitants rate the quality of their relationships at home, at work, and elsewhere. The knowledge generated by the survey allows an assessment of the quality and safety of human relationships, and the state can use this information to help people in the best possible way. The survey also shows how far the Estonian society is in the development of human rights and social policy and how we compare with other countries. The survey is conducted in all EU countries on the basis of a reliable and comparable methodology.
Who commissions the survey?
For the survey, the main representatives of public interest are the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Social Affairs. The results are also forwarded to the European Commission and Eurostat.
Why are the data needed?
The insights gained from the survey help assess how far the Estonian society is in the development of human rights and social policy and how we compare with other countries. The results identify the main vulnerable groups, the risk and protective factors of abuse, and the possible trajectories leading to victimisation. In addition, we examine how well informed people in Estonia are about how to find help and what the bottlenecks are.
How often is the survey conducted?
The survey is carried out for the first time in Estonia. The survey is planned to be repeated in the future, but the exact frequency will depend on the need and is to be agreed in the European cooperation networks.
How are the participants selected?
The survey population includes all permanent residents of Estonia, excluding inhabitants of institutional households (children’s homes, care homes, cloisters, etc.). Participants are randomly selected from the population register from among people aged 18–74 years. In order to be able to extend the results to the whole population, around 16,700 people are surveyed.
Statistics Estonia ensures the protection of all respondents' data in accordance with the Official Statistics Act and the Personal Data Protection Act. The collected data are only used in a highly aggregated form. If you have been selected to participate in the survey, please do so – your answers are important because truthful and reliable information is the best basis for the government to make decisions that affect us all.
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.
Data are collected through an online questionnaire and a face-to-face interview.
Where are the results published?
Data from the relationship survey are published in the statistical Statistical database under the heading Social life Justice and security in the first half of 2023.
How can I make sure that it is a survey by Statistics Estonia?
The survey can be completed online at https://estat.stat.ee. However, if you prefer a face-to-face survey, it 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).
Where to find information on abuse?
Don't be alone in your worries! If you feel that abuse may be happening in any of your relationships, check out these links for useful information (in Estonian and Russian only):