Estonia in numbers
Discover the stories behind the numbers that make up Estonia
31.6 people per km²
One of the least densely populated countries in the world, ranking 148th
221 nationalities
69.4% identify as Estonians
120,000+ e-residents globally
Home to the world's first e-residency program, empowering entrepreneurs globally
The smartest and most creative children in Europe
Ranking 1st in OECD PISA tests in Europe
Most startups and unicorns per capita
Leading Europe with 7.7 unicorns for every 1 million people
#1 in tech investments in Europe
1.17% of GDP invested in technology since 2015
99% of public services available online
Saving over 1400 years of working time annually
First country with i-Voting
The only country offering secure internet voting since 2005
57th in the Global Soft Power Index
The Global Soft Power Index is an annual study conducted by Brand Finance that evaluates the perceptions of all 193 United Nations member states in areas such as business, governance, and international relations. In 2023, Estonia saw a significant increase in its soft power since 2022. This rise reflects a growing global recognition and improved familiarity as well as reputation for Estonia.
The number on the graph illustrates Estonia's position among 193 countries in the Global Soft Power Index.
Source: Brand Finance
Global Soft Power Index position by topics
Sustainable future, education & science, and governance are more strongly associated with Estonia, while culture and heritage are less so. A lower ranking in the culture and heritage category does not imply negative reputation but that this is less frequently associated with Estonia compared to other countries that are more well-known for their culture.
The number on the graph shows Estonia's position across the soft power pillars among 193 countries globally.
Low familiarity hinders Estonia's reputation
Estonia's global familiarity and reputation experienced a decline since 2019, but they have been improving over the past two years. The country's response to the war in Ukraine has notably enhanced its global standing since 2022. The data reflects Estonia's familiarity and reputation scores on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest possible rating.
Familiarity
3.4 out of 10
global average is 4.4
Reputation
5.8 out of 10
global average is 5.4
Nation Brands Index 2024
The Anholt Nation Brands Index (NBI) assesses the awareness and perception of 50 countries on topics such as governance, culture, exports, tourism, people, investment and immigration.
Estonia's overall nation brand performance has improved considerably in the fifteen years since it was last included in the Nation Brands Index, rising from 42nd in 2009 to 35th in 2024. Estonia's scores also statistically significantly improved across the measured topics between 2009 and 2024.
NBI 2009 vs 2024 results
Estonia performs particularly well on governance, but not so well on culture and tourism. On the people and investment & immigration dimensions in particular, Estonia’s rankings improved considerably between 2009 and 2024 (+10 and +7 rank improvements respectively).
When comparing Estonia’s performance to the average of all other countries, its performance is generally statistically significantly lower on all points of the hexagon apart from governance, meaning, Estonia is perceived similarly in terms of governance metrics (eg. competently and honestly governed; respects human rights of its citizens, etc.) despite having lower awareness.
Estonia's nation brand value
It’s important to keep track of our national brand’s health over time. This helps us understand how well we are doing, where we can get better, and what effect we have on the economy.
A nation's brand, much like any other brand, has considerable value. It represents how a country is perceived and is tied to its economic performance and the investments made in that brand. Over the past year, the value of Estonia's brand has risen by 10%, totaling 47 billion euros, maintaining its position from 2023, following €1 billion improvement year on year.
World's first e-Residency program
With over 120,000 people already on board, Estonia is making entrepreneurship accessible from anywhere in the world.
Over 120,000 e-residents of Estonia
To date, Estonia has granted an e-resident status to over 120,000 people that have founded or co-founded close to 34,000 companies.
Top countries by number of e-residents
Half of all e-residents come from the EU, indicating that Estonia's business environment is highly valued among other EU residents.
Ukraine
7550
Germany
7144
Spain
6724
Finland
6424
Leading in business readiness
Hassle-free business and daily life in the world’s most advanced digital society.
International Tax Competitiveness Index
Estonia ranks #1 globally for tax competitiveness, achieving a perfect score of 100 on a scale of 0–100. For 10 consecutive years, the OECD has recognized Estonia as the global leader, thanks to its simple and transparent tax system.
Estonia
100
Latvia
92.2
New Zealand
84.2
Switzerland
83.6
Lithuania
79.5
Freedom on the Net Report 2024
With a score of 92, Estonia is ranked #2 worldwide for safeguarding digital rights and ensuring online freedom. According to Freedom House's Freedom on the Net report, Estonia continues to lead in protecting privacy and fostering a secure digital environment.
Iceland
94
Estonia
92
Canada
86
Chile
86
Costa Rica
85
UN E-Government Survey 2024
Estonia holds a top 3 global position for e-governance innovation, as recognized by the United Nations. Renowned for its pioneering digital society, Estonia’s advanced e-government services are a benchmark for transparency and efficiency worldwide.
Denmark
Estonia
Singapore
South Korea
Iceland
Leading the way in sustainability
Estonia sets global benchmarks for environmental responsibility and air quality, showcasing a commitment to a cleaner, greener future.
Environmental Performance Index 2024
Estonia is ranked #1 globally for environmental performance, achieving a score of 75 according to Yale University research. This recognition highlights Estonia’s leadership in sustainability and its dedication to preserving natural resources.
Estonia
75
Luxembourg
75
Germany
74
Finland
73
United Kingdom
72
Sweden
70
Norway
69
World Air Quality Index (AQI) Ranking 2024
Estonia ranks among countries with the cleanest air, meeting WHO’s highest standards. As one of only seven nations worldwide to achieve this level of air purity, Estonia sets an example in environmental health and sustainability.
Mauritius
3.5
Iceland
4
Grenada
4.1
New Zealand
4.3
Australia
4.5
Estonia
4.7
Finland
4.9
Quality of Life Index
The Quality of Life Index measures key factors like purchasing power, pollution levels, housing affordability, cost of living, safety, healthcare quality, commute times, and climate conditions, offering a comprehensive view of living standards.
Top performer in Northern Europe
Estonia ranks among the top 5 countries in Northern Europe for quality of life, standing alongside nations like Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.
Iceland
194.9
Denmark
193.6
Finland
190.4
Norway
184.2
Estonia
180.1
Estonia's position over time
Estonia’s position in the Quality of Life Index has remained consistently strong over the years.
Stunning natural diversity
Estonia’s natural environment is one of the most diverse in Europe, characterized by vast forests, extensive bogs, and thousands of islands. These unique landscapes not only define the country’s geography but also play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable ecosystems.
Forests cover more than half of the country
With 51% of the territory blanketed by forests, Estonia has Europe’s highest proportions of woodland.
Bogs make up 22% of the territory
Over 22% of Estonia is covered by pristine bogs and wetlands, creating a rare ecosystem where nature thrives undisturbed.
Estonia is home to 2222+ islands
Estonian islands feature wildlife and lively communities with strong traditions. They are a remarkable part of nature.
World-class Estonian culture
From globally acclaimed festivals to UNESCO-recognized traditions, Estonia’s culture resonates far beyond its borders.
Source: FIAPF
#1 in startups and unicorns per capita in Europe
Since Skype, generations of Estonian founders have inspired new transformative solutions, creating a distinct culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.
With roughly the size of Milan, Estonia stands out on the European startup map with over 1,500 startups. Estonia has the highest number or startups per capita in all of Europe - 5.5x more than the European average.
Source: Invest Estonia
Estonia’s unicorn wall of fame
With 7.7 unicorns companies per million people, Estonia leads Europe in creating innovative startups and world-changing companies.
Glia
2023
Gelato
2023
ID.me
2022
Veriff
2022
Zego
2021
Pipedrive
2020
Bolt
2018
Wise
2015
Playtech
2007
Skype
2005
Investment trends in Estonia's startup scene
In 2023, based on the crowdsourced table, the Estonian startup sector attracted 394 million EUR across 70 new investment deals. 40 of these deals exceeded 1 million EUR.
Top countries for AI startups
According to StartupBlink's "Winners in the Artificial Intelligence Startup Industry", Estonia ranks number 6th globally with a score of 2.79, surpassing major European countries like France and Germany. 10% of Estonian startups are deeptech companies.
Winners in the Artificial Intelligence Startup Industry 2024
United States
16.72
Israel
7.63
United Kingdom
5.21
Canada
3.28
Singapore
2.92
Estonia
2.79
Leading in tech investments as share (%) of GDP
Estonia leads the investments made in tech in Europe, between 2015 to 2024. The US invested 0.53% of its GDP in technology over the last decade. The graph illustrates top 10 European countries and share of tech investments made as part of their GDP.
Estonia's rise in global innovation rankings
Over the last five years, Estonia has made great progress in the Global Innovation Index, showing its dedication to building a strong innovation system.
Estonia’s education is the best in Europe
The PISA 2022 educational survey shows that the knowledge and skills of Estonian 15-year-olds are at the absolute top in Europe and the top eight in the world, with the leading countries in Asia. Among European countries, Estonia ranks 1st-2nd in mathematics with Switzerland, 1st in science and 1st-2nd in reading with Ireland.
Mathematics
Estonia
510
Switzerland
508
Netherlands
493
Ireland
492
Reading
Ireland
516
Estonia
511
Great Britain
494
Finland
490
Science
Estonia
526
Finland
511
Ireland
504
Switzerland
503
Estonia leads in creative thinking
In the PISA 2022 Creative Thinking test, conducted as part of the global PISA study, Estonian students secured 1st place in Europe and ranked among the top globally.
In Europe
#1 out of 36
Estonia
359
Finland
358
Denmark
355
Latvia
351
Belgium
349
Poland
34
Globally
#6 out of 193
Singapore
41
South Korea
381
Canada
379
Australia
373
New Zealand
364
Estonia
359
Committed to global security and unity
Estonia is the most advanced digital democracy in the world that works to be a leading nation of the future, sharing its learnings and supporting others.
Member of NATO
since 2004
Estonia is a full and active NATO member, contributing 3% of its GDP to defense. Estonia plays a key role in cyber security, hosting the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn and supporting international peacekeeping missions.
Member of the European Union
since 2004
Estonia has been a committed member of the European Union since 2004, demonstrating its dedication to the values of cooperation, democracy, and economic growth. As a leader in digital innovation, Estonia shares its expertise in e-governance and cybersecurity, while actively supporting EU initiatives aimed at promoting peace, stability, and sustainability.
Good Country Index 2022
Estonia ranks 22nd out of 169 countries in the Good Country Index, highlighting its strong commitment to global well-being. It excels in Culture and International Peace & Security, both at #2, showcasing its significant contributions to humanity and the planet. This index measures how much each country gives back relative to its size, and Estonia consistently proves that even smaller nations can make a considerable impact.
Liberal Democracy Index 2024
Estonia is ranked third in the world in the 2024 V-Dem Liberal Democracy Index, which looks at how strong democratic institutions, civil liberties, and the rule of law are. The report shows that democracy is decreasing in many Eastern European countries, which are facing more challenges to good governance. Estonia is an exception, standing out as a leader in the region and a global example of strong democracy.
Rising liberal democracy
Estonia's position in the Liberal Democracy Index has climbed steadily, reaching 3rd globally out of 179 countries.
Global top 5 in liberal democracy
Estonia is standing alongside Denmark and Sweden as a leading example of transparent governance and democratic values.
Denmark
1
Sweden
2
Estonia
3
Switzerland
4
Norway
5