Estonian Human Development Report

Figure 1.2.9. Internal migration events per year
39500
39000
38500
38000
37500
37000
Source: SE
2004 2005 2006 2007
Table 1.2.2. Distribution of immigrants by age
groups (2004–2007)
Source: SE
15–29 30–49 50+
2004 37% 25% 14%
2005 31% 28% 17%
2006 31% 28% 15%
2007 31% 28% 14%
Table 1.2.3. City-country migration directions
2004–2007
Source: SE
To cities To the country Total
From cities 27% 33% 60%
From the country 25% 15% 40%
Total 52% 48% 100%
After 1991, the natural migration process started to
recur. Urbanization occurred that followed a hierarchy
of settlements, i.e. population converged from the country
and the small cities to Tallinn and regional centres (in
Estonia, the regional centres are the cities of Tartu, Pärnu,
Jõhvi and Kohtla-Järve). In the internal movement in all
the counties, suburbanization took place, i.e. relocation
from the centres to the environs. The main destination
for all Estonian migration in the 1990s was Tallinn and
its suburbs (Tammaru et al 2003). Since 2000, suburbanization
has intensified significantly (Leetmaa 2004). The
most active migrants are young people (15–29-year-olds)
and their migration clearly converges in the larger cities
and their environs (Jõeveer 2003, Kulu 2005).
Internal migration 2004–2007
During the four year period, 162,822 migration events that
crossed the borders of settlement units occurred in internal
migration. There was an average of 38,000 migration
events per year (Figure 1.2.9.), i.e. the migration intensity
was 114‰, or during four years eleven out of one hundred
people in Estonia relocated to another settlement unit. In
1989–2000, only 17% of the population changed residences
by crossing the borders of settlement units (Tammaru et
al 2003). Thus one can say that the migration intensity was
notably lower.
The migration intensity of the various ethnic groups has
differed. The majority of those who changed their resi-
dence were Estonian citizens (93%). The migration intensity
of persons with undetermined or Russian citizenship
was much smaller. The intensity of residence changes
decreases as age increases (Table 1.2.2.).
In the city-country migration direction, the movement
from the city to the country attracts attention (Table
1.2.3.). During the reference period, this has resulted
in the number of people living in rural municipalities
increasing by 10,500 and the number of city residents
decreasing by the same number. Overall, the population
in 125 rural municipalities and 39 urban settlements has
decreased, while it has increased in 62 rural municipalities
and 17 cities. The primary migration destinations are
the rural municipalities near Tallinn, where people from
all over Estonia relocate, and the net migration coefficient
there, and in the environs of Pärnu and Tartu, is
also higher. In other places, people also relocate from
cities to suburbs. Rural municipalities that are located
further from cities and lie on the outskirts of counties
have negative net migration as people either relocate to
large cities or to rural municipalities that are near cities.
The City of Paide and the remote rural municipalities
of Pärnu County have the lowest net migration coefficients.
The population of almost half the cities that are county
centres has increased, and this is caused by greater emigration
from remote areas. This process is occurring in
Järva, Lääne-Viru and Valga Counties. Harju, Ida-Viru
and Tartu counties stand out because in these counties the
outskirts also benefit from population movement. Therefore
we can assume that the suburbs of these centres are
expanding (Tammur 2009). In the migration between
counties, the greatest movement is to Harju County
(39%), which is followed by Tartu County (15%) and Pärnu
County (7%). Large cities like Kohtla-Järve, Tartu, Tallinn
and Narva have lost the most people due to negative net
migration. The majority of settlement units with negative
net migration are county seats and small towns and
rural municipalities located on the outskirts of the counties.
Tallinn’s net migration has become negative during
the period being examined. Positive net migration is
experienced primarily by rural municipalities and satellite
cities located in the suburbs of the centre. Due to active
immigration, populations increased the most in the rural
municipalities in the suburbs of Tallinn: Viimsi, Harku
and Rae Rural Municipalities.
The migration direction of various age groups differs.
Young people aged 15–29 leave the outskirts of counties
and their primary destination is Tallinn and its suburbs.
People between the ages of 30 and 49 who are likely to have
families leave the larger cities and relocate primarily to the
suburbs of Tallinn or the regional centres. Older people
relocate to areas outside all the larger cities – along with
the vicinity of Tallinn, their preferred residential areas
also include the outskirts of the counties (Tammur 2009).
As far as the internal migration of Russian citizens is
concerned, there are similarities as well as differences with
the general trends. Similar to Estonian citizens, they relocate
to larger cities and their suburbs, with many going
to Tallinn. Unlike Estonian citizens, people with Russian
and undetermined citizenship also have positive net
migration in the outskirts of rural municipalities. People
with undetermined and other citizenship have a negative
net migration in Tallinn.
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