Estonia

Summary

Official Name: Republic of Estonia
Population: 1,325,000
Principal Languages: Standard Estonian
Literacy Rate: 100% (2015 World Factbook)
International Conventions: CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987
Deaf Population: 1,600 (1998)
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Estonia is 10. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 7 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 5 are developing, 1 is vigorous, and 1 is in trouble. Also listed are 3 unestablished languages and 1 macrolanguage.

Languages

Belarusian bel: Users: 1,660 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 12,400 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
English eng: Widespread. Users: 660,880 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 880 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 660,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Estonian est: Users: Population total all languages (L1 only): 1,245,350. Status:
Estonian Sign Language eso: Scattered, mostly in Pärnu county and Tallinn. Users: 1,500 (Paales 2011). 1,500 signers (2014 Estonian Deaf Association), approximately 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 4,500 sign language users out of 1,600 deaf and 20,000 hearing impaired, 2,000 persons need regular help from interpreters (1998 U. Sutrop); 6,300 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, No. RT1, 18.03.2011, 1, Language Act, Article 3(2)). Alternate Names: EVK, Eesti viipekeel, Viipekeel Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Estonian, Standard ekk: Users: 1,050,000 in Estonia (European Commission 2012), including 1,290 speakers of Northeastern Coastal Estonian dialects, 26,800 speakers of North Estonian dialects (24,500 island dialects, 770 eastern dialects, 210 central dialects, and 1,280 western dialects), and 13,800 speakers of South Estonian dialects (9,700 Mulgi and 4,110 Tartu) (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,158,140. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 52(1)). Alternate Names: Eesti, Eesti Kirjakeel Autonym: Eesti Keel Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Finnish fin: Widespread. Users: 158,620 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 2,620 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 156,000 (2012 Eurobarometer). Ethnic population: 7,420 (2011 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Uralic, Finnic
French fra: Users: 19,200 in Estonia (Marcoux et al 2022), L2 users. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu: Users: 129,400 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 1,400 in Estonia (2018). L2 users: 128,000 (2018 Eurostat). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Latvian, Standard lvs: Users: 1,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 1,720 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Romani, Baltic rml: Järva, Pärnu, and Rapla counties. Users: 360 in Estonia (2013 census). Ethnic population: 460 (2011 census). Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Balt Romani, Balt Slavic Romani, Baltic Slavic Romani, Romani Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Russian rus: Widespread. Users: 1,118,000 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 383,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 735,000 (European Commission 2012). Ethnic population: 321,000 (2011 census). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Russian Sign Language rsl: Harju county: Tallinn. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Ukrainian ukr: Users: 8,010 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 22,300 (2011 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Võro vro: Põlva, Tartu, Valga, and Võru counties. Users: 87,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Seto speakers: 12,500 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 87,210. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Voro, Voru, Võro-Seto, Võru Autonym: Võro kiil Classification: Uralic, Finnic

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Estonian, Standard

[ekk] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1992, Constitution, Article 52(1)). 1,050,000 in Estonia (European Commission 2012), including 1,290 speakers of Northeastern Coastal Estonian dialects, 26,800 speakers of North Estonian dialects (24,500 island dialects, 770 eastern dialects, 210 central dialects, and 1,280 western dialects), and 13,800 speakers of South Estonian dialects (9,700 Mulgi and 4,110 Tartu) (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 1,158,140.

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 660,880 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 880 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 660,000 (European Commission 2012).

Russian

[rus] 4 (Educational). 1,118,000 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 383,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 735,000 (European Commission 2012). Ethnic population: 321,000 (2011 census).

5 (Dispersed)

Finnish

[fin] 5* (Dispersed). 158,620 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 2,620 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). L2 users: 156,000 (2012 Eurobarometer). Ethnic population: 7,420 (2011 census).

French

[fra] 5* (Dispersed). 19,200 in Estonia (Marcoux et al 2022), L2 users.

German, Standard

[deu] 5* (Dispersed). 129,400 in Estonia, all users. L1 users: 1,400 in Estonia (2018). L2 users: 128,000 (2018 Eurostat).

5 (Developing)

Estonian Sign Language

[eso] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, No. RT1, 18.03.2011, 1, Language Act, Article 3(2)). 1,500 (Paales 2011). 1,500 signers (2014 Estonian Deaf Association), approximately 0.1% of the total population. Other estimates: 4,500 sign language users out of 1,600 deaf and 20,000 hearing impaired, 2,000 persons need regular help from interpreters (1998 U. Sutrop); 6,300 (2014 IMB).

Romani, Baltic

[rml] 5* (Developing). 360 in Estonia (2013 census). Ethnic population: 460 (2011 census).

6a (Vigorous)

Russian Sign Language

[rsl] 6a* (Vigorous).

6b (Threatened)

Võro

[vro] 6b (Threatened). 87,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Seto speakers: 12,500 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 87,210.

Unestablished

Belarusian

[bel] Unestablished. 1,660 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 12,400 (2011 census).

Latvian, Standard

[lvs] Unestablished. 1,000 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 1,720 (2011 census).

Ukrainian

[ukr] Unestablished. 8,010 in Estonia (2013 UNSD). Ethnic population: 22,300 (2011 census).

Maps

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Estonia with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Estonia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Estonia with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Estonia is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Estonia in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Estonia ($149.95, 27 page PDF)

Estonia

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action