Formal education
Institutions of pre-primary, general, vocational and higher education by type Nominal places in children’s institutions Teaching staff of general and vocational education by age group and sex Children in pre-school institutions by age and sex, enrolment ratio and school life expectancy Students, graduates and dropouts in general education by type of study, location, sex, age, county and language of instruction Enrolment in vocational education, admission and graduates in vocational education by type of study, sex, field of study, language of instruction; number of dropouts by level of study and type of study Enrolment in higher education, admission, enrolment, graduates and dropouts by level of study, type of study, type of institution, field of study and sex; students studying in Estonia by country of residence and citizenship Number of students in formal education per 10,000 inhabitants, enrolment by age, school life expectancy | |
Classification of fields of education and training 2013 Type of owner International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 2011). Comparison of ISCED97 and ISCED 2011 (International Standard Classification of Education) Classification of Estonian administrative units and settlements (EHAK) Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages (ISO 639-2) International Standard Codes for the Representation of the Names of Countries (ISO 3166) | |
Formal education and pre-school education | |
Bachelor’s study – studies at the first level of higher education during which a student improves his or her general educational knowledge, acquires the basic knowledge and skills of a speciality and the knowledge and skills necessary for Master's studies and to commence work. The prerequisite for enrolment is the completion of secondary education or equivalent vocational education, or an equivalent qualification from a foreign country. Basic school – a school which provides students with opportunities to acquire basic education and fulfil the obligation to attend school. In 2010 primary schools were replaced by basic schools. There are grades 1–9. Excluded are schools for children with special need. Basic school level – the three stages of study of basic schools: stage I – grades 1–3; stage II – grades 4–6; stage III – grades 7–9 (until 1989 the grades 1–8). Basic school stage III – Grades 6–9. Basic school stages I and II – Grades 1–6. Child with special need – a child with a physical disability, speech impairment, sensory and/or intellectual disability, mental disorder or special educational needs, who attends a school for children with special needs. In the legislation, especially talented children are also considered as children with special needs, but they are not included into statistics. Correspondence study/distance learning – a form of study where learning takes place mainly independently and through distance learning sessions, nowadays using e-learning methods. Cr?che – a preschool institution for children up to three years of age. Daily study – a study form in which case the study takes place in daytime and in full-time study. Day-care centre – a form of preschool institution used until 2001, in which, in accordance with applicable law, opportunities for play and other development activities were created for all children aged 2–12 living in the area. In the tables, the number of children at day-care centres does not include school pupils. Degree mobile student – a student who is not a resident or citizen of Estonia, has not finished upper secondar yeducation in Estonia and does not have the right of permanent residence/a long-term residence permit. Excluded are persons who are studying or training in Estonia only for a limited time period. Diploma study – professionally oriented first level of higher education; ISCED 5B. Admittance until 2002. Qualification is equivalent to Professional higher education. Discontinuer/dropout – a student whose studies discontinue before the successful completion of the study programme. Discontinuer in general education - student who received general education in Estonia in the previous academic year, but is not doing that in the academic year under review. Graduates of basic schools and gymnasiums, those who left abroad and deaths are not taken into account. Children of compulsory school age appear as discontinuers if they are marked as having left school to transfer from one school to another, but are not yet on the list of any other school in Estonia by November 10 of the school year. Doctoral study – studies at the highest level of higher education during which a student acquires the knowledge and skills necessary for independent research, development or professional creative activity. The prerequisite for enrolment is a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification. Dropout from vocational education – learners who were on the student list of the vocational educational institution for at least 31 days prior to dropping out and who were not reinstated in the same field of study in the same institution within 31 days after dropping out, shall be taken into account. Dropout from higher education – a learner whose completion of the higher education curriculum ended before its successful completion. Enrolment ratio in preschool institutions – the proportion of children in preschool institutions of a given age to the population of the same age. Evening study – a study form in which case the study takes place in the evening time. It is oriented to grownups who are working. Expected years of schooling at preprimary level for 3-6 year-olds – expected years of schooling is calculated as the sum of enrolment ratios over ages and it is the mean number of study years in the pre-school institution. Full-time study – a study load that permits completing cumulatively at least 75 per cent of the studies, which, according to the curriculum, must be completed by the end of each academic year. General education school – an educational institution for obtaining general education. The concept does not comprise evening schools. Grade repeaters – a student who studies in the same or lower grade for two or more years. Gymnasium – a general education school which provides students with opportunities to acquire general secondary education. School must have grades from 10 to 12 (until 1989 the grades from 9 to 11), but may have Basic school’s grades from 1 to 9. The concept does not comprise evening schools nor schools for children with special need, if not denoted differently. Gymnasium level – the grades from 10 to 12 of general education school (until 1989 the grades from 9 to 11). High school – an alternative name for a gymnasium. Higher education is science-based education obtained after secondary education, resulting in a certification. It provides learners with evidence-based knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for contributions to society, work, R&D, and lifelong learning. Hobby school – an educational institution that operates in the field of youth work and creates opportunities for hobby education and multifaceted personal development, including cultivation of own language and culture in various areas of hobby education. Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s study – medical, veterinary, pharmacist and dentistry training, architectural and civil engineering studies and class teacher training are organised as integrated Bachelor's and Master's studies. A graduate of integrated Bachelor's and Master's studies is awarded a Master’s degree. A person with secondary education or corresponding qualification has the right to apply for integrated Bachelor's and Master’s studies. Corresponds to ISCED-P 766. Kindergarten – preschool institution for children of up to 7 years of age. Kindergarten for children with special need – a preschool institution for children with special need who are of up to 7 years of age. Kindergarten-basic school – a childcare institution where kindergarten is combined with a primary school, which allows them to operate as a single institution. Kindergarten-creche – a form of preschool institution for children aged 1–7, which was used until 1998. In 1999, kindergarten-creches were converted into kindergartens. Kindergarten-primary school – a form of childcare used until 2009 where kindergarten was combined with a primary school. Master’s study – studies at the second level of higher education during which a student improves his or her knowledge and skills in his or her speciality and acquires the knowledge and skills necessary for independent work and Doctoral studies. The prerequisite for enrolment is a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent level of education. Net enrolment rate in formal education system – the proportion of pupils of a given age to the population of the same age. Part-time study – a study load that permits completing cumulatively less than 75 per cent of the studies, which, according to the curriculum, must be completed by the end of each academic year. Pre-school institution – an educational institution providing pre-school education for pre-school children. Primary school – a general education school that provides basic education up to 6th grade. The concept covers nursery-primary schools, but does not include schools for children with special needs, unless indicated otherwise. Private school – a basic or secondary school enacting as a juridical entity according to the private law. Professional higher education institution – an institution which has been granted the right to provide professional higher education and where at least two thirds of those in formal education are enrolled in higher education. In addition, Master’s studies and vocational training can take place on the basis of secondary education. Rural pre-school institution – a pre-school institution that is situated in a rural settlement (a small town or village). Rural school – a school that is situated in a rural settlement. School for children with special need – a school for children with a physical, speech and/or mental disorder or for children needing special conditions for upbringing. Compared to regular schools, adaptions and alterations are made in the curriculum and/or the learning environment (the form of learning, rooms, study groups, methods, language, teachers with special training, supportive personnel etc). Secondary vocational education – a set of requirements established by the vocational education standard and the national curricula for vocations or professions. The acquisition of secondary vocational education provides the prerequisites and grants the right to start working in the acquired vocation or profession or to continue studies to acquire higher education. Stationary study – a form of study for students and persons subject to compulsory school attendance or for students for whom studying is the main activity, where the activities supervised by the school have a higher proportion than independent learning. Student – a person who has been admitted (matriculated) to full-time or part-time professional higher education, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral or integrated Bachelor's and Master’s studies at a higher education institution. Studying – a person who was a student during the reference year (on 10 November) according to the Estonian Education Information System. Teacher – a person employed in the field of education at school: persons in the positions of teacher and class teacher, and managers (school principal, headmaster) and support specialists (special education teacher, social pedagogue, speech therapist, school psychologist) who are involved in teaching. University – an educational, creation, research and development institution where higher education three level study are carried out according to the Standard of Higher Education. Upper secondary schools for adults – general education schools for the completion of general education in non-stationary study for persons who have exceeded the compulsory school age. The primary forms of study are evening courses and distance learning. Urban pre-school institution – a pre-school institution that is situated in an urban settlement (a city, a city without municipal status or a town). Urban school – a school that is situated in an urban settlement. Vocational courses after basic education – vocational education based on basic education, vocational training on the basis of basic education, vocational and secondary education based on basic education, vocational secondary education based on based education, vocational secondary education, professional secondary education based on basic education. Since the academic year 2014/15, new categories have been added: fourth-level vocational courses which include fourth-level initial vocational education (vocational upper secondary education), fourth-level initial vocational education and fourth-level continuing vocational education (admittance to all categories available since 01.09.2013). Vocational courses after secondary education – vocational secondary education based on secondary education, vocational courses based on secondary education, professional secondary education based on secondary education. Since the academic year 2014/15, new categories have been added: fifth-level vocational courses which include fifth-level initial vocational education and fifth-level continuing vocational education (admittance to both categories available since 01.09.2013). Vocational courses with non-defined basic education – vocational education for young people with special needs and without basic education, vocational training for persons beyond minimum school-leaving age who lack basic education. Since the academic year 2014/15, new categories have been added: second-level vocational education, third-level vocational education (admittance to both categories available since 01.09.2013). The completion of any other level of education is not a prerequisite for admittance. Vocational education – a system of knowledge, skills, experience, values and behavioural norms which are required for working in a certain area of specialisation, for obtaining certain qualifications and for applying for and retaining a certain position, and the acquisition and improvement of that system creates the prerequisites for successful professional activity. Vocational education institution – an educational institution where the knowledge, skills and attitudes for the performance of a skilled trade in a vocation or profession are acquired. Vocational higher education – vocational secondary education based on secondary education, vocational courses based on secondary education, professional secondary education based on secondary education. Vocational secondary education after basic education – the prerequisite for enrolment is the completion of basic education. During the studies, students acquire both an occupation and secondary education. After completing vocational secondary education, students can start working in the acquired occupation or profession or continue their studies in higher education. | |
Institution | |
Institutions that provide formal and pre-primary education FRAME Estonian Education Information System: licenced educational institutions providing formal education, persons attending these institutions and the teaching staff | |
Estonia as a whole | |
1990–… | |
Not applicable |
DIRECTLY APPLICABLE LEGAL ACTS Regulation (EC) No 452/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning OTHER LEGAL ACTS Not available OTHER AGREEMENTS United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) |
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 32, § 34, § 35, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act. | |
The treatment of confidential data is regulated by the Procedure for Protection of Data Collected and Processed by Statistics Estonia (in Estonian). See more details on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section Õigusaktid. |
Notifications about the dissemination of statistics are published in the release calendar, which is available on the website. Every year on 1 October, the release times of the statistical database, news releases, main indicators by IMF SDDS and publications for the following year are announced in the release calendar (in the case of publications – the release month). | |
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Not published | |
Not published | |
Data are published in the statistical database at https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat in the subject areas “Social life / Education / Preprimary education”, “Social life / Education / General education”, Social life / Education / Vocational education”, “Social life / Education / General data of education” (except in tables HTG14 and HTG15) and “Social life / Education / Higher education” (except in table HT17). | |
The dissemination of data collected for the purpose of producing official statistics is guided by the requirements provided for in § 33, § 34, § 35, § 36, § 38 of the Official Statistics Act. Access to microdata and anonymisation of microdata are regulated by Statistics Estonia’s procedure for dissemination of confidential data for scientific purposes. | |
Data serve as input for statistical activities 21303 “Government finance”, 50101 “Regional development” and 50201 “Sustainable development indicators”. | |
UOE (UNESCO-UIS/ OECD/ Eurostat) data collection manual Gentlemen's agreement | |
Not available |
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Statistics Estonia performs all statistical activities according to an international model (Generic Statistical Business Process Model – GSBPM). According to the GSBPM, the final phase of statistical activities is overall evaluation using information gathered in each phase or sub-process; this information can take many forms, including feedback from users, process metadata, system metrics and suggestions from employees. This information is used to prepare the evaluation report which outlines all the quality problems related to the specific statistical activity and serves as input for improvement actions. Data from the Estonian Education Information System (as at a given date) are published. |
Ministry of Social Affairs Ministry of Education and Research | |
Since 1996, Statistics Estonia has conducted reputation and user satisfaction surveys. All results are available on the website of Statistics Estonia in the section User surveys. | |
Use of administrative data ensures complete coverage and up-to-date data. |
This work covers international data transmission according to international methodology as well as domestic output according to national methodology. National data are geographically comparable. The methodology for international data transmission has been improved over time, so the data is not comparable to other countries throughout the times series. | |
National data are comparable over time. The methodology for international data transmission has been improved, so the data is not comparable throughout the time series. Notes: Data on enrollments, since their integration into the EHIS administrative records, is presented as of November 10th. Prior to this, enrollments in general, vocational, and higher education were counted at the beginning of the academic year. Data on children in early childhood education was previously based on the end of the calendar year. According to the Basic Schools and Upper Secondary Schools Act which entered into force on 1 September 2010, primary schools were replaced by basic schools where studies are pursued at stage I or at stages I and II. Starting 2012 the number of former primary schools is added to the number of basic schools. In 2006, the graduates whose tuition was in English have accrued. They are included in the total number of graduates. Before the 2017/18 academic year, the count of general education, vocational, and higher education institutions could include schools with a valid operating license but no students in that academic year. The same applies to preschool institutions before the 2020/21 academic year. In the 2022/23 academic year, there was a revision in the language of instruction classification system. This change resulted in a slight increase in data variability in some regions. It is advisable to exclude the number of schools by language of instruction in the 2022/23 academic year when comparing time series. Data on students by language of instruction is largely usable. The 2023/24 academic year began with a widespread transition to instruction in Estonian, which significantly reduced the number of schools teaching only in other languages. Ukrainian refugee students are reflected in Estonian educational statistics starting from the 2022/23 school year. Until the 2023/24 academic year, only first-year students were considered as entrants into vocational and higher education. From the 2023/24 academic year onwards, the year of study is no longer considered. Therefore, entrants who are transferred directly to a higher year based on their previous credits, are now also included in the admission statistics. | |
When comparing statistics with data from other sources, the differences in methodology should be taken into account. | |
The international and national output are based on different methodologies and are not comparable. |
The data revision policy and notification of corrections are described in the section Principles of dissemination of official statistics of the website of Statistics Estonia. | |
The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available. |
SURVEY DATA Since the data of academic year 2007/2008 not used. ADMINISTRATIVE DATA The following data are received from the Estonian Education Information System (EHIS): enrolment, graduates, discontinuing, grade repeaters, classes, teachers, educational institutions, foreign languages and curricula in pre-primary, general, vocational and higher education. DATA FROM OTHER STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES Data from statistical activity 30101 “Population” are used. | |
Annual | |
Since academic year 2005/2006 the statistical data on general, vocational and higher education are based on Estonian Educational Information System (EHIS). Up to 2004/2005 the statistical data on general, vocational and higher education are collected and processed by Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and Statistics Estonia and are based on total surveys (include all educational institutions that have an activity license for providing corresponding education regardless of their ownership). The statistical data on pre-primary education up to 2006/2007 have been collected and processed by the Statistical Office of Estonia. The data about education are based on total survey, i.e. the survey population of education statistics includes all educational institutions who have an activity license for providing education regardless of their form of ownership. Since academic year 2007/2008 the statistical data on pre-primary education are based on EHIS. Educational institutions enter data into EHIS at the latest at the beginning of November. The Ministry of Education and Research checks the correctness of the data and after validation the data is sent to Statistics Estonia. Data are received via an FTP-server. | |
The data are compared with the data of previous periods. All columns are checked to make sure that they have been completed as required. | |
After data cleaning, validation and linking, anonymized source files are compiled, which are used for producing of annual statistics. Educational institutions, teachers, enrolment and admittance at the beginning of the academic year, graduates and dropouts during the academic year. In the case of graduates and dropouts the year stands for the end of the academic year, in other cases - the beginning of the academic year. Urban schools in cities, cities without municipal status and towns, rural schools in small towns and villages. Region of origin is determined on the basis of the country of residence, and, in the few cases where the country of residence is unknown, on the basis of the country of citizenship. Since 2022 the country of prior upper secondary education is also used. Preschool institutions do not include daycare facilities (except daycare groups operating at kindergartens). Until 2011 for computing education indicators the revised age distribution of the population and the population number are based on the 2000 Population Census. The revised age distribution of the population based on the 2011 Population Census is used for computing education indicators data for years since 2012. When determining the number of educational institutions, branches are not included, and only those institutions with students are considered. Estonian as the language of instruction also involves participation in early language immersion programs, or situations where at least 60% of the instruction is conducted in Estonian. | |
Not applied |