Navigate to content

Päise viited

  • Accessibility
  • Help
  • Contacts
  • Go to eSTAT
  • ENG
  • EST
Home

Main navigation - English

  • Find statistics
    • Database
    • Main indicators
    • Statistics by theme
    • Statistics by region
    • Tools and applications
    • News
    • Publications
    • Censuses
    • Request statistics
    • Methodology and quality
    • Experimental statistics
    • Short-term statistics
  • Submit data
    • Go to eSTAT
    • About data submission
    • Obligation to submit data
    • Data submission deadlines
    • Questionnaires
    • Classifications
  • Statistics Estonia
    • About us
    • Careers
    • Calendar
    • Data governance
    • Training sessions
    • Document register
    • Data protection (Privacy policy)
    • Contacts
  • Population Census

Main navigation - English

  • Find statistics
    • Database
    • Main indicators
      • Economic and financial data for Estonia
    • Statistics by theme
      • Economy
        • Construction
        • Financial statistics of enterprises
        • Economic units
        • Internal trade
        • Service activities
        • Industry
        • Tourism, accommodation and food service
        • Foreign trade
          • Exports of goods
          • Exports of services
          • Imports of services
          • Imports of goods
      • Finance
        • National accounts
          • Real GDP growth rate (chain-linked volume)
        • Prices
          • Construction price index
          • Consumer price index
          • Producer price index of industrial output
        • Government finance
        • Banking and financial markets
        • Insurance
      • Energy and transport
        • Energy
        • Transport
      • Technology, innovation and R&D
        • Information and communication technologies
        • Innovation
        • Research and development
      • Environment
        • Waste and circular economy
        • Climate
        • Air
        • Material and energy efficiency
        • Green economy
        • Forest
        • Environmental protection funding
        • Biodiversity protection and land use
        • Water
      • Work life
        • Wages and salaries and labour costs
          • Gender pay gap
          • Average monthly gross wages and salaries
        • Income
        • Work life quality
        • Accidents at work
        • Labour market
          • Employment rate
          • Unemployment rate
      • Agriculture and fisheries
        • Agriculture
        • Agriculture and environment
        • Fishing
      • Culture
        • Cinema and film production
        • Museums
        • Music
        • Libraries and books
        • Folk culture
        • Sports
        • Theatre
        • Television and radio
      • Well-being
        • Children
        • Youth
        • Time use
        • Households
        • Integration
        • Security
        • Social protection
        • Social exclusion and poverty
          • Absolute poverty
          • Estimated subsistence minimum
          • At-risk-of-poverty rate
        • Health
          • Life expectancy
          • Healthy life years
      • Population
        • Population figure
        • Population projection
        • Marriages and divorces
        • Migration
        • Births
        • Deaths
      • Education
        • Preprimary education
        • Hobby education
        • Vocational education
        • Higher education
        • General education
      • Sustainable development
        • 1. No Poverty
        • 2. Zero Hunger
        • 3. Good Health and Well-being
        • 4. Quality Education
        • 5. Gender Equality
        • 6. Clean Water and Sanitation
        • 7. Affordable and Clean Energy
        • 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
        • 9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
        • 10. Reduced Inequalities
        • 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
        • 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
        • 13. Climate Action
        • 14. Life Below Water
        • 15. Life on Land
        • 16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
        • 17. Partnerships for the Goals
        • 18. Viability of Cultural Space
    • Statistics by region
    • Tools and applications
    • News
    • Publications
      • Survey summaries
    • Censuses
      • Population Census 2021
        • Population censuses in Estonia
        • 2011 Population and Housing Census
          • Dwelling and Household Questionnaire
          • Personal Questionnaire
          • Definitions
        • 2000 Population and Housing Census
          • Definitions
      • Agricultural Census
    • Request statistics
      • Contract work
      • Use of confidential data for scientific purposes
    • Methodology and quality
      • ESMS metadata
      • Methodology
    • Experimental statistics
    • Short-term statistics
      • Ukrainians in the Estonian labour market
      • Short-term death statistics
      • Short-term labour market statistics (2024)
      • Short-term labour market statistics, (2019–2020)
      • Short-term statistics of enterprises (2019–2024)
      • Short-term statistics of enterprises, (2019–2020)
  • Submit data
    • Go to eSTAT
    • About data submission
      • Enterprise surveys
        • New self-service environment
        • Classification of Economic Activities in Estonia (EMTAK)
        • Intrastat
        • Crop farming survey
        • Information for classification of economic units
        • Submit data to the employment register
        • Changes to the questionnaire Wages and salaries and labour force (1462)
      • Personal surveys
    • Obligation to submit data
    • Data submission deadlines
    • Questionnaires
    • Classifications
  • Statistics Estonia
    • About us
      • Official statistics and European statistics
      • Strategy
        • Principles of dissemination of official statistics
        • Quality Policy
        • Personnel Policy
      • Structure
      • Annual reports
      • Legal acts
        • Censuses
          • General information
      • International cooperation
        • Projects funded by the European Union
        • Peer Review of Statistics Estonia, 2021
      • User surveys
      • Statistical Council
      • History of Estonian statistics
        • 100 years of Estonian statistics
        • Anniversary stamp
      • Albert Pullerits prize
        • Laureates
      • Competition "Andmepärl"
      • Projects supported from EU Structural Funds
    • Careers
      • Internship
    • Calendar
    • Data governance
    • Training sessions
      • Briefing session on the updated Intrastat questionnaire
    • Document register
    • Data protection (Privacy policy)
    • Contacts
  • Population Census
  • ENG
  • EST

Päise viited

  • Accessibility
  • Help
  • Contacts
  • Go to eSTAT

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Methodology and quality
  3. ESMS metadata
  4. Permanent incapacity for work and disability

Permanent incapacity for work and disability

1. Contact
1.1. Contact organisation

Statistics Estonia

1.2. Contact organisation unit

Population and Social Statistics Department

1.3. Contact name

Karina Valma

1.4. Contact person function

Leading Analyst

1.5. Contact mail address

51 Tatari Str, 10134 Tallinn, Estonia

1.6. Contact email address

karina.valma [at] stat.ee

1.7. Contact phone number

37251917446

2. Metadata update
2.1. Metadata last certified

27/03/2025

2.2. Metadata last update

27/03/2025

3. Statistical presentation
3.1. Data description

First-time incapacity for work and disability by percentage of the incapacity for work and degree of the disability, by disease, age group and sex

First-time incapacity for work per 10,000 inhabitants

Re-examination of the persons incapacitated for work

Number of persons with degrees of disability

3.2. Classification system

Classification of Estonian administrative units and settlements (EHAK)

3.3. Sector coverage

Disabled persons

3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions

Assessment of work ability – determining a reduced capacity for work and establishing the level of current capacity for work of a person with long-term health damage. From 1 July 2016, work ability is assessed by the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund. As a result of work ability assessment, one of the following levels of capacity for work is established:

1) work ability is not reduced;

2) partial work ability;

3) no work ability.

Disability – loss of or abnormality in the anatomical, physiological or mental structure or function of a person which in conjunction with different attitudinal and environmental restrictions prevents participation in social life on equal terms with others. Disability of children of up to 16 years of age and persons of retirement age is established based on the need for personal assistance, guidance or supervision. Disability of a person of 16 years of age up to retirement age is established based on restrictions on participation in daily activities and social life. In 2000, a new system for determining the degree of disability and loss of capacity for work was adopted in Estonia. Until 2000, disability assessment committees determined the loss of capacity for work in three categories of disability. The categories of disability served as a basis for receiving the disability pension. From 2000, medical assessment committees determine the loss of capacity for work as a percentage (10%, 20%, 30%, etc. up to 100%) and the severity of disability in three degrees of disability (profound, severe and moderate disability).

Full work ability – a person’s ability to work has not been reduced by his/her health condition and the resulting activity limitations.

Medical assessment committee – committee at a health care institution whose task is to determine the loss of capacity for work and degree of disability. Medical assessment committees were active until 31 December 2007. Starting from 1 January 2008, these were eliminated and the Social Insurance Board started to determine the degree of severity of disability, involving medical experts. The Social Insurance Board entered into contracts with medical experts under the Law of Obligations Act. As of 1 July 2016, if necessary, the Social Insurance Board involves in determining the degree of severity of disability persons who have completed medical training.

Moderate disability – loss of or abnormality in the anatomical, physiological or mental structure or function of a person as a result of which, depending on the age, the person needs regular personal assistance or guidance outside his/her residence at least once a week. Here are also included persons who have difficulties in daily activities or in participating in social life.

No work ability – a person’s working under normal conditions is significantly hindered by his/her health condition and the resulting activity limitations.

Partial work ability – a person’s working is partially hindered by his/her health condition and the resulting activity limitations.

Partially incapacitated for work – a person who is able to work in order to support himself/herself, but due to a functional impairment caused by illness or injury is unable to perform work suitable for him/her in the amount corresponding to the general national standard for working time. A 10–90% loss of capacity for work corresponds to partial incapacity for work.

Permanent incapacity for work – total or partial incapacity for work. The extent of permanent incapacity for work is expressed as a percentage of loss of capacity for work (with a number ending in zero). Permanent incapacity for work is established by the Social Insurance Board.

Percentage of the loss of capacity for work – serves as a basis for determining the pension for incapacity for work and the degree of disability serves as a basis for receiving social benefits for disabled persons. Persons entitled to receive the pension for incapacity for work include those between the age of 16 and retirement age who have been declared permanently incapacitated for work with a 40–100% loss of capacity for work, including those who have earned the pension rights required for the granting of the pension for incapacity for work. The pension for incapacity for work is granted for the period of permanent incapacity for work.

Profound disability – loss of or abnormality in the anatomical, physiological or mental structure or function of a person as a result of which, depending on the age, the person needs personal assistance, guidance or supervision 24 hours a day. Here are also included persons whose daily activities and participation in social life are totally hindered.

Severe disability – loss of or abnormality in the anatomical, physiological or mental structure or function of a person as a result of which, depending on the age, the person needs personal assistance, guidance or supervision in every 24-hour period. Here are also included persons whose daily activities or participation in social life are limited.

Totally incapacitated for work – a person with a serious functional impairment caused by illness or injury as a result of which he/she is not able to work in order to support himself/herself. A 100% loss of capacity for work corresponds to total incapacity for work.

3.5. Statistical unit

Person

3.6. Statistical population

Persons who are disabled or permanently incapacitated for work

FRAME

Not applicable

3.7. Reference area

Estonia as a whole

Counties – data about first-time incapacity for work, re-examinations of disabled persons and persons incapacitated for work and persons with a current degree of disability

3.8. Time coverage

2000–…

3.9. Base period

Not applicable

4. Unit of measure

Number of disabled persons

5. Reference period

Year

6. Institutional mandate
6.1. Legal acts and other agreements

DIRECTLY APPLICABLE LEGAL ACTS

Not available

OTHER LEGAL ACTS

Not available

OTHER AGREEMENTS

Not available

7. Confidentiality
7.1. Confidentiality - policy

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.

7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment

The dissemination of data collected for the production of official statistics is based on the requirements laid down in §§ 34 and 35 of the Official Statistics Act.

The principles for treatment of confidential data can be found here.

8. Release policy
8.1. Release calendar

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).

8.2. Release calendar access

Calendar

8.3. User access

All users have been granted equal access to official statistics: dissemination dates of official statistics are announced in advance and no user category (incl. Eurostat, state authorities and mass media) is provided access to official statistics before other users. Official statistics are first published in the statistical database. If there is also a news release, it is published simultaneously with data in the statistical database. Official statistics are available on the website at 8:00 a.m. on the date announced in the release calendar.

9. Frequency of dissemination

Annual

10. Accessibility and clarity
10.1. News release

Not published

10.2. Publications

Not published

10.3. Online database

Data are published in the statistical database at https://andmed.stat.ee/en/stat under the subject area “Social life / Health / Disabled persons / General data” in the following tables:

THV02: Work ability assessments by sex and county

THV03: Work ability assessments by sex and county

THV13: First-time disability by disease, degree of the disability and sex

THV21: Disabled persons by county, 1 January

THV23: Disabled persons by age group, sex and county, 1 January.

Table THV13 includes data for years 2000–2019.

10.4. Microdata access

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.

10.5. Other

Data serve as input for statistical activity 50101 “Regional development”.

10.6. Documentation on methodology

The Estonian Social Survey. Methodological Report (2010)

10.7. Quality documentation

Not available

11. Quality management
11.1. Quality assurance

To assure the quality of processes and products, Statistics Estonia applies the EFQM Excellence Model, the European Statistics Code of Practice and the Quality Assurance Framework of the European Statistical System (ESS QAF). Statistics Estonia is also guided by the requirements in § 7. “Principles and quality criteria of producing official statistics” of the Official Statistics Act.

11.2. Quality assessment

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.

12. Relevance
12.1. User needs

Ministry of Social Affairs

Association of Municipalities of Estonia

The Labour Inspectorate

12.2. User satisfaction

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.

12.3. Completeness

Administrative data show only the statistics of public authorities.

13. Accuracy and reliability
13.1. Overall accuracy

The accuracy of source data is monitored by assessing the methodological soundness of data sources and the adherence to the methodological recommendations.

13.2. Sampling error

Not applicable

13.3. Non-sampling error

Administrative data show only the statistics of public authorities.

14. Timeliness and punctuality
14.1. Timeliness

The data are published 95 days after the end of the reference year (T + 95), data by county are published 160 days after the end of the reference year (T + 160).

14.2. Punctuality

The data have been published at the time announced in the release calendar.

15. Coherence and comparability
15.1. Comparability - geographical

The data are nationally comparable.

15.2. Comparability - over time

The data are comparable over time.

Due to differences between the previous and new system for determining total or partial incapacity for work, publishing the time series on disabled persons (1985–1999) was discontinued in 2000 and a new time series on persons incapacitated for work was started. However, the data are still partially comparable. An incapacity for work with a 100% loss of capacity for work corresponds to the 1st category of disability, 80–90% loss of capacity for work corresponds to the 2nd category of disability and 40–70% loss of capacity for work corresponds to the 3rd category of disability. The pension for incapacity for work is not granted if the loss of capacity for work is smaller than 40%.

15.3. Coherence - cross domain

When comparing data from different sources, methodological differences should be kept in mind.

15.4. Coherence - internal

The internal consistency of the data is ensured by the use of a common methodology for data collection and data aggregation.

16. Cost and burden

17. Data revision
17.1. Data revision - policy

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.

17.2. Data revision - practice

The published data may be revised if the methodology is modified, errors are discovered, new or better data become available.

18. Statistical processing
18.1. Source data

SURVEY DATA

Not used

ADMINISTRATIVE DATA

The data on degree of disability are received from the Social Insurance Board.

The data on a person's place of residence are received from the population base of Statistics Estonia (which is based on data of different national registers).

DATA FROM OTHER STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES

Not used

18.2. Frequency of data collection

Annual

18.3. Data collection

Aggregated data are received by e-mail.

18.4. Data validation

The data are compared with the data of previous periods.

18.5. Data compilation

The collected data are converted into statistical output. This includes calculating additional indicators.

18.6. Adjustment

Not applicable

19. Comments

Not available

Contacts

+372 625 9300
stat [at] stat.ee

Privacy policy

Privacy policy
Cookie settings
EU structural and investment funds