Health
Each person in Estonia has the right to live in a healthy environment and make healthy choices. The healthier we are, the longer we lead fulfilling lives and the greater is our life expectancy.
Health has a significant impact on coping with everyday life, on the social and economic contribution to a country’s development and overall success of a country. In 1948, the World Health Organization defined ‘health’ as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. According to the Constitution of Estonia, protection of one’s health is a fundamental right.
Statistics Estonia publishes data on:
- access to health care;
- health status;
- general data of disabled persons, their employment and coping.
Access to health care covers accessibility of family doctors, specialised doctors and dentists. Statistics on disabled persons focus on their employment and coping.
At-risk-of-poverty and absolute poverty rates by disability, capacity for work and activity limitation, 2024
Unit: %
| At-risk-of-poverty rate | Absolute poverty rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Disabled persons | 38.0 | . |
| Persons with limited capacity for work | 29.0 | . |
| Persons with incapacity for work | . | . |
| Persons without work ability and with partial work ability | 29.3 | . |
| Persons with activity limitations | 31.7 | 3.4 |
Employment and unemployment rates by disability, capacity for work and activity limitation, 2024
Unit: %
| Employment rate | Unemployment rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Disabled persons | 25.7 | 17.5 |
| Persons with activity limitations | 48.4 | 11.9 |
| Persons with full work ability | 70.7 | 7.0 |
| Persons with limited capacity for work | 51.5 | 13.6 |
| Persons with incapacity for work | . | . |
| Persons with 40-100% of incapacity for work | . | . |
| Persons without work ability and with partial work ability | 51.6 | 13.9 |
| Persons without work ability | 22.1 | 21.0 |
| Persons with partial work ability | 69.4 | 12.3 |
Work ability assessments by county, 2025
| Full work ability | Partial work ability | No work ability | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harju county | 3,372 | 7,091 | 4,076 |
| Hiiu county | 48 | 93 | 60 |
| Ida-Viru county | 1,390 | 2,397 | 1,171 |
| Jõgeva county | 255 | 561 | 339 |
| Järva county | 245 | 458 | 294 |
| Lääne county | 122 | 238 | 169 |
| Lääne-Viru county | 482 | 1,022 | 622 |
| Põlva county | 256 | 644 | 336 |
| Pärnu county | 678 | 1,430 | 845 |
| Rapla county | 247 | 587 | 329 |
| Saare county | 190 | 474 | 270 |
| Tartu county | 1,453 | 3,162 | 1,595 |
| Valga county | 269 | 688 | 372 |
| Viljandi county | 372 | 847 | 475 |
| Võru county | 359 | 828 | 512 |
How healthy are the people of Estonia?
Starting on 1 May, residents of Estonia will receive invitations to participate in the Estonian Health Interview Survey, which aims to assess the health status of the population, factors influencing it, and the use of health services. The survey covers the entire population of Estonia aged 15 and older.