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The Community Innovation Survey is conducted in European countries every two years, with the most recent survey covering the reference period 2022–2024. Innovation means the introduction of new or significantly improved products or services or the implementation of improved business processes. A product or process innovation could mean the introduction of new technical solutions, the innovative combination of existing and already used technologies, or the application of knowledge available within the enterprise. Hanno Evard, analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that innovative enterprises play

“Until now, the state has been collecting various data from entrepreneurs, but with this application the state is, for the first time, returning such a large amount of valuable information back to the entrepreneurs,” explained Sirli Heinsoo, Head of the Digital Economy Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. She added that the application returns an analysis compiled from the company’s own submitted data, helping entrepreneurs assess their strengths and weaknesses and compare their company with others. “The more accurate the data submitted to the state, the more

Swen Peterson, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that herbicides are still the most sold plant protection products. “In 2025, the sales of herbicides totalled 632 tonnes, which is over 34.7 tonnes more than in 2024. Within the available time series, it is also the largest quantity of herbicides placed on the market in Estonia in one year. Compared with 2024, the sales of insecticides and fungicides increased by about 30%,” added Peterson. Herbicides accounted for 74%, fungicides for 15.7%, growth regulators for 7.6% and insecticides for 1.9% of the total amount of pesticides sold. In

According to Statistics Estonia's survey on information technology, the use of artificial intelligence-based technologies has risen significantly in 2024 compared with the previous year, and cyber security has become increasingly important. 5% of enterprises used at least one AI technology in 2023, whereas in 2024, this figure has risen to 14%. Of large enterprises, 10% said they had experienced a disclosure of confidential data.

This was the seventh time that Statistics Estonia was commissioned by the Education and Youth Board to analyse the tax contribution of international students who work in Estonia during and after their studies. In the academic year 2024/2025, there were 3,951 international students in Estonia. 3,418 of them had an Estonian personal identification code and their labour market participation could be studied using pseudonymised codes. 1,752 (51%) of the analysed students worked in Estonia while studying. The study showed that long-term work is predominant among both local and international

“In 2025, average gross hourly wages were 13 euros for men and 11.4 euros for women, meaning that women’s wages were 12.2% lower. This means that the gender pay gap in Estonia was the narrowest ever,” said Krista Vaikmets, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia. She added that the gender pay gap has decreased by 10.7 percentage points in the last 15 years. Wage inequality is the greatest in financial and insurance activities Looking at individual economic activities, the indicators vary. “In 2025, the gender pay gap was the biggest in financial and insurance activities (23.6%), wholesale and

Tiina Pärson, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that internet use is a common practice among younger and middle-aged people (16–54-year-olds), with almost 100% of them using the internet. Internet use has increased significantly among the elderly. For example, compared with last year, internet use has risen by five percentage points in the 55–64 age group and by six percentage points among 65–74-year-olds. Compared with 2020, the increase has been even greater, at 11 percentage points among people aged 55–64 and 20 percentage points among people aged 65–74. “One key factor is the

“People’s consumption habits change, technology evolves, and more and more data become available. Statistics Estonia must keep up with these developments, and we must continuously update our methodologies,” explained Urmet Lee, the Director General of Statistics Estonia. The methodological changes introduced in January concern food products and electricity. “Good cooperation with electricity providers and retail chains now allows us to calculate the consumer price index in Estonia more accurately than ever before. It means that a quarter of the data for the consumer basket are now obtained

“Compared with the first quarter of 2025, the seasonally and working-day adjusted GDP was up by 0.5%,” stated Robert Müürsepp, team lead of national accounts at Statistics Estonia. According to Müürsepp, it is too early to say how the consumer price index adjustment will affect GDP calculations. “It is highly unlikely that it will have a significant impact,” he said. What is a flash estimate of GDP? Although the official GDP figure will be released on 29 August, the information currently available can be used to assess the overall economic situation. This includes trade indicators, transport

“According to the GDP flash estimate, there are several indications of economic improvement in the first quarter, compared with both the first and the last quarter of 2025,” said Robert Müürsepp, the National Accounts Service Manager at Statistics Estonia. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, the seasonally and working-day adjusted GDP grew by 0.6% according to the flash estimate. What is a flash estimate of GDP? The official data on GDP for the first quarter of 2026 will be published by Statistics Estonia on 29 May, but based on the information already available, it is possible to assess