According to Statistics Estonia, in 2011 the ratio of research and development expenditures to the gross domestic product rose upon a novel level – 2.41%, surpassing for the first time the EU mean of 2.03%.
According to Statistics Estonia, unemployed persons numbered 57,000 and the unemployment rate was 8.5% in the 1st quarter of 2014. The number of both the unemployed and the employed decreased. For the first time since 2010, the number of unemployed persons decreased compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
According to Statistics Estonia, the unemployment rate was 5.5% in 2008 and 7.6% in the 4th quarter. By counties, the annual average unemployment was the biggest in Ida-Viru county and the smallest in Pärnu county.
According to Statistics Estonia, the number of students in general education has decreased by nearly 20,000 during the past five years. While the number of students in the first grade will increase in the coming years, the number of students in secondary education will decrease.
According to Statistics Estonia, in January 2016, 178,000 domestic and foreign tourists stayed in accommodation establishments, which is 6% more than in January 2015. Both the number of domestic and foreign tourists increased.