Passengers transported as much as last year

In 2017, the number of passengers carried by Estonian transport enterprises amounted to 208.3 million, with the majority carried by road. In road transport (incl. trams and trolley buses), there were approximately as many passengers carried as in 2016, but the number of passengers increased in sea, rail and air transport. In 2017, the passenger traffic volume of transport enterprises was 5.9 billion passenger-kilometres, and it increased by 9% compared to 2016.

Bus transport enterprises served 190.4 million passengers in 2017, and 87% of them, i.e. approximately 165.4 million passengers, used urban transport (incl. trams and trolleybuses). Urban transport was used almost as much as in 2016. The number of passengers was approximately 14.9 million on county lines (5% less compared to 2016), 4.1 million on domestic long-distance lines (down by 3%) and approximately 1.4 million on international lines (up by 12%). In 2017, the passenger traffic volume of road transport was approximately 2.9 billion passenger-kilometres, and it decreased in domestic traffic by 6% and increased in international bus transport by 7%.

In 2017, Estonian sea transport enterprises carried 9.4 million passengers, which is 3% more than in 2016. The number of passengers carried in domestic sea traffic was 2.5 million (up by 7%) and roughly 7 million (up by 2%) in international sea traffic. The passenger traffic volume of sea transport enterprises increased by 13% year on year, and was nearly 1.3 billion passenger-kilometres in 2017. International sea traffic contributed 98% of the passenger traffic volume.

Last year 7.4 million passengers were carried by rail, which is 7% more than in 2016. In domestic rail traffic, 7.3 million passengers were carried (up by 7%), and 107,400 passengers in international rail traffic (up by 4%). The passenger traffic volume of rail transport enterprises increased by 16% year on year, totalling 366.7 million passenger-kilometres in 2017.

In 2017, Estonian air transport enterprises carried 946,700 passengers. Compared to 2016, this is 66% more. 61% of the passengers were carried on regular flights. The passenger traffic volume of air transport enterprises increased by 38% year on year, and was approximately 1.3 billion passenger-kilometres.

According to preliminary estimates, in 2017, Estonian road freight vehicles and rail, sea and air transport enterprises carried a total of 55.2 million tonnes of goods, of which a half was carried by road and nearly a half by rail. The preliminary estimate for freight turnover in 2017 is nearly 8.6 billion tonne-kilometres.

According to preliminary estimates, Estonian road freight vehicles carried approximately 27.7 million tonnes of goods in 2017, which is a fifth less than in 2016. The volume of freight in tonnes fell mainly in the second half of the year. 21.9 million tonnes of goods were transported in domestic road traffic (down by 21%) and 5.8 million tonnes in international traffic (down by 17%). The freight turnover of road transport vehicles decreased by 13% compared to 2016, and totalled 5.9 billion tonne-kilometres.

In 2017, the volume of goods carried by rail was 7% larger than the year before, amounting to 27.3 million tonnes. 18.1 million tonnes of goods were transported in domestic rail traffic (up by 15%), with the majority contributed by oil shale transport. 9.2 million tonnes of goods were transported in international traffic (down by 5% compared to 2016). Year on year, freight turnover of rail transport decreased by 1%, and amounted to 2.3 billion tonne-kilometres. Of international rail freight transport, 7.6 million tonnes were goods in transit, imports amounted to 1.3 million tonnes and exports to 0.3 million tonnes. Carriage of goods in transit by rail decreased again by 5% year on year, mainly due to a decrease in the carriage of liquid refined petroleum products. Import goods were carried 7% less and export goods 23% more than in 2016.

The data of Estonian transport enterprises are collected and published according to the enterprise’s main economic activity. The enterprise’s main economic activity is determined based on the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities (EMTAK (NACE Rev. 2)): land transport (rail and road), water transport and air transport.

Road transport of passengers includes bus, trolleybus and tram transport. Urban transport includes passenger transport by buses, trams and trolleybuses.

Road transport data for 2017 are estimated based on the data of the statistical activity ''Transport of goods by road''. Road freight vehicles registered in the traffic register of the Road Administration which are not older than 25 years and have a loading capacity of over 3,500 kg are observed. The revised data are published upon adding data for the following period.

Passenger traffic volume is the volume of work done in the transport of passengers. It is measured in passenger-kilometres (pkm). One passenger-kilometre is the transport of one person across a distance of one kilometre.

Freight turnover is the volume of work done in the transport of goods. It is measured in tonne-kilometres (tkm). One tonne-kilometre is the transport of one tonne of goods across a distance of one kilometre.

For the statistical activities on transport, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for performing these statistical activities.