Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not in Estonia
Estonia: Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not was 254 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
254 Thousand persons
Change on year
up 1.5%
World rank
41st
of 47 countries
All-time high
402.2 Thousand persons
in 2002
All-time low
250.3 Thousand persons
in 2024
Years of data
29
1997–2025
Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Estonia, 1997–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
In 2025, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Estonia stood at 254 Thousand persons.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Estonia peaked at 402.2 Thousand persons in 2002 and was at its lowest, 250.3 Thousand persons, in 2024.
Estonia ranks 41st of 47 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 29 years of available data.
Persons outside the labour force not … Persons willingness work not in Estonia, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 356.2 Thousand persons | — |
| 1998 | 370.8 Thousand persons | +4.1% |
| 1999 | 383.4 Thousand persons | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 388.7 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 393.3 Thousand persons | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 402.2 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 380.6 Thousand persons | -5.4% |
| 2004 | 374 Thousand persons | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 379.4 Thousand persons | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 354.8 Thousand persons | -6.5% |
| 2007 | 351.4 Thousand persons | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 341.4 Thousand persons | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 341.8 Thousand persons | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 340 Thousand persons | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 327.2 Thousand persons | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 319.9 Thousand persons | -2.2% |
| 2013 | 314 Thousand persons | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 310.1 Thousand persons | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 294.2 Thousand persons | -5.1% |
| 2016 | 281.6 Thousand persons | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 269.6 Thousand persons | -4.3% |
| 2018 | 266 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 271 Thousand persons | +1.9% |
| 2020 | 273.2 Thousand persons | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 273 Thousand persons | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 255 Thousand persons | -6.6% |
| 2023 | 253.2 Thousand persons | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 250.3 Thousand persons | -1.1% |
| 2025 | 254 Thousand persons | +1.5% |
Estonia compared with similar countries
- Estonia's 254 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,646 Thousand persons, 15% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Estonia's 254 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 1,721 Thousand persons, 15% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 370.13 Thousand persons | 356.2 Thousand persons | 383.4 Thousand persons | 3 |
| 2000s | 370.76 Thousand persons | 341.4 Thousand persons | 402.2 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 299.36 Thousand persons | 266 Thousand persons | 340 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 259.78 Thousand persons | 250.3 Thousand persons | 273.2 Thousand persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Estonia
More work & labour data for Estonia
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6763 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.6638 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.77 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1039 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 885.23 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 259.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 417.66 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 407.84 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 825.5 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Estonia?
- Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by in Estonia was 254 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Estonia?
- The highest recorded value was 402.2 Thousand persons in 2002.
- What is the lowest persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by recorded in Estonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 250.3 Thousand persons in 2024.
- How does Estonia rank for persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by?
- Estonia ranks 41st out of 47 countries with data for 2025.
- Is persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by rising or falling in Estonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Estonia data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Persons outside the labour force not seeking employment by willingness to work. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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