Largest Cities and Towns by Population in Estonia (2026)

59 cities and towns in Estonia, ranked by population estimates for January 1, 2026 (by Statistical Office of Estonia). 12 places missing from those estimates keep their 2021 census figure.

RankCity or TownPopulation
1Tallinn452,563
2Tartu96,506
3Narva51,411
4Pärnu40,934
5Kohtla-Järve32,368
6Viljandi17,000
7Maardu16,812
8Rakvere15,345
9Kuressaare12,729
10Sillamäe11,942
11Võru11,813
12Valga11,732
13Keila10,986
14Jõhvi10,448
15Haapsalu9,338
16Paide7,873
17Saue6,146
18Elva5,560
19Tapa5,388
20Põlva5,292
21Rapla5,209
22Türi5,022
23Jõgeva4,934
24Kiviõli4,645
25Paldiski3,975
26Põltsamaa3,966
27Sindi3,749
28Kohila3,295(2021 census)
29Kunda2,975
30Paikuse2,917(2021 census)
31Kärdla2,871
32Kehra2,755
33Märjamaa2,617(2021 census)
34Narva-Jõesuu2,611
35Tõrva2,549
36Loksa2,459
37Tamsalu2,287
38Vändra2,148(2021 census)
39Otepää2,052
40Räpina2,002
41Kiili1,841(2021 census)
42Kilingi-Nõmme1,567
43Karksi-Nuia1,404
44Võhma1,219
45Lihula1,205
46Järvakandi1,201(2021 census)
47Antsla1,201
48Pärnu-Jaagupi1,140(2021 census)
49Mustvee1,101
50Suure-Jaani1,081
51Abja-Paluoja1,030
52Järva-Jaani983(2021 census)
53Kohtla-Nõmme886(2021 census)
54Püssi852
55Tootsi774(2021 census)
56Mõisaküla693
57Aegviidu674(2021 census)
58Kallaste628
59Lavassaare445(2021 census)

Source: Statistical Office of Estonia (2026 estimate), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff.

Why don't these match official city populations?Official figures typically count only the population within administrative boundaries. UN urban area figures cover the entire built-up area, which can include multiple cities and towns.

Tokyo

33,338,852

Urban area

9,953,160

23 wards

Essen

2,709,375

Urban area

573,618

City of Essen

Ankara

3,630,865

Urban area

5,186,002

Metropolitan municipality

What counts as an urban area? The UN uses satellite imagery to map built-up land, and treats each continuous stretch of built-up land as an urban area. This means that urban areas can extend beyond official city boundaries, and may include multiple cities and towns within a single urban area.

Can an urban area be smaller than its city? Yes. While most cities have urban areas larger than their administrative boundaries, some cities have extensive administrative limits that include sparsely populated areas.

2 urban areas in Estonia with 50,000 or more inhabitants, ranked by the UN's population estimates for 2026.

RankUrban AreaPopulation Estimate (2026)Yearly ChangeLand Area (km²)Density (P/km²)World RankProjections (2030)Projections (2050)
1Tallinn437,017−0.57%1193,6851,291426,981412,430
2Tartu81,728−0.48%243,4057,73180,14874,410

Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025). World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision, Online Edition.

See also