Tartu: population and official figures

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Tartu: The economy of the city of Tartu generated GDP of €3.5 billion in 2024, a 8.8% share of the national total.
• Education in Tartu: Education took €1,480 per resident from local budgets in the city of Tartu in 2024, higher than in Tallinn.
• Poverty and living standards in Tartu: Local social protection spending in the city of Tartu was €261 per resident in 2024, lower than in Tallinn; it made up 9.3% of local budgets.
• Government budget and revenue in Tartu: Tartu city government took in €259.16 million of operating revenue in 2025. Per resident, 2024 revenue was €2,472, higher than in Tallinn.
• Government and politics in Tartu: Tartu is governed by a city council of 49 members, elected on 19 October 2025; the council chooses the mayor and the city government.

Who runs Tartu?

In Estonia, cities and towns are run by municipalities – linnad: Council (volikogu) directly elected every four years (last in October 2025); council elects the mayor (linnapea/vallavanem). Schools, kindergartens, social care, local roads, planning, culture.

How local power works in Estonia

Cities of a similar size in Estonia

• Tallinn 453,864

Up a level: all cities in Estonia · Estonia · government and power

Sources

• Statistics Estonia: Average monthly gross wages (salaries), median and number of employees by administrative unit, table PA107, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bb50f2217e74…)
• State Electoral Office of Estonia (Riigi Valimisteenistus): Municipal council elections 19 October 2025: election results by administrative unit (RESULTS.xml), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 164ef897d42d…)
• Statistics Estonia: Local budgets operating expenditures and investment activities expenses by function and region/administrative unit, table RR302, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1a5fcdf926c0…)
• State Electoral Office of Estonia (Riigi Valimisteenistus): Municipal council elections 19 October 2025: voter participation by county and municipality (POSTELECTION_PARTICIPATION_INFO.xml), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1b17199acf16…)
• Statistics Estonia: Gross domestic product by county (ESA 2010), table RAA0050 (POST query, JSON-stat 2), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ef234706a21c…)
• Statistics Estonia: Local budgets operating revenue, expenditures and outcome by region/administrative unit, table RR300, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9727f300e9b0…)

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