Tartu: population and official figures

Tartu is a first-level division of Estonia, number 2 of 15 by population. Tartu County had an average population of 164,555 in 2024, 12.0% of Estonia's residents; that is 8.4% more than in 2014.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Tartu: The economy of Tartu County generated GDP of €4.7 billion in 2024, a 11.8% share of the national total.
• Education in Tartu: Education took €1,543 per resident from local budgets in Tartu County in 2024, the highest of 15 counties.
• Poverty and living standards in Tartu: Local social protection spending in Tartu County was €234 per resident in 2024, 2nd lowest of 15 counties; it made up 8.7% of local budgets.
• Government budget and revenue in Tartu: The municipalities of Tartu County took in €412.80 million of operating revenue in 2025. Per resident, 2024 revenue was €2,395, 2nd highest of 15 counties.
• Government and politics in Tartu: The municipal elections of 19 October 2025 filled 190 council seats in the 8 municipalities of Tartu County.

How first-level divisions are governed in Estonia

Counties – maakonnad (15). No government since 2018. Used for statistics and for joint planning by municipalities.

Every tier of government in Estonia

Other first-level divisions of Estonia

• Harju 646,670
• Ida-Viru 131,222
• Pärnu 87,818
• Laane-Viru 59,301
• Viljandi 45,355
• Rapla 34,119
• Voru 33,889
• Saare 31,912
• Jarva 29,950
• Valga 27,742
• Jogeva 27,213
• Polva 23,723
• Laane 20,491
• Hiiu 8,381

Up a level: Estonia · government and power in Estonia

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…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.