Viljandi: population and official figures

Viljandi is a first-level division of Estonia, number 6 of 15 by population. Viljandi County had an average population of 45,355 in 2024, 3.3% of Estonia's residents; that is 4.0% fewer than in 2014.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Viljandi: GDP in Viljandi County reached €883.06 million in 2024 at current prices, or 2.2% of the Estonian economy.
• Education in Viljandi: Spending on kindergartens, schools and other education by local governments in Viljandi County came to €1,200 per resident in 2024, 7th highest of 15 counties.
• Poverty and living standards in Viljandi: Local social protection spending in Viljandi County was €317 per resident in 2024, 5th highest of 15 counties; it made up 13.8% of local budgets.
• Government budget and revenue in Viljandi: In 2025 the municipalities of Viljandi County collected €103.50 million in operating revenue; the 2024 figure of €2,195 per resident was 5th highest of 15 counties.
• Government and politics in Viljandi: 4 local councils with 94 seats in total were elected across Viljandi County on 19 October 2025.

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
• Tartu 164,555
• Ida-Viru 131,222
• Pärnu 87,818
• Laane-Viru 59,301
• 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.