Estonia's life expectancy has risen to 79.5 years

New data from Statistics Estonia has revealed that Estonia's average life expectancy has risen to 79.5 years. Officially, according to gender, that is 83.4 for women and 71.5 for men. Estonian men on average live disability-free for 56.8 years and women for 60.6 years. Women in Estonia typically live 8.3 years longer than men.

The data also reveals that educated people tend to live longer in Estonia. Higher education influences Estonians standard of living, which, then, has a significant impact on health and life expectancy. More information can be found here.

New exhibition showcases life in Tallinn during the 1920s

The People's Museum of Tallinn has opened a new exhibition called "Stories of a Young Capital: The Passionate Twenties," that explores the stories behind the formation of a young Estonian Republic, its people and its capital city. 

In the 1920s, peace returned to Estonia following two wars, the collapse of the Russian Empire and the gaining of independence. Estonia experienced the start of a new era; it was a time of great change, innovation and Tallinn at that time was a city of sharp contrasts and high hopes.

Everyday life in the Estonian capital in the 1920s is brought to life in the exhibition through the stories of a dozen different characters, all of whom meet in the heart of the young capital.

Curated by Maaja Gundjajeva and Denis Jatsenko, "Stories of a Young Capital: The Passionate Twenties" will remain open at the People's Museum of Tallinn through to the end of 2026.

Third Estonian woman conquers Mt. Everest

On 19 May 2025, Triin Seli from Tartu became the third Estonian woman to conquer the peak of the world's highest mountain. This is a fantastic achievement, one that requires true courage, determination and endurance.  In total, nine Estonians have reached the summit, including Triin Seli's father Andras Kaasik, who climbed Mt. Everest in 2011. Congratulations!

Tommy Cash has the most streamed Eurovision song on Spotify

 The true Eurovision winner! Estonia is so proud!

Photo flashback: Tartu's Old Stone Bridge

The Stone Bridge that once stood over the Emajõgi river in Tartu was a significant part of Tartu's architectural landscape and stood for 157 years. The bridge was designed by J Carl Siegfrieden and built under the leadership of construction engineer Johann Zaklowsky. Building work took place between 1779–1784 and the bridge was officially opened to traffic on 16 September 1784.

Sadly, the Stone Bridge did not survive World War Two. The eastern side of the bridge was destroyed by retreating Soviet troops on the morning of 9 July 1941, while the surviving western bridge arch was destroyed by retreating German troops in 1944. 

Stay safe and protect yourself from ticks

They may be tiny creatures but ticks can seriously impact on your health when left undetected. Ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis that can affect the nervous system, heart, joints, and even cause cognitive problems. Ticks are most active from spring to autumn and here is what you can do to protect yourself.

Wear long sleeves and pants when in nature (ideally white)

Use tick repellents

Always check your skin after a hike

Ask your doctor about the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine

 

Stay safe and be tick-aware so you can enjoy Estonia’s beautiful nature with peace of mind.

 

A crash course in the masterpiece "He flies to the beehive" by Juhan Liiv

Today in history: The Estonian Open Air Museum was founded

On the 22nd of May 1957 the Estonian Open Air Museum was founded in Rocca al Mares near Tallinn. The plot of land the museum was granted along the coast of Kopli Bay was orginally 66 hectares in size and has since been expanded to 72.22 ha. The Estonian Open Air Museum is a place of great cultural significance, showcasing authentic Estonian buildings from different periods and regions. The large forested area of the museum allows visitors to explore at their leisure and catch a vivid glimpse of Estonia's yesteryears. More information about this wonderful museum can be found here.

How difficult is it to learn Estonian?

Estonian is generally considered a difficult language to learn, especially for native English speakers. Its complex grammar, particularly the 14 grammatical cases, and its non-Indo-European origins contribute to this difficulty. It typically takes 1,000 to 2,000 hours of study to go from complete beginner to fluent in a foreign language. But in regards to Estonian, it may take longer.

Tommy Cash clinches 3rd place at Eurovision final

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is over for another year, and like always the show was entertaining, suspenseful and full of surprises. Some countries ranked higher in the voting than expected, whilst others were left disappointed. Tommy Cash gave an excellent performance with his song "Espresso Macchiato"and it was a clear favourite with the public vote. Cash actually received more points in the televote than the Austrian winner JJ. Israel came second place in the competition, narrowly beating Tommy Cash by just one point.

One of the highlights of this year's show was undoubtedly the peformance by Baby Lasagna and Käärijä. The audience loved it! 

Tommy Cash achieved Estonia’s second best ever result at the Eurovision Song Contest. Well done!

Tommy Cash has made Estonia so proud winning third place at Eurovision.

How single mothers in 19th century Estonia were shamed and silenced

In 19th century Estonia, unwed mothers faced public shame, harsh judgment and exclusion. Their children were called "born of shame." A new study by Andreas Kalkun and Kersti Lust reveals the silenced truths found in Estonian folklore and court records. 

How truly bitter was life for single mothers in the past? You can read the research paper here.

Today is Tallinn Day!

On this day, 777 years ago, the city of Tallinn was granted Lübeck Rights. This recognition marked Tallinn's acceptance into the Union of European Cities in 1248. To mark this anniversary, two major concerts will take place across the city. More information can be found here.

Tommy Cash makes it through to Eurovision final

The first semi-final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest took place in Basel last night. There were a few standout performances, namely San Marino and Sweden. Swedish band KAJ always gives an excellent perfornance and it wouldn't be surprising if they win the competition. Estonia's Tommy Cash made it through to the finals despite his performance not matching up to his Eesti Laul win. At Eurovision, Cash's "Espresso Macchiato" seemed rushed at times with weaker vocals. I would love to see Estonia win Eurovision this year but unless Tommy Cash can charm us the way he did at Eesti Laul, I fear it might not happen. We might yet again see another Swedish win.

Photo flashback: Tallinn 1928

Happy Mother's Day!

Today millions of women around the world are celebrating Mother's Day. It's a day we show our love and appreciation for all the wonderful things our mothers have done for us. Sadly, I lost my mother five years ago, so Mother's Day is not quite the same for me, but I am thinking of her. My mother always loved to wear colourful scarves and sing around the house. Such precious memories! Head emadepäeva ema!

The below map show the different words Europeans have for the word 'mother.' Of course 'ema' is the best! So unlike anyone else!

Happy Europe Day! Head Euroopa päeva!

On this day in 1950, the Schuman Declaration laid the foundation for a united Europe built on shared values and collaboration. Today we celebrate freedom in Europe and also think of those who are still fighting for it. 75 years ago European integration began and today Europe is stronger together now than ever before.

Not everyone celebrates May 8th as the end of WWII in Europe

Today marks 80 years since World War Two ended in Europe. While most Europeans mark this day as a day of celebration, it is not the case for Estonia. May 1945 did not bring liberation for Estonia, instead it marked the beginning of a long and painful Soviet occupation that lasted fifty-one years. During this time, Estonians were deported to Siberia and human rights, language, culture, economy and freedom of speech were all brutally violated. The Soviet Union was not a liberator; it was an occupier.

In Estonia, World War II officially ended with the restoration of independence in 1991 and the final withdrawal of Russian troops in 1994.

Can Tommy Cash win Eurovision for Estonia?

Rehearsals are currently underway for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest that is set to take place in Basel, Switzerland next week. Estonia's entry 'Espresso Macchiato' by Tommy Cash has grown in popularity in recent months and is a clear standout. This highly amusing song takes all the best-loved clichés of Italian culture and compacts them into a catchy three minute tune.

Tommy Cash's 'Espresso Macchiato' will be the fourth song on stage during the first semi-final scheduled to take place on May 13.  No doubt we will see him perform again at the grand final on Saturday night and hopefully win the competition. The first and only time Estonia has won the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2001 with Tanel Padar's and Dave Benton's hit song 'Everybody',

 

Estonia will have their first ever curling team at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Estonian curling duo Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill have secured a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics Games due to take place in Italy next February. This is the first time an Estonian team has qualified for the curling event. The duo have also earned themselves a playoff spot in the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships that will take place in Canada later this month.

Estonia ranks 2nd in World Press Freedom Index

Estonia has achieved it's highest ever ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index that was recently published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). With a score of 89.46, Estonia is second behind world leader Norway. Estonia's relatively low levels of political and commercial interference, digital innovation and public trust has enabled the country to steadily climb the rankings.This is a fantastic result for Estonia who continues to go from strength to strength in so many important areas of society. Further reading can be found here.

Estonia celebrates 21 years since its accession to the European Union

Today, 21 years ago, Estonia became a member of the European Union.  This historic event changed the lives of all Estonians, giving us security and economic freedom to travel, study and work across the EU.  Since joining the European Union, Estonia has proven to be a reliable partner, sharing core EU principles and has a say in the big decisions that affect Estonia, Europe and the world.

Estonia's success within the EU is multifaceted; encompassing rapid economic growth, successful adoption of the euro, and integration into the Schengen area. These achievements are rooted in Estonia's strong commitment to a free market economy, efficient bureaucracy, and embrace of digitalisation.