Friday 28 January 2022

Twenty years ago, the first Estonian ID card was issued

Today is the 20th birthday of the Estonian ID-card. ID-cards were ceremonially presented on 28 January 2002 and the first person to receive the ID-document was former Estonian President Arnold Rüütel.


The Estonian ID card is an identity document that enables users to verify their identity online and give their digital signature. The card offers many benefits, users can pay bills, vote online, sign contracts, shop, access their health information, banking and much more.

ID card and electronic ID in numbers:

4.06 million ID cards issued (incl. ID cards of 57,900 EU citizens and 350,000 foreigners)

1.49 million ID cards in use

12.5 million ID card transactions per month

3 million digital signatures per month

200,000 active ID card users (electronically)

54.7% of voters vote electronically (ID card v mobile ID)

251,000 mobile ID users

615,000 Smart-ID users