Rahvastikuregistri

Rahvastikuregistri, or Population Register, is Estonia’s state register that contains information about residents and other persons assigned an Estonian personal identification code. It functions as the authoritative source of demographic data used by public authorities to identify individuals and to plan and deliver public services.

The register stores personal data such as the individual’s identification code, full name, date and place of birth, sex, citizenship, marital status, and information about family relationships. It also includes current and past addresses and changes to civil status (for example births, marriages, divorces, deaths) as well as other status and residence data necessary for administration. Data are collected from civil-status records, population events, and related registers, and are kept up to date through ongoing data exchange between authorities.

Rahvastikuregistri serves a wide range of public sector purposes. It is used by government bodies to issue official documents, determine eligibility for services, and administer social security, health care, education, and taxation. The register also supports electoral administration and is integrated into Estonia’s digital government infrastructure, with data shared between public authorities via the X-Road system to enable e-services and digital identity solutions.

Access to the data is strictly regulated. Public authorities with a statutory basis may query the register, while individuals have the right to view and correct information relating to themselves. Data processing is governed by national law and privacy rules aligned with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. The Population Register operates under a specific legal framework (Population Register Act) and is an essential component of Estonia’s e-government and modern public administration.