Overview of the municipalities of Estonia
Municipalities of Estonia
A
municipality (
Estonian : omavalitsus , plural omavalitsused ) is the smallest administrative subdivision of
Estonia . Each municipality is a unit of self-government with its representative and executive bodies. The municipalities in Estonia cover the entire territory of the country.
Municipalities in Estonia are of two types:
Urban municipalities or towns (linnad , singular linn )
Rural municipalities or
parishes (vallad , singular vald ).
There is no other status distinction between them.
Municipalities may contain one or several
settlements . All but 5 urban municipalities (
Haapsalu ,
Narva-Jõesuu ,
Paide ,
Pärnu and
Tartu ) plus 1 rural municipality (
Ruhnu ) contain only one settlement. As of 2017, there are no longer any "borough-parishes", i.e. rural municipalities with only one borough-type settlement. Ruhnu Parish contains only one village and is therefore a "village-parish".
Some municipalities are divided into districts. The 8 urban districts (linnaosad , singular linnaosa ) of Tallinn have limited self-government, while other urban districts are formed for administrative purposes. Some rural districts (osavallad ) have limited self-government, while other types of rural districts do not.
Municipalities range in population from
Tallinn with 427,500 inhabitants to
Ruhnu with 68.
[1] Previously, as over two-thirds of the municipalities had a population of under 3,000, many of them found it advantageous to co-operate in providing services and carrying out administrative functions.
After the
administrative reform was completed in October 2017, there are total of 79 municipalities, 15 of which are urban and 64 rural. 51 of the present municipalities were the result of mergers, 28 remain unchanged. After the reform small municipalities with under 5,000 inhabitants have been reduced from a number of 169 to 15. The number of councillors was reduced from 2,026 to 1,019. In 2022, 36 municipalities (45.56%) had falling population numbers. The municipalities are:
List
Name
Capital
Area (km2 )
Population
Type
County
Flag
Coat of
Arms
Map
Alutaguse
Iisaku
1,439.61
4,176
Rural
Ida-Viru County
Anija
Kehra
520.94
6,456
Rural
Harju County
Antsla
Antsla
411
4,200
Rural
Võru County
Elva
Elva
732
14,863
Rural
Tartu County
Häädemeeste
Häädemeeste
494
4,677
Rural
Pärnu County
Haapsalu
Haapsalu
272
13,435
Urban
Lääne County
Haljala
Haljala
183.02
4,072
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Harku
Tabasalu
159.77
17,294
Rural
Harju County
Hiiumaa
Kärdla
1,023
8,474
Rural
Hiiu County
Järva
Järva-Jaani
1,223
8,725
Rural
Järva County
Jõelähtme
Jõelähtme
210.86
7,305
Rural
Harju County
Jõgeva
Jõgeva
458
13,122
Rural
Jõgeva County
Jõhvi
Jõhvi
124
12,351
Rural
Ida-Viru County
Kadrina
Kadrina
329.36
4,799
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Kambja
Ülenurme
275
13,705
Rural
Tartu County
Kanepi
Kanepi
524.68
4,453
Rural
Põlva County
Kastre
Kastre
493
5,718
Rural
Tartu County
Kehtna
Kehtna
512
5,454
Rural
Rapla County
Keila
Keila
11.25
10,905
Urban
Harju County
Kihnu
Sääre
16.88
529
Rural
Pärnu County
Kiili
Kiili
100.4
6,391
Rural
Harju County
Kohila
Kohila
230.2
7,726
Rural
Rapla County
Kohtla-Järve
Kohtla-Järve
68.77
33,675
Urban
Ida-Viru County
Kose
Kose
532.85
7,754
Rural
Harju County
Kuusalu
Kiiu
707.97
6,380
Rural
Harju County
Lääne-Harju
Paldiski
645.71
13,462
Rural
Harju County
Lääne-Nigula
Taebla
1,449
6,961
Rural
Lääne County
Lääneranna
Lihula
1,352
5,092
Rural
Pärnu County
Loksa
Loksa
3.81
2,603
Urban
Harju County
Lüganuse
Lüganuse
599
8,250
Rural
Ida-Viru County
Luunja
Luunja
134
5,612
Rural
Tartu County
Maardu
Maardu
22.76
16,750
Urban
Harju County
Märjamaa
Märjamaa
1,164
7,405
Rural
Rapla County
Muhu
Liiva
208
1,640
Rural
Saare County
Mulgi
Abja-Paluoja
881
7,086
Rural
Viljandi County
Mustvee
Mustvee
615
4,952
Rural
Jõgeva County
Narva
Narva
84.54
53,875
Urban
Ida-Viru County
Narva-Jõesuu
Narva-Jõesuu
405
4,269
Urban
Ida-Viru County
Nõo
Nõo
170
4,289
Rural
Tartu County
Otepää
Otepää
520
6,388
Rural
Valga County
Paide
Paide
443
10,664
Urban
Järva County
Pärnu
Pärnu
858
52,362
Urban
Pärnu County
Peipsiääre
Kolkja
652
5,059
Rural
Tartu County
Põhja-Pärnumaa
Pärnu-Jaagupi and
Vändra
1,013
8,088
Rural
Pärnu County
Põhja-Sakala
Suure-Jaani
1,153
7,748
Rural
Viljandi County
Põltsamaa
Põltsamaa
889.56
9,665
Rural
Jõgeva County
Põlva
Põlva
706
13,534
Rural
Põlva County
Raasiku
Aruküla
158.86
5,284
Rural
Harju County
Rae
Jüri
206.7
24,276
Rural
Harju County
Rakvere (parish)
Rakvere
295
5,859
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Rakvere (town)
Rakvere
10.64
15,614
Urban
Lääne-Viru County
Räpina
Räpina
265.93
6,049
Rural
Põlva County
Rapla
Rapla
859
13,453
Rural
Rapla County
Rõuge
Rõuge
933
4,865
Rural
Võru County
Ruhnu
Ruhnu
11.9
88
Rural
Saare County
Saarde
Kilingi-Nõmme
706.9
4,393
Rural
Pärnu County
Saaremaa
Kuressaare
2,705
30,191
Rural
Saare County
Saku
Saku
171.13
11,510
Rural
Harju County
Saue
Laagri
628
25,370
Rural
Harju County
Setomaa
Värska
463.18
2,823
Rural
Võru County
Sillamäe
Sillamäe
10.54
12,452
Urban
Ida-Viru County
Tallinn
Tallinn
159.2
453,864
Urban
Harju County
Tapa
Tapa
480
11,082
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Tartu (parish)
Kõrveküla
742
12,420
Rural
Tartu County
Tartu (city)
Tartu
154
100,724
Urban
Tartu County
Toila
Toila
266
4,310
Rural
Ida-Viru County
Tori
Sindi
611
12,203
Rural
Pärnu County
Tõrva
Tõrva
647
5,862
Rural
Valga County
Türi
Türi
1,008
10,683
Rural
Järva County
Väike-Maarja
Väike-Maarja
457.39
5,653
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Valga
Valga
750
15,864
Rural
Valga County
Viimsi
Viimsi
72.84
22,472
Rural
Harju County
Viljandi (parish)
Viljandi
651
13,450
Rural
Viljandi County
Viljandi (town)
Viljandi
14.62
17,353
Urban
Viljandi County
Vinni
Pajusti
486.65
6,716
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Viru-Nigula
Viru-Nigula
312
5,813
Rural
Lääne-Viru County
Vormsi
Hullo
92.93
292
Rural
Lääne County
Võru (parish)
Võru
952
10,374
Rural
Võru County
Võru (town)
Võru
13.24
12,055
Urban
Võru County
Gallery of Maps
Municipalities of Harju County
Hiiumaa Parish, the only municipality of Hiiu County
Municipalities of Ida-Viru County
Municipalities of Järva County
Municipalities of Jõgeva County
Municipalities of Lääne County
Municipalities of Lääne-Viru County
Municipalities of Pärnu County
Municipalities of Põlva County
Municipalities of Rapla County
Municipalities of Saare County
Municipalities of Tartu County
Municipalities of Valga County
Municipalities of Viljandi County
Municipalities of Võru County
Structure of local authorities
In each municipality there is a
local government as well as a
council .
The council (volikogu ) is a representative body elected by the residents of a municipality for a term of three years. The members of the council elect a chairman (volikogu esimees ), who organises the council's work and represents the municipality.
The government (valitsus ) is an executive body formed by the council. It is headed by a mayor (linnapea in towns, vallavanem in parishes), who is appointed for a four-year term. The mayor cannot be the chairman of the council. Other members of the government are chosen by the mayor with the approval of the council.
Former municipalities
The list of municipalities that have merged or lost existence between 1995 and 2017.
1996
1998
1999
2002
2005
2009
2013
2014
2017
Aegviidu borough was merged into
Anija Parish
Keila Parish ,
Padise Parish ,
Vasalemma Parish and
Paldiski town formed
Lääne-Harju Parish
Saue town, Saue Parish,
Kernu Parish and
Nissi Parish formed
Saue Parish
Hiiu Parish ,
Emmaste Parish ,
Käina Parish and
Pühalepa Parish formed
Hiiumaa Parish
Kiviõli town, Lüganuse Parish and
Sonda Parish formed
Lüganuse Parish
Alajõe Parish ,
Iisaku Parish ,
Illuka Parish ,
Mäetaguse Parish and
Tudulinna Parish formed
Alutaguse Parish
Toila Parish,
Kohtla Parish and
Kohtla-Nõmme borough formed
Toila Parish
Narva-Jõesuu town and
Vaivara Parish formed
Narva-Jõesuu (urban municipality)
Albu Parish ,
Ambla Parish ,
Imavere Parish ,
Järva-Jaani ,
Kareda Parish ,
Koeru Parish and
Koigi Parish formed Järva Parish
Türi Parish,
Väätsa Parish and
Käru Parish formed
Türi Parish
Paide town,
Paide Parish and
Roosna-Alliku Parish formed
Paide (urban municipality)
Jõgeva town, Jõgeva Parish,
Palamuse Parish , most of
Torma Parish and some parts of
Puurmani Parish formed
Jõgeva Parish
Põltsamaa town, Põltsamaa Parish,
Pajusi Parish and most of
Puurmani Parish formed
Põltsamaa Parish
Mustvee town,
Kasepää Parish ,
Saare Parish ,
Lohusuu Parish ,
Avinurme Parish and some parts of
Torma Parish formed
Mustvee Parish
Haapsalu town and
Ridala Parish formed
Haapsalu (urban municipality)
Lääne-Nigula Parish,
Martna Parish ,
Kullamaa Parish ,
Nõva Parish and
Noarootsi Parish formed
Lääne-Nigula Parish
Viru-Nigula Parish,
Aseri Parish and
Kunda town formed
Viru-Nigula Parish
Haljala Parish and
Vihula Parish formed
Haljala Parish
Rakvere Parish and
Sõmeru Parish formed
Rakvere Parish
Tapa Parish and
Tamsalu Parish formed
Tapa Parish
Väike-Maarja Parish and
Rakke Parish formed
Väike-Maarja Parish
Vinni Parish,
Laekvere Parish and
Rägavere Parish formed
Vinni Parish
Pärnu town,
Audru Parish ,
Tõstamaa Parish and
Paikuse Parish formed
Pärnu (urban municipality)
Lihula Parish ,
Hanila Parish ,
Koonga Parish and
Varbla Parish formed
Lääneranna Parish
Halinga Parish ,
Vändra Parish ,
Vändra borough and
Tootsi borough formed
Põhja-Pärnumaa Parish
Tori Parish,
Are Parish ,
Sauga Parish and
Sindi town formed
Tori Parish
Häädemeeste Parish and
Tahkuranna Parish formed
Häädemeeste Parish
Saarde Parish and
Surju Parish formed
Saarde Parish
Põlva Parish,
Laheda Parish ,
Ahja Parish ,
Mooste Parish and
Vastse-Kuuste Parish formed
Põlva Parish
Kanepi Parish,
Valgjärve Parish and
Kõlleste Parish formed
Kanepi Parish
Räpina Parish,
Veriora Parish and
Meeksi Parish formed
Räpina Parish ˇ
Rapla Parish,
Juuru Parish ,
Kaiu Parish and most of
Raikküla Parish formed
Rapla Parish
Märjamaa Parish,
Vigala Parish and some parts of
Raikküla Parish formed
Märjamaa Parish
Kehtna Parish and
Järvakandi borough formed
Kehtna Parish
Kuressaare town,
Lääne-Saare Parish ,
Salme Parish ,
Torgu Parish ,
Kihelkonna Parish ,
Mustjala Parish ,
Leisi Parish ,
Pihtla Parish ,
Valjala Parish ,
Orissaare Parish ,
Pöide Parish and
Laimjala Parish formed
Saaremaa Parish
Tartu town and
Tähtvere Parish formed
Tartu (urban municipality)
Elva town,
Konguta Parish ,
Rannu Parish ,
Rõngu Parish ,
Puhja Parish and parts of
Puka Parish and
Palupera Parish formed
Elva Parish
Tartu Parish,
Laeva Parish ,
Piirissaare Parish and
Tabivere Parish formed
Tartu Parish
Kallaste town, Peipsiääre Parish,
Alatskivi Parish ,
Vara Parish and
Pala Parish formed Peipsiääre Parish
Kambja Parish and
Ülenurme Parish formed
Kambja Parish
Haaslava Parish ,
Mäksa Parish and
Võnnu Parish formed
Kastre Parish
Valga town,
Karula Parish ,
Taheva Parish ,
Tõlliste Parish and
Õru Parish formed
Valga Parish
Otepää Parish,
Sangaste Parish and parts of
Puka Parish and
Palupera Parish formed
Otepää Parish
Tõrva town,
Helme Parish ,
Hummuli Parish and
Põdrala Parish formed
Tõrva Parish
Viljandi Parish,
Tarvastu Parish and
Kolga-Jaani Parish formed
Viljandi Parish
Suure-Jaani Parish ,
Kõpu Parish ,
Kõo Parish and
Võhma town formed
Põhja-Sakala Parish
Abja Parish ,
Karksi Parish ,
Halliste Parish and
Mõisaküla town formed
Mulgi Parish
Võru Parish,
Lasva Parish ,
Sõmerpalu Parish ,
Vastseliina Parish and
Orava Parish formed
Võru Parish
Antsla Parish and
Urvaste Parish formed
Antsla Parish
Rõuge Parish,
Haanja Parish ,
Varstu Parish ,
Mõniste Parish and most of
Misso Parish formed
Rõuge Parish
Meremäe Parish ,
Värska Parish ,
Mikitamäe Parish and some parts of
Misso Parish formed
Setomaa Parish
Former municipalities (before 1990)
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adding to it .
(May 2020 )
Vaoküla Parish (existed 1939–1950)
See also
References
External links