OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Estonia de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ESTONIA © OECD 2026

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) A person experiencing homelessness is a person, who has no legal relationship (ownership, lease agreement, permanent accommodation agreement) to any buildings, rooms or parts thereof that would qualify as housing and who has no source of income necessary for acquiring a place to live and no social skills to change his or her status in the given circumstances. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 1 068 individuals, representing 0.08% of the total population (2021) 27% are women, 73% are men Point-in-Time count, based on Population and Housing Census 2021 ETHOS Light groups included Included: • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Not included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Estonia.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • Estonia does not have a national homelessness strategy Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Population and Housing Census: Questionnaire which includes a question on dwelling type and homelessness

There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Estonia.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • Estonia does not have a national homelessness strategy Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Population and Housing Census: Questionnaire which includes a question on dwelling type and homelessness (Table 6.1). • Social Welfare Statistics: Local municipalities and homeless services provide data through an online portal (Table 6.2).

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Estonia2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ESTONIA © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness For statistical purposes, a person experiencing homelessness is a person, who has no legal relationship (ownership, lease agreement, permanent accommodation agreement) to any buildings, rooms or parts thereof that would qualify as housing and who has no source of income necessary for acquiring a place to live and no social skills to change his or her status in the given circumstances. Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People living rough ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2011 864 0.07% NA NA NA NA NA NA 2021 1 068 0.08% Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified(a) Included in headline estimate but not specified(b)

family/friends 2011 864 0.07% NA NA NA NA NA NA 2021 1 068 0.08% Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified(a) Included in headline estimate but not specified(b) Included in headline estimate but not specified Not included Included in headline estimate but not specified Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: Yes

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: (a) The yearly social welfare statistics include an enumeration of 1 673 people in emergency accommodation. However, these data are a flow count and cannot be compared with the headline estimate; therefore, they are not reported in this table. (b) The yearly social welfare statistics also enumerate 10 807 people who were provided accommodation by local authorities under the Provis ion of Dwelling service ( eluruumi tagamise teenus) at the end of 2021; they are not reported in this table.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Statistics Estonia (2023), Census 2021.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2021 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness 1 068 775 293 53 181 0 As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness 100% 72.60% 27.40% 5.00% 17.00% 0% ETHOS Light 1: People living rough Not included NA NA NA NA NA

As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness 100% 72.60% 27.40% 5.00% 17.00% 0% ETHOS Light 1: People living rough Not included NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation Included in headline estimate but not specified (a) NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless Included in headline estimate but not specified (b)

NA NA NA NA NA 3

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ESTONIA © OECD 2026

ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions Included in headline estimate but not specified NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings Not included NA NA NA NA NA ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends Included in headline estimate but not specified

NA NA NA NA NA Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Statistics Estonia, 2021.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness None. Legal obligations There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness. However, homeless shelters and local municipalities have to report to the state on the number of people that received services for shelter and accommodation. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place

homelessness None. Legal obligations There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness. However, homeless shelters and local municipalities have to report to the state on the number of people that received services for shelter and accommodation. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy None. Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist None. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Population and Housing Census Description The population of Estonia must fill out the census, which includes a question on type of dwelling that includes homeless/roofless as an answer. The census is to be completed online. If it is not submitted online, census staff collect the information through phone and face-to-face interviews.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods Population Census Lead authority(ies) Statistics Estonia Source(s) of information General population Scope National level Depth of data Key demographic characteristics Frequency Every 10 years4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ESTONIA © OECD 2026

ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources Home | Statistikaamet (rahvaloendus.ee)

6.2. Social Welfare Statistics Description Local municipalities and homeless shelter service providers provide data o n the number (age and gender) of homeless people that h ave received shelter

Notes and sources Home | Statistikaamet (rahvaloendus.ee)

6.2. Social Welfare Statistics Description Local municipalities and homeless shelter service providers provide data o n the number (age and gender) of homeless people that h ave received shelter and accommodation services once a year online. The social insurance board at the Ministry of Social Affairs then approve the reports of the services before making them publicly available.

Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Service-based method Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Social Affairs Source(s) of information Shelter services provide information directly through the online portal. Scope National level Depth of data Data disaggregated by age and gender Frequency Annual ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges)

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources https://hveeb.sm.ee/ https://sveeb.sm.ee/

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html. 5

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: ESTONIA © OECD 2026

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This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretar y-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. This document, as well as any data and map included here in, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

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