In this page:

• Why was the practice needed?
• How was it implemented?
• Outputs
• Key success factors
• Technical information
• Contacts

Why was the practice needed?

In 2000, the government decided to launch the first integration monitoring in Estonia. This was due to growing national and international demand to research and analyse integration processes in Estonia. The aim was to follow, for at least three years, the most important shifts in the relationship between Estonians and non-Estonians in line with the goals in the national ’Integration in Estonian Society 2000-2007’ strategy.

The task was delegated to the Office of the Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs until it closed in 2007, and then to the Ministry of Culture.

The key objective of the survey is to monitor and understand the integration processes of immigrants and ethnic minorities. The survey measures indicators that shed light on the integration of ethnic minorities. This includes: political self-identification and participation; Estonian national identity – the association Estonians or people of non-Estonian origin feel towards the Estonian nation; education; employment; language proficiency; media consumption; equal treatment and the perception of equal opportunities; and the integration of new immigrants.

Furthermore, the survey measures attitudes of Estonians, immigrants and ethnic minorities towards the integration indicators above. The survey has been carried out in 2000, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017; the next monitoring is set for 2020. All databases were provided to Statistics Estonia in December 2018 to ensure open access to data (development is in progress).

The Integration Monitoring of Estonia measures progress on indicators in the integration policy development plan, ‘Integrating Estonia 2020’ and its action plan (2014-2020). In these two documents, Estonia has set out how it plans to foster an integrated and coherent society, where people with different languages and cultural backgrounds actively take part in society and share democratic values. The monitoring has always been a compulsory part of the integration policy action plan.

How was it implemented?

The Ministry of Culture prepared the Integration Monitoring in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Affairs (for labour market issues), the Ministry of Education and Science (for education and language skills’ issues) and the Ministry of Interior (for new immigrants’ issues). Although the Ministry of Culture commissioned the monitoring, other ministries provided input.

The 2017 integration survey relied on two samples. The first sample had 1810 respondents aged 15 and older. It consisted of 1410 respondents, country-wide, who identified themselves as Estonian and a 400 respondent booster sample covering respondents who are Russians and Russian speaking. However, the random sample did not capture a representative number of non-Russian Russian speaking people (Ukrainians, Belarusians, etc.) The second sample had 2850 new immigrants (EU citizens, third country nationals) who are either English or Russian speaking and who have been living in Estonia for less than five years. Additionally, focus group interviews were carried out with 20 respondents (in Estonian, Russian and English).

The total sample of the integration monitoring was 4680.

Researchers used different data collection methods: quantitative, consisting of a public survey and a new immigrants’ web-based survey; qualitative, involving focus group interviews.

Depending on the main language of communication or mother tongue, the questionnaire was available in Estonian, Russian or English.

Outputs

• The survey report (2017), which is available on the Ministry of Culture’s Home Page in Estonian and English.
• Factsheets summarising key findings across the indicators of citizenship, political self-identification and political participation, Estonian national identity, education, employment, language proficiency and language-related attitudes, media use and information fields, perception of equal opportunities, and new immigrants. These factsheets have been widely used by the media.
• Explanatory videos (in Estonian) for the general public summarising the main findings, and explaining the reasons why this monitoring was needed.
• The monitoring was delivered to policymakers, state institutions, journalists, the NGO sector, and the wider public.
• The Integration Monitoring report (2015), which includes links to previous editions, is also available in English.

Key success factors

• The survey links previous monitoring studies with new ones to ensure methodological and theoretical continuity.
• The monitoring combines permanent sections, which do not change, with sections that are added according to the current needs and demands of policy making and the situation in society. Examples include the economic situation, language proficiency, perception of equal treatment, and others. For example, the 2011 and 2015 surveys covered the transition to Estonian as the language of instruction in upper secondary schools that were previously using Russian for this purpose.

Technical information

• Data sources covered: Household or individual surveys; Attitudinal surveys; Qualitative research – on language skills.
• Areas of life covered: Employment; Education; Others: citizenship, political self-identification and political participation; Estonian national identity; language proficiency; media consumption; equal treatment and the perception of equal opportunities; the integration of new immigrants..
• Target audience: Public administrations, equality bodies, civil society organisations, media, general population
• Duration: Since 2000 (around every three-four years)
• Geographical scope: National
• Leading institution: Ministry of Culture, Department of Cultural Diversity
• Other organisations involved/consulted: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Affairs
• Financial & human resources: Budget: For information contact min (at) kul (dot) ee; Source of the budget: State budget; Staff: Staff: 10-12 Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Contacts

The Ministry of Culture, Department of Cultural Diversity / Kultuuriministeerium, Kultuurilise Mitmekesisuse Osakond

Email: min (at) kul (dot) ee