According to the results of the 2021 register-based population and housing census, there are 341,995 families living in Estonia, 49 percent, of which consist of two members. There are fewer families living in Estonia now, than recorded in the previous census, however the average family size has grown. 154,625 families (or 45 percent) of families in Estonia contain children under the age of 18, and 16 percent of the population lives alone.
By the end of the heating season that concluded this spring, local governments across Estonia had made 119,000 decisions approving paying out a total of €14.7 million in support for electricity, natural gas and district heating bills for families earning up to the median wage.
As the start of the new school year approaches, dozens of schools across Estonia are still looking for more teachers. The Estonian Educational Personnel Union (EHL) estimates that the country's school system is currently short some 1,000 properly qualified teachers, and the shortage is worsening by the year.
Starting this fall, several universities in Estonia will be offering new degree programs ranging from Contemporary Economics to Clinical Pharmacy. Due to lack of sufficient funding, however, universities will be cutting a total of seven programs, reducing the number of elective courses as well as introducing new continuing education microdegree programs.