LÄÄNE-EESTI - Population
Numbering 164 291 at 1st of January 2003, the population of LÄÄNE-EESTI is the second lowest among the regions of Estonia (after Kesk-Eesti) and represents 12% of Estonian population. There are also a number of islands in the region with very small populations. The largest city is Pärnu which ranks fifth among Estonian towns by population size.
At only 14.8 inhabitants per km2, LÄÄNE-EESTI is the most sparsely populated region. With the exception of Pärnu, the rural population in every county outnumbers the urban one. The share of rural population varies between counties, from 37.2% in Pärnu to 64% in Hiiu county.
With its high proportion of ethnic Estonians standing in 2002 at 90%, LÄÄNE-EESTI ranks first among Estonian regions. The share of ethnic Estonians varies from 98% in the counties of Hiiu and Saare to 87% in Pärnu county.
In 2003, about 32.5% of the population were under 25 years, whereas the percentage of those aged 65 years and over (16.7%) was higher than for Estonia as a whole (15.9%).
Since 1991, there has been a steady decrease in the population of LÄÄNE-EESTI. In 2003, there were 11% less inhabitants in the region. However, this decrease is the second lowest in Estonia, after LÕUNA-EESTI . Since 1993 the number of deaths has exceeded that of births every year.
In 2002, the number of births per 1 000 inhabitants in the region at 9.2 was lower than for the country as a whole (9.6). In the two counties situated on the islands, Saare and Hiiu, the number of births per 1 000 inhabitants was considerably lower than in the other counties of Estonia. The infant mortality rate in 2002 was 2.6 deaths per 1 000 live births. This figure was the lowest among Estonian regions. In 2002, the number of deaths per 1 000 inhabitants in LÄÄNE-EESTI (13.7) was slightly above the national average (13.5).
Life expectancy was in 2001 on Saaremaa and Hiiumaa islands higher than in Estonia as a whole. In others counties life expectancy was close to average value.
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