Estonia is home to representatives of more than a hundred nationalities. The majority of the people residing in the Republic of Estonia are Estonians by nationality. The second largest nation group are Russians, followed by Ukrainians, Belarusians and Finns.

National minorities are protected in all democratic countries of the world under laws and international agreements. Section 49 of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia stipulates: “Everyone has the right to preserve his or her national identity.” The national minorities sphere in Estonia is guided by the National Minorities Cultural Autonomy Act, and Estonia has also acceded to the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

The national minorities residing in Estonia are actively engaged in preserving their culture and traditions, with more than 200 cultural societies operating. The tasks of supporting the cultural life of national minorities and contributing to preserving the cultural uniqueness and language of national minorities lie with the Ministry of Culture in Estonia. The Council for Ethnic Minorities operates under the Ministry of Culture as an advisory body regarding the development of the cultural life and activities of national minorities.

Programme:

• Estonian Integration Strategy 2008-2013

Research:

• NEW! Monitoring of Integration in the Estonian Society in 2011

Legislation:

• The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/633949; in English: here) 
• National Minorities Cultural Autonomy Act (https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/182796?leiaKehtiv; in English: here) 
• Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/en/Treaties/html/157.htm)

References:

• Website of the Estonian Ministry of Culture: www.kul.ee
• Cultural societies of national minorities (Etnoweb): www.etnoweb.ee
• Integration and Migration Foundation Our People: www.meis.ee
• Council for Ethnic Minorities: http://www.kul.ee/index.php?path=0x2x1424x1488
• Section on national minorities in the online encyclopaedia Estonica: (http://www.estonica.org/et/V%C3%A4hemusrahvused_Eesti_Vabariigis_enne_Teist_maailmas%C3%B5da/)