Tartu population in 2025 was 100 685, making it the second largest city in Estonia and the seventh-largest city in the Baltic states. Tartu is considered the intelectual capital of Estonia, since it is home to the most prestigious university in Estonia and the Baltic states, the University of Tartu. The city also has several ministries of the Estonian government. Population of Tartu experienced decline from 1990 to 2017, however, it has stabilized lately.
Note: in 2018, methodology of population estimate changed.
Tartu metropolitan area
Tartu urban area includes the whole Tartu county and this region has 164 650 inhabitants, or 12% of Estonia’s population. It includes the suburbs of Tartu and more remote rural areas. However, besides Tartu, there are no other large cities in Tartu urban area. Together with Tallinn metropolitan area, these to regions are home to around 60% of Estonia’s population.
Source: Statistics Estonia