Estonia is ahead of the other two Baltic states in consolidating its open data and library initiatives. Its institutions offer user-oriented digital services on their comprehensive platforms, such as the Open Data Portal and Virtual Research Room. Estonia’s list encompasses: statistics and open datasets; databases of legal, spatial, and historical documents; election data; registers of companies and civil servants; and a unique open data platform dedicated to mobility.

This is not a complete list, but rather a curated set of the most important and user-friendly sources of information available. We selected the entries thinking about the relevance to journalists and media makers as well as accessibility criteria. All the entries are part of a commons owned collectively by the Estonian people, except if noted otherwise.

Statistical Database offers general statistics and some user-friendly thematic applications, such as a purchasing power calculator and the Tree of Truth that visualises the relationship between Estonia’s goals and accomplishments. It is managed by the state institution Statistics Estonia which is supervised by the Ministry of Finance.

Estonia’s Open Data Portal contains around two thousand datasets submitted by multiple publishers covering science, economy, public services, infrastructure, and many other topics. It is owned by the Information System Authority operating under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.

VAU (Virtual Research Room) of the National Archives offers collections of digitised historical records, maps, court files, and photography. It also offers an advanced search engine that makes accessible all stored materials. It is managed by the government agency National Archives which is supervised by the Ministry of Education and Research.

ESTER is the shared catalogue of Estonia’s libraries. It offers access to periodicals, books, audio recordings, and academic articles that are stored all around the country. The platform is managed by the ELNET (Estonian Library Network) Consortium.

Infotechnological Mobility Observatory is an interdisciplinary database collecting data with the aim to better understand spatial mobility, migration, urban planning, and social development in Estonia. The platform is managed by the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.

Geoportal is a platform focusing on the environment. It provides general and specific topographic datasets, current and historical cartography, as well as aerial photos. It also includes a national register of monuments. The service is managed by the Estonian Land Board, which is supervised by the Ministry of the Environment.

Rik (Estonia’s Centre of Registers and Information Systems) repository includes business and land registers and a judicial records database. Additionally, it offers some specialised services, such as a digital State Gazette and accounting software. The Centre of Registers and Information Systems is the IT development hub of Estonia’s Ministry of Justice.

Elections Open Data offers general information on both digital and offline elections and referenda in Estonia. The platform is managed by the National Electoral Committee and the State Electoral Office of Estonia.

Tax and Customs Board’s website offers statistics and open data on taxes and customs, turnovers, workforce, as well as strategic development plans. Its user platform also includes the Interest Declaration Database, which provides details on income, savings, real estate, stocks, and bond ownership of individuals working in official state positions. The Tax and Customs Board is supervised by Estonia’s Ministry of Finance.

E-varamu.ee is a cultural platform enabling users to access data stored on multiple digital information systems of Estonia’s cultural and scientific institutions. The platform is managed by the ELNET (Estonian Library Network) Consortium.

The list was compiled by human beings—please make sure to always check the accuracy of the content found on the listed platforms independently. For further assistance, please contact us at team@fixers.press.