Estonian
Quick Summary
The Estonian people are a Finno-Ugric group whose language, Estonian, is related to Finnish. Historically, Estonians have been influenced by both Western and Eastern European cultures, with northern Estonia often more open to outside influences than the more insular south.1
During the Soviet era, Estonia experienced significant immigration, particularly from Russia, which reduced the proportion of ethnic Estonians in the population. While ethnic Estonians make up about two-thirds of the population today, Russians form the largest minority group. Other minorities include Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Finns. Distinct regional groups, like the Seto people and islanders, maintain unique dialects and cultural traditions. The Estonian language has a literary tradition dating back to the 16th century, with a national epic, Kalevipoeg, playing a role in fostering national consciousness in the 19th century.2345
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