Saarde Rural Municipality: population and statistics
Saarde Rural Municipality has a population of 4,192 (2026) across 1,064.8 km², or 3.9 people per km². It ranks 69 of 78 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.6% between 2022 and 2026.
- 4,192 residents
- 1,064.8 km²
- 4 people/km²
- 63 m
Saarde Rural Municipality in numbers
Key points
Among the 7 municipalities in Pärnu County, Saarde Rural Municipality ranks No. 6 by population.
Dwellings with central heating: 26.4% in Saarde Rural Municipality, compared with an average of 50.9% in Pärnu County and 68.4% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 30.9% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 936 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Pärnu County for “Elevation”.
- “Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises)”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 149,132 football pitches.
- Its population density is 8.0 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Mulgi Rural Municipality (6,896 residents), 27 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,744 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Population of Saarde Rural Municipality over time
Saarde Rural Municipality had 4,349 residents in 2022 and 4,192 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,349 |
| 2023 | 4,393 |
| 2024 | 4,386 |
| 2025 | 4,256 |
| 2026 | 4,192 |
All indicators for Saarde Rural Municipality
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Saarde Rural Municipality | Pärnu County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2026) | 28.6% | 23.5% | 24.9% | ranked 12 of 75 | |
| Share of people aged 17 and under (2026) | 15.6% | 18.7% | 18.1% | ranked 60 of 75 | |
| Natural increase per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −12.1 ‰ | −5.7 ‰ | −8.4 ‰ | ranked 58 of 75 | |
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −3.8 ‰ | −2.9 ‰ | −0.5 ‰ | ranked 51 of 75 |
Housing
| Indicator | Saarde Rural Municipality | Pärnu County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings built before 1946 (2021) | 33.5% | 19.7% | 22.3% | ranked 15 of 75 | |
| Dwellings built after 2000 (2021) | 1.5% | 12.4% | 4.5% | ranked 60 of 75 | |
| Dwellings in detached houses (single-dwelling buildings) (2021) | 53.3% | 39.1% | 50.2% | ranked 36 of 75 | |
| Average floor area of dwellings (2021) | 78.5 m² | 73.9 m² | 78.4 m² | ranked 36 of 75 | |
| New dwellings permitted for use in 2021–2025 per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.8 ‰ | 21.7 ‰ | 8.8 ‰ | ranked 56 of 71 |
Energy
| Indicator | Saarde Rural Municipality | Pärnu County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings with central heating (2021) | 26.4% | 50.9% | 45.2% | ranked 66 of 75 |
Economy
| Indicator | Saarde Rural Municipality | Pärnu County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly gross wage (2025) | 1,588 € | 1,665 € | 1,676 € | ranked 56 of 75 | |
| Median monthly gross wage (2025) | 1,393 € | – | 1,464 € | ranked 53 of 74 | |
| Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises) (2025) | 379 | 9,126 | 159,827 | ranked 70 of 78 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 90.4 ‰ | 104.9 ‰ | 97.1 ‰ | ranked 49 of 75 | |
| Businesses entered in the Commercial Register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 160.1 ‰ | 189.1 ‰ | 174.5 ‰ | ranked 52 of 75 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 8.8 ‰ | 12.6 ‰ | 11.4 ‰ | ranked 60 of 75 |
Employment
| Indicator | Saarde Rural Municipality | Pärnu County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered unemployed among people aged 16–64 (2025) | 4.7% | 4.3% | 4.7% | ranked 38 of 75 |
Business sectors: Saarde Rural Municipality
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing30.9% ×4.8
- Construction19.0% ×1.7
- Wholesale and retail trade9.8% ×0.7
- Manufacturing7.4% ×1.2
- Transport and storage5.3% ×0.9
- Other service activities5.0% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical4.7% ×0.3
- Accommodation and food services3.7% ×1.2
Sunshine and temperatures: Saarde Rural Municipality
Where is Saarde Rural Municipality?
Neighbouring municipalities
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Saarde Rural Municipality?
Saarde Rural Municipality has 4,192 residents (2026), ranking 69 of 78 municipalities.
How big is Saarde Rural Municipality?
Saarde Rural Municipality covers 1,064.8 km², with a density of 4 people per km².
Is the population of Saarde Rural Municipality growing?
Between 2022 and 2026, the population of Saarde Rural Municipality went from 4,349 to 4,192, a change of −3.6%.
Where is Saarde Rural Municipality?
Saarde Rural Municipality is in Pärnu County. Latitude 58.150, longitude 24.964.
Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises): what is the figure for Saarde Rural Municipality?
In Saarde Rural Municipality, “Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises)” stands at 379 (2025), ranking 70 of 78 municipalities; the national median is 799.
Dwellings with central heating: what is the figure for Saarde Rural Municipality?
In Saarde Rural Municipality, “Dwellings with central heating” stands at 26.4% (2021), ranking 66 of 75 municipalities; the national median is 45.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Saarde Rural Municipality?
In Saarde Rural Municipality, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 936 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Saarde Rural Municipality?
The nearest to Saarde Rural Municipality are Mulgi Rural Municipality (27 km), Häädemeeste Rural Municipality (27 km), Pärnu City (36 km), Tori Rural Municipality (37 km), Viljandi Rural Municipality (40 km).
Coat of arms: Tõnu Lauk, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Saarde Parish, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
