Viljandi City: population and statistics
Viljandi City has a population of 17,000 (2026) across 14.7 km², or 1,159 people per km². It ranks 11 of 78 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −1.4% between 2022 and 2026.
- 17,000 residents
- 14.7 km²
- 1,159 people/km²
- 90 m
Viljandi City in numbers
Key points
Among the 4 municipalities in Viljandi County, Viljandi City ranks No. 1 by population.
Dwellings in detached houses (single-dwelling buildings): 23.9% in Viljandi City, compared with an average of 45.4% in Viljandi County and 27.4% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 16.0% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 940 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 2,055 football pitches.
- Its population density is 37.0 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Viljandi Rural Municipality, 10.8 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Pärnu City (52,198 residents), 62 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,760 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Population of Viljandi City over time
Viljandi City had 17,244 residents in 2022 and 17,000 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 17,244 |
| 2023 | 17,353 |
| 2024 | 17,255 |
| 2025 | 17,157 |
| 2026 | 17,000 |
All indicators for Viljandi City
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 | Viljandi City | Viljandi County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.7% | 25.3% | 24.9% | ranked 42 of 75 | |
| Share of people aged 17 and under (2026) | 19.0% | 18.1% | 18.1% | ranked 27 of 75 | |
| Natural increase per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −2.3 ‰ | −7.1 ‰ | −8.4 ‰ | ranked 19 of 75 | |
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −6.5 ‰ | −5.7 ‰ | −0.5 ‰ | ranked 56 of 75 |
Housing
| Indicator | Viljandi City | Viljandi County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings built before 1946 (2021) | 12.0% | 26.6% | 22.3% | ranked 53 of 75 | |
| Dwellings built after 2000 (2021) | 2.7% | 3.2% | 4.5% | ranked 49 of 75 | |
| Dwellings in detached houses (single-dwelling buildings) (2021) | 23.9% | 45.4% | 50.2% | ranked 67 of 75 | |
| Average floor area of dwellings (2021) | 68.3 m² | 77.5 m² | 78.4 m² | ranked 58 of 75 | |
| New dwellings permitted for use in 2021–2025 per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 9.1 ‰ | 7.0 ‰ | 8.8 ‰ | ranked 35 of 71 |
Energy
| Indicator | Viljandi City | Viljandi County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings with central heating (2021) | 60.4% | 42.4% | 45.2% | ranked 22 of 75 |
Economy
| Indicator | Viljandi City | Viljandi County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly gross wage (2025) | 1,733 € | 1,715 € | 1,676 € | ranked 27 of 75 | |
| Median monthly gross wage (2025) | 1,544 € | – | 1,464 € | ranked 23 of 74 | |
| Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises) (2025) | 1,679 | 4,370 | 159,827 | ranked 11 of 78 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 98.8 ‰ | 98.0 ‰ | 97.1 ‰ | ranked 36 of 75 | |
| Businesses entered in the Commercial Register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 176.6 ‰ | 170.9 ‰ | 174.5 ‰ | ranked 37 of 75 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 11.4 ‰ | 10.7 ‰ | 11.4 ‰ | ranked 37 of 75 |
Employment
| Indicator | Viljandi City | Viljandi County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered unemployed among people aged 16–64 (2025) | 4.1% | 4.0% | 4.7% | ranked 60 of 75 |
Business sectors: Viljandi City
Share of each sector in total businesses; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade16.0% ×1.1
- Construction14.1% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical12.6% ×0.8
- Other service activities8.2% ×1.5
- Manufacturing7.6% ×1.2
- Real estate7.6% ×1.1
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.5% ×1.5
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing4.2% ×0.6
Sunshine and temperatures: Viljandi City
Where is Viljandi City?
Neighbouring municipalities
- Viljandi Rural Municipality11 km · 13,295
- Põhja-Sakala Rural Municipality21 km · 7,407
- Mulgi Rural Municipality24 km · 6,896
- Põltsamaa Rural Municipality38 km · 9,173
- Saarde Rural Municipality44 km · 4,192
- Tõrva Rural Municipality45 km · 5,736
- Tori Rural Municipality47 km · 12,574
- Elva Rural Municipality48 km · 14,624
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Viljandi City?
Viljandi City has 17,000 residents (2026), ranking 11 of 78 municipalities.
How big is Viljandi City?
Viljandi City covers 14.7 km², with a density of 1,159 people per km².
Is the population of Viljandi City growing?
Between 2022 and 2026, the population of Viljandi City went from 17,244 to 17,000, a change of −1.4%.
Where is Viljandi City?
Viljandi City is in Viljandi County. Latitude 58.363, longitude 25.596.
Dwellings in detached houses (single-dwelling buildings): what is the figure for Viljandi City?
In Viljandi City, “Dwellings in detached houses (single-dwelling buildings)” stands at 23.9% (2021), ranking 67 of 75 municipalities; the national median is 50.2%.
Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises): what is the figure for Viljandi City?
In Viljandi City, “Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises)” stands at 1,679 (2025), ranking 11 of 78 municipalities; the national median is 799.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Viljandi City?
In Viljandi City, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 940 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Viljandi City?
The nearest to Viljandi City are Viljandi Rural Municipality (11 km), Põhja-Sakala Rural Municipality (21 km), Mulgi Rural Municipality (24 km), Põltsamaa Rural Municipality (38 km), Saarde Rural Municipality (44 km).