Rõuge Rural Municipality: population and statistics
Rõuge Rural Municipality has a population of 4,560 (2026) across 933.2 km², or 4.9 people per km². It ranks 65 of 78 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −6.5% between 2022 and 2026.
- 4,560 residents
- 933.2 km²
- 5 people/km²
- 122 m
Rõuge Rural Municipality in numbers
Key points
Among the 5 municipalities in Võru County, Rõuge Rural Municipality ranks No. 3 by population.
Dwellings built before 1946: 57.9% in Rõuge Rural Municipality, compared with an average of 34.9% in Võru County and 14.6% nationally.
Average monthly gross wage: 1,340 € in Rõuge Rural Municipality, compared with an average of 1,605 € in Võru County and 1,999 € nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 36.2% of the area's businesses.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 917 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Võru County for “Elevation”.
- Number 1 in Võru County for “Share of people aged 65 and over”.
- “Dwellings built before 1946”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Average monthly gross wage”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Dwellings with central heating”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 130,700 football pitches.
- Its population density is 6.4 times lower than the national average.
Population of Rõuge Rural Municipality over time
Rõuge Rural Municipality had 4,877 residents in 2022 and 4,560 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 4,877 |
| 2023 | 4,865 |
| 2024 | 4,748 |
| 2025 | 4,643 |
| 2026 | 4,560 |
All indicators for Rõuge 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 | Rõuge Rural Municipality | Võru County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2026) | 28.6% | 24.9% | 24.9% | ranked 12 of 75 | |
| Share of people aged 17 and under (2026) | 14.1% | 17.0% | 18.1% | ranked 69 of 75 | |
| Natural increase per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −11.3 ‰ | −10.3 ‰ | −8.4 ‰ | ranked 51 of 75 | |
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −7.2 ‰ | −6.2 ‰ | −0.5 ‰ | ranked 61 of 75 |
Housing
| Indicator | Rõuge Rural Municipality | Võru County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings built before 1946 (2021) | 57.9% | 34.9% | 22.3% | ranked 1 of 75 | |
| Dwellings built after 2000 (2021) | 2.0% | 2.7% | 4.5% | ranked 54 of 75 | |
| Dwellings in detached houses (single-dwelling buildings) (2021) | 72.3% | 51.0% | 50.2% | ranked 5 of 75 | |
| Average floor area of dwellings (2021) | 77.1 m² | 71.1 m² | 78.4 m² | ranked 42 of 75 | |
| New dwellings permitted for use in 2021–2025 per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.5 ‰ | 4.8 ‰ | 8.8 ‰ | ranked 51 of 71 |
Energy
| Indicator | Rõuge Rural Municipality | Võru County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwellings with central heating (2021) | 17.2% | 41.3% | 45.2% | ranked 73 of 75 |
Economy
| Indicator | Rõuge Rural Municipality | Võru County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly gross wage (2025) | 1,340 € | 1,605 € | 1,676 € | ranked 75 of 75 | |
| Median monthly gross wage (2025) | 1,194 € | – | 1,464 € | ranked 73 of 74 | |
| Number of enterprises (statistical profile enterprises) (2025) | 599 | 3,420 | 159,827 | ranked 49 of 78 | |
| Enterprises per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 131.4 ‰ | 103.1 ‰ | 97.1 ‰ | ranked 8 of 75 | |
| Businesses entered in the Commercial Register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 230.0 ‰ | 186.6 ‰ | 174.5 ‰ | ranked 11 of 75 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.1 ‰ | 10.9 ‰ | 11.4 ‰ | ranked 29 of 75 |
Employment
| Indicator | Rõuge Rural Municipality | Võru County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered unemployed among people aged 16–64 (2025) | 3.8% | 4.1% | 4.7% | ranked 66 of 75 |
Business sectors: Rõuge 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 fishing36.2% ×5.6
- Construction11.9% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical9.0% ×0.6
- Manufacturing7.3% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services7.0% ×2.3
- Wholesale and retail trade6.0% ×0.4
- Administrative and support services3.8% ×0.7
- Arts, entertainment and recreation3.7% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Rõuge Rural Municipality
Where is Rõuge Rural Municipality?
Neighbouring municipalities
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rõuge Rural Municipality?
Rõuge Rural Municipality has 4,560 residents (2026), ranking 65 of 78 municipalities.
How big is Rõuge Rural Municipality?
Rõuge Rural Municipality covers 933.2 km², with a density of 5 people per km².
Is the population of Rõuge Rural Municipality growing?
Between 2022 and 2026, the population of Rõuge Rural Municipality went from 4,877 to 4,560, a change of −6.5%.
Where is Rõuge Rural Municipality?
Rõuge Rural Municipality is in Võru County. Latitude 57.733, longitude 26.917.
Dwellings built before 1946: what is the figure for Rõuge Rural Municipality?
In Rõuge Rural Municipality, “Dwellings built before 1946” stands at 57.9% (2021), ranking 1 of 75 municipalities; the national median is 22.3%.
Average monthly gross wage: what is the figure for Rõuge Rural Municipality?
In Rõuge Rural Municipality, “Average monthly gross wage” stands at 1,340 € (2025), ranking 75 of 75 municipalities; the national median is 1,676 €.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Rõuge Rural Municipality?
In Rõuge Rural Municipality, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 917 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Rõuge Rural Municipality?
The nearest to Rõuge Rural Municipality are Võru City (14 km), Võru Rural Municipality (15 km), Antsla Rural Municipality (25 km), Kanepi Rural Municipality (29 km), Põlva Rural Municipality (35 km).
Coat of arms: Rõuge Parish, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Rõuge vald, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
