Religiosity and main confessions of the Estonians: regional differences in Estonia
English
journal number:
Journal’s Subject Headings:
History of science
About author:
A. G. Manakov Pskov State University, Pskov, Russian Federation, [email protected]
N. K. Terenina Pskov State University, Pskov, Russian Federation, [email protected]
R. N. Krotok Pskov State University, Pskov, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the article presents the results of testing a methodology that makes it possible to calculate the confessional structure of the titular ethnic group of Estonia (on the example of Lutherans and Orthodox Christians) at the level of cities and counties of the country, based on official census data, where the confessional structure of the main ethnic groups of the population is presented only at the level of the entire country.
Objective: to identify features in the distribution of Lutheran and Orthodox Estonians across the territory of Estonia.
Research materials: the work is based on religious and ethnic statistics based on the results of population censuses in Estonia, as well as information resources.
Results and novelty of the research: the scientific novelty of the research is associated with the assessment of the religious structure at the regional level of one of the ethnic communities living in Estonia, or more precisely, representatives of the country’s titular ethnic group. The study identified cities and counties in Estonia where there is a large gap between the proportion of Lutheran and Orthodox population, on the one hand, and the proportion of Estonians-Lutherans and Orthodox Estonians, on the other hand. Thus, Estonians living on the island of Saaremaa and in three counties in the east and south-east of the country extent (Jõgevamaa, Põlvamaa and Võrumaa) continue to adhere to Lutheranism to a greater extent. Orthodox Estonians are most represented in the counties of Saaremaa, Pärnumaa, Põlvamaa and Võrumaa, which has some historical background. Thus, the designated counties are generally characterized by increased religiosity of the Estonian population.
N. K. Terenina Pskov State University, Pskov, Russian Federation, [email protected]
R. N. Krotok Pskov State University, Pskov, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the article presents the results of testing a methodology that makes it possible to calculate the confessional structure of the titular ethnic group of Estonia (on the example of Lutherans and Orthodox Christians) at the level of cities and counties of the country, based on official census data, where the confessional structure of the main ethnic groups of the population is presented only at the level of the entire country.
Objective: to identify features in the distribution of Lutheran and Orthodox Estonians across the territory of Estonia.
Research materials: the work is based on religious and ethnic statistics based on the results of population censuses in Estonia, as well as information resources.
Results and novelty of the research: the scientific novelty of the research is associated with the assessment of the religious structure at the regional level of one of the ethnic communities living in Estonia, or more precisely, representatives of the country’s titular ethnic group. The study identified cities and counties in Estonia where there is a large gap between the proportion of Lutheran and Orthodox population, on the one hand, and the proportion of Estonians-Lutherans and Orthodox Estonians, on the other hand. Thus, Estonians living on the island of Saaremaa and in three counties in the east and south-east of the country extent (Jõgevamaa, Põlvamaa and Võrumaa) continue to adhere to Lutheranism to a greater extent. Orthodox Estonians are most represented in the counties of Saaremaa, Pärnumaa, Põlvamaa and Võrumaa, which has some historical background. Thus, the designated counties are generally characterized by increased religiosity of the Estonian population.
Key words: population census, religion, Lutheranism, Orthodoxy, potentially religious population, confessional geography
Acknowledgments: the publication was prepared at the expense of a grant from Pskov State University for the event “Carrying out scientific research and development by Russian-Belarusian scientific teams on the basis of research units of Pskov State University in 2024 / 2025”.
For citation: Manakov A. G., Terenina N. K., Krotok R. N. Religiosity and main confessions of the Estonians: regional differences in Estonia // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2024; 14 (3/58): 578–587.
Acknowledgments: the publication was prepared at the expense of a grant from Pskov State University for the event “Carrying out scientific research and development by Russian-Belarusian scientific teams on the basis of research units of Pskov State University in 2024 / 2025”.
For citation: Manakov A. G., Terenina N. K., Krotok R. N. Religiosity and main confessions of the Estonians: regional differences in Estonia // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric Studies. 2024; 14 (3/58): 578–587.
