Despite the tax changes that came into force at the beginning of the year and the resulting faster-than-usual price increases in the first quarter, people’s economic confidence and assessments of their well-being have improved compared to December. For example, while 58% of people felt uncertain about planning and covering their household expenses in December, 45% felt the same in March. Economic confidence and well-being have improved among Estonians as well as people of other nationalities, but the proportion of people who face economic difficulties and feel economically insecure remains around 10% higher among people of other nationalities than among Estonians.
In contrast, residents’ sense of security has fallen slightly. In December, 70% of the population felt safe living in Estonia, and by March, this figure had fallen to 65%. Slightly less than half (46%) of the population think that Estonia can feel safe at the moment, which is the lowest result in recent years (54% in December). Across ethnic groups, the sense of security is generally similar.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of the population have a plan to cope with a major crisis, just over half (56%) have thought about the need for one (but have not made a plan), and a fifth (21%) have not thought about making one. People with a lower level of education, people of other nationalities, and people living in North-Eastern Estonia are less likely to have thought about making a plan.
This question has not been asked in the survey before, but comparing the results with a survey published by the Estonian Rescue Board in autumn, according to which 15% of the population was prepared for a crisis in spring 2023, it can be estimated that the proportion of people prepared for a crisis has increased slightly over the year.
Confidence in the government, the president, and the police has not changed compared to the second half of last year. In March, 39% of the population trusted the government, 71% trusted the president, and 83% trusted the police.
However, trust in the Parliament has fallen to its lowest level in recent years: while in December, 35% of the population trusted the Riigikogu, only 28% did in March. By comparison, a year ago, in February 2023, 41% of the population trusted the Riigikogu. People with a lower level of education and those living in North-Eastern Estonia trust the Riigikogu less than average.
77% of people support NATO membership, the same as in December. Among Estonians, 92% support NATO membership, while among people of other nationalities, support for NATO membership, which has increased since the outbreak of the war, has remained stable at 48% (by comparison, 28% of residents of other nationalities in Estonia supported NATO membership in mid-February 2022).
Support for the Russian Federation’s military action in Ukraine has not changed significantly since December. 4% support the military action, 81% condemn it, and 15% have no clear opinion. However, there has been a slight increase in support for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine (74% in December and 79% in March) and for Estonia’s contribution to the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine (60% in December and 65% in March).
Compared to December, attitudes towards tax changes have become slightly more positive, but support for the green transition has fallen. In December, 39% of the population thought tax changes were necessary; in March, the number was already 44%.
The survey can be found on the website of the Government Office.
