Ethnic groups

About 68% of Estonia's population is made up of ethnic Estonians, descendents of Finno-Ugric tribes that settled this area about 5,000 years ago. The largest minority in today’s Estonia is by far the Russians, at roughly 26% of the national population. Other Slavic ethnic groups, primarily Ukrainians and Belarusians, often get lumped together with Russians under the label ‘Russian-speakers.' Most of these families moved or were sent here during Soviet times, and chose to remain after independence. Though some integration is taking place among the younger generation, language and cultural barriers tend to keep these groups apart.