Experts explain why Estonian youth remain politically less active
Estonian experts say low youth voter turnout stems mainly from limited trust in political parties and a preference for direct political engagement over voting. The trend is slowly improving, but turnout among young voters still stays below 50%.
In Estonia's 2023 Riigikogu elections, 46% of people aged 18 to 24 voted. Alar Kilp, a lecturer in comparative politics at the University of Tartu's Johan Skytte Institute, says the lower turnout among young people partly reflects the fact that they depend less on political decisions than older people, who often have property, higher incomes, or school-age children giving them more at stake.
Kilp also notes that young people value direct participation in politics more than voting itself, since electing representatives feels too abstract and disconnected from concrete outcomes.
The role of young politicians
Henri Härm, president of the University of Tartu's Society of Political Science, says young people are best reached by other young people talking about politics, but there are too few young politicians representing youth interests, and they tend to resemble one another. Social Democrat youth member Romet Soer says an increasing number of young politicians now openly address youth issues, and expects this trend to continue.
Härm adds that social media has made young people think more about politics, and politicians increasingly adapt their messaging to younger audiences, since older advertising methods no longer resonate with them.
Trust and civic education
Isamaa party politician Sandra Laur believes politicians should speak to young people in plain, honest language, arguing that overly polished, sterile political rhetoric turns off even those genuinely interested in politics.
Helene Kristine Viita, head of the Estonian National Youth Council, says the core issue is trust — whether young people feel their vote actually changes anything. She cites an international civic education study showing youth trust in political parties is notably lower than trust in scientists, the defence forces, or police.
Laur argues civic education in schools should be taught more extensively, while Soer says the curriculum content is fine but schools lack opportunities for young people to practice expressing and defending their own opinions.
In the most recent local elections, the number of voters aged 18–24 rose from about 12,000 to nearly 16,000, and turnout in 2025 grew by almost 10% compared with 2021, though turnout among young voters in Riigikogu elections still remains below 50%.
