Cultural Production in
Present Day
Estonia
Estonia
Estonia ranks #51 by number of biographies on Pantheon, behind Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Saudi Arabia. The most famous people from Estonia are Catherine I of Russia, Alfred Rosenberg, and Arvo Pärt. The most famous people who died in Estonia are Edgar de Wahl, Arnold Rüütel, and Karl Ernst von Baer. Estonia has been the birthplace of many politicians, and soccer players and the death place of many politicians, and writers. The top cities in Estonia by number of people born are Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Kuressaare, and Viljandi.
People
Between 1459 and 2006, present-day Estonia was the birthplace of 418 globally memorable people, including Catherine I of Russia, Alfred Rosenberg, and Arvo Pärt. Additionally, 117 globally memorable people died in present-day Estonia, including Edgar de Wahl, Arnold Rüütel, and Karl Ernst von Baer.
People Born in Present-Day Estonia
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Catherine I of Russia
Politician
1684 - 1727
HPI: 80.50
Rank: 1
Alfred Rosenberg
Politician
1893 - 1946
HPI: 78.24
Rank: 2
Arvo Pärt
Composer
1935 - Present
HPI: 75.13
Rank: 3
Emil Lenz
Physicist
1804 - 1865
HPI: 74.36
Rank: 4
Arnold Rüütel
Politician
1928 - 2024
HPI: 73.60
Rank: 5
Karl Ernst von Baer
Biologist
1792 - 1876
HPI: 73.12
Rank: 6
Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen
Explorer
1778 - 1852
HPI: 72.70
Rank: 7
Konstantin Päts
Politician
1874 - 1956
HPI: 71.63
Rank: 8
Lennart Meri
Politician
1929 - 2006
HPI: 70.95
Rank: 9
Wolfgang Köhler
Psychologist
1887 - 1967
HPI: 70.89
Rank: 10
Paul Keres
Chess Player
1916 - 1975
HPI: 70.57
Rank: 11
Kaja Kallas
Politician
1977 - Present
HPI: 70.35
Rank: 12
Newly Added People Born in Present-Day Estonia
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Tommy Cash
Singer
1991 - Present
HPI: 59.40
Rank: 96
Peter Ludwig von der Pahlen
Military Personnel
1745 - 1826
HPI: 59.09
Rank: 103
Iivo Nei
Chess Player
1931 - 2026
HPI: 58.56
Rank: 110
Kristen Michal
Politician
1975 - Present
HPI: 57.65
Rank: 127
Lembit Ulfsak
Actor
1947 - 2017
HPI: 55.36
Rank: 168
Jaak Joala
Singer
1950 - 2014
HPI: 55.00
Rank: 177
Elmo Nüganen
Film Director
1962 - Present
HPI: 47.72
Rank: 234
Riho Terras
Politician
1967 - Present
HPI: 47.16
Rank: 241
Kristina Kallas
Politician
1976 - Present
HPI: 46.84
Rank: 246
Helir-Valdor Seeder
Politician
1964 - Present
HPI: 46.82
Rank: 247
Ivar Stukolkin
Swimmer
1960 - Present
HPI: 46.80
Rank: 249
Ilmar Raag
Film Director
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.77
Rank: 263
People Deceased in Present-Day Estonia
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Edgar de Wahl
Linguist
1867 - 1948
HPI: 81.92
Rank: 1
Arnold Rüütel
Politician
1928 - 2024
HPI: 73.60
Rank: 2
Karl Ernst von Baer
Biologist
1792 - 1876
HPI: 73.12
Rank: 3
Lennart Meri
Politician
1929 - 2006
HPI: 70.95
Rank: 4
Ferdinand von Wrangel
Explorer
1797 - 1870
HPI: 70.41
Rank: 5
Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald
Writer
1803 - 1882
HPI: 67.60
Rank: 6
Alexander Georg von Bunge
Biologist
1803 - 1890
HPI: 67.14
Rank: 7
Friedrich Maximilian Klinger
Writer
1752 - 1831
HPI: 66.12
Rank: 8
Jaan Kross
Writer
1920 - 2007
HPI: 65.84
Rank: 9
Otto von Kotzebue
Military Personnel
1787 - 1846
HPI: 65.71
Rank: 10
Salawat Yulayev
Writer
1754 - 1800
HPI: 65.53
Rank: 11
Johann Friedrich von Brandt
Biologist
1802 - 1879
HPI: 65.32
Rank: 12
Newly Added People Deceased in Present-Day Estonia
Go to all RankingsLembit Ulfsak
Actor
1947 - 2017
HPI: 55.36
Rank: 101
Jaak Joala
Singer
1950 - 2014
HPI: 55.00
Rank: 107
Lauri Aus
Cyclist
1970 - 2003
HPI: 44.70
Rank: 117
Occupations
Most people born in present-day Estonia were politicians (84), soccer players (56), athletes (52), writers (34), and singers (29), while most who died were politicians (25), writers (21), athletes (9), composers (9), and military personnels (7).
Places
Overlapping Lives
Below is a visualization of the lifespans of the top 25 globally memorable people born in present-day Estonia since 1700.
