Counties

Estonia is divided into 15 counties (maakonnad; singular - maakond). The government (maavalitsus) of each county is led by a county governor (maavanem), who represents the national government at the regional level. Governors are appointed by the government for a term of five years.

Each county is further divided into municipalities which are of two types: urban municipality, or town (linn), and rural municipality, or parish (vald).

The counties and their municipalities are as follows (Estonian names shown in brackets where they are different):

Harju County (Harjumaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Keila
  • Loksa
  • Maardu
  • Paldiski
  • Saue
  • Tallinn
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Aegviidu
  • Anija Parish - includes Kehra
  • Harku Parish
  • Jõelähtme Parish
  • Keila Parish
  • Kernu Parish
  • Kiili Parish
  • Kose Parish
  • Kuusalu Parish
  • Kõue Parish
  • Nissi Parish
  • Padise Parish
  • Raasiku Parish
  • Rae Parish
  • Saku Parish
  • Saue Parish
  • Vasalemma Parish
  • Viimsi Parish

Hiiu County (Hiiumaa)

• Urban Municipality:
  • Kärdla
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Emmaste Parish
  • Kõrgessaare Parish
  • Käina Parish
  • Pühalepa Parish

Ida-Viru County (Ida-Virumaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Kiviõli
  • Kohtla-Järve
  • Narva
  • Narva-Jõesuu
  • Püssi
  • Sillamäe
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Alajõe Parish
  • Aseri Parish
  • Avinurme Parish
  • Iisaku Parish
  • Illuka Parish
  • Jõhvi Parish
  • Kohtla Parish
  • Kohtla-Nõmme
  • Lohusuu Parish
  • Lüganuse Parish
  • Maidla Parish
  • Mäetaguse Parish
  • Sonda Parish
  • Toila Parish
  • Tudulinna Parish
  • Vaivara Parish

Järva County (Järvamaa)

• Urban Municipality:
  • Paide
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Albu Parish
  • Ambla Parish
  • Imavere Parish
  • Järva-Jaani Parish
  • Kareda Parish
  • Koeru Parish
  • Koigi Parish
  • Paide Parish
  • Roosna-Alliku Parish
  • Türi Parish
  • Väätsa Parish

Jõgeva County (Jõgevamaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Jõgeva
  • Mustvee
  • Põltsamaa
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Jõgeva Parish
  • Kasepää Parish
  • Pajusi Parish
  • Pala Parish
  • Palamuse Parish
  • Puurmani Parish
  • Põltsamaa Parish
  • Saare Parish
  • Tabivere Parish
  • Torma Parish

Lääne County (Läänemaa)

• Urban Municipality:
  • Haapsalu
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Hanila Parish
  • Kullamaa Parish
  • Lihula Parish
  • Martna Parish
  • Noarootsi Parish
  • Nõva Parish
  • Oru Parish
  • Ridala Parish
  • Risti Parish
  • Taebla Parish
  • Vormsi Parish

Lääne-Viru County (Lääne-Virumaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Kunda
  • Rakvere
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Haljala Parish
  • Kadrina Parish
  • Laekvere Parish
  • Rakke Parish
  • Rakvere Parish
  • Rägavere Parish
  • Sõmeru Parish
  • Tamsalu Parish
  • Tapa Parish
  • Vihula Parish
  • Vinni Parish
  • Viru-Nigula Parish
  • Väike-Maarja Parish

Pärnu County (Pärnumaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Pärnu
  • Sindi
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Are Parish
  • Audru Parish
  • Halinga Parish
  • Häädemeeste Parish
  • Kaisma Parish
  • Kihnu Parish
  • Koonga Parish
  • Lavassaare Parish
  • Paikuse Parish
  • Saarde Parish - includes Kilingi-Nõmme
  • Sauga Parish
  • Surju Parish
  • Tahkuranna Parish
  • Tootsi Parish
  • Tori Parish
  • Tõstamaa Parish
  • Varbla Parish
  • Vändra Parish
  • Vändra

Põlva County (Põlvamaa)

• Urban Municipality:
  • Põlva
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Ahja Parish
  • Kanepi Parish
  • Kõlleste Parish
  • Laheda Parish
  • Mikitamäe Parish
  • Mooste Parish
  • Orava Parish
  • Põlva Parish
  • Räpina Parish
  • Valgjärve Parish
  • Vastse-Kuuste Parish
  • Veriora Parish
  • Värska Parish

Rapla County (Raplamaa)

• Rural Municipalities:
  • Juuru Parish
  • Järvakandi Parish
  • Kaiu Parish
  • Kehtna Parish
  • Kohila Parish
  • Käru Parish
  • Märjamaa Parish
  • Raikküla Parish
  • Rapla Parish
  • Vigala Parish

Saare County (Saaremaa)

• Urban Municipality:
  • Kuressaare
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Kaarma Parish
  • Kihelkonna Parish
  • Kärla Parish
  • Laimjala Parish
  • Leisi Parish
  • Lümanda Parish
  • Muhu Parish
  • Mustjala Parish
  • Orissaare Parish
  • Pihtla Parish
  • Pöide Parish
  • Ruhnu Parish
  • Salme Parish
  • Torgu Parish
  • Valjala Parish

Tartu County (Tartumaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Elva
  • Kallaste
  • Tartu
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Alatskivi Parish
  • Haaslava Parish
  • Kambja Parish
  • Konguta Parish
  • Laeva Parish
  • Luunja Parish
  • Meeksi Parish
  • Mäksa Parish
  • Nõo Parish
  • Peipsiääre Parish
  • Piirissaare Parish
  • Puhja Parish
  • Rannu Parish
  • Rõngu Parish
  • Tartu Parish
  • Tähtvere Parish
  • Vara Parish
  • Võnnu Parish
  • Ülenurme Parish

Valga County (Valgamaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Tõrva
  • Valga
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Helme Parish
  • Hummuli Parish
  • Karula Parish
  • Otepää Parish
  • Palupera Parish
  • Puka Parish
  • Põdrala Parish
  • Sangaste Parish
  • Taheva Parish
  • Tõlliste Parish
  • Õru Parish

Viljandi County (Viljandimaa)

• Urban Municipalities:
  • Mõisaküla
  • Viljandi
  • Võhma
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Abja Parish - includes Abja-Paluoja
  • Halliste Parish
  • Karksi Parish - includes Karksi-Nuia
  • Kolga-Jaani Parish
  • Kõo Parish
  • Kõpu Parish
  • Paistu Parish
  • Pärsti Parish
  • Saarepeedi Parish
  • Suure-Jaani Parish
  • Tarvastu Parish
  • Viiratsi Parish

Võru County (Võrumaa)

• Urban Municipality:
  • Võru
• Rural Municipalities:
  • Antsla Parish
  • Haanja Parish
  • Lasva Parish
  • Meremäe Parish
  • Misso Parish
  • Mõniste Parish
  • Rõuge Parish
  • Sõmerpalu Parish
  • Urvaste Parish
  • Varstu Parish
  • Vastseliina Parish
  • Võru Parish