Helsinki vs Tallinn

Tallinn leads Helsinki by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 72 to 71. Helsinki grades better on 6 measures, Tallinn on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Helsinki 71, Tallinn 72
• OECD: Helsinki 72, Tallinn 68
• UN Tourism: Helsinki 70, Tallinn 77
• UNDRR: Helsinki 71, Tallinn 64

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Helsinki 67, Tallinn 42
• Economy and jobs: Helsinki 83, Tallinn 83
• Climate and hazards: Helsinki 80, Tallinn 75
• Water and environment: Helsinki 63, Tallinn 88
• Community and housing: Helsinki 83, Tallinn 83
• Access and continuity: Helsinki 75, Tallinn 71

Where Helsinki is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 52.2 % of nights by residents of the same country (City of Helsinki & Visitory, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 15 % of international arrivals or nights (City of Helsinki / Visitory, Nordic Tourism Trends, 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 59 % average annual occupancy (City of Helsinki, 'New record: Over 4.55 million overnight stays in Helsinki's accommodation establishments in 2024', 2024). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• Income per head: 70,915 GDP per capita, USD PPP (region figure) (OECD Regional Statistics via OECD.Stats, 2022). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (City of Helsinki, 2026). Grade 2/4.

Where Tallinn is stronger

• Average length of stay: 1.9 nights per visitor (Tallinn City Government / Visit Tallinn, 'Tallinn's international tourism breaks records, grows, and diversifies', 2024). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4.
• Unemployment rate: 7.7 % of the labour force (Statistics Estonia (Statistikaamet), Labour Force Survey, Q1 2026). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 91.7 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (WHO / UN-Habitat / UN Statistics Division SDG 6.3.1 Database, 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 362 kg per resident per year (Zero Waste Europe / Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) / Statista, 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Finland: #19 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Estonia: #44 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Helsinki in full · Tallinn in full

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