Between 1945 and 1989, the share of ethnic Estonians in the population resident within the currently defined boundaries of Estonia dropped to 61%, caused primarily by the Soviet programme promoting mass immigration of urban industrial workers from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as by wartime emigration and Joseph Stalin's mass deportations and executions.
Pada periode tahun 1945 sampai 1989, proporsi etnik Estonia dalam definisi perbatasan Estonia saat ini menurun hingga angka 61%, terutama disebabkan oleh program Soviet yang menganjurkan imigrasi besar-besaran pekerja industri perkotaan dari Rusia, Ukraina, dan Belarus, juga emigrasi peperangan dan pengusiran dan pengusiran massal Stalin.