100 great Estonians of the 20th century

100 great Estonians of the 20th century is a list of notable Estonians compiled in 1999 by Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus, Eesti Päevaleht, National Library of Estonia, Radio Kuku, and TV3.

The list includes 20 scientists, 20 social figures, 15 writers, 13 in theater, film and journalism, 12 musicians, 10 artists, and 10 sportsmen. The best known scientist of the century was semiotician Juri Lotman, politician was Lennart Meri, musician Gustav Ernesaks, and sportsman was chess grandmaster Paul Keres.

100 great Estonians of the 20th century in alphabetical order:

Amandus Adamson (1855–1929) sculptor and painter

Ants Antson (1938–2015) speed skater

Ants Eskola (1908–1989) actor

Artur Alliksaar (1923–1966) poet

August Gailit (1891–1960) writer

Betti Alver (1906–1989) poet

Ernst Jaakson (1905–1998) diplomat

Gustav Ernesaks (1908–1993) composer and choir conductor

Heino Eller (1887–1970) composer and composition teacher

Ita Ever (1931–) actress

Jaan Einasto (1929–) astrophysicist

Jakob Hurt (1839–1906) theologian

Johannes Aavik (1880–1973) philologist

Johannes Hint (1914–1985) scientist

Jüri Arrak (1936–) painter

Kaarel Eenpalu (1888–1942) head of state, died in prison camps in Soviet Union

Miina Härma (1864–1941) composer

Paul Ariste (1905–1990) linguist

Pavel Bogovski (1919–1995) oncologist and pathologist

Jüri Järvet (1919–1995) actor

Neeme Järvi (1937–) conductor

Fred Jüssi (1935–) biologist

Tõnu Kaljuste (1953–) conductor

Siim Kallas (1948–) politician

Edgar Kant (1902–1978) geographer and economist

Tunne Kelam (1936–) Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament

Paul Keres (1916–1975) chess grandmaster

August Kitzberg (1855–1927) writer

Eri Klas (1939–2016) conductor

Paul Kogerman (1891–1951) chemist

Jaan Koort (1883–1935) sculptor and painter

Johannes Kotkas (1915–1998) Greco-Roman wrestler

Jaan Kross (1920–2007) writer

Eerik Kumari (1912–1984) doctor of biology

Julius Kuperjanov (1894–1914) military officer

Mart Laar (1960–) politician and historian

Johan Laidoner (1884–1953) general and statesman

Ants Laikmaa (1866–1942) painter

Juhan Liiv (1864–1913) poet

Heino Lipp (1922–2006) decathlete

Endel Lippmaa (1930–2015) academic and politician

Juri Lotman (1922-1993) cultural historian

Georg Lurich (1876–1920) Greco-Roman wrestler

Oskar Luts (1866–1953) writer

Rein Maran (1931–) director and cinematographer

Alo Mattiisen (1961–1996) composer

Lennart Meri (1929–2006) film director and second President of Estonia

Felix Moor (1903–1955), journalist and actor

Harri Moora (1900–1968) archaeologist

Konrad Mägi (1878–1925) painter

Erki Nool (1970–) sportsman, politician

Ülo Nugis (1944–2011) politician and economist