It is also characteristic that throughout the Soviet period, the population in the rural municipalities went down, whilst it was growing in towns, in large part thanks to the immigrants brought to North-Eastern industrial towns.
Iseloomulik oli ka see, et elanike arv nendes langes terve nõukogude perioodi järjekindlalt, samas kui linnaelanike osakaal üha kasvas, seda suures osas küll tänu Kirde-Eesti tööstuslinnadesse sisse toodud muulastele.