Estonia

After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries -- it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.

Land

42,388 sq km

Note

<strong>note:</strong> includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Total

45,228 sq km

Water

2,840 sq km

about twice the size of New Jersey

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

3,794 km

Europe

Highest point

Suur Munamagi 318 m

Lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

61 m

59 00 N, 26 00 E

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; over 1,500 islands lie offshore

20 sq km (2016)

Border countries

Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km

number of neighbors

2

Total

657 km

Agricultural land

23.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)

arable land

16.64%

Forest

57.2% (2023 est.)

Other

19.6% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.09%

No

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Fresh water lake(s)

Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake V&otilde;rtsj&auml;rv - 270 sq km

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/6SsynwGUodL1sDvq8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/79510

Europe

Exclusive economic zone

limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

Territorial sea

12 nm

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Northern Europe

marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

UTC+02:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753)

15-64 years

62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113)

65 years and over

22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)

Beer

4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

54.1% (2021 est.)

12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

58 per 1,000

adult male

146 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

32.7 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

3.1 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

57.5 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

24.8 (2025 est.)

improved total

98.94%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) NA

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

13% national budget (2022 est.)

5 % of GDP

Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

0.66 (2025 est.)

8 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.9% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

13.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.1%

4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)

languages

Estonian

number of languages

1

Female

83.2 years

Male

73.8 years

Total population

78.4 years (2024 est.)

454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

48.2 years

Male

41.9 years

Total

42.9 years (2025 est.)

28.2 years (2020 est.)

Adjective

Estonian

Noun

Estonian(s)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

21.2% (2016)

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

705,490

Male

634,988

Total

1,340,478 (2025 est.)

-0.47% (2025 est.)

Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.)

improved total

90.56%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Female

16 years (2023 est.)

Male

15 years (2023 est.)

Total

16 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.55 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

18.3% (2025 est.)

Male

29.9% (2025 est.)

Total

23.7% (2025 est.)

1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

-0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

69.8% of total population (2023)

measles

83%

15 urban municipalities (<em>linnad</em>, singular - <em>linn</em>), 64 rural municipalities (<em>vallad</em>, singular - <em>vald</em>)<br><br><strong>urban municipalities:</strong> Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru<br><br><strong>rural municipalities:</strong> Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

the name derives from the Old Estonian term <em>tan-linn</em>, meaning "Danish fort," a reference to Danish King VALDEMAR II founding the city in 1219

Geographic coordinates

59 26 N, 24 43 E

Name

Tallinn

Time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/ee.svg

Amendment process

proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum

History

several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992

alternative spellings

EE, Eesti, Republic of Estonia, Eesti Vabariik

Conventional long form

Republic of Estonia

Conventional short form

Estonia

Etymology

derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word <em>aueist</em>, meaning "waterside dwellers"

FIFA code

EST

Former

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

Local long form

Eesti Vabariik

local long form (est)

Eesti Vabariik

Local short form

Eesti

Chief of mission

Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025)

Email address and website

<br>acstallinn@state.gov<br><br>https://ee.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn

FAX

[372] 668-8265

Mailing address

4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-4530

Telephone

[372] 668-8100

Chancery

2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW<br>Washington, DC, 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)

Consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee<br><br>https://washington.mfa.ee/

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108

Telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

Chief of state

President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)

Election results

<em><br>2021:</em> Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes<br><br><em>2016:</em> Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia

Election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

Expected date of next election

2026

Head of government

Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024)

Most recent election date

30-31 August 2021

<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

The flag of Estonia is composed of three equal horizontal bands of blue, black and white.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/ee.svg

parliamentary republic

24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)

Judge selection and term of office

the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life

Subordinate courts

circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts

civil law system

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

March 2027

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)

Most recent election date

3/5/2023

Number of seats

101 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8)

Percentage of women in chamber

28.7%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

blue, black, white

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc

Total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

note

<strong>note:</strong> 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union and restored its statehood

barn swallow, cornflower

Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE<br>Estonia 200 or E200<br>Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK<br>Estonian Free Party or VAP<br>Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK<br>Estonian Greens or EER<br>Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK <br>Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE<br>Fatherland or I<br>Left Alliance or VL<br>Social Democratic Party or SDE<br>The Right or PP<br>TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS

Monday

18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections

Yes

milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$16.721 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$15.784 billion (2023 est.)

code

EUR

name

euro (EUR) [€]

$-542,856,821

Current account balance 2022

-$1.496 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$722.668 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$489.659 million (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

<p>high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates</p> <p> </p>

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

$32.64 billion

Exports 2022

$33.178 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$32.147 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$32.637 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$-3,437,916,450

Exports of goods and services

77.9% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

20.6% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

52.3% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-77% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

27.9% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

-0.2% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

1.9% (2024 est.)

Industry

20.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

65.1% (2024 est.)

$42.765 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$31,428

30.3 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

32.3 (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$42.26 billion

$28,880

25 % of GDP

Highest 10%

24.4% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.8% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$32.51 billion

Imports 2022

$33.655 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$31.796 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$32.375 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-7% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

3.52%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

19.4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.2% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.5% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

756,200 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

746,793 persons

agriculture

2.96%

industry

26%

services

71.05%

22.5% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2023

28.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

$68.57 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$58.931 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$57.15 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$57.001 billion (2024 est.)

-0.09%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.1% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-0.3% (2024 est.)

$49,969

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$43,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$41,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$41,500 (2024 est.)

$496.26 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

$2.07 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.217 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$2.593 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$2.075 billion (2024 est.)

36 % of GDP

21 % of GDP

21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

8.31%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

7.9% (2024 est.)

Female

20% (2024 est.)

Male

21.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

20.9% (2024 est.)

Consumption

800 metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

800 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

5,722 kWh

Exports

4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

3.225 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0.42%

Hydroelectricity

0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

39.96%

Solar

9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

3,089 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

38%

per 100 inhabitants

35 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (2023 est.)

Total

516,000 (2023 est.)

the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service, with a range of channels aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services

.ee

Percent of population

93% (2023 est.)

#####

+372

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

227,000 (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100

150 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

151 (2024 est.)

Total subscriptions

2.06 million (2024 est.)

34 (2025)

ES

Right

10 (2025)

By type

general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66

Total

72 (2023)

Key ports

Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

Large

4

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

5

Small

4

Total ports

20 (2024)

Very small

11

Total

1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified

EST

armored vehicles

tanks

Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillance<br><br>Estonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025)

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League <br><br>Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)

active duty personnel

7,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Estonian Defense League is a voluntary national defense organization that operates under the Estonian Ministry of Defense

percent of total labor force

1.00 %

approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)

note

<strong>note: </strong>the Estonian Defense Forces rely largely on reservists who have completed compulsory conscription in the previous 10 years to fill out its active duty and Territorial Defense units during a crisis; there are more than 40,000 trained reservists, and approximately 230,000 Estonians are enrolled in the mobilization registry

the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)

3 % of GDP

current USD

$1,441,919,733

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

3.4% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

7.51 %

percent of GDP

3.37 % of GDP

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2025)

note

<strong>note 1:</strong> conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's active-duty personnel and serve in all branches, except for the Air Force; after conscript service, reservists are called up for training every 5 years; Estonia has had conscription since 1991<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> in 2024, women comprised about 8% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization

PowerIndex score

2.3201

Refugees

42,439 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

63,944 (2024 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke

-19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Agriculture

27.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

11.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

23.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

21 % of total land area

40 % of total

12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

9 % of internal resources

Agricultural

5 million cubic meters (2022)

Industrial

1.135 billion cubic meters (2022)

Municipal

64.998 million cubic meters (2022)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

489,500 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

39.1% (2022 est.)