2010 Edition

Background

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 - 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 Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Area

land

42,388 sq km

total

45,228 sq km

water

2,840 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline

3,794 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Suur Munamagi 318 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one-20th the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,060 cu m/yr (2002)

total

1.41 cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%)

Geographic coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km

total

633 km

Land use

arable land

12.05%

other

87.6% (2005)

permanent crops

0.35%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

21.1 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.9% (male 99,748/female 94,051) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 417,816/female 459,246) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 75,486/female 153,024) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.42 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

13.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

8.34 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.19 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.76 years (2010 est.)

male

67.74 years

total population

73.08 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2000 census)

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea

vectorborne disease

tickborne encephalitis (2009)

Median age

female

43.7 years (2010 est.)

male

36.7 years

total

40.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Estonian

noun

Estonian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

1,291,170 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.635% (2010 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2008)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.063 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female

total population

0.84 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

69% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond); Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

59 26 N, 24 43 E

name

Tallinn

time difference

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

Constitution

adopted 28 June 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Estonia

conventional short form

Estonia

former

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Eesti Vabariik

local short form

Eesti

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Michael C. POLT

embassy

Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn

FAX

[372] 668-8265

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[372] 668-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Vaino REINART

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108

telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

Executive branch

cabinet

Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)

election results

Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23 September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received 174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left blank or invalid

elections

president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last held on 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%, Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 31, Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian People's Union 6, independent 1

elections

last held on 4 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS note: adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody with that of Finland but has different lyrics

name

"Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Political parties and leaders

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Juhan AARE]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party [Sven MIKSER]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Agriculture - products

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.39% (31 December 2009 est.) 8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$265 million (2010 est.) $898.7 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$25.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $25.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34 (2008) 37 (1999)

Economy - overview

Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and very low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia's economy slowed down markedly and fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 15% in 2009, among the world's highest rates of contraction. A modest recovery began in 2010, but unemployment stands above 13%. Estonia adopted the euro in January 2011.

Electricity - consumption

7.686 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

2.31 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.369 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

11.46 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

kroon (EEK) per US dollar - 12.11 (2010), 11.232 (2009), 10.7 (2008), 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006) note: Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011

Exports

$10.77 billion (2010 est.) $9.08 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment 29%, wood and paper 13%, metals 10%, food products 8%, textiles 5%, chemical products

Exports - partners

Finland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%, Germany 6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.5%

industry

28.7%

services

68.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,000 (2010 est.) $18,500 (2009 est.) $21,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2010 est.) -13.9% (2009 est.) -5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.22 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.53 billion (2010 est.) $24.07 billion (2009 est.) $27.96 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.7% (2004)

Imports

$11.52 billion (2010 est.) $9.783 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 35%, textiles 19%, mineral fuels 19%, chemical products 9%, foodstuffs 6%

Imports - partners

Finland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany 10.33%, Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2010 est.) -0.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

688,000 (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.8%

industry

22.7%

services

74.5% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.654 billion (31 December 2009) $1.95 billion (31 December 2008) $6.037 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

30,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

7,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2007)

Public debt

7.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 7.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.641 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $16.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $20.32 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.345 billion (31 December 2010 est) $5.822 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

13.5% (2010 est.) 13.8% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster, ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally (2008)

Internet country code

.ee

Internet hosts

729,534 (2010)

Internet users

971,700 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income-tax returns online, and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections

general assessment

foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services available

international

country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

492,800 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.72 million (2009)

Airports

19 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

13 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

3 (Germany 1, Norway 2)

registered in other countries

77 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 7, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 4, Malta 16, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, Sierra Leone 1, Sweden 3, Venezuela 1) (2010)

total

24

Pipelines

gas 859 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Railways

broad gauge

1,196 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified) (2008)

total

1,196 km

Roadways

paved

34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways)

total

58,034 km

unpaved

23,098 km (2009)

Waterways

520 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 297,096 females age 16-49: 308,229 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 213,740 females age 16-49: 255,926 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

6,564 (2010 est.)

male

6,945

Military branches

Estonian Defense Forces

Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2010)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription "likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)

Disputes - international

Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending prepared a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs

growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================