2019 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 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 the spring of 2004, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.

Area

Land

42,388 sq km

Total

45,228 sq km

Water

2,840 sq km

Area Comparative

about twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline

3,794 km

Elevation

Highest Point

Suur Munamagi 318 m

Lowest Point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

61 m

Environment Current Issues

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring; 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

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 (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Latvia 333 km, Russia 324 km

Total

657 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

22.2% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

14.9% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

7.2% (2011 est.)

Forest

52.1% (2011 est.)

Other

25.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map References

Europe

Maritime Claims

Exclusive Economic Zone

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

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

Population Distribution

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

Terrain

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

16.3% (male 104,024 /female 98,757)

15 24 Years

8.8% (male 56,755 /female 52,711)

25 54 Years

41.07% (male 258,727 /female 252,304)

55 64 Years

13.63% (male 76,895 /female 92,759)

65 Years And Over

20.2% (male 85,900 /female 165,456) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

9.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

6.7% (2016)

Death Rate

12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

28.9 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

3.5 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

53.7 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

24.8 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

99% of population

Improved Total

99.6% of population

Improved Urban

100% of population

Unimproved Rural

1% of population

Unimproved Total

0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0% of population

Education Expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate

0.9% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS Deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS

7,400 (2018 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

5 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

82 years

Male

72.3 years

Total Population

77 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

99.8% (2015)

Male

99.8%

Total Population

99.8%

Major Infectious Diseases

Degree Of Risk

intermediate (2016)

Vectorborne Diseases

tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Major Urban Areas Population

441,000 TALLINN (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

46.4 years

Male

39.7 years

Total

43 years (2018 est.)

Mother's Mean Age at First Birth

26.6 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Estonian

Noun

Estonian(s)

Net Migration Rate

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

21.2% (2016)

Physicians Density

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

1,244,288 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-0.6% (2018 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 16.2%, Lutheran 9.9%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

96.6% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

97.2% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

97.5% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

3.4% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

2.8% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

2.5% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

17 years (2016)

Male

15 years

Total

16 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.08 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

1.03 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.83 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.52 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.88 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.6 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

10% (2017 est.)

Male

13.9%

Total

12.1%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

0.01% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

69.1% of total population (2019)

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)

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)

Citizenship

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

Constitution

Amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)

History

several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Republic of Estonia

Conventional Short Form

Estonia

Etymology

the country name may derive from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D.

Former

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Local Long Form

Eesti Vabariik

Local Short Form

Eesti

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Brian RORAFF (since July 2019)

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 Jonatan VSEVIOV (since 17 September 2018)

Consulate's General

New York

Fax

[1] (202) 588-0108

Telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

Executive Branch

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

Chief Of State

President Kersti KALJULAID (since 10 October 2016)

Election Results

Kersti KALJULAID elected president; Parliament vote - Kersti KALJULAID (independent) 81 of 98 votes; note - KALJULAID is Estonia's first female president

Elections Appointments

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 highest number of votes; election last held on 29-30 August 2016, but three rounds were inconclusive; two electoral college votes on 24 September 2016 were also indecisive, so the election passed back to Parliament; on 3 October the Parliament elected Kersti KALJULAID as president; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

Head Of Government

Juri RATAS (since 23 November 2016)

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 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

International Law Organization Participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International Organization Participation

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, MINUSMA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial Branch

Highest Courts

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

Legal System

civil law system

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

Election Results

percent of vote by party - RE 28.9%, K 23.1%, EKRE 17.8%, Pro Patria 11.4%, SDE 9.8%, other 9%; seats by party - RE 34, K 26, EKRE 19, Pro Patria 12, SDE 10; composition - men 72, women 29, percent of women 28.7%

Elections

last held on 3 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2023)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS

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 and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood

National Symbol S

barn swallow, cornflower; national colors: blue, black, white

Political Parties And Leaders

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) or K [Juri RATAS] Estonia 200 [Kristina KALLAS] Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Mart HELME] Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE [Kaja KALLAS] Free Party or EV [Andres HERKEL] Pro Patria (Isamaa) [Helir-Valdor SEEDER] Social Democratic Party or SDE [Jevgeni OSSINOVSKI]

Suffrage

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

Agriculture Products

grain, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Budget

Expenditures

10.44 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

10.37 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2016

0%

31 December 2017

0%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

4.23%

31 December 2017

4.2%

Current Account Balance

2016

$443 million

2017

$809 million

Debt External

31 December 2015

$18.3 billion

31 December 2016

$19.05 billion

Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index

2014

35.6

2015

34.8

Economy Overview

Estonia, a member of the EU since 2004 and the euro zone since 2011, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region, but its economy is highly dependent on trade, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda, and sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU.The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Russia. The economy’s 4.9% GDP growth in 2017 was the fastest in the past six years, leaving the Estonian economy in its best position since the financial crisis 10 years ago. For the first time in many years, labor productivity increased faster than labor costs in 2017. Inflation also rose in 2017 to 3.5% alongside increased global prices for food and energy, which make up a large share of Estonia’s consumption.Estonia is challenged by a shortage of labor, both skilled and unskilled, although the government has amended its immigration law to allow easier hiring of highly qualified foreign workers, and wage growth that outpaces productivity gains. The government is also pursuing efforts to boost productivity growth with a focus on innovations that emphasize technology start-ups and e-commerce.

Exchange Rates

2013

0.7634

2014

0.885

2015

0.9214

2016

0.9

2017

0.92

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$12.36 billion

2017

$13.44 billion

Exports Commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 30%, food products and beverages 9%, mineral fuels 6%, wood and wood products 14%, articles of base metals 7%, furniture and bedding 11%, vehicles and parts 3%, chemicals 4% (2016 est.)

Exports Partners

Finland 16.2%, Sweden 13.5%, Latvia 9.2%, Russia 7.3%, Germany 6.9%, Lithuania 5.9% (2017)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

77.2% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

20.4% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

50.3% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-74% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

24% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

2.2% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

2.8% (2017 est.)

Industry

29.2% (2017 est.)

Services

68.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$25.97 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$29,600

2016

$30,200

2017

$31,700

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$38.92 billion

2016

$39.72 billion

2017

$41.65 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

1.7%

2016

2.1%

2017

4.9%

Gross National Saving

2015

25.8% of GDP

2016

24.6% of GDP

2017

27% of GDP

Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share

Highest 10

25.6% (2015)

Lowest 10

2.3%

Imports

2016

$13.23 billion

2017

$14.42 billion

Imports Commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 28%, mineral fuels 11%, food and food products 10%, vehicles 9%, chemical products 8%, metals 8% (2015 est.)

Imports Partners

Finland 14%, Germany 10.7%, Lithuania 8.9%, Sweden 8.5%, Latvia 8.2%, Poland 7.2%, Russia 6.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, China 4.7% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

9.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

0.8%

2017

3.7%

Labor Force

670,200 (2017 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

2.7%

Industry

20.5%

Services

76.8% (2017 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

31 December 2015

$2.045 billion

31 December 2016

$2.407 billion

31 December 2017

$3.102 billion

Population Below Poverty Line

21.1% (2016 est.)

Public Debt

2016

9.4% of GDP

2017

9% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2016

$352.2 million

31 December 2017

$345 million

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$11.8 billion

31 December 2017

$14.78 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2016

$9.396 billion

31 December 2017

$10.96 billion

Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2016

$22.19 billion

31 December 2017

$27.05 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$20.97 billion

31 December 2017

$24.25 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$11.8 billion

31 December 2017

$14.78 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

39.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

6.8%

2017

5.8%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

5.306 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

8.795 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

5.613 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

72% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

28% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

3.577 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

2.578 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

11.55 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

481.4 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

481.4 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

28,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

27,150 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

35,520 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

32 (2017 est.)

Total

404,682

Broadcast Media

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; a range of channels are 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

Internet Country Code

.ee

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

87.2% (July 2016 est.)

Total

1,097,921

Telephone System

Domestic

29 per 100 for fixed-line and 152 per 100 for mobile-cellular; 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 - in local and parliamentary elections - has climbed steadily since first introduced in 2005; 85% of Estonian households have broadband access (2018)

General Assessment

range of regulatory measures competition and 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; one of the most advanced mobile markets in Europe; 5G trials for further growth commercially available by 2020; highest broadband penetration in Europe (2018)

International

country code - 372; landing points for the EE-S-1, EESF-3, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC and EESF-2 fiber-optic submarine cables to other Estonia points, Finland, and Sweden; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

29 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

362,117

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

152 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

1,904,425

Airports

18 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

2 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

8 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2017)

Total

13 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

1 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2013)

Total

5 (2013)

Under 914 M

3 (2013)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

ES (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 8, oil tanker 6, other 60 (2018)

Total

74

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

870,362 mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

512,388 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

14 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

3 (2015)

Pipelines

2360 km gas (2016)

Ports And Terminals

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

Railways

Broad Gauge

2,146 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified) (2016)

Total

2,146 km (2016)

Roadways

Paved

10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) (2011)

Total

58,412 km (includes urban roads) (2011)

Unpaved

47,985 km (2011)

Waterways

335 km (320 km are navigable year-round) (2011)

Military And Security Forces

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defence League (Reserves) (2019)

Military Expenditures

2015

2.02% of GDP

2016

2.07% of GDP

2017

2.03% of GDP

2018

2% of GDP

2019

2.14% of GDP

Military Service Age And Obligation

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service, conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months (2016)

Disputes International

Russia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements 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

Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons

77,877 (2018); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old