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Estonia

2025 Edition · 413 data fields

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Introduction

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 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.

Geography

Area

Land: 42,388 sq km
Note: note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
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

Continent

Europe

Elevation

Highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 61 m

Geographic coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

Border countries: Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km
number of neighbors: 2
Total: 657 km

Land use

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%

Landlocked

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

Fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km

Map links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/6SsynwGUodL1sDvq8
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/79510

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

Subregion

Northern Europe

Terrain

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

Time zone

UTC+02:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

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

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

54.1% (2021 est.)

Death rate

12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female: 58 per 1,000
adult male: 146 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

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.)

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13% national budget (2022 est.)

Education expenditures

5 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.66 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1%

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

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.)

Languages

Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)
languages: Estonian
number of languages: 1

Life expectancy at birth

Female: 83.2 years
Male: 73.8 years
Total population: 78.4 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

Female: 48.2 years
Male: 41.9 years
Total: 42.9 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.2 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

Adjective: Estonian
Noun: Estonian(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.2% (2016)

Physician density

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

Female: 705,490
Male: 634,988
Total: 1,340,478 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.47% (2025 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation facility access

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.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female: 16 years (2023 est.)
Male: 15 years (2023 est.)
Total: 16 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

Female: 18.3% (2025 est.)
Male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
Total: 23.7% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles: 83%

Government

Administrative divisions

15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular - vald) urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru rural municipalities: 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

Capital

Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Etymology: the name derives from the Old Estonian term tan-linn, 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

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

Coat of arms

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

Constitution

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

Country name

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 aueist, 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission: Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025)
Email address and website: acstallinn@state.gov https://ee.usembassy.gov/
Embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
FAX: [372] 668-8265
Mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC  20521-4530
Telephone: [372] 668-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008
Chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)
Consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/
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 Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
Election results: 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: 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

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white meaning: 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

Flag description

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

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/ee.svg

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 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, 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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

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

National color(s)

blue, black, white

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
note: 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 and restored its statehood

National symbol(s)

barn swallow, cornflower

Political parties

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

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

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

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

On alcohol and tobacco: 6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food: 19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

Expenditures: $16.721 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: 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.)

Currency

code: EUR
name: euro (EUR) [€]

Current account balance

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

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

$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: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $-3,437,916,450

GDP - composition, by end use

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 1.9% (2024 est.)
Industry: 20.5% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 65.1% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$42.765 billion (2024 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$31,428

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

30.3 (2018)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 32.3 (2022 est.)
Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

GNI (gross national income)

$42.26 billion

GNI per capita

$28,880

Gross domestic investment

25 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$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: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-7% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

756,200 (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 746,793 persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.96%
industry: 26%
services: 71.05%

Population below poverty line

22.5% (2022 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2023: 28.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$68.57 billion
Note: note: 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.)

Real GDP growth rate

-0.09%
Note: note: 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.)

Real GDP per capita

$49,969
Note: note: 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.)

Remittances

$496.26 million
Note: note: 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.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.07 billion
Note: note: 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.)

Revenue (excl grants)

36 % of GDP

Tax revenue

21 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

8.31%
Note: note: % 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.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female: 20% (2024 est.)
Male: 21.9% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 20.9% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

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.)

Electricity access

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

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.)

Energy consumption per capita

3,089 kg of oil equivalent
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

38%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 35 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)
Total: 516,000 (2023 est.)

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, 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

Internet country code

.ee

Internet users

Percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)

Postal code format

#####

Telephone calling code

+372

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 227,000 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 150 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (2024 est.)
Total subscriptions: 2.06 million (2024 est.)

Transportation

Airports

34 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Right

Heliports

10 (2025)

Merchant marine

By type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66
Total: 72 (2023)

Ports

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

Railways

Total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified

Vehicle registration code

EST

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

Military - note

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 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)

Military and security forces

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)
active duty personnel: 7,000
note: note: 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 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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, Türkiye, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

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

Military service age and obligation

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: note 1: 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 note 2: in 2024, women comprised about 8% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 2.3201

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Refugees: 42,439 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 63,944 (2024 est.)

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements

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

Methane emissions

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.)

Particulate matter emissions

6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

21 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

40 % of total

Total renewable water resources

12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

9 % of internal resources
Agricultural: 5 million cubic meters (2022)
Industrial: 1.135 billion cubic meters (2022)
Municipal: 64.998 million cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 489,500 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.1% (2022 est.)