Administrative divisions15 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
Age structure
0-14 years: 16% (male 110,452; female 104,363)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 431,493; female 474,255)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 72,819; female 148,282) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products
potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Airports
29 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2003 est.)
Area
total: 45,226 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
water: 2,015 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Background
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, 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.
Birth rate
9.79 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget
revenues: $3.806 billion
expenditures: $3.648 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)
Capital
Tallinn
Climate
maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Coastline
3,794 km
Constitution
adopted 28 June 1992
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
Currency
Estonian kroon (EEK)
Currency code
EEK
Current account balance
$-1.15 billion (2003)
Death rate
13.27 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external
$7.002 billion (2003 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. DeTHOMAS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
Disputes - international
Russia continues to reject signing and ratifying the joint December 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia
Distribution of family income - Gini index
37 (1999)
Economic aid - recipient
$108 million (2000)
Economy - overview
Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization, is steadily moving toward a modern market economy with increasing ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors. Estonia has been invited to join the European Union and will do so in May 2004. The economy is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Germany, four major trading partners. The high current account deficit remains a concern. However, the state budget enjoyed a surplus of $130 million in 2003.
Electricity - consumption
6.192 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports
1.19 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production
7.937 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 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 twentieth 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-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups
Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)
Exchange rates
krooni per US dollar - 13.8564 (2003), 16.6118 (2002), 17.4781 (2001), 16.9686 (2000), 14.6776 (1999)
Executive branch
chief of state: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Juhan PARTS (since 10 April 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
election results: Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September 2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened following Parliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI's successor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 188 votes to Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 24 ballots were either left blank or invalid
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she 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 governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held 21 September 2001 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
Exports
$4.075 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities
machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
Exports - partners
Finland 21.9%, Sweden 12.5%, Russia 11.5%, Germany 8.4%, Latvia 7.4%, Lithuania 4% (2003 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag description
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
GDP
purchasing power parity - $17.35 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 30.3%
services: 64.8% (2003)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $12,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4.7% (2003 est.)
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
Government type
parliamentary republic
Highways
total: 51,411 km
paved: 10,334 km (including 94 km of expressways)
unpaved: 41,077 km (2000)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
less than 7,700 (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds
Imports
$5.535 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)
Imports - partners
Finland 15.9%, Germany 11.1%, Russia 10.2%, Sweden 7.7%, Ukraine 4.3%, China 4.2%, Japan 4.1% (2003 est.)
Independence
regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate
5% (2000 est.)
Industries
engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; information technology, telecommunications
Infant mortality rate
total: 8.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 9.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.3% (2003 est.)
International organization participation
BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet country code
.ee
Internet hosts
82,142 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
38 (2001)
Internet users
444,000 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed)
30.2% of GDP (2003)
Irrigated land
40 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch
National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)
Labor force
654,000 (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 11%, industry 20%, services 69% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Land use
arable land: 16.04%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 83.51% (2001)
Languages
Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, Finnish, other
Legal system
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's Party Moodukad 6
elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 71.38 years
male: 65.78 years
female: 77.33 years (2004 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states
Median age
total: 38.8 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 42.1 years (2004 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 212,998 GRT/177,488 DWT
by type: bulk 2, cargo 12, container 4, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea/passenger 5
foreign-owned: Netherlands 1
registered in other countries: 45 (2003 est.)
Military branches
Estonia Defense Forces (including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force), Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard
note: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian Navy in wartime
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$155 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
2% (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 326,803 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 257,386 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age (Estonia has committed to retaining conscription up to 2010) (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 10,884 (2004 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 is the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 is the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Natural gas - consumption
1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports
1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural hazards
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Natural resources
oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Net migration rate
-3.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports
NA (2001)
Oil - imports
NA (2001)
Oil - production
5,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Pipelines
gas 859 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders
Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Siim KALLAS]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG, chairman]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Res Publica [Juhan PARTS]; Russian Baltic Party [Sergei IVANOV]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad) [Ivari PADAR, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
1,341,664 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA (2000)
Population growth rate
-0.66% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors
Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Public debt
7.4% of GDP (2003)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios
1.01 million (1997)
Railways
total: 958 km
broad gauge: 958 km 1.520-m/1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified)
note: gauge being increased from 1.520-m to 1.524-m to reduce wear on wheels and rail as lines are modernized (2003)
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$1.377 billion (2003)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 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: 0.85 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Telephone system
general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are available throughout most of the country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled by September 2000
domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services is available throughout the country
international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)
Telephones - main lines in use
475,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
881,000 (2002)
Television broadcast stations
3 (2001)
Televisions
605,000 (1997)
Terrain
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Total fertility rate
1.39 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
10.1% (2003)
Waterways
320 km (perennially navigable) (2002)