Legend:  Definition  Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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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. Estonia received invitations to
join NATO and the EU in 2002. |
|
Location: |
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland,
between Latvia and Russia |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
59 00 N, 26 00 E |
|
Map references: |
Europe
|
|
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 |
|
Land boundaries: |
total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km,
Russia 294 km |
|
Coastline: |
3,794 km |
|
Maritime claims: |
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination
with neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate: |
maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers |
|
Terrain: |
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south |
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point:
Suur Munamagi 318 m |
|
Natural resources: |
oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite,
arable land, sea mud |
|
Land use: |
arable land: 26.5%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 73.15% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land: |
40 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
Natural hazards: |
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring |
|
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
|
|
Geography - note: |
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore
lie more than 1,500 islands |
|
Population: |
1,408,556 (July 2003 est.) |
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 15.8% (male 113,239; female 108,876)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 467,041; female 501,805)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 71,512; female 146,083)
(2003 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 38.1 years
male: 34.7 years
female: 41.3 years (2002) |
|
Population growth rate: |
-0.49% (2003 est.) |
|
Birth rate: |
9.24 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Death rate: |
13.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Net migration rate: |
-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
|
Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total
population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 12.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 13.88
deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 70.31 years
male: 64.36
years
female: 76.57 years (2003 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
1% (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 7,700 (2001 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 100 (2001 est.) |
|
Nationality: |
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian |
|
Ethnic groups: |
Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%,
Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998) |
|
Religions: |
Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox,
Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish |
|
Languages: |
Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, Finnish, other |
|
Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.) |
|
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 |
|
Government type: |
parliamentary republic |
|
Capital: |
Tallinn |
|
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 |
|
Independence: |
regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) |
|
National holiday: |
Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918
was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 20 August 1991 was
the date of reindependence from the Soviet Union |
|
Constitution: |
adopted 28 June 1992 |
|
Legal system: |
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative
acts |
|
Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens |
|
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 |
|
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) |
|
Judicial branch: |
National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)
|
|
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 [leader NA]; Moderates
(Moodukad) [Ivari PADAR]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tunne
KELAM, chairman]; Res Publica [Juhan PARTS]; Russian Baltic Party
[Sergei IVANOV] |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA |
|
International organization participation: |
BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK
chancery: 1730 M Street NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC
20036
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1]
(202) 588-0108
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 |
|
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 |
|
Flag description: |
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three
equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
|
|
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 telecoms sectors. A
major goal is accession to the EU, possibly by 2004. The economy is
greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany,
three major trading partners. The high current account deficit
remains a concern. |
|
GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $15.52 billion (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
6% (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 5.8%
industry: 28.6%
services: 65.6% (2001) |
|
Population below poverty line: |
NA% (2000) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
|
|
Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
37 (1999) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3.7% (2002 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
608,600 (2001 est.) |
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
12.4% (2001) |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $1.89 billion
expenditures: $1.89
billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.) |
|
Industries: |
engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile;
information technology, telecommunications |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
5% (2000 est.) |
|
Electricity - production: |
7.937 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0.1%
other: 0.2% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
|
Electricity - consumption: |
6.192 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - exports: |
1.19 billion kWh (2001) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2001) |
|
Oil - production: |
5,100 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption: |
24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
|
Oil - exports: |
NA (2001) |
|
Oil - imports: |
NA (2001) |
|
Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2001 est.) |
|
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.) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish |
|
Exports: |
$3.4 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%,
food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
|
|
Exports - partners: |
Finland 19.2%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 10.6%, Latvia 7.4%, Germany 7.2%
(2002) |
|
Imports: |
$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002) |
|
Imports - commodities: |
machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles
10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001) |
|
Imports - partners: |
Russia 26.6%, Finland 18.9%, Germany 9.2%, Sweden 8.2% (2002)
|
|
Debt - external: |
$3.3 billion (2001 est.) |
|
Economic aid - recipient: |
$108 million (2000) |
|
Currency: |
Estonian kroon (EEK) |
|
Currency code: |
EEK |
|
Exchange rates: |
krooni per US dollar - 16.61 (2002), 17.56 (2001), 16.97 (2000),
14.68 (1999), 14.07 (1998) |
|
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use: |
501,691 (2000) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
711,000 (yearend 2001) |
|
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:
fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide
worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are
located in Tallinn (2001) |
|
Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001) |
|
Television broadcast stations: |
3 (2001) |
|
Internet country code: |
.ee |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
38 (2001) |
|
Internet users: |
429,700 (2002) |
|
Railways: |
total: 968 km
broad gauge: 968 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 (2002) |
|
Highways: |
total: 51,411 km
paved: 10,334 km (including
94 km of expressways)
unpaved: 41,077 km (2000) |
|
Waterways: |
320 km (perennially navigable) (2002) |
|
Pipelines: |
gas 859 km (2003) |
|
Ports and harbors: |
Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 200,807 GRT/169,899
DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here
as a flag of convenience: Liberia 1 (2002 est.)
ships by
type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 5 |
|
Airports: |
38 (2002) |
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to
2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2002) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to
3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523
m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2002) |
This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
|
