2001 Edition

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 (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.08% (male 123,997; female 119,166) 15-64 years: 68.14% (male 466,823; female 503,032) 65 years and over: 14.78% (male 68,802; female 141,496) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

32 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

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 (2000 est.) Estonia Military

Area

total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Background

After centuries of Swedish 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 Geography

Birth rate

8.7 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $1.37 billion expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 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 long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Currency

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code

EEK

Death rate

13.48 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] 668-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101

Disputes - international

Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been signed nor ratified by Russia as of February 2001

Economic aid - recipient

$137.3 million (1995)

Economy - overview

In 2000, Estonia rebounded from the Russian financial crisis by scaling back its budget and reorienting trade away from Russian markets into EU member states. After GDP shrank 1.1% in 1999, the economy made a strong recovery in 2000, with growth estimated at 6.4% - the highest in Central and Eastern Europe. Estonia joined the World Trade Organization in November 1999 - the second Baltic state to join - and continues its EU accession talks. For 2001, Estonians predict GDP to grow around 6%, inflation of between 4.2%-5.3%, and a balanced budget. Substantial gains were made in completing privatization of Estonia's few remaining large, state-owned companies in 2000, and this momentum is expected to continue in 2001. Estonia hopes to join the EU during the next round of enlargement tentatively set for 2004.

Electricity - consumption

6.807 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

530 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

100 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

7.782 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 99.72% hydro: 0.09% nuclear: 0% other: 0.19% (1999)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Environment - current issues

air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Estonia People

Ethnic groups

Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)

Exchange rates

krooni per US dollar - 16.663 (January 2001), 16.969 (2000), 14.678 (1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996); note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 29 March 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament 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, 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 August-September 1996 (next to be held in the fall of 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Lennart MERI reelected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

Exports

$3.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment 24%, wood products 20%, textiles 17%, food products 9%, metals, chemical products (1999)

Exports - partners

Finland 19.4%, Sweden 18.8%, Russia 9.2%, Latvia 8.7%, Germany 7.5%, US 2.5% (1999)

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York

[372] 668-8134

Fiscal year

calendar year Estonia Communications

Flag description

pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white Estonia Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.7% services: 65.7% (1999)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Highways

total: 30,300 km paved: 29,200 km (including 75 km of expressways); note - these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather unpaved: 1,100 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.04% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 500 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)

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; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking; synthetic drug production growing, trafficked to Russia, Baltics, Finland

Imports

$4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 31%, chemical products 13%, foodstuffs 11%, metal products 8%, textiles 8% (1999)

Imports - partners

Finland 22.8%, Russia 13.5%, Sweden 9.3%, Germany 9.3%, Japan 4.7% (1999)

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

Industries

oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

Infant mortality rate

12.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.1% (1999 est.)

International organization participation

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ee

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

28 (2000)

Internet users

309,000 (2000) Estonia Transportation

Irrigated land

110 sq km (1996 est.)

Judicial branch

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Labor force

785,500 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

Land use

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 44% other: 20% (1996 est.)

Languages

Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, 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) elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party 18, Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party 7, UPPE 6

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.73 years male: 63.72 years female: 76.05 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1998 est.) Estonia Government

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

Merchant marine

total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 253,460 GRT/219,727 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 19, combination bulk 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 6 (2000 est.)

Military branches

Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$70 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.2% (FY99) Estonia Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 359,677 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 282,418 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 11,164 (2001 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 6 September 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Nationality

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Natural hazards

flooding occurs frequently in the spring

Natural resources

shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite, arable land

Net migration rate

-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Pipelines

natural gas 420 km (1992)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Christian People's Party [Aldo VINKEL]; Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Andrus OOBEL, chairman]; Estonian Democratic Party (formerly Estonian Blue Party) [Jaan LAAS]; Estonian Independence Party [leader NA]; Estonian National Democratic Party or ENDP [leader NA]; Estonian Pensioners and Families Party [Mai TREIAL]; Estonian Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN]; Estonian Republican Party [leader NA]; Estonian Social-Democratic Labor Party [Tiit TOOMSALU]; Estonian Rural People's Union (1999 merger of Estonian Country People's Party and the Estonian Rural Union) [Arvo SIRENDI]; Party of Consolidation Today [leader NA]; People's Party Moderates (1999 merger of People's Party and Moderates) [Andres TARAND]; Reform Party or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Russian Party in Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV]; Russian Unity Party [Igor SEDASHEV]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Mart LAAR, chairman]; United People's Party or UPPE [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,423,316 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

8.9% (1995 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.55% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3 (all AM stations inactive since July 1998), FM 82, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.01 million (1997)

Railways

total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish

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 (2001 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; Internet services available throughout most of the country; about 150,000 unfilled subscriber requests domestic: local - the Ministry of Transport and Communications is expanding cellular telephone services to form rural networks; intercity - highly developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities (1998) international: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn

Telephones - main lines in use

476,078 (yearend 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

475,000 (yearend 2000)

Television broadcast stations

31 (plus five repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions

605,000 (1997)

Terrain

marshy, lowlands

Total fertility rate

1.21 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.7% (1999 est.)

Waterways

320 km (perennially navigable)