2003 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 (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)

note

counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

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.)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

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

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

total

24

under 914 m

6 (2002) Military Estonia

Area

land

43,211 sq km

note

includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

total

45,226 sq km

water

2,015 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. Estonia received invitations to join NATO and the EU in 2002. Geography Estonia

Birth rate

9.24 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)

revenues

$1.89 billion

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

former

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

local long form

Eesti Vabariik

local short form

Eesti

Currency

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code

EEK

Death rate

13.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$3.3 billion (2001 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1730 M Street NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Juri LUIK

consulate(s) general

New York

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 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.

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%

nuclear

0%

other

0.2% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Suur Munamagi 318 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 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-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

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 - 16.61 (2002), 17.56 (2001), 16.97 (2000), 14.68 (1999), 14.07 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

chief of state

President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)

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

head of government

Prime Minister Juhan PARTS (since 10 April 2003)

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)

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108

[372] 668-8134

telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Estonia

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $15.52 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

5.8%

industry

28.6%

services

65.6% (2001)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2002 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 People Estonia

Government type

parliamentary republic

Highways

paved

10,334 km (including 94 km of expressways)

total

51,411 km

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 share

highest 10%

29.8% (1998)

lowest 10%

3%

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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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)

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

female

10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

13.88 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.03 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.7% (2002 est.)

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

Internet country code

.ee

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

38 (2001)

Internet users

429,700 (2002) Transportation Estonia

Irrigated land

40 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Labor force

608,600 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

total

633 km

Land use

arable land

26.5%

other

73.15% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.35%

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

female

76.57 years (2003 est.)

male

64.36 years

total population

70.31 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.8% (2003 est.) Government Estonia

male

99.8%

total population

99.8%

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

Median age

female

41.3 years (2002)

male

34.7 years

total

38.1 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Liberia 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 2, cargo 13, container 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 5

total

33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 200,807 GRT/169,899 DWT

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.) Transnational Issues Estonia

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

360,440 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

283,278 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

11,123 (2003 est.)

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

Nationality

adjective

Estonian

noun

Estonian(s)

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

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 [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

Population

1,408,556 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA% (2000)

Population growth rate

-0.49% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios

1.01 million (1997)

Railways

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)

total

968 km

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

total population

0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Telephone system

domestic

a wide range of high quality voice, data, and internet services is available throughout the country

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

international

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

501,691 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

711,000 (yearend 2001)

Television broadcast stations

3 (2001)

Televisions

605,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.4% (2001)

Waterways

320 km (perennially navigable) (2002)