2007 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: 15.2% (male 103,367/female 97,587) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 427,043/female 468,671) 65 years and over: 17.2% (male 75,347/female 152,318) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Airports

24 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

total

12

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4

total

12

under 914 m

5 (2006)

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 - an action never recognized by the US - 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. Geography Estonia

Birth rate

10.04 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$5.718 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$5.994 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

59 25 N, 24 45 E

name

Tallinn

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 (code)

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code

EEK

Current account balance

$-1.919 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

13.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$13.94 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeffrey GOLDSTEIN

embassy

Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[372] 668-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Juri LUIK

telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

Disputes - international

in 2005, Russia refuses to sign the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia when Estonia prepares a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33 (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

$108 million (2000)

Economy - overview

Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The current account deficit remains high; however, the state budget is essentially in balance, and public debt is low.

Electricity - consumption

6.846 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

2.141 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

347 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

9.29 billion kWh (2004)

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-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

Estonian Defense Forces

Land Force, Navy, Air Force, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2006)

Ethnic groups

Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

Exchange rates

krooni per US dollar - 12.5153 (2006), 12.584 (2005), 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003), 16.612 (2002), note - the krooni is pegged to the euro

Executive branch

cabinet

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

chief of state

President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)

election results

Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23 September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received 174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left blank or invalid

elections

president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate 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 23 September 2006 (next to be held fall of 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)

Exports

$9.68 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 26.3%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 8.8%, Russia 6.5%, Germany 6.2%, Lithuania 4.6% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108

[372] 668-8134

consulate(s) general

New York

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

3.4%

industry

28%

services

68.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.62 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$26 billion (2006 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

Heliports

1 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

7,800 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28.5% (2000)

lowest 10%

1.9%

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 This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$12.03 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 19.8%, Germany 13.9%, Russia 9.2%, Sweden 8.9%, Lithuania 6%, Latvia 4.7% (2005)

Independence

20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2006 est.)

Industries

engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; information technology, telecommunications

Infant mortality rate

female

6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

8.91 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.4% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.ee

Internet hosts

52,241 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

38 (2001)

Internet users

690,000 (2005) Transportation Estonia

Investment (gross fixed)

32.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Labor force

673,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

11%

industry

20%

services

69% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

total

633 km

Land use

arable land

12.05%

other

87.6% (2005)

permanent crops

0.35%

Languages

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

Legal system

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 of Estonia 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Estonian Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Res Publica 26, Center Party 20, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, Social Democrats (formerly People's Party Moodukad) 6, non-affiliated (Social Liberals and independents) 10

elections

last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.83 years (2006 est.)

male

66.58 years

total population

72.04 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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

304,961 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

291,696

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

250,351 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

200,382 (in 2004, 51% of the young men called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles to conscription were psychiatric and behavioral)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

10,605 (2005 est.)

males

11,146

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

42.6 years (2006 est.)

male

35.8 years

total

39.3 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 7, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

4 (Denmark 2, Norway 2)

registered in other countries

72 (Antigua and Barbuda 12, Bahamas 1, Belize 3, Cyprus 6, Dominica 11, Isle of Man 2, Liberia 1, Malta 4, Norway 1, Panama 3, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25, Slovakia 1, Vanuatu 1) (2006)

total

35 ships (1000 GRT or over) 388,723 GRT/98,393 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$155 million (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (2002 est.) Transnational Issues Estonia

Military service age and obligation

compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28; conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17 years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60 (2006)

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

adjective

Estonian

noun

Estonian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

1.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 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

-3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

60,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

54,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production

6,819 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 859 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN, chairman]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG, chairman]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR, chairman]; Social Liberals (group of eight parliamentarians, former Center Party members) [Peeter KREITZBERG]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Tonis LUKAS and Taavi VESKIMAGI, co-chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

1,324,333 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

5% (2003)

Population growth rate

-0.64% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Kopli, Kuivastu, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu Military Estonia

Public debt

3.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios

1.01 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

958 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (2005)

total

958 km

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.344 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

13,384 km (including 99 km of expressways)

total

56,856 km

unpaved

43,472 km (2004)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.84 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 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

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

442,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.445 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

3 (2001)

Televisions

605,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.8% (2006 est.)

Waterways

500 km (2005)