2024 Edition Primary

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 and many other countries -- 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 the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.

Area

land

42,388 sq km

note

note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

total

45,228 sq km

water

2,840 sq km

Area - comparative

about twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline

3,794 km

Elevation

highest point

Suur Munamagi 318 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation

61 m

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

Irrigated land

20 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

border countries

Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km

total

657 km

Land use

agricultural land

22.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)

forest

52.1% (2018 est.)

other

25.7% (2018 est.)

Location

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Natural resources

oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753)

15-64 years

62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113)

65 years and over

22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

8.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

0.4% (2013/15)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

7.8% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52.3% (2023 est.)

Death rate

13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.3

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

58.3

youth dependency ratio

26.1

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 99.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.79 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.2 years

male

73.8 years

total population

78.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

99.9% (2021)

male

99.9%

total population

99.9%

Major urban areas - population

454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

48.2 years

male

41.9 years

total

45 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.2 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Estonian

noun

Estonian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.2% (2016)

Physician density

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

female

630,712 (2024 est.)

male

563,079

total

1,193,791

Population distribution

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Population growth rate

-0.76% (2024 est.)

Religions

Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 99.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2020)

male

15 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.55 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

23% (2020 est.)

male

36.3% (2020 est.)

total

29.7% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.62 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

69.8% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular vald) urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Vorurural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the Estonian name is generally believed to be derived from "Taani-linn" (originally meaning "Danish castle", now "Danish town") after a stronghold built in the area by the Danes; it could also have come from "tali-linn" ("winter castle" or "winter town") or "talu-linn" ("home castle" or "home town")

geographic coordinates

59 26 N, 24 43 E

name

Tallinn

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015

history

several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Estonia

conventional short form

Estonia

etymology

the country name may derive from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D.

former

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

local long form

Eesti Vabariik

local short form

Eesti

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador George P. KENT (since 21 February 2023)

email address and website

acstallinn@state.govhttps://ee.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn

FAX

[372] 668-8265

mailing address

4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC  20521-4530

telephone

[372] 668-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2131 Massachusetts Ave, NWWashington, DC, 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)

consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

email address and website

Embassy.Washington@mfa.eehttps://washington.mfa.ee/

FAX

[1] (202) 588-0108

telephone

[1] (202) 588-0101

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

chief of state

President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)

election results

2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the highest number of votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; election last held on 30 to 31 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS (since 26 January 2021)

note

note - Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS resigned on 15 July 2024 but will continue as acting prime minister until the new government is sworn in

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)

judge selection and term of office

the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life

subordinate courts

circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected at general elections for a term of four years.)

election results

percent of vote by party - Reform 31.2%, EKRE 16.1%, Center 15.3%, E200 13.3%, SDE 9.3%, Pro Patria 8.2%, Left 2.4%, Right 2.3%, Greens 1.0%; seats by party - Reform 37, EKRE 17, Center 16, E200 14, SDE 9, Pro Patria 8; composition - men 71, women 30, percent of women 29.7%

elections

last held on 5 March 2023; next elections 7 March 2027

National anthem

lyrics/music

Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS

name

"Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)

note

note: adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody as Finland's but has different lyrics

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc

total World Heritage Sites

2 (both cultural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood

National symbol(s)

barn swallow, cornflower; national colors: blue, black, white

Political parties

Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKREEstonia 200 or E200Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or KEEstonian Free Party or VAPEstonian Greens or EEREstonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or REEstonian United Left Party or EÜVPFatherland or IPro Patria (Isamaa)The Right or PPSocial Democratic Party or SDE

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections

Agricultural products

wheat, milk, barley, rapeseed, oats, peas, potatoes, rye, pork, beans (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

7.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

18.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$13.505 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$13.907 billion (2022 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

AA- (2018)

Moody's rating

A1 (2002)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

AA- (2011)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$1.002 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$1.231 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$848.528 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

advanced, service-based EU and eurozone economy; economic downturn due to inflation, trade, and energy impacts of Ukraine war; decline in intra-EU trade; low public debt relative to EU members; recovery depends on improving private investment and productivity rates

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.893 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$29.522 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$32.461 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$31.939 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

electricity, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, wood, coal tar oil (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Finland 13%, Latvia 12%, Sweden 8%, Lithuania 7%, Russia 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

78.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.9% (2023 est.)

household consumption

53% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-77.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.2% (2023 est.)

industry

22.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

63.8% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$40.745 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021

31.8 (2021 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.3% (2021 est.)

lowest 10%

3.1% (2021 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

Imports 2021

$29.937 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$32.671 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$31.701 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, electricity, natural gas, coal tar oil (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Finland 13%, Germany 10%, Lithuania 8%, Latvia 8%, Russia 8% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-9.7% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.65% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

19.4% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

9.16% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

752,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

22.5% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

25.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$59.429 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$59.155 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$57.377 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

7.25% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-0.46% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-3.01% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$44,700 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$43,900 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$42,000 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.24% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$2.371 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$2.217 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$2.593 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.01% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

6.18% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.57% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

6.35% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

16% (2023 est.)

male

18.2% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

17.1% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

688,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

4.466 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

5.16 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption

3,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

18.5 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

7.476 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

6.173 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports

7.182 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.871 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

532 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

21.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

63.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

5.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

9.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

73.259 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

354.912 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

706.983 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

1.255 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

31 (2020 est.)

total

415,610 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services

Internet country code

.ee

Internet users

percent of population

91% (2021 est.)

total

1.183 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

20 per 100 for fixed-line subscribership and approximately 155 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2022)

general assessment

investment in Estonia’s telecom market has been focused on fixed-line infrastructure upgrades, and the deployment of 5G services; fixed broadband subscribers are gradually migrating from digital subscriber lines (DSL) to fiber, with the legacy copper being replaced; the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have comprehensive long-term evolution (LTE) infrastructure in place, and have in recent years channeled investment to 5G; several 5G trials have been undertaken in recent years, though commercial service launches have been restricted by the lack of available internet services (2024)

international

country code - 372; landing points for the EE-S-1, EESF-3, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC and EESF-2 fiber-optic submarine cables to other Estonia points, Finland, and Sweden; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

266,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

155 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.056 million (2022 est.)

Airports

26 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ES

Heliports

2 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66

total

72 (2023)

National air transport system

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

31,981 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

14

number of registered air carriers

3 (2020)

Pipelines

2,360 km gas (2016)

Ports

key ports

Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

large

4

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

5

small

4

total ports

20 (2024)

very small

11

Railways

total

1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified

Roadways

total

89,382 km (2022)

Waterways

335 km (2011) (320 km are navigable year-round)

Military - note

the Estonian military is a compact force that relies heavily on conscripts and reservists and the support of its NATO allies; Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillanceEstonia has been a member of NATO since 2004 and is fully integrated within the NATO structure; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2024)

Military and security forces

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 7,500 active-duty personnel; approximately 15,000 Defense League (2024)

note

note: the Estonian Defense Forces rely largely on reservists who have completed compulsory conscription in the previous 10 years to fill out its active duty and Territorial Defense units during a crisis; there are more than 40,000 trained reservists and approximately 230,000 Estonians are enrolled in the mobilization registry

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Estonian military has a mix of weapons and equipment from western European suppliers, as well as Israel, South Korea, Turkey, and the US  (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

2.3% of GDP (2020)

Military Expenditures 2021

2% of GDP (2021)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.2% of GDP (2022)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.9% of GDP (2023)

Military Expenditures 2024

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2024)

note

note 1: conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's 7,000 active-duty personnel and serve in all branches, except for the Air Force; after conscript service, reservists are called up for training every 5 years; Estonia has had conscription since 1991note 2: in 2021, women comprised about 10% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization of more than 3,000 members

Illicit drugs

producer of synthetic drugs; important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

38,020 (Ukraine) (as of 2 March 2024)

stateless persons

70,604 (2022); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

16.59 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.99 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

6.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Environment - current issues

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted into the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring; 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-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

22.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)

forest

52.1% (2018 est.)

other

25.7% (2018 est.)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

12.81 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

4.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

69.8% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

473,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

117,020 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.7% (2015 est.)