from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Estonia
Introduction
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. It joined both NATO and the EU in the
spring of 2004.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic 59 00 N, 26 00 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
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 - slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont
comparative: combined
Land total: 633 km
boundaries: border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination
with neighboring states
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Elevation lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand,
resources: dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Land use: arable land: 12.05%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 87.6% (2005)
Irrigated 40 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
hazards:
Environment - air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning
current power plants in northeast; however, the amount of
issues: 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 - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
international Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
agreements: 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
Geography - the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded;
note: offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
People
Population: 1,324,333 (July 2006 est.)
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.)
Median age: total: 39.3 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 42.6 years (2006 est.)
Population -0.64% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 10.04 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 13.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
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
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 7.73 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 8.91 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 72.04 years
expectancy at male: 66.58 years
birth: female: 77.83 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 1.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 7,800 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 200 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%,
Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)
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)
Languages: Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%,
unknown 0.7% (2000 census)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government
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
Government parliamentary republic
type:
Capital: name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates: 59 25 N, 24 45 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa
divisions: (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: 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24
holiday: 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
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9
branch: October 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since
12 April 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime
minister, approved by Parliament
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
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
Legislative unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members
branch: are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held
March 2007)
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
Judicial National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for
branch: life)
Political Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR,
parties and chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu
leaders: REILJAN, chairman]; Estonian Reform Party
(Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United
Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG,
chairman]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tonis LUKAS,
chairman]; Res Publica [Taavi VESKIMAGI, 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]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU
organization (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,
participation: IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK
representation chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
in the US: 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Aldona Zofia WOS
representation embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
from the US: mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134
Flag pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 -
description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and
white
Economy
Economy - Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade
overview: 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.
GDP $23.34 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $12.19 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 10.5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $17,500 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 4%
composition by industry: 29.4%
sector: services: 66.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 670,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 11%
by occupation: industry: 20%
services: 69% (1999 est.)
Unemployment 7.9% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population NA% (2000)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 3%
income or highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 37.2 (2000)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 4.1% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 29.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $5.126 billion
expenditures: $5.017 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 4.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products;
products: fish
Industries: engineering, electronics, wood and wood products,
textile; information technology, telecommunications
Industrial 9.7% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 9.017 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 99.8%
production by hydro: 0.1%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - 7.024 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 1.562 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 200 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 6,100 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 25,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 1.41 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Current $-1.375 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $7.439 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%,
commodities: textiles 14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals,
chemical products (2001)
Exports - Finland 26.5%, Sweden 12.9%, Latvia 8.8%, Russia 6.5%,
partners: Germany 6.2%, Lithuania 4.8% (2005)
Imports: $9.189 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%,
commodities: textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation
equipment 8.9% (2001)
Imports - Finland 19.8%, Germany 13.8%, Russia 9.4%, Sweden 8.8%,
partners: Lithuania 6.1%, Latvia 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of $1.948 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $11.03 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $108 million (2000)
recipient:
Currency Estonian kroon (EEK)
(code):
Currency code: EEK
Exchange krooni per US dollar - 12.584 (2005), 12.596 (2004),
rates: 13.856 (2003), 16.612 (2002), 17.478 (2001), note - the
krooni is pegged to the euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 442,000 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1.445 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: foreign investment in the form of
system: 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
domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and
Internet services is available throughout 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)
Radio AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 1.01 million (1997)
Television 3 (2001)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 605,000 (1997)
Internet .ee
country code:
Internet 52,241 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 38 (2001)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 690,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 24 (2006)
Airports - total: 12
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 12
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 859 km (2006)
Railways: total: 958 km
broad gauge: 958 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 56,849 km
paved: 13,303 km (including 99 km of expressways)
unpaved: 45,546 km (2003)
Waterways: 500 km (2005)
Merchant total: 35 ships (1000 GRT or over) 388,723 GRT/98,393
marine: DWT
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)
Ports and Kopli, Kuivastu, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu
terminals:
Military
Military Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force,
branches: Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2006)
Military compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28;
service age conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and
and reserve platoon leaders; reserve officers and
obligation: 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)
Manpower males age 18-49: 291,696
available for females age 18-49: 304,961 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 200,382 (in 2004, 51% of the young men
for military called up for service were determined to be unfit; main
service: obstacles to conscription were psychiatric and
behavioral)
females age 18-49: 250,351 (2005 est.)
Manpower males: 11,146
reaching females age 18-49: 10,605 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $155 million (2002 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 2% (2002 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - in 2005, Russia refuses to sign the 1996 technical
international: 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
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