Estonia

Estonia

Introduction

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 the West. 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 coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 45,228 sq km
country comparison to the world: 133 land:42,388 sq km
water:2,840 sq km
note:includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Land boundaries

total: 633 km
border countries:Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km

Coastline

3,794 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
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 extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 12.05%
permanent crops:0.35%
other:87.6% (2005)

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

21.1 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.41cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%)
per capita:1,060cu m/yr (2002)

Natural hazards

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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 1/20 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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded

offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Estonian(s)
adjective:Estonian

Ethnic groups

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)

Languages

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

Population

1,282,963 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.1% (male 99,919/female 94,066)
15-64 years:67.2% (male 410,132/female 451,736)
65 years and over:17.7% (male 74,803/female 152,307) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 40.5 years
male:37 years
female:43.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.641% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225

Birth rate

10.45 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Death rate

13.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Net migration rate

-3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Urbanization

urban population: 69% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

TALLINN (capital) 399,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.063 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.49 male(s)/female
total population:0.84 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

12 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 140

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 166 male:8.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.33 years
country comparison to the world: 118 male:68.02 years
female:78.97 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.44 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193

Health expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154

Physicians density

3.409 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 31

Hospital bed density

5.71 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 99% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 98% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 2% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 94% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 6% of population
total: 5% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease:tickborne encephalitis (2009)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

14.4% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 38

Education expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 61

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:99.8%
male:99.8%
female:99.8% (2000 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years
male:15 years
female:17 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 27.3%
country comparison to the world: 18 male:31.8%
female:21.2% (2009)

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 type

parliamentary republic

Capital

name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates:59 26 N, 24 43 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 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

Independence

20 August 1991 (declared)

6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

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

Constitution

adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system

civil law system

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch

chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)
head of government:Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
cabinet:Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest number of votes

election last held on 29 August 2011 (next to be held in the fall of 2016)

prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results:Toomas Hendrik ILVES reelected president

parliamentary vote – Toomas Hendrik ILVES 73, Indrek TARAND 25

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats

members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 6 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party – Estonian Reform Party 28.6%, Center Party of Estonia 23.3%, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 20.5%, Social Democratic Party 17.1%, Estonian Greens 3.8%, Estonian People’s Union 2.1%, other 4.6%

seats by party – Estonian Reform Party 33, Center Party 26, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 23, Social Democratic Party 19

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]

Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]

Estonian People’s Union (Rahvaliit) [Andrus BLOK]

Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]

Social Democratic Party [Sven MIKSER]

Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marina KALJURAND
chancery:2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 588-0101
FAX:[1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general:New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. POLT
embassy:Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[372] 668-8100
FAX:[372] 668-8265

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

National symbol(s)

barn swallow

National anthem

name: “Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room” (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)
lyrics/music:Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS
note:adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation

the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody with that of Finland but has different lyrics

Economy

Economy – overview

Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia’s successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current government has followed relatively sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and very low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Tallinn’s priority has been to sustain high growth rates – on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia’s economy slowed down markedly and fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 14% in 2009, among the world’s highest rates of contraction. Rising exports to Sweden and Finland lead an economic recovery in 2010, but unemployment stands above 17%. Estonia joined the OECD in December 2010 and adopted the euro in January 2011.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.69 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113 $23.95 billion (2009 est.)
$27.81 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.78 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

3.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 -13.9% (2009 est.)
-5.1% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$19,100 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 $18,400 (2009 est.)
$21,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 2.7%
industry:29.1%
services:68.2% (2010 est.)

Labor force

686,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 2.8%
industry:22.7%
services:74.5% (2008)

Unemployment rate

16.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155 13.8% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.7% (2008)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%:27.7% (2004)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

31.4 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 109 37 (1999)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Budget

revenues: $7.719 billion
expenditures:$7.692 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

39% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Public debt

6.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127 7.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104 -0.1% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.759% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 9.385% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.614 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 $5.99 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
note:this figure represents the US dollar value of Estonian kroon in circulation prior to Estonia’s joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area

the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Stock of broad money

$11.36 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97 $11.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82 $20.91 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.26 billion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 90 $2.654 billion (31 December 2009)
$1.951 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

grain, potatoes, vegetables

livestock and dairy products

fish

Industries

engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles

information technology, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate

13.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Electricity – production

8.779 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity – consumption

7.08 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity – exports

2.943 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

3.025 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

7,642 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Oil – consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Oil – imports

28,520 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas – consumption

1.02 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

Natural gas – imports

1.02 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Current account balance

$677.8 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 $893.1 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$11.66 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 $9.125 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 21%, wood and wood products 9%, metals 9%, furniture 7%, vehicles and parts 5%, food products and beverages 4%, textiles 4%, plastics 3%

Exports – partners

Finland 18.5%, Sweden 17%, Russia 10.4%, Latvia 9.8%, Germany 5.7%, Lithuania 5.3% (2010)

Imports

$11.94 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85 $9.903 billion (2009)

Imports – commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 22%, mineral fuels 18%, chemical products 3%, foodstuffs 6%, plastics 6%, textiles 5%

Imports – partners

Finland 15.7%, Germany 11.9%, Sweden 11.6%, Latvia 11.5%, Lithuania 8.2%, Poland 6.8%, Russia 4.5% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.568 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107 $3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$24.22 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72 $22.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$16.39 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73 $16.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$6.029 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57 $6.618 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

kroon (EEK) per US dollar -
11.8 (2010)
11.23 (2009)
10.7 (2008)
11.535 (2007)
12.473 (2006)
note:on 1 January 2011 Estonia adopted the euro as legal tender

Transportation

Airports

19 (2010)
country comparison to the world:137

Airports – with paved runways

total: 13
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:7
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:2 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m:2
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:3 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 859 km (2010)

Railways

total: 1,196 km
country comparison to the world: 84 broad gauge:1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified) (2010)

Roadways

total: 58,034 km
country comparison to the world: 77 paved:34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways)
unpaved:23,098 km (2009)

Waterways

335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 91

Merchant marine

total: 24
country comparison to the world: 95 by type:cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned:3 (Germany 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries:77 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 7, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 4, Malta 16, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, Sierra Leone 1, Sweden 3, Venezuela 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Military

Military branches

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription “likely” ages 18-27

service requirement 8-11 months (2009)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 291,801
females age 16-49:302,696 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 210,854
females age 16-49:251,185 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 6,668
female:6,309 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia’s appending a prepared 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 with Russia

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Estonia is a source, transit, and destination country for women subjected to forced prostitution, and for men and women subjected to conditions of forced labor

women from Estonia are found in sex trafficking situations in Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy

men and women from Estonia are subjected to conditions of forced labor in Spain, Sweden, Norway, and Finland
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – Estonia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

however, it is making significant efforts to do so

despite these efforts, the government did not demonstrate evidence of increasing its efforts

Estonia remains the only European Union country without a specific trafficking law

trafficking offenders convicted under non-trafficking statutes avoided accountability

the Estonian Government, however, gave some financial support to NGOs who care for trafficking victims, and it developed a national action plan with elements addressing trafficking in persons (2011)

Illicit drugs

growing producer of synthetic drugs

increasingly 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