Home>Europe>Estonia

Background: In and out of Swedish and Russian control over the centuries, this little Baltic state was re-incorporated into the USSR after German occupation in World War II. Independence came with the collapse of the USSR in 1991; the last Russian troops left in 1994. Estonia thus became free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. The position of ethnic Russians (29% of the population) remains an issue of concern to Moscow. European Union (EU) membership negotiations, which began in 1998, remain a domestic issue.

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: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 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 339 km, Russia 294 km

Coastline: 3,794 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain: marshy, lowlands

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

Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 44%
other: 20% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring

Environment—current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations

Environment—international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Population: 1,408,523 (July 1999 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 130,883; female 126,112)
15-64 years: 67% (male 455,112; female 491,819)
65 years and over: 15% (male 66,700; female 137,897) (1999 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)

Birth rate: 9.05 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate: 14.21 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 13.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.65 years
male: 62.61 years
female: 75 years (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Seventh Day Baptist, Judaism

Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, Finnish, other

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1998 est.)

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

Data code: EN

Government type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Tallinn

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 (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
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, 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 August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote—Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held 7 March 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party—KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party—KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5

Judicial branch: National Court, chairman appointed by Parliament for life

Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Mart SIIMAN, chairman] made up of four parties: Coalition Party or EK, Country People's Party [Arnold RUUTEL, chairman]/Farmer's Assembly or EME, Rural Union or EM [Arvo SIRENDI, chairman] , and Pensioners' and Families' League or EPPL [Mai TREIAL, chairperson]; Reform Party or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Mart LAAR, chairman]; Our Home is Estonia [Viktor ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United People's Party and the Russian Party of Estonia; note—Our Home is Estonia split when two Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United People's Party [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]; Russian Party of Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman]; Moderates or M [Andres TARAND] made up of two parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or EMK; Social Democratic Party [Eiki NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo KAAL, chairman]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN, chairwoman] (created by defectors from Center Party in late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five independent seats); People's Party [Toomas Hendrick KUES]

International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kaleu STOICESCU
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 Melissa WELLS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] (6) 312-021
FAX: [372] (6) 312-025

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

Economy—overview: Estonia's continued adherence to market reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal free trade regime resulted in GDP growth in 1998 of 5.5% and a decrease in inflation to 6.5% from 11.2% in 1997. A high but slightly decreased current account deficit was estimated at 8.6%. The fall in GDP growth is largely due to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Like other small emerging markets, Estonia will face difficulties in 1999 as a result of continuing fallout from Asia. Key events of 1998 were the start of official EU accession talks, banking sector consolidation—nine banks were reduced to five—and the important role that Swedish capital played in the large banks (Swedbank's acquisition of a majority stake in Hansapank has accounted for the large increase in foreign direct investment). The IMF urged Estonia to maintain a stable economy and good reputation in international markets and to avoid populist policies in the run-up to March 1999 parliamentary elections. The government completed restructuring of state-controlled Estonian Telecom, the sale of 49% of which will be the flagship privatization in 1999 and the largest public equity transaction in the Baltics. Estonia expects to join the World Trade Organization in 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$7.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP—real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)

GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$5,500 (1998 est.)

GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 24.3%
services: 69.5% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force: 717,000 (1997 est.)

Labor force—by occupation: industry 42%, agriculture and forestry 11%, services 47% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1998 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.37 billion
expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)

Electricity—production: 8.065 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity—production by source:
fossil fuel: 99.96%
hydro: 0.04%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity—consumption: 5.581 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity—exports: 1.2 billion kWh (1997)

Electricity—imports: 210 million kWh (1997)

Agriculture—products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Exports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment 17%, textiles 16%, food products 8%, transport equipment 8%, mineral products 8%, chemical products 8% (1997)

Exports—partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1997)

Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998)

Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 21%, transport equipment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%, chemical products 8% (1997)

Imports—partners: Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan, US (1997)

Debt—external: $270 million (January 1996)

Economic aid—recipient: $137.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1—13.473 (January 1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994); note—krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

Fiscal year: calendar year

Telephones: 531,000 (1997)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system; Internet services available throughout most of the country; about 150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
domestic: local—cellular phones services are growing and expanding to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC; intercity—Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities (1998)
international: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet switched service

Radio broadcast stations: 27 commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station (1997); note—by law 51% of shows must be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections by public and private stations

Radios: 1.12 million (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997); note—Ministry of Culture administers television licensing; mainly Estonian, European, and Russian programming; by law 51% of shows must be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections by public and private stations

Televisions: 1.132 million (1997 est.)

Railways:
total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
total: 16,437 km
paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 337,163 GRT/348,749 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 5, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 6 (1998 est.)

Airports: 5 (1997 est.)

Airports—with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)

Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower—availability:
males age 15-49: 349,263 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 274,276 (1999 est.)

Military manpower—reaching military age annually:
males: 10,503 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures—dollar figure: $70 million (1999)

Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.2% (1999)

Disputes—international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking

Source: 1999 CIA World Factbook