Estonia

Broadcast media

the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster, ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally (2008)

Internet country code

.ee

Internet hosts

729,534 (2010) country comparison to the world: 48

Internet users

971,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

Telephone system

general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services available domestic: substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income-tax returns online, and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

492,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 98

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.72 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 117

Agriculture - products

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Commercial bank prime lending rate

9.39% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$265 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $898.7 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$25.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $25.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91 37 (1999)

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 pursued 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 15% in 2009, among the world's highest rates of contraction. A modest recovery began in 2010, but unemployment stands above 13%. Estonia adopted the euro in January 2011.

Electricity - consumption

7.686 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - exports

2.31 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

1.369 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

11.46 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Exchange rates

kroon (EEK) per US dollar - 12.11 (2010), 11.232 (2009), 10.7 (2008), 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006) note: Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011

Exports

$10.77 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $9.08 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment 29%, wood and paper 13%, metals 10%, food products 8%, textiles 5%, chemical products

Exports - partners

Finland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%, Germany 6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.22 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.53 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $24.07 billion (2009 est.) $27.96 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 28.7% services: 68.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$19,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $18,500 (2009 est.) $21,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 -13.9% (2009 est.) -5.1% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$11.52 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $9.783 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 35%, textiles 19%, mineral fuels 19%, chemical products 9%, foodstuffs 6%

Imports - partners

Finland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany 10.33%, Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

10% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 -0.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Labor force

688,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$2.654 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 94 $1.95 billion (31 December 2008) $6.037 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - imports

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - consumption

30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - exports

7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - imports

30,590 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Oil - production

7,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Population below poverty line

19.5% (2007)

Public debt

7.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 7.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.641 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$10.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $11.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $6.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $16.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $20.32 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$5.345 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 85 $5.822 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

13.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 13.8% (2009 est.)

Area

total: 45,228 sq km country comparison to the world: 132 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

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline

3,794 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 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-20th 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

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

40 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

21.1 cu km (2005)

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

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

Constitution

adopted 28 June 1992

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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 theWorld 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 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the 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

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

20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)

Legal system

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 4 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%, Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 31, Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian People's Union 6, independent 1

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Juhan AARE]; 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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 297,096 females age 16-49: 308,229 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 213,740 females age 16-49: 255,926 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 6,945 female: 6,564 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2010)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Military service age and obligation

obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription "likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 14.9% (male 99,748/female 94,051) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 417,816/female 459,246) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 75,486/female 153,024) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.42 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Death rate

13.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 68

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

9,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Infant mortality rate

total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 167 male: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.08 years country comparison to the world: 117 male: 67.74 years female: 78.76 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

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

Major infectious diseases

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

Median age

total: 40.2 years male: 36.7 years female: 43.7 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate

-3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Population

1,291,170 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Population growth rate

-0.635% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 227

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

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

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Urbanization

urban population: 69% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

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

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

Airports

19 (2010) country comparison to the world: 136

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)

Merchant marine

total: 24 country comparison to the world: 94 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)

Pipelines

gas 859 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

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

Railways

total: 1,196 km country comparison to the world: 86 broad gauge: 1,196 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways

total: 58,034 km country comparison to the world: 78 paved: 34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,098 km (2009)

Waterways

520 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010) country comparison to the world: 84