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, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.

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

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Europe

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

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

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

3,794 km

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

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

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

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

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

arable land: 13.97%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 85.89% (2011)

4.58 sq km (2010)

12.81 cu km (2011)

total: 1.8 cu km/yr (3%/97%/0%)
per capita: 1,337 cu m/yr (2009)

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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

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

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

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

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

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)

1,266,375 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

0-14 years: 15.4% (male 100,605/female 94,831)
15-24 years: 11.9% (male 77,302/female 73,446)
25-54 years: 41.3% (male 250,997/female 272,460)
55-64 years: 13.1% (male 71,442/female 94,278)
65 years and over: 18.2% (male 76,356/female 154,658) (2013 est.)

total dependency ratio: 51.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 23.9 %
elderly dependency ratio: 27.3 %
potential support ratio: 3.7 (2013)

total: 41 years
male: 37.4 years
female: 44.3 years (2013 est.)

-0.66% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 229

10.38 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

urban population: 69.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 0.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

TALLINN (capital) 399,000 (2009)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

26.3 (2010 est.)

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 184

total: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 164
male: 7.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 73.82 years
country comparison to the world: 118
male: 68.58 years
female: 79.4 years (2013 est.)

1.45 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

63.4%
note: percent of women aged 18-49 (2005)

6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 108

3.34 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

5.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)

1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

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

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

degree of risk: intermediate
vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2013)

20.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 95

6.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 37

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2011 est.)

total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2010)

total: 20.9%
country comparison to the world: 56
male: 23.4%
female: 17.9% (2012)

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

parliamentary republic

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

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

20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

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

several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992; amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)

civil law system

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

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

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

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%, IRL 20.5%, SDE 17.1%, Estonian Greens 3.8%, Estonian People's Union 2.1%, other 4.6%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 33, Center Party 21, IRL 23, SDE 19, unaffiliated 5

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and organized into the Civil Chamber with a chamber chairman and 6 justices, the Criminal Chamber with a chamber chairman and 5 justices, the Administrative Law Chamber with a chamber chairman and 4 justices, and the Constitutional Review Chamber with 9 members - the chief justice and 2 justices from the Civil Chamber, 3 from the Criminal Chamber and 3 from the Administrative chamber)
judge selection and term of office: the chief justice is proposed by the president 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

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, 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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

chief of mission: Ambassador Marina KALJURAND (since 6 September 2011)
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey D. LEVINE (since 24 July 2012)
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134

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

barn swallow, cornflower

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

Estonia, a member of the European Union and the eurozone since 2004, 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 sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia's economy fell into recession in mid-2008 with GDP contracting 14.3% in 2009, as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble and a decrease in export demand as result of economic slowdown in the rest of Europe. Estonia rebounded nearly 8% in 2011 and the Estonian economy now has one of the higher GDP growth rates in Europe. Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011.

$29.09 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

$22.1 billion (2012 est.)

3.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

$21,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

26.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

household consumption: 50.4%
government consumption: 19.6%
investment in fixed capital: 25%
investment in inventories: 2.6%
exports of goods and services: 92.5%
imports of goods and services: -90.1%

agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 29.7%
services: 66.4% (2012 est.)

grain, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

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

2.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

695,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 20.2%
services: 75.6% (2010)

10.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

17.5% (2010)

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

31.3 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108

revenues: $8.155 billion
expenditures: $8.213 billion (2012 est.)

36.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

-0.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

5.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

calendar year

3.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

5.75% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

$8.191 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
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

$12.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99

$19.24 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

$1.611 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 97

$-267.7 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

$14.46 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

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%

Sweden 16.8%, Finland 15.3%, Russia 12.7%, Latvia 9.2%, Lithuania 5.7%, Germany 4.8% (2012)

$15.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

machinery and electrical equipment, mineral fuels, chemical products, foodstuffs, plastics, textiles

Finland 15.1%, Germany 10.7%, Sweden 10.7%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Poland 6.6%, China 4.4%, Russia 4.1% (2012)

$300.7 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

$25.69 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75

$20.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

$7.84 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58

kroon (EEK) per US dollar -

12.19 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90

7.948 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

4.95 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

2.71 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

2.751 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91

93.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

0.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147

6.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

11,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

7,624 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181

0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 126

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

26,340 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

22,670 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

701 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

670 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 133

20.26 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

448,200 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99

2.07 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 145

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 (2011)

the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 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; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected (2008)

.ee

865,494 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 49

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

18 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 141

total: 13
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m:

1 (2012)

gas 868 km (2013)

total: 1,196 km
country comparison to the world: 85
broad gauge: 1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (133 km electrified) (2011)

total: 58,412 km (includes urban roads)
country comparison to the world: 73
paved: 10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways)
unpaved: 47,985 km (2011)

335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 91

total: 25
country comparison to the world: 89
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 63 (Antigua and Barbuda 10, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 6, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 3, Malta 16, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 2, Sweden 3, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010)

major seaport(s): Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Estonian Defense Forces (Eesti Kaitsevagi): Land Force (Maavagi), Navy (Merevagi), Air Force (Ohuvagi), Defense League (Kaitseliit) (2012)

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service, conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months (2013)

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

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

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

1.92% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 139

Russia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with Russia

stateless persons: 94,235 (2012); 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