Estonia

Republic of EstoniaEesti Vabariik

parliamentary democracyIndependence 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Estonia as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 105 fields, one of 34 editions from 1992 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalTallinn
Position59 00 N, 26 00 E
Area45,226 sq km
LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of
1999

Every edition of Estonia

Populationas each edition published it
1.41 million July 1999 est. · 1.61m in 1992
Population growth% a year
-0.82% 1999 est. · 0.52% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 38.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
68.65 years 1999 est. · 69.75 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.28 children per woman 1999 est. · 2.3 in 1992
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
13.83 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 25 in 1992
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$5,500 1998 est. · $5,480 in 1994
GDP real growth% a year
5.5% 1998 est. · -30% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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.

Geography

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

17 fields

Land useshare of 45,226 sq km

arable land 25%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 11%forests and woodland 44%other 20% (1996 est.)irrigated 110 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
45,226sq km
land: 43,211 sq kmwater: 2,015 sq kmnote: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Seaslightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Coastline
3,794km
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring statesterritorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
318m
Suur Munamagilowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
633km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Climate

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain

marshy, lowlands

Natural resources

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

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

People

15 fields
Population
1,408,523
(July 1999 est.)growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth
9.05Death
14.21Net migration
-3.08

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)68.65
62.61 · 75
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1998 est.)100%
100% · 100%
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(1998)

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

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.)

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Estonian(s)
adjective:
Estonian

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

Government

Parliamentary democracy; President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992); Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997)

18 fields

Legislature, 101 seats, elected 5 March 1995one dot, one seat

-KMU 41RE 19K 16Pro Patria 8Our Home is Estonia 6M 6Right-Wingers 5

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 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

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 SAVISAAR, chairman];
  • Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League 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
parties:
Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or VEIDEMANN, chairwoman] (created by defectors from Center Party in late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five

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
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

Flag description

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

Economy

31 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,500
purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)
Real growth rate
5.5%
(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 3% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate
9.6%
(1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 6.2%industry 24.3%services 69.5% (1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$1.37 billionExpenditures
$1.37 billion (1997 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 99.96%hydro 0.04%nuclear 0% · other 0%
Electricity production
8.065 billion (1996)Electricity consumption
5.581 billion (1997)Electricity exports
1.2 billion (1997)Electricity imports
210 million (1997)

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.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
3.2%
highest 10%:
28.5% (1996)

Labor force

717,000 (1997 est.)

Labor force--by occupation

industry 42%, agriculture and forestry 11%, services 47% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

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

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
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.)

Transportation

8 fields

Merchant marine, 52 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

bulk 4cargo 22combination bulk 1container 5oil tanker 2roll-on/roll-off cargo 12short-sea passenger 6

Networkskm

Highways
16,437Railways
1,018Waterways
320
Highways: paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways) · unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.) · Railways: ; does not include dedicated industrial lines · broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

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.)

Pipelines

natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports and harbors

Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

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

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)

7 fields

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--availability

males age 15-49: 349,263 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 274,276 (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Estonia.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/estonia/1999.

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