Estonia

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

parliamentary democracyIndependence 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Estonia as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 116 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 land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
2001

Every edition of Estonia

Populationas each edition published it
1.42 million July 2001 est. · 1.61m in 1992
Population growth% a year
-0.55% 2001 est. · 0.52% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 38.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
69.73 years 2001 est. · 69.75 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
1.21 children per woman 2001 est. · 2.3 in 1992
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
12.62 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 25 in 1992
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$10,000 2000 est. · $5,480 in 1994
GDP real growth% a year
6.4% 2000 est. · -30% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

After centuries of Swedish and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, 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.

Geography

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

17 fields
Coastline
3,794km
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 NM
Irrigated land
110sq km
(1996 est.)

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

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

Land boundaries

total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

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, arable land

Land use

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 44% other: 20% (1996 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: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

People

18 fields
Population
1,423,316
(July 2001 est.)growth rate: -0.55% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth
8.7Death
13.48Net migration
-0.76

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: 17.08% (male 123,997; female 119,166) 15-64 years: 68.14% (male 466,823; female 503,032) 65 years and over: 14.78% (male 68,802; female 141,496) (2001 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: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

12.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 69.73 years male: 63.72 years female: 76.05 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.21 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish

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.)

Government

Parliamentary democracy

20 fields

Parliament or Riigikogu, 101 seatsone dot, one seat

Center Party 28Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18Reform Party 18Moderates 17Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7Coalition Party 7UPPE 6

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: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Independence

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 6 September 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

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 LAAR (since 29 March 1999) 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 in the fall of 2001);
  • prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Lennart MERI reelected 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 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party 18, Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party 7, UPPE 6

Judicial branch

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Political parties and leaders

  • Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman];
  • Christian People's Party [Aldo VINKEL];
  • Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Andrus OOBEL, chairman];
  • Estonian Democratic Party (formerly Estonian Blue Party) [Jaan LAAS];
  • Estonian Independence Party [leader NA];
  • Estonian National Democratic Party or ENDP [leader NA];
  • Estonian Pensioners and Families Party [Mai TREIAL];
  • Estonian Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN];
  • Estonian Republican Party [leader NA];
  • Estonian Social-Democratic Labor Party [Tiit TOOMSALU];
  • Estonian Rural People's Union (1999 merger of Estonian Country People's Party and the Estonian Rural Union) [Arvo SIRENDI];
  • Party of Consolidation Today [leader NA];
  • People's Party Moderates (1999 merger of People's Party and Moderates) [Andres TARAND];
  • Reform Party or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman];
  • Russian Party in Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV];
  • Russian Unity Party [Igor SEDASHEV];
  • Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Mart LAAR, chairman];
  • United People's Party or UPPE [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]

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, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON 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, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] 668-8100

FAX

[372] 668-8134

Flag description

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

Economy

In 2000, Estonia rebounded from the Russian financial crisis by scaling back its budget and reorienting trade away from Russian markets into EU member states.

32 fields
Real growth rate
6.4%
(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
11.7%
(1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

19.4%
Finland
22.8%
18.8%
Sweden
9.3%
9.2%
Russia
13.5%
7.5%
Germany
9.3%
8.7%
Latvia
Japan
4.7%
2.5%
US
Exports $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000)Imports $4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production
7.782 billion (1999)Electricity consumption
6.807 billion (1999)Electricity exports
530 million (1999)Electricity imports
100 million (1999)

Economy - overview

In 2000, Estonia rebounded from the Russian financial crisis by scaling back its budget and reorienting trade away from Russian markets into EU member states. After GDP shrank 1.1% in 1999, the economy made a strong recovery in 2000, with growth estimated at 6.4% - the highest in Central and Eastern Europe.

Estonia joined the World Trade Organization in November 1999 - the second Baltic state to join - and continues its EU accession talks. For 2001, Estonians predict GDP to grow around 6%, inflation of between 4.2%-5.3%, and a balanced budget. Substantial gains were made in completing privatization of Estonia's few remaining large, state-owned companies in 2000, and this momentum is expected to continue in 2001. Estonia hopes to join the EU during the next round of enlargement tentatively set for 2004.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.7% services: 65.7% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Labor force

785,500 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 99.72% hydro: 0.09% nuclear: 0% other: 0.19% (1999)

Agriculture - products

  • potatoes, fruits, vegetables;
  • livestock and dairy products;
  • fish

Exports

$3.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment 24%, wood products 20%, textiles 17%, food products 9%, metals, chemical products (1999)

Imports

$4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment 31%, chemical products 13%, foodstuffs 11%, metal products 8%, textiles 8% (1999)

Debt - external

$1.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$137.3 million (1995)

Currency

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Exchange rates

  • krooni per US dollar - 16.663 (January 2001), 16.969 (2000), 14.678 (1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996);
  • note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
475,000
(yearend 2000)
Fixed lines
476,078
(yearend 1998) · country code .ee

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service;
  • Internet services available throughout most of the country;
  • about 150,000 unfilled subscriber requests domestic: local - the Ministry of Transport and Communications is expanding cellular telephone services to form rural networks;
  • intercity - highly developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities (1998) international: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service;
  • two international switches are located in Tallinn

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3 (all AM stations inactive since July 1998), FM 82, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

1.01 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

31 (plus five repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions

605,000 (1997)

Internet users

309,000 (2000)

Transportation

9 fields

Networkskm

Railways
1,018 (1995)Waterways
320
Railways: ; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) · Waterways: (perennially navigable)

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:
  • 30,300 km paved: 29,200 km (including 75 km of expressways);
  • note - these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather unpaved: 1,100 km (2000)

Waterways

320 km (perennially navigable)

Pipelines

natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports and harbors

Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Merchant marine

total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 253,460 GRT/219,727 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 19, combination bulk 1, container 5, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 6 (2000 est.)

Airports

32 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (2000 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: 359,677 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 282,418 (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been signed nor ratified by Russia as of February 2001

Illicit drugs

  • transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia;
  • possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking;
  • synthetic drug production growing, trafficked to Russia, Baltics, Finland

Central Intelligence Agency. “Estonia.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/estonia/2001.

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