Estonia

noun:

Estonian(s)

adjective:

Estonian

total:

45 years (2024 est.)

male:

41.9 years

female:

48.2 years

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.55 male(s)/female

total population:

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

78.4 years (2024 est.)

male:

73.8 years

female:

83.2 years

total:

11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

29.7% (2020 est.)

male:

36.3% (2020 est.)

female:

23% (2020 est.)

• air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast;
• however, the amounts of pollutants emitted into the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring;
• 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

urban population:

69.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

-0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

particulate matter emissions:

6.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

16.59 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

0.99 megatons (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

473,000 tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

117,020 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

24.7% (2015 est.)

municipal:

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

4.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

conventional long form:

Republic of Estonia

conventional short form:

Estonia

local long form:

Eesti Vabariik

local short form:

Eesti

former:

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

etymology:

the country name may derive from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D.

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

etymology:

• the Estonian name is generally believed to be derived from "Taani-linn" (originally meaning "Danish castle", now "Danish town") after a stronghold built in the area by the Danes;
• it could also have come from "tali-linn" ("winter castle" or "winter town") or "talu-linn" ("home castle" or "home town")

• 24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia);
• 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union);
• 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 restoring its statehood

history:

several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992

amendments:

• proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic;
• passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament;
• passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum;
• amended several times, last in 2015

citizenship by birth:

no

citizenship by descent only:

at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia

dual citizenship recognized:

no

residency requirement for naturalization:

5 years

• 18 years of age;
• universal;
• age 16 for local elections

chief of state:

President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)

head of government:

Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS (since 26 January 2021)

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

elections/appointments:

• president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
• if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the highest number of votes;
• if a president is still not elected, the process begins again;
• election last held on 30 to 31 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026);
• prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament

election results:

2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes;

• 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president;
• won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank);
• KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia

; note - Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS resigned on 15 July 2024 but will continue as acting prime minister until the new government is sworn in

description:

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected at general elections for a term of four years.)

elections:

last held on 5 March 2023; next elections 7 March 2027

election results:

• percent of vote by party - Reform 31.2%, EKRE 16.1%, Center 15.3%, E200 13.3%, SDE 9.3%, Pro Patria 8.2%, Left 2.4%, Right 2.3%, Greens 1.0%;
• seats by party - Reform 37, EKRE 17, Center 16, E200 14, SDE 9, Pro Patria 8;
• composition - men 71, women 30, percent of women 29.7%

highest court(s):

Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)

judge selection and term of office:

• the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic 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

• Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE
• Estonia 200 or E200
• Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or KE
• Estonian Free Party or VAP
• Estonian Greens or EER
• Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK
• Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE
• Estonian United Left Party or EÜVP
• Fatherland or I
• Pro Patria (Isamaa)
• The Right or PP
• Social Democratic Party or SDE

chief of mission:

Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)

chancery:

2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW; Washington, DC, 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 588-0101

FAX:

[1] (202) 588-0108

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://washington.mfa.ee/

consulate(s) general:

New York, San Francisco

chief of mission:

Ambassador George P. KENT (since 21 February 2023)

embassy:

Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn

mailing address:

4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530

telephone:

[372] 668-8100

FAX:

[372] 668-8265

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://ee.usembassy.gov/

• 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

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 as Finland's but has different lyrics

total World Heritage Sites:

2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn ; Struve Geodetic Arc

• advanced, service-based EU and eurozone economy;
• economic downturn due to inflation, trade, and energy impacts of Ukraine war;
• decline in intra-EU trade;
• low public debt relative to EU members;
• recovery depends on improving private investment and productivity rates

Fitch rating:

AA- (2018)

Moody's rating:

A1 (2002)

Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

agriculture:

2.2% (2023 est.)

industry:

22.3% (2023 est.)

services:

63.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

17.1% (2023 est.)

male:

18.2% (2023 est.)

female:

16% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

18.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

7.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

24.3% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

consumption:

3,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

18.5 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

total petroleum production:

24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

consumption:

354.912 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports:

706.983 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

1.255 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

general assessment:

• investment in Estonia’s telecom market has been focused on fixed-line infrastructure upgrades, and the deployment of 5G services;
• fixed broadband subscribers are gradually migrating from digital subscriber lines (DSL) to fiber, with the legacy copper being replaced;
• the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have comprehensive long-term evolution (LTE) infrastructure in place, and have in recent years channeled investment to 5G;
• several 5G trials have been undertaken in recent years, though commercial service launches have been restricted by the lack of available internet services (2024)

domestic:

20 per 100 for fixed-line subscribership and approximately 155 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2022)

international:

• country code - 372;
• landing points for the EE-S-1, EESF-3, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC and EESF-2 fiber-optic submarine cables to other Estonia points, Finland, and Sweden;
• 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2019)

• the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 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;
• in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services;
• roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services

number of registered air carriers:

3 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:

31,981 (2018)

total ports:

20 (2024)

large:

4

medium:

1

small:

4

very small:

11

ports with oil terminals:

5

key ports:

Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

Estonian Defense Forces:

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defense League

Ministry of Interior:

Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2024)

refugees (country of origin):

38,020 (Ukraine) (as of 2 March 2024)

stateless persons:

• 70,604 (2022);
• 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 years old

• producer of synthetic drugs;
• 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