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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 29 usable: 18 with permanent-surface runways: 11 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 10 with runways 1,060-2,439 m: 8 note: a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstrip

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 30,300 km paved or gravelled: 29,200 km unpaved: earth 1,100 km (1990)

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

500 km perennially navigable

Merchant marine [time series]

69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 406,405 GRT/537,016 DWT, bulk 6, cargo 50, container 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 4

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports [time series]

coastal - Tallinn, Novotallin, Parnu; inland - Narva

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

1,030 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

Estonia's telephone system is antiquated and supports about 400,000 domestic telephone circuits, i.e. 25 telephones for each 100 persons; improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for telephone service; broadcast stations - 3 TV (provide Estonian programs as well Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs); international traffic is carried to the other former USSR republics by land line or microwave and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber optic submarine cable which gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; substantial investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational throughout Estonia and also Latvia and which have access to the international packet switched digital network via Helsinki

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Ground Forces, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops), Coast Guard

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

124.4 million kroons, NA% of GDP (forecast for 1993); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49 392,135; fit for military service 308,951; reach military age (18) annually 11,789 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

employs 20% of work force; very efficient by Soviet standards; net exports of meat, fish, dairy products, and potatoes; imports of feedgrains for livestock; fruits and vegetables

Budget [time series]

revenues: $223 million expenditures: $142 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 3,700,000 kW production: 22.9 billion kWh consumption per capita: 14,245 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 13.9 (January 1994), 13.2 (1993); note - kroons are tied to the German Deutschmark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

Exports [time series]

$765 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: textile 14%, food products 11%, vehicles 11%, metals 11% (1993) partners: Russia, Finland, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$650 million (end of 1991)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic consumption

Imports [time series]

$865 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery 18%, fuels 15%, vehicles 14%, textiles 10% (1993) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate -27% (1993)

Industries [time series]

accounts for 42% of labor force; oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.6% per month (1993 average)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (National product) [time series]

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.8 billion (1993 estimate from the UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 and published in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and as extrapolated to 1993 using official Estonian statistics, which are very uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$5,480 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

-5% (1993 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western Europe, the Estonian government has pursued a program of market reforms and rough stabilization measures, which is rapidly transforming the economy. Two years after independence - and one year after the introduction of the kroon - Estonians are beginning to reap tangible benefits; inflation is low; production declines appear to have bottomed out; and living standards are rising. Economic restructuring is clearly underway with the once-dominant energy-intensive heavy industrial sectors giving way to labor-intensive light industry and the underdeveloped service sector. The private sector is growing rapidly; the share of the state enterprises in retail trade has steadily declined and by June 1993 accounted for only 12.5% of total turnover, and 70,000 new jobs have reportedly been created as a result of new business start-ups. Estonia's foreign trade has shifted rapidly from East to West with the Western industrialized countries now accounting for two-thirds of foreign trade.

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.5% (May 1993); but large number of underemployed workers

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 45,100 sq km land area: 43,200 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Birth rate [time series]

13.98 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Climate [time series]

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline [time series]

1,393 km

Death rate [time series]

12.04 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and ground water with petroleum products, chemicals at military bases natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%, Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.13% (1989)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

19.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

110 sq km (1990)

Labor force [time series]

750,000 (1992) by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)

Land boundaries [time series]

total 557 km, Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 11% forest and woodland: 31% other: 36%

Languages [time series]

Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.96 years male: 64.98 years female: 75.19 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 9-49 can read and write (1989) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Location [time series]

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia

Map references [time series]

Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Natural resources [time series]

shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber

Net migration rate [time series]

3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

1,616,882 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.52% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

Lutheran

Terrain [time series]

marshy, lowlands

Total fertility rate [time series]

2 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond) and 6 municipalities*: Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva), Kohtla-Jarve*, Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Narva*, Parnu*, Parnu maakond (Parnu), Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare), Sillamae*, Tallinn*, Tartu*, Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru) note: county centers are in parentheses

Capital [time series]

Tallinn

Constitution [time series]

adopted 28 June 1992

Digraph [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVES chancery: 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, Suite 1000 telephone: (202) 789-0320

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992); election last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA 1997); results - no candidate received majority; newly elected Parliament elected Lennart MERI (21 October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 21 October 1992) cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister, authorized by the legislature

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

(202) 789-0471 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[372] (6) 312-025

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Legislative branch (Parliament (Riigikogu)) [time series]

elections last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - Fatherland 21%, Safe Haven 14%, Popular Front 13%, M 10%, ENIP 8%, ERP 7%, ERL 7%, EP 2%, other 18%; seats - (101 total) Fatherland 29, Safe Haven 18, Popular Front 15, M 12, ENIP 10, ERP 8, ERL 8, EP 1

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National Coalition Party 'Pro Patria' (Isamaa of Fatherland), Mart LAAR, president, made up of 4 parties: Christian Democratic Party (KDE), Aivar KALA, chairman; Christian Democratic Union (KDL), Illar HALLASTE, chairman; Conservative People's Party (KR), Enn TARTO, chairman; Republican Coalition Party (VK), Leo STARKOV, chairman; Moderates (M), made up of two parties: Estonian Social Democratic Party (ESDB), Marju LAURISTIN, chairman; Estonian Rural Center Pary (EMK), Ivar RAIG, chairman; Estonian National Independence Party (ENIP), Tunne KELAM, chairman; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Paul-Eerik RUMMO, chairman; Safe Haven, made up of three parties: Estonian Coalition Party (EK), Tiit VAHI, chairman; Estonian Rural Union (EM), Arvo SIRENDI, chairman; Estonian Democratic Justice Union/Estonian Pensioners' League (EDO/EPU), Harri KARTNER, chairman; Estonian Centrist Party (EK), Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Estonian Democratic Labor Party (EDT), Vaino VALJAS, chairman; Estonian Green Party (ERL), Tonu OJA; Estonian Royalist Party (ERP), Kalle KULBOK, chairman; Entrepreneurs' Party (EP), Tiit MADE; Estonian Citizen (EKL), Juri TOOMEPUU, chairman

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. FRASURE embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallin EE 0001 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 011-[372] (6) 312-021 through 024