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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

28 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.ee

Internet users [time series]

309,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Radios [time series]

1.01 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

476,078 (yearend 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

475,000 (yearend 2000)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

31 (plus five repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions [time series]

605,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.37 billion expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

EEK

Debt - external [time series]

$1.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$137.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.807 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

530 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

100 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.782 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Finland 19.4%, Sweden 18.8%, Russia 9.2%, Latvia 8.7%, Germany 7.5%, US 2.5% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6.4% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Finland 22.8%, Russia 13.5%, Sweden 9.3%, Germany 9.3%, Japan 4.7% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.1% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

785,500 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

8.9% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.7% (1999 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Climate [time series]

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline [time series]

3,794 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Irrigated land [time series]

110 sq km (1996 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 44% other: 20% (1996 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

flooding occurs frequently in the spring

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

marshy, lowlands

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Tallinn

Constitution [time series]

adopted 28 June 1992

Country name [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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] 668-8100

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101

Executive branch [time series]

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%

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

[1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York

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

[372] 668-8134

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy

Independence [time series]

6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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]

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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 expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$70 million (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.2% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 359,677 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

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

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 11,164 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

8.7 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.48 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.04% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 500 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, Finnish, other

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1998 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

1,423,316 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.55% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.21 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

32 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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)

Merchant marine [time series]

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.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Railways [time series]

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)

Waterways [time series]

320 km (perennially navigable)