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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ee

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

82,142 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

444,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are available throughout most of the country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled by September 2000 domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services is available throughout the country international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)

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

475,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

881,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.806 billion expenditures: $3.648 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

EEK

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.15 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$7.002 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37 (1999)

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

$108 million (2000)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization, is steadily moving toward a modern market economy with increasing ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors. Estonia has been invited to join the European Union and will do so in May 2004. The economy is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Germany, four major trading partners. The high current account deficit remains a concern. However, the state budget enjoyed a surplus of $130 million in 2003.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.192 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.19 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.937 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

krooni per US dollar - 13.8564 (2003), 16.6118 (2002), 17.4781 (2001), 16.9686 (2000), 14.6776 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$4.075 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)

Exports - partners [time series]

Finland 21.9%, Sweden 12.5%, Russia 11.4%, Germany 8.4%, Latvia 7.4%, Lithuania 4% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $17.35 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 4.9% industry: 30.3% services: 64.8% (2003)

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

purchasing power parity - $12,300 (2003 est.)

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

4.7% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$5.535 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)

Imports - partners [time series]

Finland 15.9%, Germany 11.1%, Russia 10.2%, Sweden 7.7%, Ukraine 4.3%, China 4.2%, Japan 4.1% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; information technology, telecommunications

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.3% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

30.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

654,000 (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

5,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA (2000)

Public debt [time series]

7.4% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$1.377 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

10.1% (2003)

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 polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; 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

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

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 16.04% permanent crops: 0.45% other: 83.51% (2001)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Natural resources [time series]

oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Terrain [time series]

marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

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 (Kuressaare), 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 Aldona Zofia WOS embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] 668-8100 FAX: [372] 668-8134

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Juhan PARTS (since 10 April 2003) 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 in the Parliament, 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 21 September 2001 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September 2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened following Parliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI's successor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 186 votes to Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 26 ballots were either left blank or invalid

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 republic

Independence [time series]

20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's Party Moodukad 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 is the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 is the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

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

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN, chairman]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG, chairman]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Res Publica [Juhan PARTS, chairman]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR, chairman]; Social Liberals (group of 8 parliamentarians, former Center Party members) [Peeter Kreitzberg]

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 Danish, Swedish, German, 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. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Military

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

Estonia Defense Forces (including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force), Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard note: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian Navy in wartime

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$155 million (2002 est.)

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

2% (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 326,803 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 257,386 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 11-month service obligation; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for men and women up to 2010; 17 years of age for volunteers (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 10,884 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16% (male 110,452; female 104,363) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 431,493; female 474,255) 65 years and over: 16.5% (male 72,819; female 148,282) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

9.79 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.27 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

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

7,800 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.32 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.38 years male: 65.78 years female: 77.33 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 38.8 years male: 35.1 years female: 42.1 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

1,341,664 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.66% (2004 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: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.39 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Russia continues to reject signing and ratifying the joint December 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia

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; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds

Transportation

Airports [time series]

29 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2003 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 51,411 km paved: 10,334 km (including 94 km of expressways) unpaved: 41,077 km (2000)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 212,998 GRT/177,488 DWT by type: bulk 2, cargo 12, container 4, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 7, short-sea/passenger 5 foreign-owned: Netherlands 1 registered in other countries: 45 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 859 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Railways [time series]

total: 958 km broad gauge: 958 km 1.520-m/1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified) note: gauge being increased from 1.520-m to 1.524-m to reduce wear on wheels and rail as lines are modernized (2003)

Waterways [time series]

500 km (2003)