View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2007 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ee

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

387,336 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

760,000 (2006)

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 widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the internet, a large percentage of the population files income-tax returns online, and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections 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; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)

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

541,900 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.659 million (2006)

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: $6.064 billion expenditures: $5.445 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Current account balance [time series]

$-2.581 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$16.16 billion (2006 est.)

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

35.8 (2003)

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

$135.5 million (2004)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Estonia has a modern market-based economy with strong ties to the West. It is a WTO and EU member and pegs its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The current account deficit remains high; however, the state budget is essentially in balance, and public debt is low.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.888 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.953 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

345 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.599 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

krooni per US dollar - 12.473 (2006), 12.584 (2005), 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003), 16.612 (2002) note: the krooni is pegged to the euro

Exports [time series]

$9.654 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 18.4%, Sweden 12.4%, Latvia 8.9%, Russia 8.1%, US 5.5%, Germany 5.1%, Lithuania 4.8%, Gibraltar 4.7% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$13.89 billion (2006 est.)

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

$26.85 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 3.2% industry: 29.1% services: 67.8% (2006 est.)

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

$20,300 (2006 est.)

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

11.4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Imports [time series]

$12.61 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 18.2%, Russia 13.1%, Germany 12.4%, Sweden 9%, Lithuania 6.4%, Latvia 5.7% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8% (2006 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

33.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

687,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$5.963 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.458 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.458 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

60,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

3,958 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports [time series]

54,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - production [time series]

6,819 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

5% (2003)

Public debt [time series]

4.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.792 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$3.557 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$16.32 billion (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.5% (2006 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 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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, 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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 12.05% permanent crops: 0.35% other: 87.6% (2005)

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]

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

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 Stanley Davis PHILLIPS 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 Vaino REINART chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue 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 Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate 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 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23 September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received 174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots 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, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 4 March 2007 (next to be held in March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%, Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Reform Party 31, Center Party 29, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19, Social Democrats 10, Estonian Greens 6, People's Union 6

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 was 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]; Estonian Greens; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Tonis LUKAS and Taavi VESKIMAGI]

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 - an action never recognized by the US - 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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 291,696 females age 18-49: 304,961 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 200,382 (in 2004, 51% of the young men called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles to conscription were psychiatric and behavioral) females age 18-49: 250,351 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 15-49: 11,146 females age 18-49: 10,605 (2005 est.)

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

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2006)

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

2% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28; conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17 years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60 (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 15% (male 101,430/female 95,658) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 423,664/female 464,813) 65 years and over: 17.5% (male 76,344/female 154,003) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.17 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.3 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.1% (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: 7.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages [time series]

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 72.3 years male: 66.87 years female: 78.07 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2000 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 39.4 years male: 36 years female: 42.9 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

1,315,912 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.635% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.911 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.496 male(s)/female total population: 0.842 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.41 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending prepared a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs [time series]

growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly 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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

19 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 33 ships (1000 GRT or over) 393,655 GRT/93,245 DWT by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 23, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 2, Norway 2) registered in other countries: 67 (Antigua and Barbuda 15, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 5, Dominica 8, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 7, Norway 1, Panama 3, Slovakia 2, St Kitts and Nevis 1, St Vincent and The Grenadines 20, Vanuatu 1) (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 859 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Kopli, Kuivastu, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu

Railways [time series]

total: 968 km broad gauge: 968 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 56,856 km paved: 13,384 km (includes 99 km of expressways) unpaved: 43,472 km (2004)

Waterways [time series]

320 km (2006)