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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.ee

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

645,495 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

780,000 (2007)

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]

495,500 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.982 million (2007)

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: $7.854 billion expenditures: $7.171 billion (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

6.46% (31 December 2007)

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

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Current account balance [time series]

-$3.771 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$24.82 billion (30 June 2007)

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

34 (2005)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels in Central Europe. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies, resulting in balanced budgets and low public debt. In 2007, however, a large current account deficit and rising inflation put pressure on Estonia's currency, which is pegged to the euro, highlighting the need for growth in export-generating industries.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.331 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

3.179 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

400 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

9.158 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

krooni (EEK) per US dollar - 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006), 12.584 (2005), 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003) note: the krooni is pegged to the euro

Exports [time series]

$11.08 billion f.o.b. (2007 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 17.9%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 11.4%, Russia 8.9%, Lithuania 5.8%, Germany 5.2%, US 4.1% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$21.28 billion (2007 est.)

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

$28.69 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 3% industry: 28.5% services: 68.5% (2007 est.)

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

$21,800 (2007 est.)

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

7.1% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$14.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 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 12.8%, Sweden 10.1%, Russia 10%, Latvia 7.6%, Lithuania 6.9%, Poland 4.5% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.7% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.6% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

31.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

687,000 (2007 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]

1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.48 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

30,440 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

7,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

28,170 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

7,430 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Public debt [time series]

3.4% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$3.27 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$5.873 billion (2007 est.)

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

$16.59 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$21.35 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$7.158 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$4.253 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.7% (2007 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-20th 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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 1.41 cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%) per capita: 1,060 cu m/yr (2002)

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 343 km, Russia 290 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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

21.1 cu km (2005)

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] 668-8265

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, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, 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 - Estonian Reform Party 31, Center Party 29, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian 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 (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; 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) [Mart LAAR]

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

Nochnoy Dozor/Night Watch anti-fascist movement (leader Alexander KOROBOV)

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 16-49: 306,273 females age 16-49: 317,852 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 218,448 females age 16-49: 264,187 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 8,322 female: 7,846 (2008 est.)

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

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

2% of GDP (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: 14.9% (male 100,143/female 94,450) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 420,896/female 462,072) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 76,171/female 153,873) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.28 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.35 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.1% of GDP (2004)

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]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

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

7,800 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 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: 72.56 years male: 67.16 years female: 78.3 years (2008 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)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 39.6 years male: 36.2 years female: 43.2 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

1,307,605 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.632% (2008 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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2006)

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: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.42 children born/woman (2008 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: 29 by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 21, petroleum tanker 2, chemical tanker 1 foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 1, Germany 1, Norway 2) registered in other countries: 85 (Antigua and Barbuda 23, Belize 6, Cyprus 5, Dominica 7, Finland 2, Latvia 2, Liberia 1, Malta 11, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16, Sweden 2, Vanuatu 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 859 km (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Kuivastu, Kunda, 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: 57,016 km paved: 12,926 km (includes 99 km of expressways) unpaved: 44,090 km (2005)

Waterways [time series]

320 km (2006)