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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster, ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally (2008)

Internet country code [time series]

.ee

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

729,534 (2010) country comparison to the world: 48

Internet users [time series]

971,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services available domestic: 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 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 (2008)

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

492,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 98

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.72 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 117

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

9.39% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$265 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $898.7 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$25.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $25.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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

34 (2008) country comparison to the world: 91 37 (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and very low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia's economy slowed down markedly and fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 15% in 2009, among the world's highest rates of contraction. A modest recovery began in 2010, but unemployment stands above 13%. Estonia adopted the euro in January 2011.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

7.686 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - exports [time series]

2.31 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

1.369 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

11.46 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Exchange rates [time series]

kroon (EEK) per US dollar - 12.11 (2010), 11.232 (2009), 10.7 (2008), 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006) note: Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011

Exports [time series]

$10.77 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $9.08 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment 29%, wood and paper 13%, metals 10%, food products 8%, textiles 5%, chemical products

Exports - partners [time series]

Finland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%, Germany 6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$19.22 billion (2010 est.)

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

$24.53 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $24.07 billion (2009 est.) $27.96 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.5% industry: 28.7% services: 68.8% (2010 est.)

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

$19,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $18,500 (2009 est.) $21,400 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

1.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 -13.9% (2009 est.) -5.1% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.7% (2004)

Imports [time series]

$11.52 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $9.783 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment 35%, textiles 19%, mineral fuels 19%, chemical products 9%, foodstuffs 6%

Imports - partners [time series]

Finland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany 10.33%, Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

10% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 -0.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Labor force [time series]

688,000 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 2.8% industry: 22.7% services: 74.5% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$2.654 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 94 $1.95 billion (31 December 2008) $6.037 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - imports [time series]

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - consumption [time series]

30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Oil - exports [time series]

7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Oil - imports [time series]

30,590 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Oil - production [time series]

7,600 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Population below poverty line [time series]

19.5% (2007)

Public debt [time series]

7.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125 7.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$3.641 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$10.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $11.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$7.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $6.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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

$17.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $16.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$18.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $20.32 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$5.345 billion (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 85 $5.822 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 13.8% (2009 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 45,228 sq km country comparison to the world: 132 land: 42,388 sq km water: 2,840 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, rare earth elements, 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 Michael C. POLT 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: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) 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 councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last held on 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]

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

Government type [time series]

parliamentary republic

Independence [time series]

20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)

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 elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 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 28, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19, Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian People's Union 6, independent 1

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy) lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS note: adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody with that of Finland but has different lyrics

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) [Juhan AARE]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party [Sven MIKSER]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

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: 297,096 females age 16-49: 308,229 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 213,740 females age 16-49: 255,926 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 6,945 female: 6,564 (2010 est.)

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

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Military service age and obligation [time series]

obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription "likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 14.9% (male 99,748/female 94,051) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 417,816/female 459,246) 65 years and over: 17.6% (male 75,486/female 153,024) (2010 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.42 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Death rate [time series]

13.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 68

Ethnic groups [time series]

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.3% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

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

9,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 167 male: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 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: 73.08 years country comparison to the world: 117 male: 67.74 years female: 78.76 years (2010 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 vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 40.2 years male: 36.7 years female: 43.7 years (2010 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Population [time series]

1,291,170 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.635% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 227

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 (2008)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.063 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: 0.84 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 69% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: -0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 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 (2010) country comparison to the world: 136

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2010)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 24 country comparison to the world: 94 by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Norway 2) registered in other countries: 77 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 7, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 4, Malta 16, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, Sierra Leone 1, Sweden 3, Venezuela 1) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 859 km (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Railways [time series]

total: 1,196 km country comparison to the world: 86 broad gauge: 1,196 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 58,034 km country comparison to the world: 78 paved: 34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,098 km (2009)

Waterways [time series]

520 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010) country comparison to the world: 84